Part 3
The Flag of the Green Mountain Boys still flies
The Brunswick grenadiers commanded by Lt. Col. Heinrich von Brehmann¹, light infantry and chasseurs, amounting to five hundred men, had set out on the 15th at 0800 but, although marching most diligently, the roads were barely passable due to incessant rain. He didn't reach the area of battle until 1600 the next afternoon, perhaps hearing the gunfire die out in the distance, then being informed of Baum's defeat from the fugitives he met enroute. Readily checking the few militia who were in pursuit of them, he had the possibility of capturing the enemy's stores, the original objective of the expedition, due to the dispersed condition of Stark's troops. Stark heard the British gunfire and struggled to regroup them, a task most difficult as they now plundered the remains of British stores of food and, particularly, rum. At that crucial moment, however, the Green Mountain Boys arrived along with the rest of the 11th New Hampshire. Numbering less than 200 but more experienced than most of the militia who'd begun the day's battle, and seeking revenge for the Battle of Hubbardton, the Green Mountain Boys instantly engaged Brehmann. The firing reassembled the scattered militia, who joined in the battle upon approach. Brehmann sought to encircle his enemy to the right but Warner, taking charge of the moment, had also the same intent. Having now to counter the other's actions, the lines of both contenders began to run thin but, as Stark's troups came up, they helped counter Brehmann's flanking movement.² The conflict was maintained till near dark as Colonel Brehmann's ammunition began to run low: his two cannon were now silent. He ordered a retreat and abandoned his artillery and baggage. Now being harrassed by the constant fire of the pursuing provincials, his formations began to disintegrate and many surrendered. As daylight dimmed, Stark became concerned that his own might shoot one another; under the cover of night, Colonel Brehmann regrouped his shattered detachments to rejoin with General Burgoyne, having lost near a third of his force and most all of their provisions.
¹
often spelled Breyman or Breymann
²
Much of my information is from memory but, in checking, I found much in conflict (some agreed with mine and some did not). I compared as best I could and reconciled what I could: I hope I kept it factual. There is an account I remembered about General Stark's horse being shot from beneath him in the 2nd part of the battle. It conflicts with accounts that he'd dismounted during the 1st part of the battle and his horse was stolen. I could not properly reconcile this via any records and removed the mention from my version. As a guess, Stark may have found his own horse gone at the end of the 1st part of the battle and borrowed one from Langdon (Langdon's Company of Light Horse Volunteers had been formed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on July 21 and then proceeded to the Fort at Number Four). I wouldn't expect a general to remain without a horse when they were available and my sentences could well have been relevant here:
"As he continued to rally and regroup his troups, General Stark's horse was shot from beneath him. Unharmed except for the bruising, he arose and regained the purpose."
AFTERMATH:-Stark and the Vermont Militia may have lost as many as 30 with 40 wounded, although some records state less or reverse the account.
-Baum and von Brehmann had lost 207, with 700 captured; Burgoyne had lost more than 10% of his total force.
-Baum, removed to a nearby home by the provincials, died two days later and was buried in a grave, not or no longer marked, close to the scene; a marker has been set up by the Bennington road in his remembrance.
-Stark moved from Bennington to cut off Burgoyne's Canadian supply line; his supplies exhausting and now on the defensive, Burgoyne had his army of about 6000 lay down their arms in surrender at Saratoga. The course of the war had reversed.
-The Vermont Militia (Guards) yet sport the flag and name of the Green Mountain Boys.
-32 years afer the battle, Stark was invited to Bennington to present a personal speech in honor of the event. The general, now 81, apologetically declined making the trip but sent a written speech for the reading. Within it he stated,
"Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils."
New Hampshire's official state motto: 
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