88
��Windham, N. H.
��Gilmore, John Moiison, Samuel Mori- son, Isaac Cochran, Robert Dins- moor (the "Rustic Bard"), his uncle, Robert Dinsmoor, Abram Planet,
Hadley, and Thomas Gregg.
During the whole war our men shared in the joys of the army's tri- umphs or in the sadness of its de- feats. Fourteen men from Windham were in the Battle of Bennington, — Jolin Campbell, Samuel Campbell, John Stuart, John Hughes, David Gregg, Samuel Morison, Ephraim Kyle, Alexander Morrow, David Campbell, John Kinkead, John Jame- son, Jesse Davidson, James Wilson, Tiiomas Karr, William Bolton. In the battle David Gregg had a thumb shot off ; Samuel Morison suffered se- verely from sunstroke ; James Wilson was taken prisoner b}' a British sol- dier, and he in turn took his captor captive ; John Kinkead was killed. His sad fate, and other incidents of the battle, have been put in verse, as follows, by the "Rustic Bard," Rob- ert Dinsmoor :
WINDHAM'8 SONS AT THE BATTLE OF BENNINO- TON, AUG. 16, 1777.
•'Then \\\\\\ Biirgoyne they battle join,
There Windham men, placed in the van, Where deadly balls did rattle! Fell .John Kinkead, on grand parade, A soldier brave in battle.
"Jem Wilson stood behind some wood, A Windham man true-hearted, Who never ran lor fear of man. Nor left his post deserted. With joyful eye he saw them fly, Their warriors all retreating; As they withdrew, Stark's men pursue, And"fear no foeman meeting.
" 'T was hard to know a friend from foe In such promiscuous bustle. But one .Jem met who him besot. With whom he had a tussle! He fired bis gun, nor thought to run (His foe looked somewhat slender); The Briton brave then drew his glave, Said ' Die, or else surrender!'
��' He, choosing terms, threw down his arms, And begged his life's protection; Then slowly crept, and lingering stept, A captive in dejection.
But soon Jem spi ung, and round him clung, • With arms and all belayed him; In deadly grasp he held him fast Till our pursuers aid him.
'To save his breath, most squeezed to death. Aloud he called for quarter; Then Jem, right glad, him captive led : The Briton ' caught a Tartar.' Then glorious Stark cried, 'Brave boys, bark! Uo to your tents renowned ; The evening lowers, and victory 's ours; Your feat of valor 's crowned.' •'
��AVhen our soldiers returned from the battle they were welcomed by the citizens, and the "Rustic Bard" had a poem to commemorate the event. The muse's voice has long been silent, and patriotic verse no longer ema- nates from his pen. The soldiers go no more forth to battle, nor are they troubled by war's alarms. Soldiers and poet sleep their last sleep, and gently the sods cover them.
The success at Bennington was the harbinger of a brighter day. The auspicious morning was at hand when England would be compelled to ac- cord justice to America. The gal- lant sons of the old Granite State rallied to join the Northern army. The British commander was effectual- ly "bottled up," and on the 17th of October, 1777, Burgoyue surrendered to Gen. Gates. Windham men helped to swell the ranks of the patriot array, participated in the battles, and shared in the glorv of the victories. Among them were Isaac Cochran, James Da- vidson, P^liphalet Ladd, Robert Dins- moor ("Rustic Bard"), William Mc- Coy, John Campbell, Alexander Gregg, John Cochran, John Armor, Alexander Simpson, John Dinsmoor, Daniel Mcllvaine, John Williams,
�� �
