Author Ben Z. Rose brings to life the legendary hero of the New England Militia during America s War of Independence. Born in Colonial New Hampshire to Scotch Irish immigrants, John Stark survived Indian captivity, and later fought alongside the British in the French and Indian War as part of Rogers Rangers, a legendary militia company which pioneered the tactics of modern guerilla warfare. General Stark s Scotch Irish roots, first hand exposure to second class citizenship in the British army and his desire to prove his talent as a general drove him to achieve victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Later, his surprise attack against British hired mercenaries at the Battle of Bennington turned the tide of the war in favor of the young American army. Staunchly independent, John Stark disdained politics and was considered something of a renegade, even among his friends. Like General George Patton of later years, Stark was brash, outspoken and suspicious of politicians who meddled in military affairs. Stark would live to the age of 94, outlasting al but one general of the Revolutionary War
Though we live in a time of unprecedented interest in the character of our founding fathers, many of the American Revolution's most important leaders have been overlooked. One of those forgotten is John Stark, a brilliant battlefield tactician from New Hampshire, whose decisive action at key points in the War of Independence helped determine its outcome.
In his biography, author Ben Z. Rose focuses on a handful of key people in John Stark's life in an effort to gain insight into his motivation and character. These include his wife, Elizabeth "Molly" Stark, who hailed from a prominent Puritan family; his oldest son, Caleb, who enlisted in the Continental Army at the age of 15; Robert Rogers, founder of the colonial ranger force that bears his name; Seth Warner, the Green Mountain Ranger who fought for Vermont's independence; fellow-New Hampshire Revolutionary War General John Sullivan, who fought alongside Stark at the Battle of Trenton; and Horatio Gates, who rivaled George Washington for leadership of the Continental Army.
John Stark inspired the phrase "Live Free or Die" in a letter to the citizens of Vermont almost 200 years ago during a Battle of Bennington reunion. Stark's sentiment at the time was clearly intended to warn against another British invasion, which occurred a short time later when the British burned down the US Congress during the War of 1812.
As we live in an age where the pendulum swings between concerns over the intrusion of government in our daily lives and fear of foreign enemies, Stark's words speak to us with the same relevance as he did more than 200 years ago.
