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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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i<br />

1777.] REVOLUTION—DEATH OF REV. MR. HOOKER. 401<br />

not agree upon them. It conta<strong>in</strong>ed about forty men who<br />

left <strong>Northampton</strong> <strong>in</strong> May, and rema<strong>in</strong>ed at Fort Ticouderoga<br />

till July, when Gen. St. Clair retreated before the<br />

advance <strong>of</strong> Burgoyne. They were stationed on Mt. Independence,<br />

and when they left the camp, the British were <strong>in</strong><br />

sight. They came home through Castleton and Williamstown.<br />

Fifteen men <strong>from</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong> and two <strong>from</strong><br />

Westhampton were <strong>in</strong> this expedition. ^ Another requisition<br />

for men was made <strong>in</strong> July, and a company <strong>of</strong> between<br />

forty and fifty men volunteered <strong>from</strong> this town. At Worth<strong>in</strong>gton<br />

they met the company under Capt. Clapp, at Eager's<br />

barn. News <strong>of</strong> the evacuation <strong>of</strong> Ticonderoga was received<br />

before they marched, but they pressed forward, and<br />

made choice <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>l&cers at Worth<strong>in</strong>gton. Jonathan Stearns<br />

was chosen Capt., Asa Wright, Lieut., and Asahel Pomeroy,<br />

Ens. The names <strong>of</strong> this company have not been<br />

found. It was <strong>in</strong> the service five weeks, leav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Northampton</strong><br />

July 12, and return<strong>in</strong>g Aug. 16. Another company<br />

<strong>from</strong> Southampton went about this time, commanded<br />

by Capt. Lemuel Pomeroy. They fell back with the army<br />

as Burgoyne advanced, leav<strong>in</strong>g him at Stillwater, but did<br />

not rema<strong>in</strong> till a decisive battle was fought.<br />

Gen. Burgoyne Com- Juue 16, Gcu. Burgoyue with an army <strong>of</strong><br />

mences his March,<br />

-j^gn thousaud men, British, Germans,<br />

Canadians and Indians, marched on his<br />

expedition down the lakes to the Hudson, and so to New<br />

York. After the capture <strong>of</strong> Ticonderoga, he went forward<br />

unchecked till he reached Saratoga. Troops were moved<br />

forward to re<strong>in</strong>force Gen. Gates, and full one half the<br />

effective militia <strong>of</strong> <strong>Massachusetts</strong> was <strong>in</strong> active service.<br />

The Benn<strong>in</strong>gton<br />

Alarm <strong>in</strong> North-<br />

The battle <strong>of</strong> Bemiiugton was fought on<br />

the 13"' <strong>of</strong> August. When <strong>in</strong>telligence<br />

'^"^ '"^"<br />

was received <strong>in</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong> that the<br />

British were <strong>in</strong> the vic<strong>in</strong>ity <strong>of</strong> that place, an alarm was<br />

sounded. On such occasions it was customary to fire three<br />

guns, beat the drums, and r<strong>in</strong>g the bell. This time the<br />

news came <strong>in</strong> the night, and the alarm was sounded at<br />

1 For list <strong>of</strong> soldiers, see Appendix.<br />

26

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