ABSTRACT
Von Riedesel states in his Memoirs that General Sir John Burgoyne was warned of the dangers of the road to Bennington, which ran through dense forests, by a Tory officer who informed him that at least 3000 men were required to reach that village. A volunteer from Bennington, Eleazer Eggerton, delayed Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Baum’s advance for an hour by staying behind with two companions to break down the bridge. After the bridge had been repaired, Baum continued his pursuit of Greg’s men, reaching to within four miles of Bennington before nightfall. Thereupon Stark, however, who may have got wind of von Riedesel’s suggestion for a foray against Bennington, prevailed upon General Lincoln to persuade Philip Schuyler to revert to the original plan. News of the skirmish at Cambridge, and information that a considerable number of enemy troops were involved, was brought to Stark at Bennington.
