In the fall of 1777. Ethan Allen and his militia, The Green Mountain Boys, trekked from New Hampshire to Bennington Vt. to protect the colonists from the invading army of British officer General John Burgoyne. Going was tough along the Molly Stark Trail. About halfway between Brattleboro and Bennington is a small village called Wimmel Town. The troops stopped for a needed rest. Low on supplies, Ethan Allen instructed his officers to organize groups to find needed supplies. One group led by Second Lieutenant Nathaniel Bartlett was given the task of procuring more ammunition. Cannon balls were badly needed. None were available in Wimmel Town. Bartlet and his men hiked to a nearby river to search for round stones to use as cannon balls. Deep in the hardwood forest Bartlett noticed uniform mounds of leaves beneath many of the trees. Curious, they investigated. To Bartletts surprise, the mounds were piles of near perfect spheres of solid wood! Perfect for cannon balls!! Bartlett and his men collected as many as they needed. Back in Wimmel Town a local farmer told Bartlett that the Abenaki Indians collected these Burl Balls for ceremonies. Curious about where the balls came form, Bartlett found a friendly Indian to ask. Chief Noahcharlie explained to Nathaniel that when black bears climbed hardwood trees, their claws would break off in the tree. The tree would grow around the claw and after a few years eject it to the forest floor in the form of a near perfect sphere. To the Indians there were like jewels with great healing powers. Now well supplied with cannon balls, the Green Mountain Boys continued their journey and fought the battle of Bennington. The rest is history. I have been lucky enough to find my own stash of burl balls. . I hollow them out and polish them up. The Burl Ball has strong medicinal properties. Gently rub your ball with your left hand to experience the awesome power of the Burl Ball. If you believe this story, I have a covered bridge i would like to sell you.