Major-General John Stark was an American military officer who served during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. He became known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.
The New Hampshire Militia was first organized in 1631 and lasted until 1641, when the area came under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. After New Hampshire became an separate colony again in 1679, New Hampshire Colonial Governor John Cutt reorganized the militia on March 16, 1680, with one foot company apiece for the four major settlements in Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter and Hampton, and an artillery and cavalry company in Portsmouth. The King of England authorized the Provincial Governor to give commissions to persons who shall be best qualified for regulating and discipline of the militia. President Cutt placed Major Richard Waldron of Dover in command of the Militia. In 1879, the Militia was designated by the state as the New Hampshire National Guard.
Long's Regiment was an infantry regiment that was raised on May 14, 1776 at New Castle, New Hampshire under Colonel Pierse Long for service with the Continental Army. The regiment was stationed at Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence on Lake Champlain and fought a delaying action at Fort Ann, New York on July 8, 1777 against the advance units of John Burgoyne's army. The regiment was disbanded at the end of July 1777 in northern New York as the one year enlistments of the men ran out before the main engagements of the Saratoga Campaign. Col. Long and some of the men of the regiment joined other New Hampshire regiments that fought at Saratoga.
Stickney's Regiment of Militia, also known as the 11th New Hampshire Militia Regiment, was at Fort Ticonderoga during the spring of 1777 reinforcing the Continental Army garrison. The regiment was again called up on July 21, 1777, at Pembroke, New Hampshire for Gen. John Stark's Brigade gathering at Charlestown, New Hampshire during the Saratoga campaign. Part of Stickney's Regiment under Lt. Col. Nataniel Emerson was sent to Otter Creek on August 4 to clear out any remaining Loyalists. On August 16, 1777, Stickney's regiment, along with Hale's and Hobart's Regiment, made the main attack on Friedrich Baum's redoubt during the Battle of Bennington as Nichols' attacked from the rear (west) and Simonds' attacked from the south. Lt. Col. Emerson's detachment arrived along with Seth Warner's Green Mountain Boys in time to rout Heinrich von Breymann's reinforcements. Stickney's Regiment would continue on in Stark's Brigade to cut off British Gen. John Burgoyne from retreat or supply after the Battle of Freeman's Farm. The regiment would be disbanded on October 26, 1777, in northern New York.
Hobart's Regiment of Militia also known as the 12th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up on July 21, 1777 at Plymouth, New Hampshire for Gen. John Stark's Brigade gathering at Charlestown, New Hampshire during the Saratoga Campaign. Hobart's Regiment along with Hale's and Stickney's Regiment would assault Friedrich Baum's redoubt from the front (east) during the Battle of Bennington as Nichols' attacked from the rear (west) and Simonds' attacked from the south. Hobart's Regiment would continue on in Stark's Brigade to cut off British Gen. John Burgoyne from retreat or supply after the Battle of Freeman's Farm. The regiment would be disbanded on October 26, 1777 in northern New York.
Nichols' Regiment of Militia also known as the 5th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up on July 21, 1777 at Winchester, New Hampshire, for Gen. John Stark's Brigade gathering at Charlestown, New Hampshire during the Saratoga Campaign. It was named for Dr Moses Nichols, who was appointed colonel of the regiment in 1776.
Chase's Regiment of Militia also known as the 13th New Hampshire Regiment of Militia was called up at Cornish, New Hampshire on September 22, 1777, as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of Gen. Horatio Gates as he faced British Gen. John Burgoyne in northern New York. The regiment served in Gen. William Whipple's brigade of New Hampshire militia. With the surrender of Burgoyne's Army on October 17 the regiment was disbanded on October 24, 1777. They would be called up again to protect the frontier of the state during the Royalton Raid of 1780.
Moore's Regiment of Militia also known as the 9th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up at Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, on September 29, 1777, as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of General Horatio Gates as he faced British General John Burgoyne in northern New York. The regiment served in General William Whipple's brigade of New Hampshire militia. With the surrendered of Burgoyne's Army on October 17 the regiment was disbanded on October 27, 1777. General John Stark gave to the regiment a brass four-pounder cannon captured at the Battle of Bennington, known as "Old Molly".
Bellow's Regiment of Militia also known as the 16th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up at Walpole, New Hampshire, on September 21, 1777, as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of Gen. Horatio Gates as he faced British Gen. John Burgoyne in northern New York. The regiment served in Gen. William Whipple's brigade of New Hampshire militia. With the surrender of Burgoyne's Army on October 17 the regiment was disbanded on October 27, 1777.
Drake's Regiment of Militia also known as the 2nd New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up at Portsmouth, New Hampshire on September 8, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of General Horatio Gates as he faced British General John Burgoyne in northern New York. The regiment served in General Ebenezer Learned's brigade of the Continental Army. With the surrender of Burgoyne's Army on October 17 the regiment was disbanded on December 15, 1777.
Evans' Regiment of Militia also known as the 4th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was called up at Exeter, New Hampshire on September 8, 1777 as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of General Horatio Gates as he faced British General John Burgoyne in northern New York. The regiment served in General Ebenezer Learned's brigade of the Continental Army. With the surrender of Burgoyne's Army on October 17 the regiment was disbanded on December 15, 1777. The Regiment was called up again as part of Gen. John Sullivan's army at the unsuccessful Battle of Rhode Island in 1778.
May's Regiment of Militia also known as the 2nd Hampshire County Militia Regiment was called up at Southampton, Massachusetts on September 20, 1777, as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of Gen. Horatio Gates as he faced British General John Burgoyne in northern New York. The regiment served in General Nixon's brigade. With the surrender of Burgoyne's Army on October 17, the regiment was disbanded on October 18, 1777.
Ashley's Regiment of Militia also known as the 1st Berkshire County Militia Regiment was called up in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, in July 1777 and sent for a month to Fort Edward and on September 19, 1777, as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of General Horatio Gates as he faced British General John Burgoyne in northern New York. The regiment served in General Paterson's brigade.
Bullard's Regiment of Militia also known as the 5th Middlesex County Militia Regiment was called up at Sudbury, Massachusetts on August 16, 1777, as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of Gen. Horatio Gates as he faced British General John Burgoyne in northern New York. The regiment served in General Warner's brigade. With the surrender of Burgoyne's Army on October 17 the regiment was disbanded on October 21, 1777.
Langdon's Company of Light Horse Volunteers was formed on July 21, 1777 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire for Gen. John Stark's Brigade gathering at Charlestown, New Hampshire during the Saratoga Campaign. The company was formed by picked volunteers from other New Hampshire militia units. The company was with Stickney's and Hobart's regiments during the Battle of Bennington. Langdon's Company of Light Horse Volunteers would continue on in Stark's Brigade to cut off British Gen. John Burgoyne from retreat or supply after the Battle of Freeman's Farm. The company would also take part in Gen. John Sullivan's campaign in Rhode Island in 1778. The company was disbanded in the fall of 1778.
Jonathan Chase was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War.
Cogswell's Regiment of Militia also known as the 3rd Essex County Militia Regiment was called up at Ipswich, Massachusetts on April 19, 1775, during the Battles of Lexington and Concord and to guard the Massachusetts coast from July 1775 to January 1776. The regiment would also be called up on September 20, 1777, as reinforcements for the Continental Army during the Saratoga campaign. The regiment marched quickly to join the gathering forces of Gen. Horatio Gates as he faced British Gen. John Burgoyne in northern New York. The regiment served in Gen. Nixion's brigade.
Thomas Stickney was an American military officer and statesman born in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Hale's Regiment of Militia also known as the 15th New Hampshire Militia Regiment was at Fort Ticonderoga during the spring and summer of 1776 reinforcing the Continental Army garrison. The regiment was again called up on July 21, 1777 at Rindge, New Hampshire for Gen. John Stark's Brigade gathering at Charlestown, New Hampshire during the Saratoga Campaign. On August 16, 1777 Hale's regiment along with Hobart's Regiment and Stickney's Regiment made the main attack on Friedrich Baum's redoubt during the Battle of Bennington as Nichols' attacked from the rear (west) and Simonds' attacked from the south. Hale's Regiment would continue on in Stark's Brigade to cut off British Gen. John Burgoyne from retreat or supply after the Battle of Freeman's Farm. The regiment was also part of Gen. John Sullivan's army at the unsuccessful Battle of Rhode Island in 1778.
Events from the year 1777 in the United States.
