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 Stark,
JOHN, military officer; born in Londonderry,
New Hampshire, August
28, 1728; moved to Derryfield (now Manchester) in 1736. In 1752,
while on a hunting excursion, he was made a prisoner by the St.
Francis Indians, and was ransomed in a few weeks for $103. He became
popular with the Indians, and was adopted into their tribe. In 1755
he was made lieutenant of Rogers's Rangers, and performed good
service during the French and Indian War. A member of the committee
of safety at the commencement of the Revolution, he was alive to the
importance of every political event. On the news of the , he
hastened to Cam-bridge and was immediately chosen colonel of the New
Hampshire troops. He was efficient in the battle on
Bunker (Breed's)
Hill. Near the close of 1776, after doing effective service in the
Northern Department, he joined
George Washington on the
Delaware. He commanded the vanguard in the
battle at Trenton,
and was active in that at
Princeton. In the spring of 1777,
displeased because he had been overlooked in promotions, he resigned
his commission in the army and was placed in command of New
Hampshire militia, raised there to oppose the British advance from
Canada. Acting upon the authority of his State and his own judgment,
he refused to obey the orders of General Lincoln to march to the
west of the Hudson. He soon afterwards gained the battle at Hoosick,
near Bennington (August 16, 1777), for which Congress, overlooking his
insubordination, thanked him. He joined
Gates at
Bemis's
Heights, but the term of his militia having expired, he went home,
raised a new force, and cut off
Burgoyne's retreat from Saratoga.
Stark was placed in command of the Northern Department in 1778, and
in 1779–80 served in Rhode
Island and New Jersey.
He was also at West Point, and was one of the court that condemned
Major Andre. He was again in command of the Northern Department in
1781, with his headquarters at Saratoga. After the war he lived in
retirement. He was the last surviving general of the army, excepting
Sumter, who died in 1832. He died in Manchester, New Hampshire, May
8, 1822. |
