Baum Site 17: Colonists in Cambridge

Listen to the Road to the Battle of Bennington Site 17 Audio Narration:

 

Life on the frontier of the New World was challenging at best for colonists, tending to their farmsteads was more than an occupation, it was subsistence living. Genealogical records indicate that both Loyalists and Rebels lived in Cambridge before, during and after the Revolutionary War, but that did not mean that they were free from constant harassment. There were both Loyalist and Rebel scouting parties constantly questioning a settler’s allegiance, with horrible repercussions if it was found to be wrong. Worst of all, the colonists believed that the Indians would scalp, rape and murder anyone, regardless of allegiance. Baum’s force made their presence known, which is great for creating a diversion, but not good if he was trying to avoid opposition to his expedition to Bennington.

 

At 5 o’clock this morning, we set out, marched along yesterday’s road and reached the borders of New England at noon. The first village we came to was called new Cambridge in the Province of New Hampshire. Here we took the first horses and captured 6 rebels, one of whom deserted again.

Julius Wasmus, August 13, 1777