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more light #284

Major General John Stark of New Hampshire One of George Washington’s Generals

by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota


Dear Masonic Student,

Last week we had a Masonic Monday Question regarding who was the last surviving General Officer of the America Revolutionary War. We got a few answers to the question, and the answers were interesting, because, it seems, there is more than one General officer that, on the Internet, have articles written about them saying they each were the last surviving General Officer.

Thanks to Brother Glenn Kiecker I have a couple of those articles, one each for General Thomas Sumter [not a Mason], and General John Stark, who was a Mason. By the way, the answer to the question according to Brother Ronald Heaton, who wrote the book ‘Masonic Membership of the Founding Fathers,’ it was our Brother and General Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette who was the last surviving General Officer of the American Revolutionary War – He passed on 20 May 1864 at the age of 76. He was not the oldest surviving General, but the last surviving General Officer. General Stark died at 94 and General Sumter died at 97 – quite a long life given the times and how health care has improved greatly since the 18th and 19th centuries.

Being that this publication is meant for students of Freemasonry I will reproduce the article Brother Glenn found on the Internet by Donald N. Moran at http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/stark.html with some information from Brother Heaton’s book. When you read the article you will notice and get a feeling of how good a leader he was. The writer Donald N. Moran wrote a fine article about him. This is a long article, but reading it is worth it. You may want to increase the font to read it easier.

Major General John Stark of New Hampshire One of George Washington’s Generals

by Donald N. Moran – This article was reprinted from the May 2006 Edition of the Liberty Tree Magazine

John Stark was born on August 28th, 1728 in Nutfield (now Londonderry) New Hampshire, the son of Archibald Stark (1697-1758) and his wife Eleanor Nichols (1702-?). His father, Archibald was born in Glasgow, Scotland and emigrated to the New World in 1720. He fathered four sons, of which John was the second. He moved his family to Derryfield (now Manchester), New Hampshire in 1736. The Stark home has been preserved by the Molly Stark Chapter of the DAR.

In 1752, John, his brother William, neighbors David Stinson and Amos Eastman went on a hunting trip and were ambushed by Indians. John warned his brother William and Stinson, who tried to make their escape. Stinson was killed but William managed to escape. The Indians made John run the gauntlet. Six weeks later William and a group of colonists from Fort Number Four at Charlestown on the Connecticut River rescued the two survivors by paying a ransom of $103.00. This capture left John emotional scarred from which he never recovered.

A year later, John was part of an expedition to the headwaters of the Androscoggin River where He was working to raise money to repay Massachusetts for their expenses in equipping the rescue party. Two years later John led an expedition on behalf of New Hampshire’s Governor Benning Wentworth to explore the western part of the Colony. There were justified concerns regarding French initiatives along the frontier. The territorial designs of both the French and British colonists had dramatically increased. Famed Roger’s Rangers was established to patrol the border and keep the peace. John Stark was commissioned a First Lieutenant in January 1757 – - the start of his military career. Shortly thereafter the French and Indian War started.

Aside from patrols to the Lake Champlain area to watch the French activities, the first real action came in March of 1757, when the French attacked Fort William Henry. The regiment of Regulars stationed there was raised in Ireland, and the French knew they would have heavily celebrated on St. Patrick’s Day. The French were right; the regulars were in no condition to defend themselves. However, Stark denied his Rangers any drink. As a result, the Rangers drove off the French. This is the first known example of his uncanny ability to anticipate the moves of his enemies. Later that year the Fort was again attacked and surrendered to the French.

Stark saw action throughout the War. At the siege of Fort Ticonderoga, the Rangers reconnoitered the Fort’s defenses and advised General Sir James Abercrombie that it was virtually impregnable. Abercrombie attacked anyway, and the losses were horrendous. The American provincials (including Roger’s Rangers) had 350 killed or wounded. The British suffered 1,600 casualties. Stark was smart enough to realize the loss was due to the incompetence of the General Officers – - an opinion he would always hold. It was during this campaign that John Stark met two regular British Officers who he would meet years later, Charles Lee and Horatio Gates, both destined to be Major Generals in the American Army.

After the War John returned to his home and married Elizabeth “Molly” Page, the daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth (Merrill) Page, he first Postmaster of New Hampshire – - she born on February 16th, 1737 in Haverhill, New Hampshire.

The couple had eleven children: Caleb, Archibald, John, Eleanor, who died in infancy, Eleanor, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Charles, Benjamin and Sophia.

Legend has it that when word of the skirmish at Lexington and Concord reached Manchester, John Stark donned his uniform, saddled his horse and was on his way to Boston within ten minutes, leaving instructions for his neighbors to join him at Medford, Massachusetts where twelve hundred New Hampshire men joined him.

The Massachusetts Provincial Congress unanimously appointed John Stark Colonel of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment. Captain Henry Dearborn, (later a Major General) commanded a Company in this Regiment.

As the siege of Boston progressed, the Americans learned that General Thomas Gage was planning on a break out from the city. To counter this move, the besiegers decided to fortify Bunker Hill on the Charlestown peninsula. Due to a misunderstanding, the troops built the redoubt on Breed’s Hill which was in range of the British artillery and the Royal Navy. The deployment of the American defenders included the New Hampshire Regiments.

Colonel Stark’s Regiment was assigned to the northern flank of the peninsula. Here again John Stark showed uncanny ability to foresee the coming action. He realized that the British attacking forces would be led by General William Howe who was known for his aggressive use of light infantry and would certainly attempt a flanking action along the beach of the Mystic River.

Stark ordered two hundred of his best men to break up some stone walls and build a breastwork along the beach. Stark then walked down the beach and placed a stake in the sand at about 30 paces.

As he predicted, the British sent three hundred and fifty light infantry to move down the beach and flank the American defenses. Facing them was a very unimpressive stone wall, only about three feet tall and only a few colonials visible behind it. The Light Infantry advanced, fifteen abreast, lowered their bayonets and charged. Suddenly, as they reached the stake Stark had planted, the stone wall exploded with musket fire – - the first two ranks of Light Infantry, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers fell. The Light Infantry pressed the attack. In the 18th century it took at least twenty seconds to reload. In that short period of time, the attackers would cover the distance between them and use their bayonets. But this was not the case. A second rank of New Hampshire men stood up and laid waste to the next ranks of light infantry. Still charging forward, the King’s Own Regiment took the lead, when a third rank of Colonials stood and fired point blank into their ranks with devastating effect. The Light Infantry of the 10th Regiment surged forward, only to be met by a volley from the first rank of colonists, who had reloaded. Next the 52nd Regiments Light Infantry charged over the bodies and wounded of the first three waves. They met the same fate. The surviving troops retreated in disorder, leaving ninety-six men dead, one third of their number. The flanking action had failed. All the British could do now was to launch costly frontal attacks. They were finally successful but the cost was horrendous. They lost eleven hundred and fifty men, forty percent of their forces in Boston.

Although the redoubt on Breed’s Hill was captured, the Americans were not routed. They retreated, with a rear guard action being fought by John Stark and his men. British Major General John Burgoyne wrote on the retreat: “no flight, it was even covered with bravery and military skill ” General, Sir Henry Clinton, who would replace General Howe, wrote: “A dear bought victory, another such would ruin us.”

Colonel John Stark wrote to the President of the New Hampshire Provincial Congress: “We remain in good spirits as yet, being well satisfied that where we have lost one, they lost three.”

Stark went with his Regiment to New York, fought there, and then retreated with General Washington across New Jersey. On December 25th, 1776 he commanded the New Hampshire Regiment in the successful attack on Trenton and then at the Battle at Princeton. He obviously respected Washington and was of great assistance to him.

Following the winter campaign, he returned to New Hampshire to recruit replacements for his Regiment. While there he learned that he had been passed over for promotion to Brigadier General. He felt that he had earned the promotion and that the officers selected could not match his service record. They were: William Alexander (Lord Stirling), Arthur St. Clair, Adam Stephen, Thom as Mifflin and Benjamin Lincoln – - also outraged was Benedict Arnold. On March 23rd, 1777 he resigned and stayed home.

Generals John Sullivan and Enoch Poor tried to talk him out of his resignation, but Stark pointed out that he felt the current threat would come from Canada and he would make himself available if that came about – - he was right, as usual.

In mid June the Americans learned that British General John Burgoyne and some 10,000 troops were coming down the Lake Champlain – - Hudson River route toward Fort Ticonderoga. American Major General Philip Schuyler, commander of the Northern Department, started to assemble a force to oppose the invasion. He appointed General St. Clair to command the Fort. Stark, true to his word, started organizing a force to defend Vermont and New Hampshire, but was reporting solely to the New Hampshire Provincial Congress. They had selected Stark to lead their militia and granted him a commission as Brigadier General. He raised 1,492 men and officers and started west.

Major General Benjamin Lincoln, one of the officers promoted over Stark, had been dispatched by General Schuyler to gather reinforcements from the New England colonies. Stark informed him that he served New Hampshire and not Congress and refused. To Lincoln’s credit, he did not contest Stark’s insubordinate position, but enlisted Stark’s support as an independent ally.

In the meantime, St. Clair realized that he could not defend Fort Ticonderoga with the force at his disposal, and abandoned the post without defending it. This action saved the ten Continental and two militia regiments under his command.

The American retreat was well organized. Burgoyne dispatched General Simon Frasier to pursue the retreating Americans. He caught up with the rear guard at Hubbardton. The rear guard was commanded by Colonel Seth Warner. After a fierce fight, the Americans were forced to retreat. Warner gave a very unmilitary order. “Shatter and meet me in Manchester”. St. Clair ordered the destruction of as much of the road south as possible. They did this by felling trees, burning the numerous bridges leaving Burgoyne with the task of rebuilding a road through the wilderness. This action slowed the British down to a snail’s pace and allowed the American forces to gather and prepare defenses north of Albany.

These delays not only consumed valuable time, the supplies necessary to feed such a large expedition.

Burgoyne received word that there were ample supplies in the Connecticut Valley and more importantly, many horses, which could be used by his dismounted Hessian dragoons. He was also advised there was no organized force to defend the area. He dispatched Lt. Col. Friedrich Baum of the Brunswick Dragoons whose force numbered about 800.

On August 13th, General Stark learned of the approaching force. He mustered all the men he could at Bennington. The first contact was made at 9:00 a.m. on the 14th, at a mill known by several names – - Sancoick’s, Saint Coick’s or Van Schaick’s. American Lt. Colonel William Gregg’s advance party fired a single volley and then retreated. Baum followed him, but at a snail’s pace. Having encountered the unexpected resistance, Baum sent a message to Burgoyne requesting reinforcements. He then ordered his men to fortify a defensive position and await reinforcements. Having received the request from Baum, General Burgoyne ordered Lt. Colonel Heinrich Breymann of the Light Grenadiers with 642 Hessians to march to Baum’s relief. Like Baum, he moved at a snail’s pace.

As both forces faced each other, a heavy rain forestalled any action. Stark had sent a message to Seth Warner for reinforcements. He marched to Bennington. Both he and Breymann were slowed by the rains and muddy roads. Neither arrived in time for the first phase of the battle.

On the morning of the 16th, Stark attacked. He employed a tactic of double envelopment. He deployed Colonel Moses Nichols with 200 New Hampshire men to the right, and Colonel Samuel Herrick with 300 Vermont Rangers and the Bennington militia on the left. A second envelopment was deployed with Colonels David Hobart and Thomas Stickney to attack the redoubt thrown up by Baum. They attacked simultaneously, with predictable results. The fighting was brutal, but Stark’s men overwhelmed the Hessian positions. The Hessians lost heart when their commander, Baum was mortally wounded by a musket ball in the abdomen.

In the meantime Breymann arrived as did Warner. Again Stark attacked. Breymann realized the peril he was in and ordered a retreat. He person ally commanded his rear guard. They managed to hold off the attacking Americans and allowed about two-thirds of his command to escape into the darkness. Shortly after, he was forced to surrender.

General Stark reported that he had lost 30 men killed and 42 wounded. The British force had 207 dead and 700 captured (which includes their wounded).

The loss at Bennington greatly impacted Burgoyne. He had lost 1,000 of his fighting men and any possibility of obtaining much needed supplies from the countryside. It also had affected the morale of his men. He made several attempts to break through the lines now commanded by American Major General Horatio Gates and was soundly thrown back.

General Stark moved his force to Fort Edward, thereby blocking any attempt by Burgoyne to retreat to Fort Ticonderoga and safety. As a result Burgoyne was forced to surrender on October 17th, 1777.

General Stark remained active for the rest of the war. Congress had finally recognized his services and promoted him to Major General on September 30th, 1783. He resigned on November 3rd, 1783, when the war was officially over.

After the War he retired to his Manchester home and private life, living to age 94. He was the last surviving Revolutionary War general.

General Stark served to the close of the American Revolutionary War, and he served as a member of the court-martial which tried and convicted Major John Andrè in 1780.

Masonic historian James R. Case wrote that John Stark was made a Mason in Master’s Lodge, at Albany, New York in 1778. From Brother Heaton’s book: “The following extracts are from the records of the Master’s Lodge, as printed in the Early History and Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New York, 1781-1815, page XXI under the subject, ‘Early History of Masonry in New York.

“Albany, 9th January 1778. The Petition of Brigadier Gen. John Starke being presented to the body, he as balloted for, met with unanimous consent of the members present, and was initiated accordingly. Brig. Gen. John Starke paid 5 [Pounds] for his initiation fee, 8 [shillings] to the Tyler, and 4 [shillings] for Extra Lodge.”

Brother and General Stark was buried with Military honors in a cemetery on his own land. The site is marked by a granite obelisk that was erected in 1829.

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