by Bea Peterson
Early Monday evening, August 16, re-enactors, members of American Legion Post #40 and more than a dozen visitors gathered at the Bennington Battlefield to commemorate the Revolutionary War battle fought there 233 years ago. Phyllis Chapman welcomed everyone and said since John Sheaff and members of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution were unavailable for the event this year, she wanted to see that the chain was unbroken. Quoting Abraham Lincoln she said, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” She said it was important to take a few minutes to remember those who fought and died here. “Some gave up their life for their ideals, the possibility of liberty, justice and freedom. It is our responsibility to guard those ideals, whether as a soldier, a teacher, a doctor or community servant, she continued. “This historic site is important. People may come and go, but this site will always be a page in our history to keep for generations to come.”
American Legion Commander Walter Zwinge led the group in prayer. Peter Schaaphok read General Stark’s account of the battle in which he reported 700 of the enemy were captured and another 200 killed,
four cannons and hundreds of rifles were confiscated. Paul Loding, dressed as a Commander in His Majesty’s 53rd Regiment Afoot in America, read from the journal of a German surgeon captured during the battle in which his captors “urged me impolitely” to come with them. He was later relieved to find he was not the only one captured as “a man likes to have company in such a situation.”
Accompanied by Paul Loding, Peter Schaaphok and Commander Walter Zwinge, American Legion Auxiliary President Marilyn Tate, placed a wreath at the memorial. The ceremony concluded with the Legion Honor Guard firing a salute, the sound echoing across the hills, and the retiring of the flag.
Barnett House
On Sunday afternoon the Barnett House was open for the only time this year. About 50 visitors stopped by to hear Phyllis Chapman, dressed in typical period clothing, detail the Battle of Bennington through maps, displays and costumes. Outside Peter Schaaphok, also dressed for the times, talked about the Battle and the firearms the militia would have used.
