Baum’s Third Letter to Burgoyne

Sir,

I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I arrived here at 9 in the morning, having had intelligence of a party of the enemy being in possession of a mill, which they abandoned at our approach, but in their usual way fired from the bushes and took their road to Bennington. A savage was slightly wounded. They broke down the bridges which has slightly retarded our march about an hour. They left in the mill about 78 barrels of very fine flour, 1000 bushels of wheat, 20 barrels of salt, and about 1000 heirlooms worth of pot and pearl ashes. I have ordered 30 provincials and an officer to guard the provision and the pass of the bridge. By 4 prisoners taken here, they agree that 1500 to 1800 men are in Bennington, but are supposed to leave it on our approach. I will proceed so far today as to fall on the enemy tomorrow early, and make such disposition as I think necessary from the intelligence I may receive. People are flocking in hourly, but want to be armed. The savages cannot be controuled. They ruin and take everything they please.

I am – Your Excellency’s most obedient and humble servant, F. Baume

Beg your Excellency to pardon the hurry of this letter; it is wrote on the head of a barrel.