08/22/2026
VT 250: The Battle of Hubbardton: The Rear Guard Action that Saved America
Tuesday, August 25
5:30 PM
Manchester Community Library
Dr. Bruce Venter will speak on his award-winning book, The Battle of Hubbardton: The Rear Guard that Saved America, as part of the Manchester Historical Society and MCL’s collaborative Vermont 250 lecture series.
Hubbardton, a British tactical victory fought on July 7, 1777, was one of the first engagements in General John Burgoyne’s campaign to capture Albany and split New England from the rest of the rebellious colonies. Despite a successful opening to his campaign, Burgoyne was ultimately forced to surrender to an American army after being defeated and surrounded at Saratoga. Burgoyne’s surrender is credited with bringing France into the war on America’s side. The war would end successfully for the United States with a Franco-American victory at Yorktown four years later.
Hubbardton is the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Vermont. The American victory at Bennington in August 1777 was actually fought in New York.
“It’s time for folks to start boning up on the 1777 campaign, the turning point of the Revolution, because the 250th anniversary of these events is just around the corner,” said Venter. He will use a PowerPoint presentation and leave time for questions and answers.
Venter’s book was selected by the editors of the Journal of the American Revolution as one of the “100 Best Books on the American Revolution” and was extensively cited by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick Atkinson in his new book, The Fate of the Day, which, in part, dealt with the Saratoga campaign.
Venter is president of America’s History LLC, a history tour and conference company known nationally for its annual “premier” conference on the American Revolution. He serves as a commissioner on the Saratoga County 250th Commission; as a trustee of the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance where he does weekly podcasts with Alliance president, John Di Nuzzo; and on the board of the Fort Plain Museum and Historical Park.
Brought to you by the Bennington Regional 250th Anniversary Committee, the Manchester Community Library, and the Manchester Historical Society.
