tried to draw them from their position by sending out small parties to skirmish; but it was of no use, they wouldn’t come out and fight; so Stark fell back a mile, leaving a part of our regiment to skirmish.  Now you know that’s a kind of fighting in which the Green Mountain Boys were always first best.  Before we fell back to the main body, we had killed and wounded more than thirty of the enemy, including two Indian chiefs, without losing a man.”

“The battle should have been all skirmishes,” said Kinnison.  “You might have cut the enemy up piece-meal.”

“We tried it next day,” said Ransom.  “It was rainy, and Stark thought it best not to attempt anything more than skirmishing.  Our light parties appeared in the woods on every side of the enemy, and picked off the men so fast that the Indians became disheartened, and began to desert Baum.  The rain, which prevented our troops from attacking the enemy, enabled them to complete their entrenchments, and send to General Burgoyne for reinforcements; but on the morning of the 16th of August, we found that General Stark and a council of war had agreed upon a plan of attack, and intended to execute it that day.  I don’t think there was a man among our troops who was not anxious for a fight.  Our skirmishes had put us in the humour for it.  I can’t exactly give you an idea of the position of the enemy, and of the real amount of skill General Stark displayed in his plan of attack.  But I’ll try to do the best I can.  The Germans were posted on a rising ground near a bend in Wallomsac Creek, which is a branch of the Hoosic River.  The ground on both sides of the creek is rolling, and the position of the Germans was on the highest of the small hills.  Peter’s corps of Tories were entrenched on the other side of the creek, nearly in front of the German battery, and on lower ground.  During the night of the 15th, Colonel Symonds with about one hundred Berkshire militia, arrived in camp.  Parson Allen, who, you may have heard, was such a zealous whig, was with the Berkshire men, and he wanted to fight right off.  But General Stark told him if the next day was clear, there would be fighting enough.  Well, when the morning of the 16th of August came; it was clear and bright.  Both armies seemed to know that day was to decide between them.  General Stark had given his orders to all the colonels of his regiments.  Colonel Nichols, with our corps of about two hundred men, marched up the little creek just above the bridge, to attack the rear of the enemy’s left; while Colonel Herrick, with three hundred men, marched to attack the rear of the right, with orders to join our party before the assault was made.  Colonels Hubbard and Stickney were ordered to march down the Wallomsac, with three hundred men, near the Tories, so as to turn Baum’s attention to that point.  We started about noon, and marched through the thick woods and up from the valley towards the enemy’s entrenchments.  Our march was rapid