PATRIOT OUTPOST

Inscription

PATRIOT OUTPOST
MILITIAS ESTABLISHED A STAGING
OUTPOST HERE AT A FARM & MILL
BELONGING TO TEFFT FAMILY IN
SEPT. & OCT. OF 1777 PREPARING
FOR 2ND BATTLE OF SARATOGA.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2025

The Tefft Mill and farm, which was located in what is now the present-day Batten Kill Country Club, played a crucial role as a staging ground for American militia forces during the Second Battle of Saratoga, also known as the Battle of Bemis Heights. Throughout late September and October 1777, the site became a key logistical hub for troops from Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York. As the American forces prepared for a decisive confrontation with the British under General John Burgoyne, the mill saw increasing activity, serving as both a supply post and a defensive stronghold. On October 7th, the battle culminated in a resounding American victory, setting the stage for Burgoyne’s eventual surrender ten days later.

Correspondence from Jacob Bayley to General Horatio Gates confirms that by early October, approximately 1,000 militia troops had gathered at the Tefft Mill outpost. The site took on even greater significance in the immediate aftermath of the battle, as retreating British forces sought an escape route. On October 8th, additional reinforcements from the New Hampshire militia arrived at the outpost to prevent British troops from crossing the Hudson River and fleeing toward Boston. This strategic containment effort contributed to the encirclement of Burgoyne’s forces, ultimately leading to their surrender on October 17th—an event that would prove to be a turning point in the American Revolution.

While instrumental to the Patriot cause, the occupation of the Tefft farm and mill came at a steep cost to its owners. On October 15th, Brigadier General John Fellows issued an order granting Stanton Tefft compensation for damages inflicted on his property by the stationed troops. The losses were extensive, including the destruction of 100 bushels of corn, 75 bushels of oats, and 150 bushels of potatoes, among other provisions. The site’s sacrifice in service of the Revolutionary War underscores its historical significance, not only as a military outpost but also as a testament to the personal toll of war on those who found themselves at the center of its conflicts.