In 1926 the United States celebrated 150 years since independence, to commemorate this the Post Office were in the middle of releasing stamps that depicted events during the Revolutionary War.

For the Vermont Sesquicentennial the Battle of Bennington was chosen. Fought 150 years prior, in 1777 on August 16th. The battle took place in what was New York State at the time, Bennington is now in Vermont. The reason for the choice of design is Vermonts militia, called the Green Mountain Boys, were the major component of the American force of 650 at the Battle of Bennington. Against superior numbers the Vermont mountain boys won a resounding victory against a British and German force. Today the 16th August is celebrated as 'Battle Day' in Vermont.

Two designs were submitted for the stamp's vignette, as shown above. At the time of the battle the Militia was wearing rough clothes, military uniforms as drawn on the left image did not become widespread in the Continental Army until much later in the war. Therefore the right image was chosen. It was also unlikely that the Green mountain boys would have carried a sword into the battle, they were armed with long, small calibre, rifled weapons.

The stamp was issued on August 3rd, which has no relation to the battle's date, Vermont's independence on January 15th 1777 (VT was called New Connecticut), or Vermont's statehood, which was on the March 4th, 1791. The stamp was issued on August 3rd, along with #644, to commemorate the first display of the Stars and stripes in the face of the enemy, which was on August 3rd, 1777 at the defence of Fort Stanwix.

One small detail from this event, not yet celebrated with a stamp, is that the Vermont constitution, drafted in 1777, was the first written constitution in North America to provide for the abolition of slavery.

A pane of 100 of #643, there were four panes to a sheet of 400