Editing Battle of Bennington (section)

==Background==
{{Main|Saratoga campaign}}

With the [[American Revolutionary War]] two years old, the British changed their plans. Giving up on the rebellious [[New England Colonies]], they decided to split the [[Thirteen Colonies]] and isolate New England from what the British believed to be the more loyal [[Southern Colonies]]. The British command devised a grand plan to divide the colonies via a three-way [[pincer movement]] towards Albany.<ref name="K84_5">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], pp. 84–85</ref> The western pincer, proceeding eastward from Lake Ontario under the command of [[Barry St. Leger]], was repulsed when the [[Siege of Fort Stanwix]] failed,<ref name="K335">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 335</ref> and the southern pincer, which was to progress up the Hudson valley from New York City, never started since General [[William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe|William Howe]] decided instead to [[Philadelphia campaign|capture Philadelphia]].<ref name="K82">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 82</ref>

The northern pincer, proceeding southward from Montreal, enjoyed the most success. After British victories at [[Battle of Ticonderoga (1777)|Fort Ticonderoga]], [[Battle of Hubbardton|Hubbardton]], and [[Battle of Fort Anne|Fort Anne]], General [[John Burgoyne]] proceeded with the [[Saratoga campaign]], with the goal of capturing [[Albany, New York]] and gaining control of the [[Hudson River]] valley, where Burgoyne's force could (as the plan went) meet the other pincers, dividing the colonies in two.<ref name="K84_5"/>

===British forces===

Burgoyne's progress towards Albany had initially met with some success, including the scattering of [[Seth Warner]]'s men in the [[Battle of Hubbardton]]. However, his advance had slowed to a crawl by late July, due to logistical difficulties, exacerbated by the American destruction of a key road, and the army's supplies began to dwindle.<ref name="Pancake135"/> Burgoyne's concern over supplies was magnified in early August when he received word that Howe was going to Philadelphia, rather than advance up the Hudson River valley.<ref name="K283">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 283</ref> In response to a proposal first made on July 22 by the commander of his [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessian]] troops, [[Friedrich Adolf Riedesel|Baron Riedesel]],<ref name="Nickerson233">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 233</ref> Burgoyne sent a detachment of about 800 soldiers under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel [[Friedrich Baum]] from [[Fort Edward (town), New York#Communities and locations in the town|Fort Miller]] on a foraging mission to acquire horses for [[Brunswick troops in the American Revolutionary War#Units|Prince Ludwig's Dragoon Regiment]], [[draft animal]]s to assist in moving the army, and to harass the Americans.<ref name="Pancake135">[[#Pancake|Pancake (1977)]], p. 135</ref> Baum's detachment was primarily made up of dismounted dragoons from Prince Ludwig's Dragoon Regiment. Along the way, 150 local [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]], 58 Canadian irregulars, around 100 [[Iroquois]] warriors, and 48 soldiers from the [[British Army]]'s [[List of British units in the American Revolutionary War#Infantry|Company of Select Marksmen]] joined the detachment.<ref name="Nickerson239">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 239</ref> Baum was originally ordered to proceed to the [[Connecticut River]] valley where they believed horses could be procured for the dragoons.<ref name="Nickerson235_8">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], pp. 235–238. Contains a transcription of Burgoyne's order to Baum.</ref> However, as Baum was preparing to leave, Burgoyne changed the goal to be a supply depot at [[Bennington, Vermont|Bennington]], having received intelligence reports that the town was defended only by 400 demoralized [[militia]] from Warner's command.<ref name="Nickerson240">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 240</ref>

[[File:John stark.jpg|thumb|left|General [[John Stark]]]]

===American forces===
Unknown to Burgoyne, the citizens of the [[New Hampshire Grants]] territory (now Vermont, which was then disputed between New York and the [[Vermont Republic]]) had appealed to the states of [[New Hampshire]] and [[Massachusetts]] for protection from the invading army following the British capture of Ticonderoga.<ref name="Nickerson224">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 224</ref> New Hampshire responded on July 18 by authorizing [[John Stark]] to raise a militia for the defense of the people "or the annoyance of the enemy".<ref name="Pancake135"/><ref name="K285_7">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], pp. 285–287</ref>  Using funds provided by [[John Langdon (politician)|John Langdon]], Stark raised 1,500 [[New Hampshire Militia|New Hampshire militiamen]] in the space of six days, more than 10% of New Hampshire's male population over the age of sixteen.<ref name="K287">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 287</ref> They were first marched to the [[Fort at Number 4]] (modern-day [[Charlestown, New Hampshire]]), then crossed the [[Connecticut River|Connecticut river border]] into the Grants and stopped at [[Manchester, Vermont|Manchester]], where Stark conferred with Warner.<ref name="Pancake135"/><ref name="Nickerson224"/> While in Manchester, General [[Benjamin Lincoln]], whose promotion in preference to Stark had been the cause for Stark's resignation from the [[Continental Army]], attempted to assert Army authority over Stark and his men.<ref name="Nickerson232">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 232</ref> Stark refused, stating that he was solely responsible to the New Hampshire authorities.<ref name="Pancake135"/> Stark then went on to Bennington with Warner as a guide, while Warner's men remained in Manchester.<ref name="Pancake136">[[#Pancake|Pancake (1977)]], p. 136</ref> Lincoln returned to the American camp at [[Stillwater, New York|Stillwater]], where he and General [[Philip Schuyler]] hatched a plan for Lincoln, with 500 men, to join with Stark and Warner in actions to harass Burgoyne's communications and supply lines at [[Whitehall (village), New York|Skenesboro]]. Baum's movements significantly altered these plans.<ref name="K290">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 290</ref>