The difficulty of drawing supplies from fort George would increase every day with the increasing distance; and the communications, already endangered by a considerable body of militia assembling at White Creek, could be secured only by larger detachments from his army than he was in a condition to make.
These were strong inducements to attempt some other mode of supply.
[Sidenote: Colonel Baum is detached to seize the magazines at Bennington.] It was well known that large magazines of provisions for the use of the American army were collected at Bennington, which place was generally guarded by militia, whose numbers varied from day to day.
The possession of these magazines would enable him to prosecute his ulterior plans without relying for supplies from Lake George; and he determined to seize them.
To try the affections of the country, to complete a corps of loyalists, and to mount Reidisel's dragoons, were subordinate objects of the expedition.[79] Lieutenant Colonel Baum with five hundred Europeans, and a body of American loyalists, was detached on this service.
[Footnote 79: Letter of Burgoyne.] To facilitate the enterprise, and be ready to take advantage of its success, Burgoyne moved down the east side of the Hudson, and threw a bridge of rafts over that river for the passage of his van, which took post at Saratoga.

At the same time Lieutenant Colonel Brechman, with his corps, was advanced to Batten Hill, in order, if necessary, to support Colonel Baum.[80] [Footnote 80: Letter of Burgoyne.] On approaching Bennington, Baum discovered that he should have to encounter a much more considerable force than had been suspected.

The New Hampshire militia, commanded by General Starke, had reached that place on their way to camp; and, uniting with Colonel Warner, made in the whole about two thousand men.
Perceiving his danger, Baum halted about four miles from Bennington, and despatched an express for a reinforcement.

In the mean time, he strengthened his position by intrenchments.
Lieutenant Colonel Brechman was immediately ordered to his assistance; but, such was the state of the roads that, though the distance was only twenty-four miles, and his march was pressed unremittingly from eight in the morning of the 15th, he did not reach the ground on which Baum had encamped, until four in the afternoon of the next day.[81] [Footnote 81: Ibid.] [Sidenote: Is attacked in his intrenchments by General Starke, and entirely routed.] In the mean time, General Starke determined to attack him in his intrenchments.

So confident were the provincials belonging to this party, of the attachment of the country to the royal cause, that the American troops, while making their dispositions for the attack, were mistaken for armed friends coming to join them.