The Old Patroon

The Dutch settlers of New York and East Jersey were among the hardest-working Europeans to settle in North America. Thrifty, ambitious, and organized, they expanded their foothold on Manhattan into a collection of settlements that far surpassed the small homeland they left behind. They named the colony New Netherlands. It was governed by a network of extremely wealthy landowners, called patroons, who had been granted large plots of land to cultivate and oversee. 

The Dutch Way

Originally, these patroons had the right to establish courts and levy taxes. Changes occurred when the British arrived in the late 17th century, and by 1775, the patroonships were abolished and renamed estates. By then, a sizable middle class had grown from Long Island and Manhattan, along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers. Many had crossed the Hudson and settled along the Hackensack River in East Jersey. The cultural and economic influence of the Dutch still affected the renamed colony of New York, and they played an important role in the War for Independence.

Roots Deep and Wide

Philip Schuyler was born into a wealthy Dutch patroon family on November 20, 1733, in Albany, New York. His parents, Cornelia Van Cortlandt and Johannes Schuyler Jr., had extensive connections to the most prosperous patroon families. His maternal grandfather was Stephanus Van Cortlandt, the 17th Mayor of New York City. Educated by tutors at the Van Cortlandt family estate in New Rochelle, he mastered Mathematics and French, in addition to his native fluency in Dutch and English. Young Schuyler actively traded with the Indians and built strong bonds with the leaders of the nearby Iroquois of the Mohawk nation. He became fluent in their language.

First Fight

Like many of his generation, he gained military experience during the French and Indian War, where Schuyler served as a captain in the New York militia. His cousin, Lieutenant Governor James Delancey, had appointed him. His connections were extensive. The wealthy young Schuyler raised a local company. He participated in some of the key battles in upper New York, including Lake George, Oswego River, Carillon, and Fort Frontenac. At Oswego, he served as a quartermaster until the fort fell to the French.

Prosperous Patroon

Post-war, he built on his wealth as a patroon until he became one of the wealthiest and most prominent men in New York. In 1768, he parlayed his wealth and influence into a political career and secured a seat in the New York legislature. Although not a radical Son of Liberty, Schuyler spoke out against British policy. He managed to get himself on a commission to settle a boundary dispute with New Hampshire. This would earn him enemies among the New Hampshire and Massachusetts elites—enemies who would pursue him in years to come.

Philip Schuyler

Continental Congress

At the start of hostilities with Britain in April 1775, Schuyler served as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. His experience in the French and Indian War helped him on a committee that developed rules and regulations for the new United Colonies Army. This led to a friendship with General George Washington, who later asked Congress to appoint him as one of the Army's major generals. 

Continental Congress

All In

Despite his wartime experience, his appointment was more about securing New York's support for the Cause than leveraging his military skills. This kind of regional quid pro quo was common and used to ensure that the different colonies were "all in." Virginia's Colonel George Washington had edged out Massachusetts' John Hancock as commander-in-chief of the Army for the same reason.

John Hancock

First  Command

Schuyler's background and experience with upper New York made him a natural choice to command the Northern Department, headquartered in Albany, his old stomping grounds. However, the mission was daunting – assemble an army and invade Quebec (Canada), where it was expected that the local "Habitants" (French settlers) would rally to the Cause. His first move, however, was political. Schuyler managed to secure the neutrality of the powerful Iroquois Confederation – or at least delay their involvement.

Schuyler leveraged strong Iroquois connections

Quebec Disaster

While thus engaged, Brigadier General Richard Montgomery gathered the forces and began his advance without awaiting Schuyler's approval. Faced with a fait accompli and debilitated by a gout attack, Schuyler approved Montgomery's plans and set to work on the logistics support the fiery Irishman would need. The campaign started late in the season, so although initially successful, it collapsed in the depths of December when Montgomery and Benedict Arnold were cut down while storming Quebec City. Montgomery died, but Arnold recovered. Schuyler's New England foes quickly cast blame on the old Dutchman.

Night Assault of Quebec

Defending the North

The British, properly reinforced, launched an offensive in the spring. While Schuyler once again managed political interference, gathered men and supplies, and coordinated the overall effort, General John Sullivan, who fought a desperate retreat from Canada, attempted to garrison the mighty Fort Ticonderoga – The Gibraltar of the North.

John Sullivan

A British fleet gathered at the mouth of the Richelieu River, so Schuyler instructed Benedict Arnold (who had recovered from his wounds at Quebec) to take command of the forward defenses on Lake Champlain. The next phase of America's struggle would be fought on that long, icy body of water. Schuyler instructed Arnold to assemble a fleet to stop the armada of men and boats coming from the north under General Guy Carleton, Governor-General of Canada.

Lake Champlain Basin

Arnold performed a "rock soup" miracle, gathering a small flotilla of gunboats and, using his unique and aggressive cunning, surprised the fleet at Valcour Island. He fought the larger British ships bravely, but the Americans were torn apart by the heavier guns and ships. Still, the stubborn resistance slowed Carleton's advance, and since it was now October, he withdrew to winter quarters, planning to finish the campaign in spring 1777. The Americans had bought some time.

American defeat at Valcour Island 

Winter of Discontent

Schuyler was distracted from his preparations by a winter of bitter political infighting as his New England detractors blamed him for the northern failures. General Horatio Gates replaced him in March 1777, but the New York delegation in Congress raised a ruckus, and Schuyler was reinstated shortly afterward. However, the bitter infighting continued even as Schuyler worked to bolster Ticonderoga and begged his New England foes for more regiments to face the British onslaught forming in Canada.

Gibraltar of the North

By Land and Sea

Despite Schuyler's efforts to prevent another British advance, General John Burgoyne's 8,000-strong force sailed down Lake Champlain and moved uncontested into Fort Ticonderoga. Its commander, General Arthur St. Clair, realizing his forces were too weak to fight and would only be captured by the British, evacuated hours before the British arrived – a crucial decision. Schuyler approved St. Clair's withdrawal and ordered a "Fabian Defense." The garrison vanished into the thick woods, cutting down trees and constructing abatis and other obstacles in an effort to slow Burgoyne's troops, who were hot on their heels. The British were drawn deeper into the wilderness and away from the waterways that supplied their route south and their supplies.

Arthur St. Clair

Rallying the Militia

The Americans distracted the British, causing Burgoyne's advance to slow down and giving time for the militias to finally respond to Schuyler's call for men. British efforts toward New England and reports of Iroquois raids helped fuel this. From his headquarters in Albany, Schuyler made urgent pleas for powder, lead, guns, and supplies. But mainly, he needed men. His plans included establishing another line of defense about 30 miles north of Albany. 

Major General Schuyler

But the blame for Ticonderoga fell on Schuyler, and General Horatio Gates was once again put in charge. Gates halted the British in two decisive battles near Saratoga, where he accepted their surrender in October 1777.

Horatio Gates

Court Martial and Politics

Schuyler demanded and received a court-martial in 1778, which cleared him of wrongdoing, but he resigned his commission and returned to Congress in 1779. Philip Schuyler's legacy was that he was the only major general in the Continental Army never to fight a pitched battle. He continued to offer advice to his friend, General Washington, as his understanding of strategy and logistics was well recognized. His knowledge of Indian affairs also benefited Washington, who sought his counsel during the 1779 campaign against the Iroquois.

General Washington valued Schuyler's counsel

Enemy of the British?

Despite rumors in New England labeling him a Tory, Schuyler was targeted by the British. He faced the threat of personal attack. In October 1777, General John Burgoyne's retreating forces burned down Schuyler's country home. He later rebuilt it, and now it is open to the public. 

Schuyler's Estate Home rebuilt 

In another incident in 1780, British agents attacked Schuyler's Albany mansion under cover of darkness. The attempt, whether kidnapping or murder, was thwarted. Following the incident, Schuyler was under the protection of a bodyguard of Continental Army soldiers. However, he remained a target. On 7 August 1781, Schuyler foiled a kidnapping plot led by John Walden Meyers. It failed when Schuyler managed to escape from his Albany mansion. The Albany mansion served variously as his home, Northern Army headquarters, political center, and business office.

Schuyler Mansion in Albany

Post-War and Politics

The old patroon had powerful New York connections, and after the war, he focused on local politics by serving in the New York State Senate. He also served as a delegate to the state Constitutional Convention in 1789 and worked hard to support the new American Constitution. Schuyler was both a businessman and a soldier plus a politician. He expanded his estate near Saratoga after the war, growing to tens of thousands of acres, with a dozen slaves and tenant farmers, as well as a store and mills for flour, flax, and lumber. To get his goods down the Hudson River to market, he built schooners, naming the first Saratoga.

Schuyler had his own fleet

Federalist

Unsurprisingly, Schuyler was among the first two U.S. Senators appointed to represent the state in the new Congress. Naturally, the longtime ally of George Washington now supported his president as a steadfast Federalist. He especially backed the solid economic policies proposed by Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who had married Schuyler's daughter, Elizabeth (more about her below). The whirlwind of New York politics caused him to lose his seat in 1792 but regain it in 1797. At the time, state legislatures, not the voters, elected senators — connections often determined who stayed or went. Schuyler was the first New Yorker to join the controversial Society of Cincinnati, a fraternity of Revolutionary War officers seen by some as a rising aristocracy. Yet most senior officers, including George Washington, had joined the organization.

President George Washington

Domestic Life

Schuyler married into the highly wealthy and influential Van Rensselaer family when he took Catherine Van Rensselaer's hand on September 7, 1755, in Albany. They had a large family of 15 children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. His second child, Elizabeth, later married young Continental Army officer Alexander Hamilton. She gained modern fame through the musical Hamilton. During her life, she used his legacy and family connections to participate in philanthropic efforts, including establishing the first orphanage in New York City.

The Hamiltons

Old Patroon

Schuyler's poor health led him to resign from political life in 1798. He died at his home in Albany in 1804, leaving a complex legacy of both success and failure. His critics saw him as too cautious or reserved to fight. Some accused him of treason—especially his enemies in New England—who were constantly suspicious of his aristocratic Dutch background. Regional conflicts also influenced perceptions. They believed Schuyler supported his own New York land claims over those of Vermont. Ironically, Schuyler later backed the Vermonters, which angered influential New York Governor George Clinton. Fame, wealth, and power drew powerful enemies to the Old Patroon.

Schuyler Grave and Memorial

Albany Rural Cemetery

Forts of the North

Glacial Expanse

Although much of North America was heavily forested in the 18th century, the expansive region of mountain woodlands stretching from New England to the Great Lakes along the northern part of New York made travel slow, difficult, and often dangerous. For centuries, however, the native tribes of the area, including the Iroquois, Abenaki, and Huron, moved through it with relative ease. Passes of knowledge passed down through generations of the tribes turned even the smallest crack in the woods, footpath, or deer trail into their main routes.

However, modern (18th-century) travelers like explorers, hunters, trappers, and armies needed a better way to navigate the often overwhelming wilderness. To do this, they also looked to nature. In this case, the excellent network of waterways was created by glaciers that receded at the end of the last great ice age.

Waterways of War

The resulting waterway extended, with minimal interruption, from the Saint Lawrence River to Lower New York Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. This narration will focus on the northernmost waters of Lake Champlain and Lake George. Several forts built to defend the waterways played a significant role in the many clashes between the French, Indians, and the British in the 18th century. 

Crown Point

This is the story of two forts as Britain and France clashed to control Lake Champlain, the largest body of water south of the Great Lakes and west of the Atlantic Ocean. Like an opposing left thumb, a small peninsula extending into the lake from Champlain's western shore dominates the approach from either side. As the first "battlespace" between Canada and the colonies, it played a crucial role in the many 18th-century conflicts over a North American Empire. 

Crown Point and Other Forts of the North

The French were the first to recognize the strategic importance of the location. In 1734, they started building a base called Fort St. Frederic, which they used to launch raids against British settlers in central New York and New England (the hated Bostonnais). During the French and Indian War, the British aimed to neutralize the base and eventually succeeded in capturing it in 1759. They quickly constructed new defensive structures on the site, which they named "His Majesty's Fort of Crown Point." The new fortifications at Crown Point covered more than seven acres, making it one of the largest in North America.

Between the French and Indian War and the start of the American Revolution, Crown Point (like all other spots along the waterway) became less important and was basically put on hold. However, in 1775, the Americans saw the value in capturing the unmanned cannons and weapons for the new Continental Army. It served as a base for American forces invading Canada in 1775 and defending New York in 1776. Crown Point returned to British control when General John Burgoyne launched his 1777 campaign to split up the colonies. It stayed under British control even after Burgoyne surrendered in October of that year.

Ruins of the fort at Crown Point

Fort Ticonderoga

Fort Ti is the big daddy of forts, the big kahuna, the Gibraltar of the North, and plays a major role in my novel, The North Spy. The name "Ticonderoga" comes from the Iroquois word tekontaró:ken, meaning "it is at the junction of two waterways." Situated between Lake Champlain and Lake George, the site controlled the transit route between Canada and the American colonies, making it one of the most strategic locations in North America. I visited once when I was very young and twice as an adult and have not even begun to explore its full historical and geographic significance. 

The Gibraltar of the North

French Carillon

Recognizing its strategic importance, the French first fortified the site in 1755 and named it Fort Carillon. It would play a key role in the upcoming campaigns of the French and Indian War. The strength of the location was demonstrated in 1758 when 4,000 French troops defeated 16,000 British soldiers in a fierce battle called The Battle of Carillon. However, all forts are meant to be taken, and in 1759, the British returned. This time, they drove out the small French garrison. 

Fighting at Fort Carillon

Rebel Pickings

At the start of the Revolutionary War, local leaders recognized the importance of the fort and its weapons. In 1775, the American siege of Boston surrounded the British but lacked the necessary guns to carry out a proper siege and the gunpowder to risk a full-scale attack. 

Taking Ticonderoga by surprise

On May 10, 1775, Colonel Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen led a surprise attack with a group of Green Mountain Boys and other local militia, catching the garrison off guard and capturing it. General George Washington, the new commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, sent Colonel Henry Knox to Ticonderoga to move the heavy cannons and powder back to Boston. When these captured guns were installed in the battery overlooking the city in March 1776, General William Howe ordered the evacuation of Boston.

Knox dragged Ticonderoga's guns to Boston

Red Deluge

During the summer campaign of 1777 led by British General John Burgoyne, Ticonderoga was a focal point. The large fort was crucial to Burgoyne's plans, serving as his logistics hub and starting point for his final push to Albany and a connection with General Henry Clinton's army in New York City.

General John Burgoyne

Without a Shot

The Americans acknowledged the threat and the importance of defending the fort, but the defenses had been neglected, and the garrison lacked enough troops, munitions, and supplies. Ironically, large fortresses use a lot of resources and are vulnerable if not fully staffed. This was the situation facing the new American commander of the garrison, General Arthur St. Clair. Ticonderoga was surrounded by mountains that, if taken, would put the fort and garrison in danger. St. Clair did not secure those hills, but the resourceful British did – dragging a gun battery to the top of Mount Defiance. Recognizing the danger, St. Clair ordered a night withdrawal, leaving the Gibraltar of the North without firing a shot.

St. Clair ordered the surrounded and undermanned fort abandoned

Fort Ann

Nestled in the rugged woods east of Lake George's southern tip, Fort Ann sits at the edge of the rough terrain and marks the start of the lowland routes to Fort Edward and the Upper Hudson Valley. 

Fort Ann protected the approach to the Hudson

French and Indian War

Recognizing its strategic position, the British built a small fort there in 1757. It was in 1758 that renowned French and Indian War leaders Israel Putnam and Robert Rogers led a force of 500 men to scout and screen the French at Fort Ticonderoga. On their return, they were ambushed, and Israel Putnam was wounded and captured.

Rogers's Rangers

Revolutionary War

Following the fall of Fort Ticonderoga in the summer of 1777, British General John Burgoyne forced the Continental troops to retreat. They pursued them through the dense, rugged woods east of the lakes. The Americans conducted a fighting withdrawal by felling trees and setting up ambush points, then regrouped in a defensive perimeter near the last stronghold before the pass leading to the lowlands – Fort Ann. The British advance guard was on the move, determined to capture the fort.

British Advance Guard

Impromptu Battlefield

The Battle of Fort Ann took place here on July 9, 1777. This was another delaying action, one of many large and small, that marked the middle phase of the Saratoga Campaign. 

Fort Ann Block House

The British advance guard, consisting of around 200 men, was confronted at the gorge about a mile north of Fort Ann by Colonel Pierce Long's rear guard, which included 150 men reinforced by 400 New York militia under Colonel Henry van Rensselaer. Long and van Rensselaer launched an attack in two columns when the British paused to wait for reinforcements. One column swung east, threatening the British flank and rear, while the other pushed into the defile.

Gunpowder and War Whoops

The British withdrew to higher ground, and after two hours of intense fighting, the Americans broke contact due to a lack of ammunition and the sound of approaching British reinforcements. However, those reinforcements turned out to be a ruse—a single British officer imitating Iroquois war whoops. While a British victory, the action at Fort Ann delayed the progress of the British Saratoga Campaign. 

While the Patriots successfully outnumbered and surrounded the British, they ultimately retreated to Fort Ann and then to Fort Edward after being deceived into thinking that enemy reinforcements were about to encircle them. Nevertheless, the Patriots effectively delayed British movements toward Saratoga and secured an American victory there. 

Fort Edward

A series of forts was built at the "Great Carrying Place," a portage around the falls on the Hudson once used by local Indians before colonial times. Located on the "Great War Path," which was later used by the Iroquois and other tribes, both French and English colonists saw its importance and used it during many wars in the eighteenth century.

Fort Edward and Rogers Island

A French and Indian Fort

During the French and Indian War, General Phineas Lyman built Fort Lyman here in 1755. Sir William Johnson, the British Superintendent for Indian Affairs, renamed it Fort Edward in 1756 to honor Prince Edward, the younger brother of the future King George III. After Fort William Henry was captured by the French, the well-known Major Robert Rogers used it as a base for his Rangers' operations. In 1759, General Jeffrey Amherst's army gathered at Fort Edward for their attack on Fort Carillon and Fort St. Frederic. After the British took the forts, Fort Edward was greatly reduced as the war moved north.

Sir William Johnson

Revolutionary Days

Fort Edward was destroyed by the rebels shortly after the Revolutionary War started. Although it was never used as a defensive structure, its strategic location made it a base for many military officers passing through. The commander of the Continental Army's Northern Department, General Philip Schuyler, used it as his headquarters until the British forced him south on their way to Saratoga in the summer of 1777.

General Phillip Schuyler

Place of Infamy

The most infamous event of the 1777 Saratoga campaign, the case of Jane McCrae, happened near the fort. Jane, the fiancée (or lover) of a Loyalist officer, was captured by an Indian war party while visiting a house close to the fort. Her fiancée sent another Indian war party to negotiate for her release. When it became clear that the fiancée's envoy would not pay a ransom, her captor, a Huron named Wyandott Panther, became enraged. During the argument, he allegedly shot her. Jane's bloody scalp was brought to the British camp, where her fiancée identified it by its bright red hair. The rest of her remains were buried near the fort.

Jane McCrae's tragic death rallied the North

Patriotic Outrage

The Americans exploited the incident to stir up deep-rooted colonial fear and hatred of the Indians. Given the long history of conflict between the tribes, especially the Mohawks, this was fairly easy to do. Soon, hesitant farmers and settlers began to rally to the cause in large numbers. By the time General Burgoyne's Army was north of Albany, the angry rebels outnumbered him two to one.

McCrae's death and fear of the Indians rallied the complacent

Forts of Futility?

It is an axiom that forts are built to fall. A determined and sometimes lucky attacker will always succeed despite the earth, stone, wood, mortar, and sweat invested. The forts of the north were no exception. Despite their strategic positioning, excellent defensive terrain, and large land areas for an attacker to control, they all fell. But does that mean they were a failure? Like minefields, forts are not meant to stop an enemy but to influence his actions by channeling his forces, slowing his advance, and forcing a confrontation. And despite their flaws, the forts of the north, over decades of war and strife, served as formidable targets.

Guns of Ticonderoga

I suggest that anyone interested in the captivating history of the region visit these sites. They are set amidst some of the most stunning scenery in the United States. Today, the mountains and waterways host charming villages, scenic farms, and a variety of activities to enjoy while reflecting on the courage and sacrifice of early Americans, including both Native Americans and colonists.

Bold Dragoon

 Bennington, New York (Vermont)

A volley of musket fire suddenly sprayed just over their heads, and, contrary to tradition, training, and inclination, both officers ducked.

His jaw stiff with determination, Friedrich Baum rose to his feet and pointed his saber in the direction of the rebel fire. "The Iroquois must have fled. Why else would we receive rebel fire from there? Move a platoon to the south. Then bring up the cannon and quickly before they overrun us."

"We are already low on ammunition," said Glich.

"Then bring up the last caisson. No sense saving powder now."

Excerpt from The North Spy

This edition of the Yankee Doodle Spies features another profile of a character from my upcoming novel, The North Spy, Oberstleutnant Friedrich Baum. Since very little is known about Baum's background, I will need to fill in some gaps with speculation.

Professional Soldier

Friedrich Baum commanded a rare commodity in North America—a cavalry regiment. In this case, it was the Dragoon Regiment Prinz Ludwig, better known as the Brunswick Dragoons. The regiment's name came from its benefactor, Prinz Ludwig Ernst, the younger brother of Duke Karl, who ruled Brunswick. The Prinz Ludwig regiment was one of seven hired by the King of England from the Duke of Brunswick. The other six were infantry units: four musketeer regiments, one grenadier regiment, and one jaeger regiment. The Duchy of Brunswick (Braunschweig) is a northern German principality that provided a skilled professional army to allies like Prussia or generous supporters like Britain.

Prinz Ludwig Ernst

A Storied Regiment

The regiment was established in 1688 and was officially classified as a dragoon regiment in 1772. It was made up of four troops at full strength, totaling 330 officers and enlisted soldiers. These impressive horse soldiers wore bicorne hats and bright blue jackets, armed with carbines and sabers. Although they carried swords, dragoons were mounted infantry who rode into battle and dismounted to fight as infantry with light muskets or carbines. It was assumed that the unit would need their horses while in Canada, but they did not, and later many swapped their heavy boots for shoes with black gaiters.

Brunswick Dragoon

Typical of the time, the commander was a colonel who did not actually lead the unit—Oberst Friedrich von Riedesel. Instead, the lieutenant colonel (Oberstleutnant) was in command. Von Riedesel was later promoted to major general and given command of the entire Brunswick contingent, which was "leased" to King George to serve as auxiliaries to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War under the 1776 treaty between Great Britain and the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.

Vague Origins

Friedrich Baum was born in 1727, but his exact birthplace is unknown. Little is known about Baum's background, but he was a tough, professional officer from the small principality ruled by Friedrich Graf zu Schaumburg-Lippe-Bueckeburg. Young Baum rose to become captain of the Graf's Carabiner Corps, an elite troop unit. He fought in some battles during the Seven Years' War in Europe but had little battlefield command experience before serving in the American Revolution.

Dragoons in the Seven Years' War

A New Allegiance, A New World

Baum transferred his service to the Duke of Brunswick in 1762 and, by 1776, had become a lieutenant colonel. Baum and the Brunswick Dragoon Regiment left the German duchy in February 1776 as part of two Brunswick divisions hired to fight the United States under the now General Friedrich von Riedesel. 

General Friedrich von Riedesel

After arriving in Quebec, the Brunswickers assisted Governor Guy Carleton in policing the Americans who were struggling to retreat to New York. In the summer of 1777, Baum's regiment was assigned to the army of General John Burgoyne, which was preparing for an important campaign in the Lake Champlain region of New York. 

Northern Invasion

The invasion began in late June and started strongly with a quick advance along Lake Champlain, capturing the large Fort Ticonderoga through a surprise attack and pursuing the rapidly retreating rebel army. However, by August, Burgoyne's forces started to slow down and become exhausted in dense, difficult terrain. More critically, the supply line became overextended, and the army ran out of supplies. Intelligence reports told Burgoyne that Loyalists were rallying to the king and that livestock and food were only a few miles away at Bennington in the New Hampshire Grants – a disputed area stretching between New York and New Hampshire that would later become Vermont.

The invasion route

A Special Mission

Burgoyne ordered Baum to lead 800 men through the Grants, seize cattle and horses, and rally the many Loyalist sympathizers in the area. Baum's men marched east on August 11, 1777. Additionally, his force, which included over 374 Brunswick Dragoons, about 50 Jaegers, 30 artillerymen, along with 300 Loyalists, Canadians, and Indians, set out on what was expected to be a straightforward mission. 

Indian allies 

True to his Seven Years War experience and European training, Baum moved slowly through the rough, wooded terrain. He would occasionally stop the column to dress the ranks and realign them. But time was not a major concern, as Baum was told. The numerous Loyalists in the area were expected to rally to him. Unfortunately, word of the Iroquois attacks on the settlers had the opposite effect. Loyalists did not show up, but the Patriots were rallying.

Rebel Resistance

This became clear the next day when a group of rebels engaged Baum's column in a firefight at Cambridge. His "spider-sense" tingling, the cautious Baum sent Burgoyne a request for reinforcements. He also expressed frustration that Loyalist bands had not rallied to him as he expected. What to do? Dig in, of course. He had his men build several redoubts east of Bennington and waited for reinforcements and for the situation to unfold. 

Baum's first contact with the militia sent off an alarm

Rising Tide

Unfortunately, his redoubts were so spread out that they could not support each other. Although some Loyalists had come into his camp to join his column, there were rebel spies among them. Two American forces were also preparing to attack Baum's exposed position. The spies soon relayed details about Baum's defenses. About 2,000 rebels, mostly New Hampshire militia under John Stark and Seth Warner's Green Mountain Boys, were ready to strike against Baum's positions. Stark pushed units around Baum's flanks and nearly surrounded him, and on the morning of August 16, Stark ordered the attack.

John Stark was the wrong opponent for Baum's first action

Shock and Awe in the Grants

The veteran Baum was caught off guard by the speed and shock of the rebel attack. The Brunswick Dragoons and other Germans fought back fiercely, skillfully using their redoubts. But they fell for a trick by Stark, who deliberately sent units out to draw the defenders' fire and deplete their scarce powder and balls. When the defenders' volleys began to weaken, the Americans advanced and took the redoubts one at a time. 

New Hampshire militia storming Baum's redoubts

Last Redoubt

Baum, commanding the last stronghold, assessed his situation. The rebels swarmed and peppered them with constant fire. The air hummed with the sound of musket balls, and the hollering of angry rebels fired up for the final attack. Most of his Loyalist and Indian allies had fled. It was down to him and the dragoons. The professionals who had followed him across the deadly battlefields of Europe and across a vast ocean now faced a land and a people even more threatening.

One by one, the redoubts fell

 Desperate Gambit

With ammunition nearly exhausted, surrounded, and outnumbered three to one, our brave dragoon recognized his dire situation and resorted to a desperate measure. His remaining dragoons drew their long sabers. Although they had no horses, they had gravity! Blades shining in the sun, the tall, mustached warriors in pale blue charged downhill at the startled Americans. Seven brave dragoons fought their way out and eventually limped into Fort George. Sadly, our brave dragoon was not among them. Oberstleutnant Braun took a musket ball, was captured by the rebels, and died in the American camp on August 18. 

Scheme of battle

Battle Lost

The final musket shots fell silent at dusk. The anticipated reinforcements, a force of Brunswick jaegers and grenadiers under Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich von Breymann, arrived too late to turn the tide. Some accounts say Breymann disliked Baum and moved at a pace of less than a mile an hour, but the terrain and other factors could explain this. Breymann himself would be killed in action a few months later - shot by his own men! Yes, "fragging" was a real thing in the 18th century and throughout military history.

Campaign Lost

The impact of Baum's defeat cannot be overstated. Over 700 soldiers from Baum's command were either taken prisoner or reported missing—almost the entire force. American casualties numbered around 70. 

Aftermath of battle

The failed expedition meant Burgoyne lacked enough food, supplies, and draft animals for the ongoing fight at Saratoga—not to mention the absence of a corps of professional soldiers. The Indian allies lost confidence in Burgoyne's chances of success and began to drift away, leaving Burgoyne without native "cavalry" to scout and screen in the vast New York wilderness. 

Baum's defeat  helped seal Burgoyne's fate

And, of course, Baum's defeat was the precursor to Burgoyne's army suffering a more important loss two months later at Saratoga, turning the tide of war in favor of the Americans.

Legacy

So our bold dragoon's legacy is not a good one. Baum's first experience leading an independent command became his last. He did his duty, but his mission failed. Still, our bold dragoon gave the last full measure. I believe, in some way, as a professional officer, he might have preferred to give his all than face the shame of defeat at the hands of rebels.

Marker near where Baum died

They buried Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum on the north bank of the Walloomsac River, though the exact spot is unknown. He died in a nearby house that was torn down around 1870. A marker placed at the site of the house in 1927 by the Sons of the American Revolution serves as the only connection to the man whose death may have marked the start of a turning point in the American War for Independence.

Final Epitaph