The Story of John Stark: Hero of Bennington

This is the story of John Stark.

When the American Revolution began, Stark joined the Continental Army and was appointed as Colonel of the First New Hampshire Regiment. He resigned from service after discovering he had been overlooked for a promotion. But he stayed dedicated to the independence of the colonies. Stark was able to anticipate many of the British's moves correctly, including predicting the British would come from the North. He organized a militia force to defend New Hampshire, and when he learned of an approaching British force led by Lieutenant Colonel Baum, they jumped into action.

Stark recalled it as the hottest engagement he had ever witnessed, resembling a continual clap of thunder. The Patriots surrounded the British and the battle ended in an American victory that foreshadowed the British defeat at Saratoga a couple months later. Stark continued to fight in the war and was promoted to Major General by Congress on September 30th, 1783. He passed away in 1822 as the last surviving Revolutionary War General. He became known as the Hero of Bennington and lived by the words, "Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils." One hundred thirty-six years later, that phrase became New Hampshire's official state motto.