On August 16th, 1777, John Stark marched his New Hampshire militia across Vermont from Brattleboro to Bennington to keep the British from raiding supplies whose loss might very well have resulted in the fall of New York.

Before the battle, Stark passionately addressed to his troops: "Yonder are the Hessians," he declared. "They were bought for seven pounds and ten pence a man. Are you worth more? Prove it! Tonight the American flag floats from yonder hill or Molly Stark sleeps a widow!"

[With the help of the Green Mountain Boys and the Rangers of Vermont, Stark's wife did not sleep a widow, and the stores at Bennington remained safe (their location is the current site of the Bennington Battle Monument).]