John Stark
A Prisoner of the Francois Indians
Among those who essentially aided in the conquest of the Canadas was John Stark, born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on August 25, 1728. When John was but eight years of age, his father moved to what is now called Manchester. Life in the wild was the order of the day; fishing and hunting were a way of life. On April 28, 1752, John Stark was taken prisoner by the St. Francois Indians while visiting his beaver trips. The savages ordered him to lead them to his companions, which he pretended to do but instead led them two miles in the opposite direction. The Indians discovered their position by the discharge of their guns. The Indians proceeded below where their boat was moored and ordered Stark to hail them when they approached. He did so and told them to escape to the opposite shore. They attempted to do so, one of them was immediately shot and killed, and the other man Stark saved by snatching the gun from the Indian who aimed at him. They were prisoners of the Indians for about six weeks.Adventurers in the Wild
In the winter of 1753, the Court of New Hampshire sent an exploring expedition into Coos County and employed young Stark as pilot to the company. Stark was sent on a journey the following year to learn if the French were erecting a fortification.The French and Indian War 1755-1763
When the hostilities with the French and Indians commenced in 1755, Stark was commissioned a Lieutenant under Captain Rodgers to raise a company of brave, hardy men and to join the regiment at Fort Edward. They arrived after the French and Indians attacked Sir William Johnson near Bloody PondIn the fall of the year, the troops returned to their homes.
The Bloody Battle
During the winter of 1756, the regiment seized supplies from Crown Point to Ticonderoga. The Colonial troops had taken a few sleighs and were on their way to Fort George when the combined force of the French and Indians furiously attacked them. Captain Spickman was killed in a desperate and bloody battle. Also, Captain Rodgers was severely wounded. The entire command then devolved upon Li ut. Stark, overpowered by numbers, ordered a retrial. With the coolness and skill of an experienced veteran, he drew off his men, keeping the enemy at a respectful distance with a well-directed fire when too closely pressed. Stark brought away all his wounded men and conveyed them to Fort George in sleighs. He was at once elected to fill the place of Captain Spick. The following spring, he was ordered to New York, where he suffered severely from smallpox and was unfit for duty until the following autumn when he returned and wintered at Fort Edward.The Defeat of the Colonial Troops at Ticonderoga
In 1758, General Abercrombie planned an attack upon Ticonderoga. The Rangers serving under Major Rodgers were sent to inspect the enemy and make way for the main body of Troops. The evening before that fatal attack, the Major received orders to carry the bridge between Lake George and the plains of Tie early the following day. On the approach of the rangers, the French and Indians were assembled in force to dispute their passage. The Colonial troops were defeated, which ended that campaign. It was an unfortunate affair, inspiring the Indians with boldness in their career of predatory warfare.Capt. Stark served until the end of the French War and saw the English standard wave triumphantly over Canada. Later, upon retiring to his home, he mounted his horse and hastened to the action scene when he heard of the cry to arms in Lexington. The armies rallied at Medford, and Stark was given the rank of Colonel. Ten large companies promptly rallied around him with hearts beating high for their injured, bleeding country. The necessary discipline was introduced, and all were anxious to learn military tactics. Gen. Ward ordered Colonel Stark to examine Noodle's Island to locate a battery shortly after organizing his regiment. With two other officers, he repaired to the place designated and returned under a brisk but harmless fire from a British boat in close pursuit.
Stark was at the Battle of Bunker's Hill and, when Boston was evacuated, marched his regiment to New York to aid in erecting fortifications.
The Expedition to Three Rivers
The ensuing May, he was ordered to Three Rivers. At Chamblee, he and his men rendered essential service to the troops suffering from a small ox. From there, he crossed over to Chimney Point and encamped. When ordered to Ticonderoga by General Schuyler, he drew up a formal remonstrance assigning his specific objections. He correctly pointed out the disasters that must and did render the expedition abortive. On presenting his views to the General, he obeyed the or er. General Gates placed Colonel Stark over a brigade when he took command of the northern army.The Battle of Trenton
Towards the close of that campaign, Congress made the error of raising several younger Colonels to Brigadiers, a violation of common justice, and a source of discord in the army. At about the same time, Colonel Stark marched into Pennsylvania and joined Washington a few days before the battle of Trenton. So poorly shod and disheartened were the soldiers that then composed the mere nucleus of the American army that they melted the snow with gushing blood from their feet and scalding tears from their eyes.At the battle of Trenton, Colonel Stark led the vanguard and contributed mainly towards obtaining the most crucial victory of the Revolution. When New Hampshire was obliged to furnish men to oppose the march of General Burgoyne, General Stark took command. He informed the Council that he was willing to lead the troops where duty called but would not place himself under any power of his state. His terms were accepted. The brave Stark was immediately underway with an independent corps of dauntless soldiers ready to follow him through storms of iron hail and British thunder. He encamped at Bennington, Vermont, where he was waited upon by Major-General Lincoln, who had orders to conduct the New Hampshire troops to headquarters. The Major-General found himself in the wrong box and returned to Gen. Gates, who complained to Congress and Washington that Gen. Stark was bent on fighting upon his hook, which he was permitted to do with significant effect. Apprised of this apparent discord, Burgoyne despatched Col. Baum to cut off the Americans. General Stark determined to give the illustrious visitant a warm recept. On August 13, 1777, Baum encamped on an eminence near the town and erected a breastwork of logs, amd his ardor for a sudden attack having abated. Early the following day, Gen. Stark formed his troops into two divisions of aggression. The two divisions advanced upon the front and rear of the enemy simultaneously. In a short time, a formidable reinforcement approached from the British army, ready to snatch the laurels of victory from the Americans. At that critical moment, Colonel Warner advanced with his bold Green Mountain boys and kept a far superior number at bay until General Stark could bring all his men into action. The red coats were routed and were so generous as to leave their artillery for the use of the patriots. As General Burgoyne advanced, Gen. Stark retired to the vicinity of the American army to participate in a general engagement that he saw must soon occur. On September 15, his term of service expired when he returned home with his tro ps. He immediately reported himself to the Council and urged the necessity of sending recruits at once to capture the British army. In a few days, he joined Gen. Gates with a more vital force than before. He favored a bold movement and placed his troops in the rear to cut off all communication with Lake Geo ge. The surrender of Gen. Burgoyne took place soon after when Gen. Stark returned home with his troops.
Shortly after his return, Congress commissioned him to prepare an expedition against Canada, making his headquarters at Albany, New York. He performed the duties assigned to him with promptness and fidelity.
Early in 1778, Stark commanded the northern department, which was chaotic, and with but few troops to protect an extensive frontier. Tories, speculators, and defaulters surrounded him. He commenced a rigid reform and continued in the vigorous discharge of his duty until October, when he joined General Gates in Rhode Island. Stark spent much of his service raising recruits and supplies for the army, including an advance near York Island with 2,500 men and a train of wagons to secure all the grain and forage possible. Afterward, he returned to West Point with an ample supply of army necessities.
Stark died on May 8, 1822 at West Point.