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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31206-8.txt b/31206-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..502bcd0 --- /dev/null +++ b/31206-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4011 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Burgoyne's Invasion of 1777, by Samuel Adams Drake + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Burgoyne's Invasion of 1777 + With an outline sketch of the American Invasion of Canada, 1775-76. + +Author: Samuel Adams Drake + +Release Date: February 7, 2010 [EBook #31206] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777 *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + WORKS BY SAMUEL ADAMS DRAKE + + OLD LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC PERSONAGES + OF BOSTON. Illustrated $2.00 + + OLD LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC FIELDS OF + MIDDLESEX. Illustrated 2.00 + + NOOKS AND CORNERS OF THE NEW ENGLAND + COAST. Illustrated 3.50 + + CAPTAIN NELSON. A Romance of Colonial Days .75 + + THE HEART OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. Illustrated + (Illuminated Cloth) 7.50 + + Tourist's Edition 3.00 + + AROUND THE HUB. A Boy's Book about Boston. + Illustrated 1.50 + + NEW ENGLAND LEGENDS AND FOLK LORE. + Illustrated 2.00 + + THE MAKING OF NEW ENGLAND. Illustrated 1.50 + + THE MAKING OF THE GREAT WEST 1.75 + + OLD BOSTON TAVERNS. Paper .50 + + BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777. Net .50 + + _Any book on the above list sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt + of price, by_ + + LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON + + +[Illustration: GENL. BURGOYNE.] + + + + + Decisive Events in American History + + + BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777 + + + WITH AN + OUTLINE SKETCH OF THE AMERICAN INVASION + OF CANADA, 1775-76 + + + BY + SAMUEL ADAMS DRAKE + + + BOSTON 1889 + LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS + 10 MILK STREET NEXT "OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE" + NEW YORK CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM + 718 AND 720 BROADWAY + + + + + BOSTON + S. J. PARKHILL & CO., PRINTERS + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + INTRODUCTION 9 + + PRELUDE. + + I. THE INVASION OF CANADA 15 + + II. THE INVASION OF CANADA 19 + + + BURGOYNE'S INVASION. + + I. THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN 27 + + II. BURGOYNE'S ARMY 33 + + III. THE FALL OF TICONDEROGA 37 + + IV. HUBBARDTON 45 + + V. FACING DISASTER 56 + + VI. THE MARCH TO FORT EDWARD 61 + + VII. BEFORE BENNINGTON 68 + + VIII. BATTLE OF BENNINGTON 77 + + IX. AFTER BENNINGTON 87 + + X. ST. LEGER'S EXPEDITION 90 + + XI. OUR ARMY ADVANCES 95 + + XII. BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS 101 + + XIII. LINCOLN'S RAID IN BURGOYNE'S REAR 113 + + XIV. SECOND BATTLE OF FREEMAN'S FARM 116 + + XV. RETREAT AND SURRENDER 126 + + XVI. SEVENTEENTH OF OCTOBER, 1777 137 + + XVII. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFEAT 143 + +[Illustration: MILITARY MAP, LAKE CHAMPLAIN.] + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Among the decisive events of the Revolutionary struggle, Burgoyne's +campaign deservedly holds the foremost place, as well for what it led +to, as for what it was in inception and execution--at once the most +daring, most quixotic, and most disastrous effort of the whole war. + +Burgoyne was himself, in some respects, so remarkable a man that any +picture of his exploits must needs be more or less tinted with his +personality. And this was unusually picturesque and imposing. He +acquired prestige, at a time when other generals were losing it, through +his participation in Carleton's successful campaign. But Burgoyne was +something more than the professional soldier. His nature was poetic; his +temperament imaginative. He did nothing in a commonplace way. Even his +orders are far more scholarly than soldier-like. At one time he tells +his soldiers that "occasions may occur, when nor difficulty, nor labor, +nor life are to be regarded"--as if soldiers, in general, expected +anything else than to be shot at!--at another, we find him preaching +humanity to Indians, repentance to rebels, or better manners to his +adversary, with all the superb self-consciousness that was Burgoyne's +most prominent characteristic. + +To the military critic, Burgoyne's campaign is instructive, because it +embodies, in itself, about all the operations known to active warfare. +It was destined to great things, but collapsed, like a bubble, with the +first shock of an adverse fortune. + +This campaign is remarkable in yet another way. It has given us the most +voluminous literature extant, that treats of any single episode of the +Revolutionary War. In general, it takes many more words to explain a +defeat than to describe a victory. Hence this fulness is much more +conspicuous upon the British than upon the American side of the history +of this campaign. Not only the general, who had his reputation to +defend, but high officials, whose guiding hand was seen behind the +curtain, were called to the bar of public opinion. The ministers +endeavored to make a scapegoat of the general; the general, to fix the +responsibility for defeat upon the ministers. His demand for a +court-martial was denied. His sovereign refused to hear him. It was thus +meanly attempted to turn the torrent of popular indignation, arising +from the ill success of the expedition, wholly upon the unlucky +general's head. Burgoyne's heroic persistency at length brought the +British nation face to face with the unwelcome fact, which the ministers +were so desirous of concealing,--that somebody besides the general had +blundered; and if the inquiry that Burgoyne obtained from Parliament +failed to vindicate him as a captain, it nevertheless did good service +by exposing both the shortcomings of his accusers, and the motives which +had guided their conduct with respect to himself. + +Besides the official examination by the House of Commons, we have +several excellent narratives, written by officers who served with +Burgoyne, all of which materially contribute to an intelligent study of +the campaign, from a purely military point of view. These narratives are +really histories of the several corps to which the writers belonged, +rather than capable surveys of the whole situation; but they give us the +current gossip of the camp-fire and mess-table, spiced with anecdote, +and enlivened with the daily experiences through which the writers were +passing. And this is much. + +In his defence, General Burgoyne vigorously addresses himself to the +four principal charges brought forward by his accusers: namely, first, +of encumbering himself with a needless amount of artillery; secondly, of +taking the Fort Anne route, rather than the one by way of Lake George; +thirdly, of sending off an expedition to Bennington, under conditions +inviting defeat; and, lastly, of crossing the Hudson after the disasters +of Bennington and Fort Stanwix had taken place. + +The real criticism upon Burgoyne's conduct, so far as it relates to the +movement of his forces only, seems to be that from the moment when the +march was actually to begin, he found himself in want of everything +necessary to a rapid advance. Thus, we find him scarcely arrived at +Skenesborough before he is asking Sir Guy Carleton for reënforcements to +garrison Ticonderoga and Fort George with, to the end that his own force +might not be weakened by the detachments required to hold those +fortresses against the Americans, when he should move on. It would seem +that this contingency, at least, might have been foreseen before it +forced itself upon Burgoyne's attention. Yet it was of so serious a +nature, in this general's eyes, that he expresses a doubt whether his +army would be found equal to the task before it, unless Carleton would +assume the defence of the forts referred to above. + +At this time, too, the inadequacy of his transportation service became +so painfully evident, that the expedition to Bennington offered the only +practicable solution to Burgoyne's mind. + +These circumstances stamp the purposed invasion with a certain haphazard +character at the outset, which boded no good to it in the future. + +Carleton having declined to use his troops in the manner suggested, +Burgoyne was compelled to leave a thousand men behind him when he +marched for Albany. Carleton, the saviour of Canada, was justly +chagrined at finding himself superseded in the conduct of this campaign, +by an officer who had served under his orders in the preceding one; and, +though he seems to have acted with loyalty toward Burgoyne, this is by +no means the only instance known in which one general has refused to go +beyond the strict letter of his instructions for the purpose of rescuing +a rival from a dilemma into which he had plunged with his eyes wide +open. + +The Prelude with which our narrative opens, undertakes first, to briefly +outline the history of the Northern Army, which finally brought victory +out of defeat; and next, to render familiar the names, location, and +strategic value of the frontier fortresses, before beginning the story +of the campaign itself. + +Few armies have ever suffered more, or more nobly redeemed an apparently +lost cause, than the one which was defeated at Quebec and victorious at +Saratoga. The train of misfortunes which brought Burgoyne's erratic +course to so untimely an end was nothing by comparison. And the +quickness with which raw yeomanry were formed into armies capable of +fighting veteran troops, affords the strongest proof that the Americans +are a nation of soldiers. + +So many specific causes have been assigned for Burgoyne's failure, that +it is hardly practicable to discuss all of them within reasonable +limits. The simplest statement of the whole case is that he allowed +himself to be beaten in detail. It seems plain enough that any plan, +which exposed his forces to this result, was necessarily vicious in +itself. Moreover, Burgoyne wofully misestimated the resources, spirit, +and fighting capacity of his adversary. With our forces strongly posted +on the Mohawk, St. Leger's advance down the valley was clearly +impracticable. Yet such a combination of movements as would bring about +a junction of the two invading columns, at this point, was all essential +to the success of Burgoyne's campaign. To have effected this in season, +Burgoyne should have made a rapid march to the Mohawk, intrenched +himself there, and operated in conjunction with St. Leger. His delays, +attributable first, to his unwise choice of the Fort Anne route, next, +to Schuyler's activity in obstructing it, and lastly, to his defeat at +Bennington, gave time to render our army so greatly superior to his own, +that the conditions were wholly altered when the final trial of strength +came to be made. + +What might have happened if Sir W. Howe had moved his large army and +fleet up the Hudson, in due season, is quite another matter. The writer +does not care to discuss futilities. In the first place, he thinks that +Burgoyne's campaign should stand or fall on its own merits. In the next, +such a movement by Howe would have left Washington free to act in the +enemy's rear, or upon his flanks, with a fair prospect of cutting him +off from his base at New York. Of the two commanders-in-chief, +Washington acted most effectively in reënforcing Gates's army from his +own. Howe could not and Carleton would not do this. From the moment that +Burgoyne crossed the Hudson, he seems to have pinned his faith to +chance; but if chance has sometimes saved poor generalship, the general +who commits himself to its guidance, does so with full knowledge that he +is casting his reputation on the hazard of a die. As Burgoyne did just +this, he must be set down, we think, notwithstanding his chivalrous +defence of himself, as the conspicuous failure of the war. And we assume +that the importance which his campaign implied to Europe and America, +more than any high order of ability in the general himself, has lifted +Burgoyne into undeserved prominence. + + + + +PRELUDE + +I. + +THE INVASION OF CANADA, 1775. + + +[Sidenote: Canada's attitude.] + +England took Canada from France in 1759, and soon after annexed it to +her own dominions. Twelve years later, her despotic acts drove her +American colonies into open rebellion. England feared, and the colonies +hoped, Canada would join in the revolt against her. But, though they did +not love their new masters, prudence counselled the Canadians to stand +aloof, at least till the Americans had proved their ability to make head +against the might of England. + +That England would be much distressed by Canada's taking sides with the +Americans was plain enough to all men, for the whole continent would +then be one in purpose, and the conflict more equal; but the Americans +also greatly wished it because all New England and New York lay open to +invasion from Canada. + +Nature had created a great highway, stretching southward from the St. +Lawrence to the Hudson, over which rival armies had often passed to +victory or defeat in the old wars. Open water offered an easy transit +for nearly the whole way. A chain of forts extended throughout its +whole length. Chambly and St. John's defended the passage of the +Richelieu, through which the waters of Lake Champlain flow to the St. +Lawrence. Crown Point[1] and Ticonderoga[2] blocked the passage of this +lake in its narrowest part. Ticonderoga, indeed, is placed just where +the outlet of Lake George falls down a mountain gorge into Lake +Champlain. Its cannon, therefore, commanded that outlet also. Fort +George stood at the head of Lake George, within sixteen miles of Fort +Edward, on the Hudson. These were the gates through which a hostile army +might sally forth upon our naked frontier. Much, therefore, depended on +whether they were to be kept by friend or foe. + +[Sidenote: Ticonderoga.] + +In natural and artificial strength, Ticonderoga was by far the most +important of these fortresses. At this place the opposite shores of New +York and Vermont are pushed out into the lake toward each other, thus +forming two peninsulas, with the lake contracted to a width of half a +mile, or point-blank cannon range, between them: one is Ticonderoga; the +other, Mount Independence. Thus, together, they command the passage of +the two lakes. + +Ticonderoga itself is a tongue-shaped projection of quite uneven land, +broad and high at the base, or where it joins the hills behind it, but +growing narrower as it descends over intervening hollows or swells to +its farthest point in the lake. That part next the mainland is a wooded +height, having a broad plateau on the brow--large enough to encamp an +army corps upon--but cut down abruptly on the sides washed by the lake. +This height, therefore, commanded the whole peninsula lying before it, +and underneath it, as well as the approach from Lake George, opening +behind it in a rugged mountain pass, since it must be either crossed or +turned before access to the peninsula could be gained. Except for the +higher hills surrounding it, this one is, in every respect, an admirable +military position. + +The French, who built the first fortress here, had covered all the low +ground next the lake with batteries and intrenchments, but had left the +heights rising behind it unguarded, until Abercromby attacked on that +side in 1758. They then hastily threw up a rude intrenchment of logs, +extending quite across the crest in its broadest part. Yet, in spite of +the victory he then obtained, Montcalm was so fully convinced that +Ticonderoga could not stand a siege, that he made no secret of calling +it a trap, for some honest man to disgrace himself in.[3] + +Ticonderoga, however, was henceforth looked upon as a sort of Gibraltar. +People, therefore, were filled with wonder when they heard how Ethan +Allen had surprised and taken it on the 9th of May, 1775, with only a +handful of men; how Seth Warner had also taken Crown Point; and how +Skenesborough[4] and Fort George, being thus cut off from Canada, had +also fallen into our hands without firing a shot.[5] + +Thus, in the very beginning of the war for independence, and at one bold +stroke, we regained possession of this gateway of the north; or in +military phrase, we now held all the strategic points by which an +advance from Lower Canada upon the United Colonies was possible. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] CROWN POINT, built by the French in 1731, greatly strengthened by +the British, who took it in 1759. + +[2] TICONDEROGA, familiarly called "Ty" because the early spelling of +the name was Tyconderoga. Built 1755-56 by the French, taken 1759 by the +British, under Amherst. Three weeks before the battle of Lexington, an +agent of Massachusetts was sent to ascertain the feelings of the people +of Canada. His first advice was that "Ty" should be seized as quickly as +possible. + +[3] MONTCALM'S PROPHECY came true in St. Clair's case in 1777. + +[4] SKENESBOROUGH, now Whitehall, named for Philip Skene, a retired +British officer, who settled on lands granted him after the French War. +He had about fifty tenants, and a few negro slaves. + +[5] THE CAPTURED ARTILLERY was taken to Cambridge on sleds in midwinter, +by Colonel Knox. It enabled Washington to bring the siege of Boston to a +favorable conclusion. + + + + +II. + +THE INVASION OF CANADA. + + +[Sidenote: Invasion of Canada.] + +The prompt seizure of the lake fortresses had a marked effect upon the +wavering Canadians.[6] Many joined us. More stood ready to do so +whenever the signal for revolt should be given. Success begets +confidence. The Americans were now led to believe that by throwing an +army into Canada at once, the people would no longer hesitate to free +themselves from the British yoke. The time seemed the riper for it, +because it was known that the strong places of Canada were but weakly +guarded. Could Quebec and Montreal be taken, British power in Canada +would be at an end. + +[Sidenote: Our army retreats.] + +[Sidenote: 1776.] + +With such promise held out before it, Congress resolved to make the +attempt. Forces were ordered to both places. One body, under General +Montgomery,[7] mustered at Ticonderoga. Ethan Allen went before it to +rouse the Canadians, who were expected to receive the Americans with +open arms. This army moved down the lake in October, taking St. John's +and Chambly in its way, and Montreal a little later. The other, led by +Colonel Arnold,[8] ascended the Kennebec to its head, crossed over to +the Chaudière, which was followed to the St. Lawrence, and came before +Quebec at about the same time Montgomery entered Montreal. Montgomery +hastened to Arnold with a handful of men. Together they assaulted Quebec +on the morning of December 31. The attack failed, and Montgomery fell. +The Americans lay before Quebec till spring, when the arrival of fresh +troops, for the enemy, forced ours to retreat to Montreal. This, too, +was abandoned. Our army then fell back toward Lake Champlain, setting +fire to Chambly, and St. John's behind it. The enemy followed close, +recapturing these places as our troops left them. Very little fighting +took place, but the Americans were greatly disheartened by having +constantly to retreat, and by the loss of many brave officers and men, +who fell sick and died of the smallpox. July 1 the army finally reached +Crown Point, ragged, sickly, and destitute of everything. Weakened by +the loss of five thousand men and three commanders, it was no longer +able to keep the field. Instead of conquering Canada, it had been driven +out at the point of the bayonet. The great question now was, whether +this army could hold its own against a victorious and advancing enemy. + +General Gates[9] took command of the army at this critical time. +Convinced that he could never hope to hold both Crown Point and +Ticonderoga, and knowing Ticonderoga to be much the stronger, in a +military view, he decided to remove the army to that place at once. This +was promptly done.[10] The soldiers were set to work strengthening the +old, or building new, works, under the direction of skilful engineers. +Of these new works the strongest, as well as most important, because +they commanded Ticonderoga itself, were those raised on the peninsula +opposite the fortress on the Vermont side, which was christened Mount +Independence on the day the army heard that the colonies had declared +themselves free and independent. + +Having thrown a bridge across the strait, between Ticonderoga and Mount +Independence, the Americans waited for the enemy to come and attack +them, for with such leaders as Gates and Stark they felt confident of +gaining the victory. + +The British were equally active on their side. After driving the +Americans from Canada, they next determined to make themselves masters +of Lake Champlain, recover the forts they had lost, and so gain a +foothold for striking a blow at our northern colonies. + +For this purpose they set about building a fleet at St. John's. Vessels +were sent out from England, for the purpose, which were taken to pieces +below the Chambly rapids, brought across the portage, and put together +again at St. John's. By working diligently, the British got their fleet +ready to sail early in October. + +Well knowing the importance of keeping possession of the lake, the +Americans turned Skenesborough into a dockyard, and were straining every +nerve to get ready a fleet strong enough to cope with the British. As +everything needed for equipping it had to be brought from the sea-coast, +the British had much the advantage in this respect, yet all labored with +so much zeal, that our fleet was first ready for action. Gates gave the +command of it to Arnold, who had once been a sailor, and whose courage +had been tried so signally under the walls of Quebec. + +By the middle of August, Ticonderoga was in fighting trim. The enemy's +delays had given time to make the defences so strong that an attack was +rather hoped for than feared. Ignorant of the great preparations making +at St. John's, the Americans also believed themselves strongest on the +lake. Our fleet, therefore, went forward with confidence to the battle. + +[Sidenote: Naval battle, October 11.] + +On the 11th of October the British flotilla was seen coming up the lake. +The rival forces met at Valcour Island, and the battle began. From noon +till night the combatants hurled broadsides at each other without +ceasing. The British then drew off to repair damages, meaning to renew +the fight in the morning. This gave Arnold a chance to slip through them +unperceived, for his vessels were so badly shattered that all hope of +gaining the victory was given over. He was pursued and overtaken. Near +Crown Point the battle began again, but the enemy's superior forces soon +decided it in his favor. Rather than surrender, Arnold ran his disabled +vessels on shore, set fire to them, and with his men escaped to the +woods. + +Having thus cleared the lake, the British commander, Guy Carleton,[11] +sailed back to St. John's, leaving Ticonderoga unmolested behind him, to +the great astonishment of our soldiers, who said Carleton deserved to be +hanged for not following up his victory over Arnold. + +[Illustration: NAVAL BATTLE, LAKE CHAMPLAIN. + +A, American flotilla. B-C, British. D, Line of Retreat, when the British +were forced back to E.] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] THE WAVERING CANADIANS. The Massachusetts revolutionary authority +had been at work upon the wavering Canadians since 1774, with only +partial success. (See note 2, preceding chapter.) The Americans thought +the Canadians would seize the opportunity of freeing themselves, but +events proved this opinion ill-grounded. A political connection between +the Protestants of New England and the Catholics of Canada, except for +mutual defence, could hardly be lasting, nor did the priests favor it. +The military advantages were equally questionable, though great stress +was laid upon them by Washington and Schuyler, even after the allegiance +of the Canadians had been confirmed to the British side by the reverses +our arms sustained. If we had conquered Canada, it would doubtless have +been handed over to France again at the close of the war. + +[7] GENERAL RICHARD MONTGOMERY, of Irish birth, had served under Amherst +at the taking of Crown Point and Ticonderoga in 1759, settled in New +York, been one of eight brigadiers created by Congress in June, 1775; +General Schuyler's illness threw the chief command, for which he proved +himself eminently fitted, on Montgomery. His having served on this line +was much in his favor. + +[8] COLONEL BENEDICT ARNOLD had once been a soldier at Ticonderoga. He +went there again with a commission from Massachusetts, when the fortress +was taken by Allen. He had also spent some time in Quebec. These facts +had influence in procuring for him a command in the invading expedition. + +[9] GENERAL HORATIO GATES, a retired British major, settled in Virginia, +was made adjutant-general of the army, June, 1775. + +[10] THE REMOVAL OF THE ARMY from Crown Point to Ticonderoga was +strongly opposed by Stark and others, and disapproved by Washington. + +[11] GUY CARLETON, British governor of Canada, though driven from +Montreal by Montgomery, had successfully defended Quebec against him. He +reconnoitred Ticonderoga, but seems to have thought it too strong to be +attacked with his force. + + + + +BURGOYNE'S INVASION + +I. + +THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. + + +After the British had gone back to Canada, it was thought they would +return as soon as the lake should be frozen hard enough to bear +artillery. But when it was found that they had gone into winter +quarters, and the danger was past, part of the garrison of Ticonderoga +was hurried off to Washington, who was then fighting against great odds +in the Jerseys. This winter was the dark hour of the Revolution, upon +which the victory at Trenton[12] shed the first ray of light. So low had +the American cause fallen at this time, that, but for this unlooked-for +success, it is doubtful if another army could have been brought into the +field. + +The British were really planning to invade New York as soon as the lakes +should be open again, in the spring. For this campaign great +preparations were making, both in Canada and England. Quiet, therefore, +reigned at Ticonderoga throughout the winter of 1776 and 1777. + +General Burgoyne sailed for England in November, to lay before the king +a plan for subduing the colonies in a single campaign. Burgoyne was a +good soldier, popular with the army and government, brave to rashness, +but vain and headstrong. He knew the Americans were not to be despised, +for he had seen them fight at Bunker Hill, as well as in the campaign +just closed, in which he himself had taken part; yet an easy confidence +in his own abilities led Burgoyne into committing many grave errors, not +the least of which was underestimating this very enemy.[13] + +[Sidenote: George III. wants the war pushed.] + +Any plan that promised to put down the Americans, was sure of gaining +the king's ear. Justice was never tempered with mercy in this monarch's +treatment of his rebellious subjects. His heart was hardened, his hand +ever ready to strike them the fatal blow. Moreover, the Americans had +just now declared themselves independent of Great Britain. They had +crossed their Rubicon. To crush them with iron hand was now the king's +one thought and purpose. No half measures would do for him. He told his +ministers, in so many words, that every means of distressing the +Americans would meet with his approval. Mercenaries, savages, +refugees--all who could fire a shot, or burn a dwelling, were to be +enrolled under the proud old banner of the isles. No more effectual +means could have been devised to arouse the spirit of resistance to the +highest pitch. + +Burgoyne's ambition was kindled by the hope of making himself the hero +of the war. He combined the qualities of general and statesman without +being great as either. He wrote and talked well, was eloquent and +persuasive, had friends at court, and knew how to make the most of his +opportunity. On his part, the king wanted a general badly. He had been +grievously disappointed in Sir William Howe, whose victories seemed +never bringing the war any nearer to an end. Burgoyne brought forward +his plan at the right moment, shrewdly touched the keynote of the king's +discontent by declaring for aggressive war, smoothed every obstacle away +with easy assurance, and so impressed the ministers with his capacity, +that they believed they had found the very man the king wanted for the +work in hand. + +The plan proposed for making short work of the war was briefly this: The +American colonies were to be divided in two parts, by seizing the line +of the Hudson River; just as in later times, the Union armies aimed to +split the Southern Confederacy in two by getting possession of the +Mississippi. To effect this, two armies were to act together. With one, +Burgoyne was to come down the lakes from Canada, and force his way to +Albany, while the other was coming up the Hudson to join him. Once these +armies were united, with full control of the Hudson in their hands, New +England would be cut off from the other colonies by forts and fleets, +and the way laid open to crush out rebellion in what was admitted to be +its cradle and stronghold. + +Ever since Sir William Howe had been driven from Boston, in the spring +of 1776, the opinion prevailed among American generals that, sooner or +later, New England would become the battle-ground.[14] This view was +sustained by the enemy's seizure of Newport, in December of the same +year, so that the Americans were perplexed at finding themselves +threatened from this quarter, until the enemy's plans were fully +developed. + +[Sidenote: St. Leger's part.] + +There was yet another part to the plan concerted between Burgoyne and +the British cabinet. It was seen that in proportion as Burgoyne moved +down toward Albany, he would have the fertile Mohawk valley on his +right. This valley was the great thoroughfare between the Hudson and +Lake Ontario, Niagara, and Detroit. In it were many prosperous +settlements, inhabited by a vigorous yeomanry, who were the mainstay of +the patriot cause in this quarter. The passage to and fro was guarded by +Fort Stanwix, which stood where Rome now is, and Fort Oswego, which was +situated at the lake. Fort Stanwix was held by the Americans, and +Oswego, by the British. Perceiving its value to the Americans not only +as a granary, but as a recruiting station, and in view of the danger of +leaving it on his flank, Burgoyne decided to march a force through this +valley, clear it of enemies, and so effectively bring about a timely +coöperation between the two branches of the expedition. Freed of fear +for himself, he could materially aid in the work intrusted to his +auxiliary. It followed that the Americans, with whom Burgoyne himself +might be contending, would, of necessity, be greatly distressed by their +inability to draw either men or supplies from the Mohawk Valley, no less +than by the appearance of this force upon their own flank. The command +of it was given to Colonel St. Leger, who was ordered to proceed up the +St. Lawrence to Oswego, and from thence to Fort Stanwix and Albany. + +It must be allowed that this plan was well conceived; yet its success +depended so much upon all the parts working in harmony together, that to +have set it in motion, without consultation or clear understanding +between the generals who were to execute it, is inconceivable. At a +distance of three thousand miles from the scene of war, the British +cabinet undertook to direct complicated military operations, in which +widely separated armies were to take part. General Burgoyne received his +orders on the spot. General Howe did not receive his until the 16th of +August; his army was then entering Chesapeake Bay. Burgoyne was being +defeated at Bennington, at the time Howe was reading his despatch, and +learning from it what he had not known before; namely, that he was +expected to coöperate with the army of Burgoyne. These facts will so +sufficiently illustrate the course that events were taking, as to +foreshadow their conclusion to the feeblest understanding. + +In order to make the war more terrible to the Americans, the British +cabinet decided to use the Indians of Canada, and the Great Lakes, +against them. Not even the plea of military necessity could reconcile +some Englishmen to letting loose these barbarians upon the colonists. +Though enemies, they were men. Lord Chatham, the noblest Englishman of +them all, cried out against it in Parliament. "Who is the man," he +indignantly asked, "who has dared to associate to our arms the tomahawk +and scalping-knife of the savage?" All knew he meant the prime minister, +and, behind him, the king himself. Had not King George just said that +any means of distressing the Americans must meet with his approval? + +FOOTNOTES: + +[12] VICTORY AT TRENTON. After being driven from the Jerseys, Washington +suddenly turned on his pursuers, and by the two fine combats of Trenton +and Princeton, compelled much superior forces everywhere to retreat +before him, thus breaking up all the enemy's plans for the ensuing +campaign, saving Philadelphia, and putting new life into the American +cause. + +[13] UNDERESTIMATING HIS ENEMY. Burgoyne candidly admits as much in his +letter to Lord G. Germaine. _State of the Expedition_, Appendix, xcii. + +[14] NEW ENGLAND THE BATTLE-GROUND. Sir William Howe did propose, at +first, operating against Boston from Rhode Island, with ten thousand +men, while an equal force should effect a junction with the army of +Canada, by way of the Hudson. This purpose he subsequently deferred for +an advance into Pennsylvania, but Burgoyne asserts that he was not +informed of the change of plan when he sailed for Canada in April; and, +though Sir William Howe afterward wrote him to the same effect (July +17th) a letter which was received early in August, Burgoyne, +nevertheless, persisted in his intention of passing the Hudson, +notwithstanding he knew, and says (August 20th), that no operation had +yet been undertaken in his favor. _State of the Expedition_, 188, 189; +Appendix, xlvii. + + + + +II. + +BURGOYNE'S ARMY. + + +Having thus outlined the plan of invasion, let us now look at the means +allotted for its execution. There were in Canada ten thousand British +soldiers; in New York, thirty thousand. Burgoyne was to take with him +seven thousand, of whom three thousand were Germans in the pay of +England.[15] In discipline, spirit, and equipment, this was by far the +best little army that had yet taken the field in America. + +Good judges said that England might be searched through and through +before such battalions could be raised. Forty cannon, splendidly served +and equipped, formed its artillery train. All the generals, and most of +the soldiers, were veterans. In short, nothing that experience could +suggest, or unlimited means provide, was omitted to make this army +invincible. It was one with which Burgoyne felt he could do anything, +and dare everything. + +Besides these regular troops, we have said the government had authorized +and even attempted to justify to the world, the employment of Indians. +Four hundred warriors joined the army when it marched, and as many more +when it reached Lake Champlain. They were to scour the woods, hang like +a storm cloud about the enemy's camps, and discover his every movement. +For this service they had no equals. In the woods they could steal upon +an enemy unawares, or lie in wait for his approach. In the field they +were of little use. Much of the terror they inspired came from the +suddenness of their onset, their hideous looks and unearthly war-cries, +and their cruel practice of scalping the wounded. + +To these were added about an equal number of Canadians, and American +refugees, who were designed to act as scouts, skirmishers, or foragers, +as the occasion might require. Being well skilled in bush-fighting, they +were mostly attached to Frazer's corps, for the purpose of clearing the +woods in his front, getting information, or driving in cattle. With his +Indians and irregulars,[16] Burgoyne's whole force could hardly have +numbered less than ten thousand men. + +Taken as a whole, this army was justly thought the equal of twice its +own number of raw yeomanry, suddenly called to the field from the anvil, +the workshop, or the plough. Its strongest arm was its artillery; its +weakest, its Indian allies. + +Burgoyne divided his force into three corps, commanded by Generals +Frazer, Phillips, and Riedesel,--all excellent officers. Frazer's corps +was mostly made up of picked companies, taken from other battalions and +joined with the 24th regiment of the line. As its duty was of the +hardest, so its material was of the best the army could afford. Next to +Burgoyne, Frazer was, beyond all question, the officer most looked up to +by the soldiers; in every sense of the word, he was a thorough soldier. +His corps was, therefore, Burgoyne's right arm. Phillips commanded the +artillery; and Riedesel, the Germans. + +In the middle of June this army embarked on Lake Champlain. Of many +warlike pageants the aged mountains had looked down upon, perhaps this +was the most splendid and imposing. From the general to the private +soldier, all were filled with high hopes of a successful campaign. In +front, the Indians, painted and decked out for war, skimmed the lake in +their light canoes. Next came the barges containing Frazer's corps, +marshalled in one regular line, with gunboats flanking it on each side; +next, the Royal George and Inflexible frigates, with other armed vessels +forming the fleet. Behind this strong escort, the main body, with the +generals, followed in close order; and, last of all, came the camp +followers, of whom there were far too many for the nature of the service +in hand. + +In the distance the American watch-boats saw this gallant array bearing +down upon them, in the confidence of its power. Hastening back to +Ticonderoga, the word was passed along the lines to prepare for battle. + +For the Mohawk Valley expedition, St. Leger, who led it, took with him +about seven hundred regular troops, two hundred loyalists, and eight +guns. At Oswego, seven hundred Indians of the Six Nations joined him. +With these, St. Leger started in July for Fort Stanwix, which barred +his way to the Hudson, just as Ticonderoga blocked Burgoyne's advance on +the side of Lake Champlain. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] SOLDIERS WERE HIRED from the petty German princes for the American +war. The Americans called them all Hessians, because some came from the +principality of Hesse. George III. also tried to hire twenty thousand +Russians of Empress Catharine, but she gave him to understand that her +soldiers would be better employed. There was good material among the +Germans, many of whom had served with credit under the Great Frederick; +but the British showed them little favor as comrades, while the +Americans looked upon them as paid assassins. Not one in twenty knew any +English, so that misconception of orders was not unfrequent, though +orders were usually transmitted from headquarters in French. A jealousy +also grew up out of the belief that Burgoyne gave the Germans the +hardest duty, and the British the most praise. At Hubbardton, and on the +19th of September, the Germans saved him from defeat, yet he +ungenerously, we think, lays the disaster of October 7th chiefly at +their door. + +[16] INDIANS AND IRREGULARS. It is impossible to give the number of +these accurately, as it was constantly fluctuating. Though Burgoyne +started with only four hundred Indians, the number was increased by five +hundred at Skenesborough, and he was later joined by some of the Mohawks +from St. Leger's force. In like manner, his two hundred and fifty +Canadians and Provincials had grown to more than six hundred of the +latter before he left Skenesborough. Most of these recruits came from +the Vermont settlements. They were put to work clearing the roads, +scouting, getting forward the supplies, collecting cattle, etc. Their +knowledge of the country was greatly serviceable to Burgoyne. In the +returns given of Burgoyne's _regular troops_, only the rank and file are +accounted for. Staff and line officers would swell the number +considerably. + + + + +III. + +THE FALL OF TICONDEROGA. + +(_July 5, 1777._) + + +A hundred years ago, the shores of Lake Champlain were for the most part +a wilderness. What few settlements did exist were mostly grouped about +the southeast corner of the lake, into which emigration had naturally +flowed from the older New England States. And even these were but feeble +plantations,[17] separated from the Connecticut valley by lofty +mountains, over which one rough road led the way. + +Burgoyne's companions in arms have told us of the herds of red deer seen +quietly browsing on the hillsides; of the flocks of pigeons, darkening +the air in their flight; and of the store of pike, bass, and maskelonge +with which the waters of the lake abounded. At one encampment the +soldiers lived a whole day on the pigeons they had knocked off the trees +with poles. So the passage of the lake must have seemed more like a +pleasure trip to them than the prelude to a warlike campaign. + +In his way up the lake, Burgoyne landed at the River Bouquet, on the +west shore, where for some days the army rested. + +To this rendezvous, large numbers of Indians had come to join the +expedition. It was indispensable to observe the customs which had always +prevailed among these peoples when going to war. So Burgoyne made them a +speech, gave them a feast, and witnessed the wild antics of their war +dance. + +He forbade their scalping the wounded, or destroying women and children. +They listened attentively to his words, and promised obedience; but +these commands were so flatly opposed to all their philosophy of war, +which required the extinction of every human feeling, that Burgoyne +might as well have bidden the waters of the lake flow backward, as +expect an Indian not to use his scalping-knife whenever an enemy lay at +his mercy. + +Still, it is to Burgoyne's credit that he tried to check the ferocity of +these savages, and we would also charitably believe him at least half +ashamed of having to employ them at all, when he saw them brandishing +their tomahawks over the heads of imaginary victims; beheld them +twisting their bodies about in hideous contortions, in mimicry of +tortured prisoners; or heard them howling, like wild beasts, their cry +of triumph when the scalp is torn from an enemy's head. + +While thus drawing the sword with one hand, Burgoyne took his pen in the +other. He drew up a paper which his Tory agents were directed to scatter +among the people of Vermont, many of whom, he was assured, were at heart +loyal to the king. These he invited to join his standard, or offered its +protection to all who should remain neutral. All were warned against +driving off their cattle, hiding their corn, or breaking down the +bridges in his way. Should they dare disobey, he threatened to let loose +his horde of savages upon them. Such a departure from the rules of +honorable warfare would have justified the Americans in declaring no +quarter to the invaders. + +Well aware that he would not conquer the Americans with threats, +Burgoyne now gave the order to his army to go forward. His view of what +lay before him might be thus expressed: The enemy will, probably, fight +at Ticonderoga. Of course I shall beat them. I will give them no time to +rally. When they hear St. Leger is in the valley, their panic will be +completed. We shall have a little promenade of eight days, to Albany. + +On June 29 the army was near Ticonderoga. This day Burgoyne made a +stirring address to his soldiers, in which he gave out the memorable +watchword, "_This army must not retreat._" + +The next day, Frazer's corps landed in full view of the fortress. The +rest of the army was posted on both sides of the lake, which is nowhere +wider than a river as the fortress is approached. The fleet kept the +middle of the channel. With drums beating and bugles sounding, the +different battalions took up their allotted stations in the woods +bordering upon the lake. When night fell, the watch-fires of the +besiegers' camps made red the waters that flowed past them. But as yet +no hostile gun boomed from the ramparts of Ticonderoga. + +What was going on behind those grim walls which frowned defiance upon +the invaders? General Gates was no longer there to direct. General St. +Clair[18] was now in command of perhaps four thousand effective men, +with whom, nevertheless, he hoped to defend his miles of intrenchments +against the assaults of twice his own numbers. His real weakness lay in +not knowing what point Burgoyne would choose for attack, and he had been +strangely delinquent in not calling for reënforcements until the enemy +was almost at the gates of the fortress itself. + +Burgoyne knew better than to heedlessly rush upon the lines that had +proved Abercromby's destruction.[19] He knew they were too strong to be +carried without great bloodshed, and meant first to invest the fortress, +and after cutting off access to it on all sides, then lay siege to it in +regular form. + +[Sidenote: July 2, Mount Hope seized.] + +To this end, Frazer's corps was moved up to within cannon-shot of the +works. His scouts soon found a way leading through old paths,[20] quite +round the rear of the fortress, to the outlet of Lake George. This was +promptly seized. After a little skirmishing, the enemy planted +themselves firmly, on some high ground rising behind the old French +lines, on this side; thus making themselves masters of the communication +with Lake George, and enclosing the fortress on the rear or land side. +While this was going on, on the west shore, Riedesel's Germans were +moved up still nearer Mount Independence, on the Vermont shore, thus +investing Ticonderoga on three sides. + +A more enterprising general would never have permitted his enemy to +seize his communications with Lake George, without making a struggle +for their possession, but St. Clair appears to have thought his forces +unequal to the attempt, and it was not made. The disaster which followed +was but the natural result. + +[Illustration: THE INVESTMENT OF TICONDEROGA. + +[_Pen and ink sketch by a British officer._] + +A-B, Ticonderoga. C-D-E, Mount Independence. F, Barracks. G, Mount +Defiance. H, Bridge joining the fortress proper with Mount Independence. +I, American Fleet. K, Outlet of Lake George. O, British Fleet. P, +Three-Mile Point. Q, First Landing Place of Burgoyne. R, The Germans. +T-U, Position taken on Mount Hope. W, Second Position of same Troops at +U. Z, Portage to Lake George.] + +[Sidenote: Mount Defiance occupied.] + +Just across the basin formed by the widening of the outlet of Lake +George, a steep-sided mountain rises high above all the surrounding +region. Its summit not only looks down upon the fortress, in every part, +but over all its approaches by land or water. Not a man could march +without being distinctly seen from this mountain. Yet, to-day, the eye +measures its forest-shagged sides, in doubt if they can be scaled by +human feet. Indeed, its ascent was so difficult that the Americans had +neglected to occupy it at all. This is Mount Defiance, the most +commanding object for miles around. + +[Sidenote: July 5.] + +Burgoyne's engineers could not help seeing that if artillery could be +got to the top of this mountain, Ticonderoga was doomed. They +reconnoitred it. Though difficult, they said it might be done. St. +Clair's timidity having given them the way to it, the British instantly +began moving men and guns round the rear of the fortress, and cutting a +road up the mountain-side. The work was pushed forward day and night. It +took most of the oxen belonging to the army to drag two twelve-pounders +up the steep ascent, but when they were once planted on the summit, +Ticonderoga lay at the mercy of the besiegers. + +[Sidenote: July 6.] + +When St. Clair saw the enemy getting ready to cannonade him from Mount +Defiance, he at once gave orders to evacuate the fortress[21] under +cover of the night. Most of the garrison retreated over the bridge +leading to Mount Independence, and thence by the road to Hubbardton. +What could be saved of the baggage and army stores was sent off to +Skenesborough, by water. Hurry and confusion were everywhere, for it was +not doubted that the enemy would be upon them as soon as daylight should +discover the fortress abandoned. This happened at an early hour of the +morning. The British instantly marched into the deserted works, without +meeting with the least resistance. Ticonderoga's hundred cannon were +silent under the menace of two. Burgoyne was now free to march his +victorious battalions to the east, the west, or the south, whenever he +should give the order. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[17] FEEBLE PLANTATIONS. No permanent settlements were begun west of the +Green Mountains till after the conquest of Canada. After that, the +report of soldiers who had passed over the military road from +Charlestown on the Connecticut River, to Crown Point, brought a swarm of +settlers into what is now Bennington County. Settlement began in Rutland +County in 1771. + +[18] GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR, of Scotch birth, had been a lieutenant +with Wolfe at Quebec; he resigned and settled in Pennsylvania; served +with our army in Canada; made brigadier, August, 1776; major-general, +February, 1777. + +[19] ABERCROMBY lost two thousand men in assaulting these lines in 1758. +Since then they had been greatly strengthened. + +[20] THROUGH OLD PATHS. The Indians had passed this way centuries before +the fortress was thought of. + +[21] ST. CLAIR seems to have waited just long enough for the defence to +become difficult, to admit its impossibility. He chose the part of +safety rather than that of glory. + + + + +IV. + +HUBBARDTON. + +(_July 7, 1777._) + + +Not doubting he would find Skenesborough still in our possession, St. +Clair was pushing for that place with all possible speed. He expected to +get there by land, before the enemy could do so by water; then, after +gathering up the men and stores saved from Ticonderoga, St. Clair meant +to fall back toward Fort Edward, where General Schuyler,[22] his +superior officer, lay with two thousand men. + +This was plainly St Clair's true course. Indeed, there was nothing else +for him to do, unless he decided to abandon the direct route to Albany +altogether. So St. Clair did what a good general should. He resolved to +throw himself between Burgoyne and Schuyler, whose force, joined to his +own, would thus be able, even if not strong enough to risk a battle, at +least to keep up a bold front toward the enemy. + +Though Burgoyne really knew nothing about Schuyler's force, he was +keenly alive to the importance of cutting off the garrison of +Ticonderoga from its line of retreat, and, if possible, of striking it a +disabling blow before it could take up a new position. St. Clair counted +on stealing a march before his retreat could be interfered with. He +also depended on the strength of the obstructions at the bridge[23] of +Ticonderoga to delay the enemy's fleet until his own could get safely to +Skenesborough. In both expectations, St. Clair was disappointed. + +[Sidenote: July 6.] + +In the first place, Burgoyne had sent Frazer out in pursuit of him, as +soon as the evacuation was discovered; in the second, Burgoyne's +gunboats had hewed their way through the obstructions by nine in the +morning, and were presently crowding all sail after the American +flotilla, under command of Burgoyne himself. + +Riedesel's camp, we remember, lay on the Vermont side, and so nearest to +Mount Independence, and St. Clair's line of retreat. Burgoyne, +therefore, ordered Riedesel to fall in behind Frazer, who had just +marched, and give that officer any support he might be in want of. + +Thus, most of the hostile forces were in active movement, either by land +or water, at an early hour of the sixth. Let us first follow Frazer, in +his effort to strike the American rear. + +Frazer had with him eight hundred and fifty men of his own corps. He +pushed on so eagerly that the slow-moving Germans were far in the rear +when the British halted for the night, near Hubbardton. The day had been +sultry, the march fatiguing. Frazer's men threw themselves on the +ground, and slept on their arms. + +St. Clair had reached Hubbardton the same afternoon, in great disorder. +He halted only long enough for the rearguard to come up, and then +hastened on, six miles farther, to Castleton, leaving Warner,[24] with +three regiments, to cover his retreat. Instead of keeping within +supporting distance of the main body, Warner foolishly decided to halt +for the night where he was, because his men were tired, thus putting a +gap of six miles between his commander and himself. + +Warner did not neglect, however, to fell some trees in front of his +camp, and this simple precaution, perhaps, proved the salvation of his +command the next day. + +[Sidenote: July 7.] + +At five in the morning, Frazer's scouts fell upon Warner's pickets while +they were cooking their breakfasts, unsuspicious of danger. The surprise +was complete. With their usual dash, Frazer's men rushed on to the +assault, but soon found themselves entangled among the felled trees and +brushwood, behind which the Americans were hurriedly endeavoring to +form. At the moment of attack, one regiment made a shameful retreat. The +rest were rallied by Warner and Francis,[25] behind trees, in copses, or +wherever a vantage-ground could be had. As the combat took place in the +woods, the British were forced to adopt the same tactics. Musket and +rifle were soon doing deadly work in their ranks, every foot of ground +was obstinately disputed, and when they thought the battle already won +they found the Americans had only just begun to fight. + +For three hours, eight hundred men maintained a gallant and stubborn +fight against the picked soldiers of Burgoyne's army, each side being +repeatedly driven from its ground without gaining decided advantage over +the other. Nor would Frazer have gained the day, as he at length did, +but for the timely arrival of the Germans. Indeed, at the moment when +the British were really beaten and ready to give way, the sound of many +voices, singing aloud, rose above the din of battle, and near at hand. +At first neither of the combatants knew what such strange sounds could +mean. It was Riedesel's Germans advancing to the attack, chanting battle +hymns to the fierce refrain of the musketry and the loud shouts of the +combatants. Fifty fresh men would have turned the scale to either side. +This reënforcement, therefore, decided the day. Being now greatly +outnumbered, the Americans scattered in the woods around them. + +Although a defeat, this spirited little battle was every way honorable +to the Americans, who fought on until all hope of relief had vanished. A +single company would have turned defeat into victory, when to the +British, defeat in the woods, thirty miles from help, meant destruction. +Even as it was, they did not know what to do with the victory they had +just won, with the loss of two hundred men, killed and wounded, +seventeen of whom were officers. They had neither shelter nor medicines +for the wounded, nor provisions for themselves. The battle had exhausted +their ammunition, and every moment was expected to bring another swarm +of foes about their ears. + +The Americans had three hundred men killed and wounded, and many +taken. The brave Colonel Francis, who had so admirably conducted the +retreat from Ticonderoga, was killed while rallying his men. Seldom has +a battle shown more determined obstinacy in the combatants, seldom has +one been more bloody for the numbers engaged. + +[Illustration: ST. CLAIR'S RETREAT--BURGOYNE'S ADVANCE ON FORT EDWARD.] + +While Frazer was thus driving St. Clair's rearguard before him on the +left, the British were giving chase to the American flotilla on the +lake. This had hardly reached Skenesborough, encumbered with the sick, +the baggage, and the stores, when the British gunboats came up with, and +furiously attacked, it. Our vessels could not be cleared for action or +make effective resistance. After making what defence they could, they +were abandoned, and blown up by their crews. Skenesborough was then set +on fire, the Americans making good their retreat to Fort Anne,[26] with +the loss of all their stores. + +St. Clair heard of Warner's defeat and of the taking of Skenesborough +almost at the same hour. His first plan had wholly miscarried. His +soldiers were angry and insubordinate, half his available force had been +scattered at Hubbardton, his supplies were gone, his line of retreat in +the enemy's hands. Finding himself thus cut off from the direct route to +Fort Edward, he now marched to join Schuyler by way of Rutland, +Manchester, and Bennington. This he succeeded in doing on the twelfth, +with about half the men he had led from Ticonderoga. Warner, too, +brought off the shattered remnant of his command to Bennington. + +On his part, Schuyler had promptly sent a reënforcement to Fort Anne, to +protect St. Clair's retreat, as soon as he knew of it. These troops soon +found other work on their hands than that cut out for them. + +[Sidenote: July 7.] + +Burgoyne was determined to give the Americans no time either to rally, +or again unite their scattered bands in his front. Without delay, one +regiment was pushed forward to Fort Anne, on the heels of the fugitives +who had just left Skenesborough in flames. When this battalion reached +the fort, instead of waiting to be attacked, the Americans sallied out +upon it with spirit, and were driving it before them in full retreat, +when the yells of some Indians, who were lurking in the neighboring +woods, spread such a panic among the victors that they gave up the +fight, set fire to Fort Anne, and retreated to Fort Edward with no enemy +pursuing them. The defeated British then fell back to Skenesborough, so +that each detachment may be said to have run away from the other. + +General Burgoyne had much reason to be elated with his success thus far. +In one short week he had taken Ticonderoga, with more than one hundred +cannon; had scattered the garrison right and left; had captured or +destroyed a prodigious quantity of warlike stores, the loss of which +distressed the Americans long after; had annihilated their naval +armament on the lake, and had sown dismay among the neighboring colonies +broadcast. It was even a question whether there was any longer a force +in his front capable of offering the least resistance to his march. + +[Illustration: BLOCK HOUSE, FORT ANNE.] + +With these exploits, the first stage of the invasion may be said to have +ended. If ever a man had been favored by fortune, Burgoyne was that man. +The next stage must show him in a very different light, as the fool of +fortune, whose favors he neither knew how to deserve when offered him, +nor how to compel when withheld. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[22] GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER, one of the four major-generals first +created by Congress, June, 1775. Had seen some service in the French +War; was given command of the Northern Department, including +Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Fort Stanwix, etc., February, 1777, as the one +man who could unite the people of New York against the enemy. Gates +declined to serve under him. + +[23] OBSTRUCTIONS AT THE BRIDGE. The Americans had stretched a boom of +logs, strongly chained together, across the strait. + +[24] SETH WARNER was on the way to Ticonderoga when he met St. Clair +retreating. The rearguard, which Colonel Francis had previously +commanded, was then increased, and put under Warner's orders. + +[25] COLONEL EBENEZER FRANCIS of Newton, Mass., colonel, 11th +Massachusetts Regiment. His bravery was so conspicuous that the British +thought he was in chief command of the Americans. + +[26] FORT ANNE, one of the minor posts built during the French War to +protect the route from Albany to Lake Champlain. It consisted of a log +blockhouse surrounded by a palisade. Boat navigation of Lake Champlain +began here, fourteen miles from Skenesborough, by Wood Creek flowing +into it. + + + + +V. + +FACING DISASTER. + + +One of Washington's most trusted generals said, and said truly, that it +was only through misfortune that the Americans would rise to the +character of a great people. Perhaps no event of the Revolution more +signally verified the truth of this saying, than the fall of +Ticonderoga. + +Let us see how this disaster was affecting the Northern States. In that +section, stragglers and deserters were spreading exaggerated accounts of +it on every side. In Vermont, the settlers living west of the mountains +were now practically defenceless. Burgoyne's agents were undermining +their loyalty; the fall of Ticonderoga had shaken it still more. Rather +than abandon their farms, many no longer hesitated to put themselves +under British protection. Hundreds, who were too patriotic to do this, +fled over the mountains, spreading consternation as they went. From Lake +Champlain to the New England coast, there was not a village which did +not believe itself to be the especial object of Burgoyne's vengeance. +Indeed, his name became a bugbear, to frighten unruly children with. + +Of those who had been with the army, many believed it their first duty +to protect their families, and so went home. Numbers, who were on the +way to Ticonderoga, turned back, on hearing that it was taken. To +Burgoyne, these results were equal to a battle gained, since he was +weakening the Americans, just as surely, in this way, with entire safety +to himself. + +In despair, those settlers who stood faithful among the faithless, +turned to their New Hampshire brethren. "If we are driven back, the +invader will soon be at your doors," they said. "We are your buckler and +shield. Our humble cabins are the bulwark of your happy firesides. But +our hearts fail us. Help us or we perish!" + +Could Schuyler do nothing for these suffering people? To let them be +ruined and driven out was not only bad policy, but worse strategy. He +knew that Burgoyne must regard these settlements with foreboding, as the +home of a hostile and brave yeomanry, whose presence was a constant +threat to him. To maintain them, then, was an act of simplest wisdom. +Schuyler could ill spare a single soldier, yet it was necessary to do +something, and that quickly, for all New England was in a tumult, and +Burgoyne said to be marching all ways at once. What wonder, since +Washington himself believed New England to be the threatened point![27] + +Warner's regiment had been recruited among the Green Mountain Boys of +this very section. Schuyler posted what was left of it at Manchester, to +be at once a rallying-point for the settlers, a menace to the loyalists, +and a defence against Burgoyne's predatory bands, who were already +spreading themselves out over the surrounding region. It was not much, +but it was something. + +From New Hampshire, the panic quickly spread into Massachusetts, and +throughout all New England. As usually happens, the loss of Ticonderoga +was laid at the door of the generals in chief command. Many accused St. +Clair of treacherous dealing. Everywhere, people were filled with wrath +and astonishment. "The fortress has been sold!" they cried. Some of the +officers, who had been present, wrote home that the place could have +held out against Burgoyne for weeks, or until help could have arrived. +This was sure to find ready believers, and so added to the volume of +denunciation cast upon the head of the unlucky St. Clair. + +But these passionate outbursts of feeling were soon quenched by the +necessity all saw for prompt action. Once passion and prejudice had +burned out, our people nobly rose to the demands of the situation. But +confidence in the generals of the Northern army was gone forever. The +men of New England would not sit long in the shadow of defeat, but they +said they would no more be sacrificed to the incompetency of leaders who +had been tried and found wanting. Congress had to pay heed to this +feeling. Washington had to admit the force of it, because he knew that +New England must be chiefly looked to in this crisis, to make head +against Burgoyne. If she failed, all else would fail. + +[Sidenote: P. Van Cortlandt's letters.] + +If we turn now to New York, what do we see? Five counties in the enemy's +hands. Three more, so divided against themselves as to be without order +or government. Of the remaining six, the resources of Orange, Ulster, +and Dutchess were already heavily taxed with the duty of defending the +passes of the Hudson; Westchester was being overrun by the enemy, at +will; only Tryon and Albany remained, and in Tryon, every able-bodied +citizen, not a loyalist, was arming to repel the invasion of St. Leger, +now imminent. + +We have thus briefly glanced at the dangers resulting from the fall of +Ticonderoga, at the resources of the sections which Burgoyne was now +threatening to lay waste with fire and sword, and at the attitude of the +people toward those generals who had so grievously disappointed them in +the conduct of the campaign, up to this time. + +[Sidenote: John Marshall.] + +In the words of one distinguished writer, "The evacuation of Ticonderoga +was a shock for which no part of the United States was prepared." In the +language of another, "No event throughout the whole war produced such +consternation, nothing could have been more unexpected." + +It was not so much the loss of the fortress itself,--as costly as it was +to the impoverished colonies, that could have been borne,--but the +people had been led to believe, and did believe, it was next to +impregnable; nor could they understand why those who had been intrusted +with its defence should have fled without striking a blow, or calling +for assistance until too late. + +Congress immediately ordered all the generals of the Northern army[28] +to Philadelphia, in order that their conduct might be looked into. John +Adams hotly declared that they would never be able to defend a post +until they shot a general. But Washington, always greatest in defeat, +hastened to show how such a step was doubly dangerous to an army when +fronting its enemy, and wisely procured its suspension for the present. +He first set himself to work to soothe Schuyler's wounded pride, while +stimulating him to greater activity. "We should never despair," he nobly +said. And again: "If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new +exertions. I yet look forward to a happy change." It was indeed +fortunate that one so stout of heart, with so steady a hand, so firm in +the belief of final triumph, so calm in the hour of greatest danger, +should have guided the destinies of the infant nation at this trying +hour. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[27] THE THREATENED POINT. Baffled in his purpose of taking Philadelphia +by Washington's success at Trenton, Sir William Howe had decided on +making another attempt; but his manoeuvres led Washington to believe +Howe was going to Newport, R.I., with the view of overrunning +Massachusetts. See Note 3, "Plan of Campaign" (p. 32). + +[28] GENERALS OF THE NORTHERN ARMY. Schuyler and St. Clair were chiefly +inculpated. Brigadiers Poor, Patterson, and De Fermoy, who were with St. +Clair at Ticonderoga, were included in the order. All had agreed in the +necessity for the evacuation, and all came in for a share of the public +censure. Poor and Patterson nobly redeemed themselves in the later +operations against Burgoyne. + + + + +VI. + +THE MARCH TO FORT EDWARD.[29] + + +It is a well-known maxim of war, that the general who makes the fewest +mistakes will come off conqueror. + +In his haste to crush the Americans before they could combine against +him, Burgoyne had overshot his mark. His troops were now so widely +scattered that he could not stir until they were again collected. By the +combats of Hubbardton and Fort Anne, nothing material had been gained, +since St. Clair was at Fort Edward by the time Frazer got to +Skenesborough, and the Americans had returned to Fort Anne as soon as +the British left the neighborhood. + +After the battle of Hubbardton, Riedesel was posted at Castleton, in +order to create the impression that the British army was moving into New +England. By this bit of strategy, Burgoyne expected to keep back +reënforcements from Schuyler. Riedesel's presence also gave much +encouragement to the loyalists, who now joined Burgoyne in such numbers +as to persuade him that a majority of the inhabitants were for the king. +The information they gave, proved of vital consequence in determining +Burgoyne's operations in the near future. + +Two routes were now open to Burgoyne. Contrary to sound judgment, he +decided on marching to Fort Edward, by way of Fort Anne, instead of +going back to Ticonderoga, making that his _dépôt_, and proceeding +thence up Lake George to Fort Edward and the Hudson. Unquestionably, the +latter route would have taken him to Albany, by the time he actually +reached Fort Edward, and in much better condition to fight. + +Burgoyne had said he was afraid that going back to Ticonderoga would +dispirit his soldiers. It could have been done in half the time required +for bringing the supplies up to it at Skenesborough, to say nothing of +the long and fatiguing marches saved by water carriage across Lake +George. + +Be that as it may, from the moment Burgoyne decided in favor of the Fort +Anne route, that moment the possession of Fort Anne became a necessity +to him. Had he first attacked it with fifteen hundred men, instead of +five hundred, he would have taken it; but even if he had occupied it +after the fight of the eighth, the Americans would have been prevented +from blocking his way, as they subsequently did with so much effect. In +Burgoyne's case, delays were most dangerous. It seems only too plain, +that he was the sort of general who would rather commit two errors than +retract one. + +Let us see what Burgoyne's chosen route offered of advantage or +disadvantage. The distance by it to Fort Edward is only twenty-six +miles. By a good road, in easy marches, an army should be there in two +days; in an exigency, in one. It was mostly a wilderness country, +and, though generally level, much of it was a bog, which could only be +made passable by laying down a corduroy road. There were miles of such +road to be repaired or built before wagons or artillery could be dragged +over it. Indeed, a worse country to march through can hardly be +imagined. On the other hand, of this twenty-six miles, Wood Creek, a +tributary of Lake Champlain, afforded boat navigation for nine or ten, +or as far as Fort Anne, for the artillery, stores, and baggage. + +[Illustration: OLD FORT EDWARD. + +A, Magazine. B, Barracks. C, Storehouse. D, Hospital.] + +But while Burgoyne was getting his scattered forces again in hand, and +was bringing everything up the lake to Skenesborough, the garrison of +Fort Edward had been spreading themselves out over the road he meant to +take, and were putting every obstacle in his way that ingenuity could +devise or experience suggest. Hundreds of trees were felled across the +road. The navigation of Wood Creek was similarly interrupted. Those +trees growing on its banks were dexterously dropped so as to interlock +their branches in mid-stream. Farms were deserted. All the live-stock +was driven out of reach, to the end that the country itself might offer +the most effectual resistance to Burgoyne's march. + +Burgoyne could not move until his working parties had cleared the way, +in whole or in part. From this cause alone, he was detained more than a +week at Skenesborough. This delay was as precious to the Americans as it +was vexatious to Burgoyne, since it gave them time to bring up +reënforcements, form magazines, and prepare for the approaching +struggle, while the enemy's difficulties multiplied with every mile he +advanced. + +[Sidenote: July 25.] + +At length the British army left Skenesborough. It took two days to reach +Fort Anne, and five to arrive at Fort Edward, where it halted to allow +the heavy artillery, sent by way of Lake George, to join it; give time +to bring up its supplies of food and ammunition, without which the army +was helpless to move farther on; and, meanwhile, permit the general to +put in execution a scheme by which he expected to get a supply of +cattle, horses, carts, and forage, of all of which he was in pressing +want. + +Still another body of savages joined Burgoyne at Fort Edward. Better for +him had they staid in their native wilds, for he presently found himself +equally powerless to control their thirst for blood, or greed for +plunder. + +[Sidenote: July 21.] + +Not yet feeling himself strong enough to risk a battle, Schuyler decided +to evacuate Fort Edward on the enemy's approach. He first called in to +him the garrison at Fort George. Nixon's brigade, which had just been +obstructing the road from Fort Anne, was also called back. All told, +Schuyler now had only about four thousand men. With these he fell back; +first, to Moses's Creek, then to Saratoga, then to Stillwater. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[29] FORT EDWARD, a link in the chain of forts extending between Canada +and the Hudson,--first called Fort Lyman, for Colonel Phineas Lyman, who +built it in 1755,--stood at the elbow of the Hudson, where the river +turns west, after approaching within sixteen miles of Lake George, to +which point there was a good military road. The fort itself was only a +redoubt of timber and earth, surrounded by a stockade, and having a +casern, or barrack, inside, capable of accommodating two hundred +soldiers. It was an important military position, because this was the +old portage, or carrying-place, from the Hudson to Lake George, though +the fort was no great matter. + + + + +VII. + +BEFORE BENNINGTON. + + +[Sidenote: Frazer advances.] + +On the 9th of August, Frazer's corps moved down to Duer's house, seven +miles from Fort Edward, and seven from Saratoga. This was done to cover +the expedition Burgoyne had planned; first, to confirm the belief that +he was about to fall on New England, and, next, for supplying his army +with horses, cattle, carts, provisions, forage--everything, in short, of +which he stood in want. Both objects would be gained at once, since fear +of the first would make easy the second. + +[Sidenote: Real object of the Bennington raid.] + +Burgoyne ached to strike a blow at New England. The successes he had +just met with tempted him on toward his wishes; yet he dared not go too +far, because the king's orders forbade his turning aside from his main +object, to march into New England, as he himself had asked for +discretionary power to do, when laying his plan before the ministers. +Still, as New England was to be the final object of the campaign, +Burgoyne was impatient to set about humbling her in good earnest. Events +were working so favorably for him, that he now saw his chance to go at +least half way toward his desires. So the expedition to Bennington was +certainly far from being the effect of any sudden decision on +Burgoyne's part, or wholly due to the pressing want of supplies. It +would, we think, have been undertaken in any event. + +On the other hand, the victualling of his army was the one obstacle to +Burgoyne's advance to Albany. So long as every pound of bread and meat +had to be brought from Quebec to Skenesborough, and from Skenesborough +to his camp, the farther the army marched, the greater the difficulty of +feeding it became. It was now living from hand to mouth, so to speak. +Nobody but Tories would sell it a pound of beef or an ear of corn. What +gold could not buy, Burgoyne determined to take by force. If enough +could be gleaned, in this way, from the country round, he could march +on; if not, he must halt where he was, until sufficient could be brought +up over a road every day growing longer and more dangerous. Burgoyne +would never submit to the last alternative without trying the first. + +For the moment then, the problem, how to feed his army so as to put it +in motion with the least possible delay, was all-important with General +Burgoyne. The oldest, and most populous, of the Vermont settlements lay +within striking distance on his left. He knew that rebel flour was +stored in Bennington. He had been told that half the farmers were loyal +at heart, and that the other half would never wait for the coming of +British veterans. Burgoyne was puffed up with the notion that he was +going to conjure the demon of rebellion with the magic of his name. +Already he saw himself not only a conqueror, but lawgiver to the +conquered. On the whole, the plan seemed easy of accomplishment. +Burgoyne was like a man starving in the midst of plenty. Supplies he +must have. If they could be wrung from the enemy, so much the better. + +An expedition chiefly designed to rob barnyards, corn-cribs, and +henroosts promised little glory to those engaged in it. This may have +been the reason why Burgoyne chose to employ his Germans, who were +always excellent foragers, rather than his British soldiers. Perhaps he +thought the Germans would inspire most fear. Be that as it may, never +did a general make a more costly mistake.[30] + +[Sidenote: Baum marches for Bennington.] + +The command was given to Colonel Baum, who, with about a thousand +Germans, Indians, Canadians, and refugee loyalists, started out from +camp on his maraud, on the eleventh, halted at Batten-Kill on the +twelfth, and reached Cambridge on the thirteenth. He was furnished with +Tory guides, who knew the country well, and with instructions looking to +a long absence from the army. + +Burgoyne then began manoeuvring so as to mask Baum's movements from +Schuyler. + +[Sidenote: Frazer crosses the Hudson.] + +Frazer was marched down to Batten-Kill, with his own and Breyman's +corps. Leaving Breyman here to support either Baum or himself, in case +of need, Frazer crossed the Hudson on the fourteenth, and encamped on +the heights of Saratoga that night. The rest of the army moved on to +Duer's, the same day. By thus threatening Schuyler with an advance in +force, of which Frazer's crossing was conclusive proof, Burgoyne +supposed Baum would be left to plunder at his leisure, but he seems to +have thought little of the opposition which Baum, on his side, might +meet with from the settlers themselves; though this too was provided +against in Baum's orders, and by posting Breyman on Baum's line of +march. + +[Illustration: POSITION OF BELLIGERENTS BEFORE BENNINGTON.] + +If Baum succeeded to his wishes, Burgoyne meant to throw the whole army +across the Hudson immediately. Already Frazer was intrenching at +Saratoga, with the view of protecting the crossing. Having now so placed +his troops as to take instant advantage of Baum's success, of which he +felt no manner of doubt, Burgoyne could only sit still till Baum should +be heard from. + +Meanwhile, the New England militia were flocking to Manchester in +squads, companies, or regiments. Washington had said they were the best +yeomanry in the world, and they were about to prove their right to this +title more decisively than ever. Ministers dismissed their congregations +with the exhortation, "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, +and buy one." Some clergymen even took a musket and went into the ranks. +Apathy and the numbness that succeeds defeat were dissipated by these +appeals and these examples. + +It was Washington's policy to keep a force on Burgoyne's flank, which +might be used to break up his communications, cut off his provision +trains, or otherwise so harass him as to delay his march. In General +Lincoln[31] he found an officer, at once capable and brave, who had the +confidence of the New England people. Lincoln was, therefore, sent to +take command of the militia now mustering at Manchester. + +At the same time, New Hampshire called upon the veteran Stark[32] to +lead her forces into the field. Stark had left the army in disgust, +because Congress had promoted other officers over his head, not more +worthy than himself. He was still smarting under the sense of wrong, +when this command was offered him. He was like Achilles, sulking in his +tent. + +Stark said that he asked nothing better than to fight, but insisted that +he would do so only upon condition that the State troops should be +exclusively under his orders. To agree to this would be practically an +exercise of State sovereignty. But time pressed, Stark's name was a host +in itself: it was thought best to give his wounded vanity this sop; for, +by general consent, he was the only man for the crisis. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 6.] + +Lincoln found six hundred men assembled at Manchester, most of whom +belonged to Stark's brigade. On the seventh, Stark himself arrived with +eight hundred more. By Schuyler's order, Lincoln desired Stark to march +them to the main army at once. Stark replied that, being in an +independent command, he would take orders from nobody as to how or where +he should move his troops. + +Though plainly subversive of all military rules, Stark's obstinacy +proved Burgoyne's destruction; for if Schuyler had prevailed, there +would never have been a battle of Bennington. + +Though undoubtedly perplexed by the situation in which he found himself +placed, of antagonism to the regularly constituted military authority of +the nation, Stark's future operations show excellent military judgment +on his part. He was not going to abandon Schuyler, or leave Vermont +uncovered; still less was he disposed to throw away the chance of +striking Burgoyne by hanging on his flank, and of thus achieving +something on his own account. Stark's sagacity was soon justified to the +world. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 9.] + +He determined to march with part of his force to Bennington, twenty-five +miles south of Manchester, and about the same distance from Stillwater. +In this position he would easily be able to carry out either of the +objects he had in view, assist Schuyler, cover Bennington, or get in a +telling blow somewhere, when least expected. + +Burgoyne's expectation of surprising Bennington was thus completely +frustrated. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 14.] + +Baum learned at Cambridge that the Americans were at Bennington, to the +number of eighteen hundred. He immediately wrote Burgoyne to this +effect. On the next day, he marched to Sancoic, a mill-stream falling +into the Walloomsac River in North Hoosac, and after again writing +Burgoyne, confirming the account he had previously sent about the force +in his front, moved on toward Bennington, under the impression that the +Americans would not wait to be attacked. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[30] A COSTLY MISTAKE to give the command to an officer who could not +speak English; still another, to intrust an expedition in which celerity +of movement was all-important, to soldiers loaded down with their +equipments, as the Germans were, instead of to light troops. Colonel +Skene went with Baum. See note 4, p. 18. + +[31] GENERAL BENJAMIN LINCOLN, born at Hingham, Mass., 1733. Made a +major-general, February, 1777. Joined Schuyler, July 29, at Fort Miller, +while our army was retreating; sent thence to Manchester. One of those +captains who, while seldom successful, are yet considered brave and +skilful commanders. + +[32] GENERAL JOHN STARK, born at Londonderry, N.H., 1728, had seen more +active service than most officers of his time. He had fought with +Abercromby at Ticonderoga, against Howe at Bunker Hill, and with +Washington at Trenton. Notwithstanding this, he was passed over in +making promotions, perhaps because he had less education than some +others, who lacked his natural capacity for a military life. Congress +first censured him for insubordination, and then voted him thanks, and +promotion to a brigadiership for his victory over Baum. + + + + +VIII. + +BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.[33] + + +Burgoyne's movements convinced Schuyler that he would shortly be +attacked by the whole British army, as Burgoyne had intended and +foreseen. Schuyler therefore again urged Stark to come to his assistance +without more delay, if he would not have the burden of defeat lie at his +own door. This appeal took present effect. + +Nothing happened till the thirteenth. Meantime, Stark had decided to go +to Schuyler's assistance. His brigade was under arms, ready to march, +when a woman rode up in haste with the news that hostile Indians were +running up and down the next town, spreading terror in their path. She +had come herself, because the road was no longer safe for men to travel +it. Stark quickly ordered out two hundred men to stop the supposed +marauders, and gain further intelligence. + +This detachment soon sent back word that the Indians were only clearing +the way for a larger force, which was marching toward Bennington. Swift +couriers were instantly despatched to Manchester, to hurry forward the +troops there to Stark's aid. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 14.] + +The next day Stark moved out toward the enemy, in order to look for his +detachment. He soon fell in with it, fighting in retreat, with the enemy +following close behind. Stark halted, formed his line, and gathered in +his scouts. This defiance brought the enemy to a stand also. + +Seeing before him a force as strong as, or stronger than, his own, Baum +was now looking about him for ground suitable to receive an attack upon; +making one himself was farthest from his thoughts, as Burgoyne had given +him express orders not to risk an engagement, if opposed by a superior +force, but to intrench, and send back for help at once. This was +precisely Baum's present situation. He therefore lost no time in sending +a courier to headquarters. + +On his part, Stark did not wish to fight till Warner could come up, or +delay fighting long enough for the enemy to be reënforced. Baum's +evident desire to avoid an action made Stark all the more anxious to +attack him, and he resolved to do so not later than the next morning, by +which time he confidently reckoned on having Warner's regiment with him. +Though small, it had fought bravely at Hubbardton, and Stark felt that +his raw militia would be greatly strengthened by the presence of such +veterans among them. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 15.] + +Rain frustrated Stark's plan for attacking the next day, so there was +only a little skirmishing, in which the Americans had the advantage. +Baum improved the delay by throwing up a redoubt of logs and earth on a +rather high, flat-topped hill, rising behind the little Walloomsac +River. In this he placed his two field-pieces. His Canadians and +loyalists took up a position across and lower down the stream, in his +front, the better to cover the road by which his reënforcements must +come, or the Americans attempt to cut off his retreat. These +dispositions were all that time, the size of his force, and the nature +of the ground, would permit. + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. + +August 16, 1777.] + +Rain also kept back the reënforcements that each side was so impatiently +expecting. Stark chafed at the delay, Baum grew more hopeful of holding +out until help could reach him. Burgoyne had, indeed, despatched Breyman +to Baum's assistance at eight o'clock in the morning, with eight hundred +and fifty men and two guns. This corps was toiling on, through mud and +rain, at the rate of only a mile an hour, when an hour, more or less, +was to decide the fate of the expedition itself. The fatigue was so +great, that when urged on to the relief of their comrades, the weary +Germans would grumble out, "Oh, let us give them time to get warm!" + +Warner's regiment could not leave Manchester till the morning of the +fifteenth, but by marching till midnight, it was near Bennington on the +morning of the sixteenth. Breyman put so little energy into his +movements that he was nowhere near Baum at that hour. Stark, however, +was strengthened by the arrival of several hundred militia from +Massachusetts, who came full of fight, and demanding to be led against +the enemy without delay. Stark's reply was characteristic: "Do you want +to go out now, while it is dark and rainy?" he asked. "No," the +spokesman rejoined. "Then," continued Stark, "if the Lord should give us +sunshine once more, and I do not give you fighting enough, I will never +ask you to turn out again." + +[Sidenote: Aug. 16.] + +The day broke clear and pleasant. Both parties prepared for the coming +battle. Stark had the most men, but Baum the advantage of fighting +behind intrenchments, and of having artillery, while Stark had none. + +At midday, Stark formed his men for the attack. All were yeomanry, in +homespun, rudely equipped with pouches and powder-horns, and armed with +the old brown firelocks, without bayonets, they had brought from their +homes. Some had served in the preceding campaign, but not one in fifty +had ever fired a shot in anger; while many were mere lads, in whom +enthusiasm for their leader and cause supplied the want of experience. +The work now required of them was such as only veterans were thought +capable of doing. They were to storm intrenchments, defended by the +trained soldiers of Europe; yet not a man flinched when Stark, with a +soldier's bluntness and fire, pointed his sword toward the enemy's +redoubt and exclaimed, "There, my lads, are the Hessians! To-night our +flag floats over yonder hill, or Molly Stark is a widow!" + +His men answered with loud cheers, grasped their weapons, and demanded +to be led against the enemy. Stark then gave the wished-for order to +march. + +Meanwhile, dismay reigned in Bennington. Every man who could load a +musket had gone out to fight with Stark. Their household goods had been +loaded upon wagons, ready to move off in case the day went against them. +Their wives and little ones stood hand in hand along the village street, +throughout that long summer afternoon, listening to the peal of cannon +and musketry, in fear for those who had gone forth to the battle, and +expecting the moment that was to make them homeless wanderers. + +The story of the battle is soon told. Stark so divided his force as to +attack the enemy in front, flank, and rear, at once. The nature of the +ground was such as to hide the march of the several detachments from +Baum's view, but he had no other idea than to keep close in his +intrenchments. + +At three in the afternoon, firing began in Baum's rear. This was the +signal that the several attacking columns had reached their allotted +stations. All the Americans then rushed on to the assault. Baum found +himself everywhere assailed with unlooked-for vigor. Never had he +expected to see raw rustics charging up to the muzzles of his guns. In +vain he plied them with grape and musketry. The encircling line grew +tighter and tighter; the fire, hotter and hotter. For an hour he +defended himself valiantly, hoping for night or Breyman to come. At last +his fire slackened. The Americans clambered over the breastworks, and +poured into the redoubt. For a few moments there was sharp hand-to-hand +fighting. The Germans threw down their muskets, drew their broadswords, +and desperately attempted to cut their way out. Most of them were +beaten back or taken. A few only escaped. The Tories and Canadians +fared no better. The victory was complete and decisive. + +Now, at the eleventh hour, Breyman was marching on the field to the +sound of the firing. He had taken thirty-two hours to get over +twenty-four miles. Supposing the day won, Stark's men were scattered +about in disorder. Not even Stark himself seems to have thought of a +rescuing force. Some were guarding the prisoners, some caring for the +wounded, and some gathering up the booty. All had yielded to the +demoralization of victory, or to the temptation to plunder. Most +opportunely, Warner's men now came fresh into the fight. This gallant +little band flung itself boldly in the path of the advancing foe, thus +giving Stark the time to rally those nearest him, and lead them into +action again. + +At first Breyman gained ground. With steady tread his veterans fired and +moved on, pushing the Americans back, toward the scene of the first +encounter; but Baum was no longer there to assist, the scattered +militiamen were fast closing in round Breyman's flanks, and Stark had +now brought one of Baum's cannon to bear, with destructive effect, upon +the head of the enemy's advancing column. + +In no long time the deadly fire, poured in on all sides, began to tell +upon Breyman's solid battalions. Our marksmen harassed his flanks. His +front was hard pressed, and there were no signs of Baum. Enraged by the +thought of having victory torn from their grasp, the Americans gave +ground foot by foot, and inch by inch. At last the combatants were +firing in each other's faces; so close was the encounter, so deadly the +strife, that Breyman's men were falling round him by scores, under the +close and accurate aim of their assailants. Darkness was closing in. His +artillery horses were shot down in their traces, his flanks driven in, +his advance stopped. + +As soon as they perceived their advantage, the Americans redoubled their +efforts. The firing grew tremendous. It was now Breyman who was forced +back. Soon all order was lost. Favored by the darkness, he began a +disorderly retreat. In an instant his guns were taken. Exhausted by +fighting two battles in one afternoon, no longer able in the darkness to +tell friend from foe, the Americans soon gave over the pursuit. But, for +the second time, they stood victors on the hard-fought field. All felt +it to be a narrow escape from defeat, for if Breyman had loitered by the +way, he had fought like a lion in the toils of the hunter. + +Thus Washington's sagacity had been vindicated, Stark's insubordination +nobly atoned for, Schuyler's worst fears set at rest, by the fortunes of +a single day. + +Four cannon, one thousand stand of arms, and seven hundred prisoners, +were the trophies of this victory. The enemy left two hundred of his +dead on the field. Baum's corps was virtually destroyed, Breyman's badly +cut up, Burgoyne's well-laid plans scattered to the winds. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[33] BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. Both actions actually occurred in the town of +Hoosic, N.Y. (we cannot be held responsible for the absurd variations in +spelling this name), though the troops were formed for the attack within +the limits of Bennington, and Stark's despatch announcing his victory is +dated at this place. A battle monument, designed to be three hundred and +one feet high, is now being built on a commanding site at Bennington +Centre, which is the old village. No more beautiful spot than this +hill-environed valley, overlooked by Mount Anthony, could possibly +commemorate to future centuries one of the decisive conflicts of the War +for Independence. + + + + +IX. + +AFTER BENNINGTON. + + +Stark had, indeed, dealt Burgoyne a stunning blow. In a moment all his +combinations were overthrown. Efforts were made to keep the disaster a +secret from the army, but the movements made in consequence of it told +the story but too plainly. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 17.] + +In the first place, the whole army was hurried up to Batten-Kill in +order to cover Breyman's and Frazer's retreat,[34] for Frazer had been +ordered to recross the Hudson at once. Frazer's position was most +critical; his bridge had been broken by a freshet, and for one whole day +he was cut off from the main army. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 18.] + +As soon as Breyman's worn-out men had straggled into camp, Burgoyne's +fell back to Duer's again. Meantime, Frazer had repaired his bridge and +hastily recrossed the Hudson. Riedesel's corps was sent back to Fort +Edward. The whole army had thus made a retrograde movement in +consequence of the defeat at Bennington, and now lay in _echelon_[35] +from Fort Edward to Batten-Kill, in the camps it had occupied before the +advance was begun; it had retreated upon its communications; it was put +on the defensive. + +Burgoyne had now no choice left but to hold fast his communication with +the lakes, and these could not be called safe while a victorious enemy +was threatening his flank. From this time forward, he grew wary and +circumspect. His councils began to be divided. The prestige of the army +was lowered, confidence in its leaders visibly shaken. Even the soldiers +began to grumble, criticise, and reflect. Burgoyne's vain boast that +this army would not retreat, no longer met the conditions in which it +stood. It had retreated. + +As if to prove the truth of the adage that misfortunes never come +singly, most of Burgoyne's Indians now deserted him. So far from +intimidating, their atrocities had served to arouse the Americans as +nothing else could. As soldiers, they had usually run away at the first +fire. As scouts, their minds were wholly fixed upon plundering. Burgoyne +had sharply rebuked them for it. Ever sullen and intractable under +restraint, their answer was at least explicit, "No plunder, no Indians;" +and they were as good as their word. + +We find, then, that the battle of Bennington had cost Burgoyne not far +from two thousand men, whether soldiers or Indians. More than this, it +had thrown him back upon his second alternative, which, we remember, was +to halt until supplies could be brought from Canada. This was easily +equivalent to a month's delay. Thirty days of inaction were thus forced +upon Burgoyne at a time when every one of them was worth five hundred +men to the Americans. Such were some of the substantial results of the +victory at Bennington. + +To the Americans, the moral and material gains were no less striking or +important. At once confidence was restored. Men no longer hesitated to +turn out, or feared for the result. A most hopeful sign was the alacrity +with which the well-to-do farmers went into the ranks. There was general +appreciation of the fact that Burgoyne had seriously compromised himself +by advancing as far as he had; in short, the re-action was quite as +decisive as that which had followed the victory at Trenton. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[34] BREYMAN'S RETREAT. The express from Baum arrived at headquarters at +5 A.M. of the fifteenth. Orders were immediately given Breyman to march. +News of Baum's defeat reached Burgoyne during the night of the +sixteenth. The 20th regiment, British, was immediately marched to +Breyman's support. Burgoyne's anxiety was so great, that he followed it +until Breyman's corps was met on the road. + +[35] ECHELON, the French word for step-ladder, by adoption a universal +military term, well describes the posting of troops, belonging to one +army, at stated intervals apart, so as to be moved forward or backward +step by step, always keeping the same relative distances between the +separate bodies. In marking out such positions on the map, the columns +would look like the rounds of a ladder, hence the term. + + + + +X. + +ST. LEGER'S EXPEDITION. + + +Burgoyne's hopes now chiefly turned upon the promised coöperation of St. +Leger from Oswego, and of Sir William Howe from New York. + +[Sidenote: Refer to "Plan of Campaign."] + +Convinced that the enemy would shortly invade the Mohawk Valley, +Schuyler had sent Colonel Gansevoort[36] to put Fort Stanwix,[37] the +key to this valley, in a state of defence, before it should be attacked. + +[Illustration: ST. LEGER'S ROUTE TO FORT STANWIX.] + +St. Leger's force was the counterpart of Burgoyne's, in that it +consisted of regular troops, loyalists, and Indians. Many of the +loyalists, and most of the Indians, had lived in this valley, so that +St. Leger had no want of guides, who knew every foot of ground, or of +spies acquainted with the sentiments of every settler. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 3.] + +A scanty supply of provisions had just been brought into the fort when +St. Leger's scouts opened fire upon it. The garrison shut the gates and +returned the fire. Instead of finding Fort Stanwix defenceless, St. +Leger was compelled to lay siege to it. + +The news of St. Leger's appearance in the valley roused the settlers in +arms. Near a thousand men, all brave, but without discipline, promptly +marched, under General Herkimer,[38] to the relief of Fort Stanwix. +Gansevoort was notified, and was to aid the movement by making a sortie +from the fort, at the proper moment. + +St. Leger's spies soon discovered Herkimer's men coming. All the +rangers, and most of the Indians, went out to waylay them in the thick +forests. Not far from Oriskany, Brant,[39] the Mohawk chief, and +Johnson,[40] the loyalist leader, hid their men in a ravine, through +which the Americans would have to pass, in a thin line, over a causeway +of logs. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 6.] + +Meantime, the Americans were heedlessly pressing on, without order, to +the rescue of their comrades. In their impatience, even ordinary +precautions were neglected. When the van entered the ravine, a terrible +fire mowed down the front ranks by scores; those in the rear fled in a +panic from the field. It was downright butchery. + +After the firing had continued some time, those Americans whom panic had +not seized, threw themselves into a posture of defence, and resolved to +sell their lives dearly. Herkimer, their leader, had been struck down by +a bullet, among the first; but, notwithstanding his wound was a +disabling one, he continued to direct his men, and encourage them by his +firm demeanor to fight on. In the face of overwhelming odds they +gallantly stood their ground, until the enemy was alarmed by hearing +firing in its rear, and drew off, leaving Herkimer's little band of +heroes to retire unmolested from the field. + +The firing had been heard at Fort Stanwix, and the cause easily guessed. +While the battle was raging at Oriskany, the garrison of the fort +sallied out upon the besiegers' camps. They met with little opposition, +as most of the defenders had gone out to fight Herkimer. The firing, +however, had called off the savages from Herkimer, to the defence of +their own camps. The sortie was gallantly made, and entirely successful; +but the attack on Herkimer rendered it of so little avail, that the +battle of Oriskany left Gansevoort hardly better off than before. + +Two hundred of Herkimer's men were killed. He, too, soon died of his +wounds. + +Though this attempt to relieve Fort Stanwix had so signally failed, +Schuyler was much too sensible of the importance of holding it, not to +make another effort to raise the siege. He could ill afford to spare the +troops necessary for the undertaking, since Burgoyne was now +manoeuvring in his front; but the gravity of the situation could not +be overlooked. He therefore sent Arnold, with Learned's brigade, to +retrieve Herkimer's disaster in the valley. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 22.] + +Gansevoort was still holding out against St. Leger as stubbornly as +ever. His situation was, however, growing desperate, when, one day, +without apparent cause, the besiegers suddenly decamped in headlong +haste, leaving their tents standing, their baggage in their tents, and +their artillery in the trenches. + +This inglorious and unlooked-for flight was brought about by emissaries +from Arnold, who spread the report among St. Leger's Indians, that the +Americans were coming with forces as numerous as leaves on the trees. +Arnold, whom no one will accuse of want of courage, was really undecided +about advancing farther with his small force. His stratagem, however, +took effect. Grown weary of the siege, the Indians now made no scruple +of deserting their allies on the spot. In vain St. Leger stormed and +entreated by turns; stay they would not. He therefore had no choice but +to follow them, in mortification and disgust, back to Oswego. In the +belief that Arnold was close upon them, everything was left behind that +could impede the march. The siege was abandoned in disgrace, and Fort +Stanwix saved by a simple stratagem. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 28.] + +Six days later, Burgoyne was informed of St. Leger's retreat. He had now +no other resource than in the promised advance up the Hudson, and in the +strength of his artillery. By acting in detachments, his immediate force +had been so seriously weakened that a forward movement on his part, +without full assurance of active support from New York, savored far +more of recklessness than sound military judgment. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[36] COLONEL PETER GANSEVOORT, born at Albany, 1749, had fought with +Montgomery at Quebec. + +[37] FORT STANWIX, also called Schuyler, built by General Stanwix of +Abercromby's army in 1758. + +[38] GENERAL NICHOLAS HERKIMER, a leading settler of the Mohawk Valley. + +[39] JOSEPH BRANT, or Thayandanega, sometime pupil of Dr. Wheelock's +school (since Dartmouth College), was by all odds the most active, +intelligent, and implacable enemy to the Americans that the war produced +among his people. With Johnson, he held most of the Six Nations at +enmity with us during the Revolution. (See Note 5.) + +[40] SIR JOHN JOHNSON was the son of Sir William, who gained wealth and +a title by his victory over Dieskau at Lake George, 1755. He was also +the king's superintendent over the Six Nations, and had his residence at +Caughnawaga, since called Johnstown in his honor. Sir John succeeded to +his father's title and estates. He took sides with the Royalists, raised +a body of Tory followers, and with them fled to Canada. Out of these +refugees, he raised a corps of rangers called Royal Greens, with whom he +joined St. Leger, in the hope of crushing out his enemies in the valley. + + + + +XI. + +OUR ARMY ADVANCES. + + +[Sidenote: Refer to Chapter V., "Facing Disaster."] + +[Sidenote: Aug. 4.] + +We remember that the united voice of the army and people had demanded +the recall of those generals whose want of foresight or energy, or both, +had caused the disasters with which the campaign had opened. Congress +chose General Gates[41] to command in room of Schuyler, who, with St. +Clair, was ordered to report at headquarters. With the methods of travel +then in use, Gates was nearly two weeks in getting from Philadelphia to +Albany. This fact will sufficiently illustrate the difficulties which +attended the movement of reënforcements from one army to another, before +the day of railways and steamboats. + +All that lay in the power of man to do, Washington had done for the +Northern army. Though fronting an enemy greatly superior to himself, he +had still found time to so direct operations in the North, that his hand +may almost be said to have guided the course of events in that quarter. +He had soothed Schuyler's wounded self-love, commended his efforts, +strengthened his hands in the field, and nobly stood between him and his +detractors in Congress. When Congress had suspended all the generals of +the Northern army from command, it was Washington who interposed to +save them and the army from the consequences of such blindness and +folly. To Schuyler he had said, "Burgoyne is doing just what we could +wish; let him but continue to scatter his army about, and his ruin is +only a question of time." Schuyler urgently called for more troops. +Brigade after brigade had gone from Washington's own army to swell +Schuyler's ranks. "I care not where the victory is won, so we do but +gain it," Washington said. Schuyler again pleaded his want of general +officers. Washington sent him Arnold, the dare-devil of the army, and +Lincoln, a man of sound head, steady hand, and even temper, as a +counterpoise to Arnold's over-confident and impetuous nature. Thanks to +these efforts, we had created a new army on the ruins of the old. + +Schuyler's deportment toward the Massachusetts authorities at this time +was neither conciliatory nor conducive to the interests of the service. +He knew their feelings of distrust toward him, and in making application +to them for reënforcements showed his resentment in a way that called +forth an acrimonious response. He upbraided them for their shortcomings; +they entreated him to look nearer home. Thus we find General Schuyler +and the Massachusetts Council engaged in an exchange of sarcasms at a +time when the exigency called for something besides a war of words +between the commander of an army and the executive head of a powerful +State. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 19.] + +Gates took command just after the Battle of Bennington was won. He +found the army in much disorder, but pleased with the change of +commanders. Gates was a thorough disciplinarian and organizer. In his +hands, the efficiency of the army daily increased. Old jealousies were +silenced, and confidence restored. Letters from the soldiers show the +change in temper and spirit to have been instant and marked. One of them +says, "When we came to Albany, things looked very dark for our side, for +there were officers in town who had left camp, and would not go back as +long as Schuyler had the command. Both officers and soldiers were +determined not to fight under him, and would tell him so to his head. +But General Gates came to town, and then the tune was turned, and every +face showed a merry heart." + +The hostile armies now lay, quietly gathering up their strength for the +decisive struggle, within sound of each other's evening guns. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 9.] + +Gates was the first to act. Having been joined by Morgan's rifle +corps,[42] and by large numbers of militia, the whole army now moved up +to Stillwater, within a dozen miles of the enemy, who still remained +intrenched behind the Batten-Kill. This movement put new life into our +soldiers, and was not without its effect upon the enemy, whose spirit +was aroused at finding the antagonist it had been pursuing suddenly +become the aggressor. The Americans had a well-served though not +numerous artillery, but the presence of Morgan's corps more than made +good any deficiency in this respect. The great drawback to the +efficiency of the army was the want of cordiality between Gates and +Arnold. The breach between them was daily widening that was presently to +become an impassable gulf. + +Gates purposed taking up a strong position, and awaiting Burgoyne's +attack behind his intrenchments. Either Burgoyne must risk an assault, +under conditions most favorable to the Americans, or retire discomfited +under conditions highly unfavorable to a successful retreat. + +The country between Saratoga and Stillwater, covered with woods and +intersected by ravines, was wholly unsuited to the free movement of +troops. All the shore of the Hudson is high ground, rising to a nearly +uniform level next the river, but gradually ascending, as the river is +left, to the summit of the streams falling into it. Long slopes or +terraces are thus formed, furrowed here and there by the ravines, which +serve to drain off the water from above into the river below. Puny +rivulets where they begin, these watercourses cut deeper as they run on, +until, at the river, they become impassable gulches. The old military +road skirts the foot of the heights, which sometimes abut closely upon +the river, and sometimes draw back far enough to leave a strip of meadow +between it and them. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 12.] + +[Sidenote: Bemis' Heights.] + +Kosciusko,[43] Gates's engineer, chose the ground on which to receive +Burgoyne's attack, at one of these places where the heights crowd upon +the river, thus forming a narrow defile, which a handful of men could +easily defend against an army. At this place the house of a settler +named Bemis stood by the roadside. Our army filed off the road here, to +the left, scaled the heights, and encamped along a ridge of land, +running west as far as some high, rough, and woody ground, which formed +the summit. + +[Sidenote: Freeman's Farm.] + +[Sidenote: Sept. 13.] + +Except two or three clearings, all the ground in Gates's front was +thickly wooded. One settler, called Freeman, had cleared and planted +quite a large field in front of the American centre and left, though at +some distance beyond, and hid from view by intervening woods. This field +of Freeman's was one of the few spots of ground lying between the two +armies, on which troops could be manoeuvred or artillery used with +advantage. The farm-house stood at the upper edge of it, at a distance +of a mile back from the river. Our pickets immediately took post there, +as no one could enter the clearing without being seen from the house. +Accident has thus made this spot of ground, Freeman's Farm,[44] famous. +The Americans were at work like beavers, strengthening their line with +redoubts, felled trees, and batteries, when the enemy was discovered +marching against them. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[41] GENERAL GATES had resigned his command at Ticonderoga, rather than +serve under Schuyler. There was no good feeling between them. + +[42] MORGAN'S RIFLEMEN was the most celebrated corps of the Continental +Army. The men were unerring marksmen, and on that account greatly feared +by the British. All were expert woodsmen, devoted to their leader, who +held them under strict discipline. + +[43] THADDEUS KOSCIUSKO came to this country to offer his services to +Congress. "What can you do?" asked Washington. "Try me," was the laconic +reply. In course of time, he was sent to Schuyler as engineer of his +army. + +[44] FREEMAN'S HOUSE was made use of by Burgoyne, during the battle of +September 9, as his headquarters. After this battle it was included +within the British lines. + + + + +XII. + +BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS.[45] + +(_September 19, 1777._) + + +Burgoyne, at Batten-Kill, had only a choice of evils to make. Either he +could save his army by retreating to Fort Edward, and thus give up all +hope of seeing the ends of the campaign fulfilled, or he might still +make a bold push for Albany, and so put everything at the hazard of +battle. + +But to fall back when he had promised to go forward, when the doing so +meant ruin to his reputation, and possibly to the cause of his king, was +not only a bitter alternative, but a responsibility heavier than he was +prepared to take. + +On the other hand, should he now cross the Hudson, with intent to bring +on a decisive battle,--and his crossing meant just this,--Burgoyne knew +that he must drop his communications with Canada, because he could not +afford the guards necessary to keep them open. Already he had been +weakened by the loss of more than fifteen hundred men, without counting +the Indians who had so basely deserted him; St. Leger had failed him in +his utmost need. On his left, the Americans were watching their chance +to strike a blow in his rear. Burgoyne therefore felt that, from the +moment he should put the Hudson between his army and its only way of +retreat, all must be staked on the doubtful issue of battle. He decided +to make the gambler's last throw. + +Burgoyne himself has said that his orders left him no choice but to go +on. It is evident he construed them to his own wishes. He still believed +his six thousand excellent soldiers, with their superb artillery, would +prove themselves more than a match for twice their own number of +undisciplined yeomanry. He would not admit even the possibility of +defeat. He felt confident of beating Gates with ease. + +In choosing to fight, rather than retreat, Burgoyne, perhaps, acted from +the impulse of a brave nature, rather than the promptings of his sober +judgment, as he was bound to do; since he had known for some time that +Sir William Howe had gone to Pennsylvania, without making any definite +preparations to come to his assistance. Notwithstanding this assurance, +that a most important part of the plan of campaign had failed, through +no fault of his, Burgoyne seems to have put his trust in the chapter of +accidents, rather than remain inactive until it was certain he would be +supported from New York. Not one solitary circumstance, except faith in +the valor of his troops, favored a further advance at this time. But his +gallant little army was ready to follow him, the enemy was within +striking distance, and so Burgoyne marched on, bemoaning his ill luck, +but with the pluck characteristic of the man. + +On the thirteenth the British army crossed the Hudson, by a bridge of +boats, to Saratoga. Burgoyne took with him provisions for five weeks, +which were loaded in bateaux and floated down the river as he advanced. +As yet he knew comparatively nothing of what preparations the Americans +were making to receive him, and but little about the country he was in. +But he did know that the patriot army had at last faced about, and that +was enough to rouse the spirit of his soldiers to the highest pitch. + +[Illustration: BURGOYNE'S ORDER OF BATTLE. + +19th September. + +[_Pen and ink sketch by a British officer._] + +A, The Line Formed. B, The Columns in March.] + +[Sidenote: Sept. 15.] + +On the fifteenth the British Army began its march southward in three +divisions. The only road had to be given up to the baggage and +artillery. To protect it, the left, or German division, marched along +the meadows, next the river. The centre, or British division, kept the +heights above; while Frazer's corps moved at some distance, on the right +of it, with Breyman's following just behind in support. Two divisions +were therefore marching on the heights, and one underneath them. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 17.] + +What with the delays caused by broken bridges on the road, bridging the +ravines on the heights, or forcing a way through thick woods, which it +was necessary always to reconnoitre with care,--the royal army could get +over but six miles in two days. Being then near the enemy, a halt was +made to prepare for battle. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 19.] + +On this day, Burgoyne continued his march in the same order as before, +with skirmishers thrown out well in advance of each column. The centre, +which he directed in person, would, in following the direction it was +taking, very shortly find itself at Freeman's Farm. + +On his part, Gates had sent out Morgan's rifle corps to feel the enemy, +in order to learn what they were doing or intending to do. Morgan had +advanced as far as our outpost at Freeman's house, when the British +skirmishers came out of the woods into the clearing. They were instantly +fired upon and returned the fire. It was therefore here that the action +of September 19 began. + +Morgan's hot fire soon drove the enemy back to cover again, with loss. +Our riflemen dashed into the woods after them, got into disorder, and, +before they were aware, fell upon the supporting battalions, by whom +they were defeated and scattered, in their turn. This division then +advanced into the clearing, from which by this time the Americans had +decamped. Burgoyne thus gained the ground about Freeman's house, whence +his pickets were first attacked and driven in. + +At this place, Burgoyne formed his line, facing towards the woods into +which Morgan's men had retreated. He rightly judged the enemy to be +there, though threats failed to extort any information from the +prisoners he had taken. When Frazer told one of Morgan's captains he +would hang him up to the nearest tree, unless he would point out the +place where his comrades were posted, the man undauntedly replied, "You +may, if you please." + +Knowing that Gates could not be attacked on his right, Burgoyne meant to +make the trial on the left. If that wing could be turned, Gates would +have to retreat from his works, or be driven into the river. This was +all the simple plan of attack, but as yet, Burgoyne did not know where +the American left was posted. The woods effectually masked the American +position, and all was now quiet. + +Burgoyne now prepared to go forward again. From what had just taken +place, he supposed the troops now with him would strike the American +line first. It was therefore arranged that when he became fully engaged, +Frazer was to charge the American flank, and crush it, making the centre +division his pivot. With his right, Burgoyne meant to turn the American +left. + +Burgoyne had with him four battalions of the line, and four guns. He +would have brought more guns if more could have been used with effect in +the woods, as he greatly relied upon this arm. Frazer had twenty +companies of grenadiers and light infantry, the 24th British regiment, +Breyman's Germans, and all the Canadians, loyalists, and Indians now +left with the army; he also had four pieces of artillery. About four +thousand men were thus in readiness to engage. The left wing was now in +motion along the river road, under the heights, but was too far off to +be of much use in reënforcing the right. It was, however, of service in +preventing Gates from sending troops away from his right, to fight +Burgoyne on the left. + +Though Burgoyne did not know the American position, which thick woods +everywhere masked from his view, he had disclosed his own very clearly +to Morgan, who sent an urgent request for reënforcements. + +Gates wished to receive the attack in his works, not make one himself. +He therefore ordered only one or two battalions from his left to go to +Morgan's assistance, and withstood the entreaties of his officers to be +allowed to meet the enemy in the open field. + +At between two and three o'clock, as Burgoyne had just finished his +dispositions for attacking, a heavy fire broke from the woods in +Frazer's front. This came from Morgan and the troops sent to his +support. Making no impression on Frazer, whose cannon held them in +check, the assailants suddenly shifted their attack over to the left, +where Burgoyne commanded in person. And thus it was that, instead of +attacking, Burgoyne found himself assaulted; instead of turning Gates's +left, his own was being assailed, with the purpose of separating the two +wings of his army. + +On finding a battle actually in progress, Gates reënforced the troops +who were fighting against odds, with driblets of a regiment at a time. +Instead of going on the field himself, or letting Arnold go,[46] he +pretended to believe that his own right was the real object of attack, +and kept in his quarters. This day's battle was therefore fought wholly +by his subordinates, against the British general-in-chief, seconded by +his ablest lieutenants. + +Having found the enemy's left, the Americans chiefly turned their +attention to that flank, as has just been said. The 62d British regiment +was posted here with two guns. This flank was crushed, and its artillery +silenced by a superior fire. Its defeat caused the whole British line +to give way, leaving part of their artillery in our hands. + +[Illustration: FIRST BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS. + +[_Pen and ink sketch by a British officer._] + +A, Americans Attacking. B, British Positions.] + +So far the battle had gone in our favor. Any demonstration from our +right, upon the enemy's left, would, unquestionably, have rendered the +victory complete. As nothing of the kind was attempted, the British were +able to bring up reënforcements from that wing, without opposition, and +the golden opportunity was lost. + +From the river road, Riedesel, by making a roundabout march, brought two +of his regiments into action. Phillips hurried with four guns taken from +the reserve artillery to the front. Frazer turned part of his force upon +the American flank, thus relieving Burgoyne from the pressure laid upon +him, and enabling him to form a second line. When this was done, the +whole British force advanced again as far as their first position, while +the Americans, for want of fresh troops to meet them, were compelled to +fall back under cover of the woods again. The combat had now lasted four +hours. Darkness put an end to it, nearly on the spot where it had begun. +The British were indeed masters of the field; but instead of attacking, +they had always been attacked, and instead of advancing, they had been +everywhere stopped; their artillery alone had saved them from defeat. +Our army lost three hundred and nineteen killed and wounded; the +British, more than five hundred,--the difference being due to superior +marksmanship. Our losses could easily be made good; the British could +not. All the real advantages, therefore, were clearly on the side of the +Americans. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[45] BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS. Bemis' Heights formed part of the +American position, but not of the battle-ground. Freeman's Farm would +have been a more accurate designation. Stillwater locates it anywhere +within a township of many miles in extent. + +[46] ARNOLD'S PART in this battle has been long a matter of dispute. +Gates was jealous of him because he was the idol of his soldiers. Arnold +had no high opinion of Gates. After Arnold turned traitor, every one +seems to have thought it a duty to give him a kick. This feeling is +unfortunately conspicuous in the only detailed account from the American +side we have of this battle, which was written by Wilkinson, Gates's +adjutant-general, and given to the world nearly forty years (1816) +afterwards. Wilkinson seems to have fully shared his commander's likes +and dislikes, and has treated Arnold shabbily. The battle was almost +wholly fought by Arnold's division, and it is equally incompatible with +his duty and temper to suppose he would have remained in camp when his +troops were engaged, though he was probably held back until a late hour +in the day. + + + + +XIII. + +LINCOLN'S RAID IN BURGOYNE'S REAR. + + +Much to Burgoyne's chagrin, he had been obliged to garrison Ticonderoga +with troops taken from his own army, instead of being allowed to draw +upon those left in Canada, under command of General Carleton. About a +thousand men were thus deducted from the force now operating on the +Hudson. + +Ever since the battle of Bennington, Lincoln had been most industriously +gathering in, and organizing the militia, at Manchester. All New England +was now up, and her sons were flocking in such numbers to his camp, that +Lincoln soon found himself at the head of about two thousand excellent +militia. + +Guided by the spirit of Washington's instructions, he now determined on +making an effort to break up Burgoyne's communications, capture his +magazines, harass his outposts, and, perhaps, even throw himself on the +British line of retreat. There is a refreshing boldness and vigor about +the conception, something akin to real generalship and enterprise. It +was a good plan, undertaken without Gates's knowledge or consent. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 13.] + +On the same day that Burgoyne was crossing the Hudson, Lincoln sent +five hundred men to the head of Lake George, with orders to destroy the +stores there; five hundred more to attack Ticonderoga; and another five +hundred to Skenesborough, to support them in case of need. Unknown to +Lincoln, Burgoyne had now wholly dropped his communications with the +lakes, but these movements were no less productive of good results on +that account. + +The first detachment, under command of Colonel Brown,[47] reached Lake +George landing undiscovered. The blockhouse and mills there were +instantly taken. Mount Defiance and the French lines at Ticonderoga[48] +were next carried without difficulty. In these operations, Brown took +three hundred prisoners, released over one hundred Americans from +captivity, and destroyed a great quantity of stores. + +The second detachment having, meantime, come up before Mount +Independence, Ticonderoga was cannonaded, for some time, without effect. +Unlike St. Clair, the British commander would neither surrender nor +retreat, even when the guns of Mount Defiance were turned against him. + +Failing here, the Americans next went up Lake George, to attack +Burgoyne's artillery depot, at Diamond Island. They were not more +successful in this attempt, as the enemy was strongly fortified and made +a vigorous defence. After burning the enemy's boats on the lake, Brown +returned to Skenesborough. + +General Lincoln was about to march from Skenesborough to Fort Edward, +with seven hundred men, when he received a pressing request from Gates, +dated on the morning of the battle, to join him at once. + +Abandoning, therefore, his own plans, Lincoln retraced his steps with so +much speed, that he arrived in Gates's camp[49] on the twenty-second. +Gates immediately gave him command of the right wing[50] of the army. + +The road between Skenesborough and Fort Edward was now constantly +patrolled by parties of American militia; so that it was truly said of +Burgoyne, that the gates of retreat were fast closing behind him. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[47] COLONEL JOHN BROWN, of Pittsfield, Mass.,--who had been with Allen +at the taking of Ticonderoga in 1775, and with Montgomery at +Quebec,--Colonels Warner, Woodbridge, and Johnson coöperated in this +expedition. + +[48] TICONDEROGA was garrisoned at this time by one British and one +German battalion, under command of General Powell. + +[49] GATES'S CAMP. By this time, Gates also had connected his camp with +the east bank of the Hudson, by a floating bridge, to facilitate the +crossing of reënforcements to him. + +[50] THE RIGHT WING was composed of Nixon's, Glover's, and Patterson's +Continental brigades, with a certain proportion of militia. The left +wing of Poor's and Learned's brigades, Dearborn's Light Infantry, and +Morgan's corps, with a like proportion of militia. + + + + +XIV. + +SECOND BATTLE OF FREEMAN'S FARM. + +(_October, 1777._) + + +Convinced that another such victory would be his ruin, Burgoyne now +thought only of defending himself until the wished-for help should come. +To this end, he began intrenching the ground on which he stood. The +action of September 19 had, therefore, changed the relative situation of +the antagonists, in that from being the assailant, Burgoyne was now +driven to act wholly on the defensive. + +On the day following the battle, a courier brought Burgoyne the welcome +news that forces from New York would soon be on the way to his relief. +Word was instantly sent back that his army could hold its ground until +the 12th of October, by which time it was not doubted that the relieving +force would be near enough at hand to crush Gates between two fires. + +[Sidenote: At Wilber's Basin.] + +Burgoyne, therefore, now threw his bridge across the Hudson again, +posted a guard on the farther side, made his camp as strong as possible, +and waited with growing impatience for the sound of Sir Henry +Clinton's[51] cannon to be heard in the distance. But Clinton did not +move to Burgoyne's assistance until too late. The blundering of the War + +[Sidenote: Oct. 4.] + +Office had worked its inevitable results. By the time Clinton reached +Tarrytown, thirty miles above New York, Burgoyne's army had been put on +short rations. With the utmost economy the provisions could not be made +to last much beyond the day fixed in Burgoyne's despatch. Foraging was +out of the question. Nothing could be learned about Clinton's progress. +All between the two British armies was such perilous ground, that +several officers had returned unsuccessful, after making heroic efforts +to reach Clinton's camp. + +While Burgoyne was thus anxiously looking forward to Clinton's energetic +coöperation, that officer supposed he was only making a diversion in +Burgoyne's favor, a feint to call off the enemy's attention from him; +and thus it happened that in the decisive hour of the war, and after the +signal had been given, only one arm was raised to strike, because two +British commanders acted without unison; either through misconception of +the orders they had received, or of what was expected of them in just +such an emergency as the one that now presented itself. + +Perhaps two armies have seldom remained so near together for so long a +time without coming to blows, as the two now facing each other on the +heights of Stillwater. The camps being little more than a mile apart, +brought the hostile pickets so close together, that men strayed into the +opposite lines unawares. Day and night there was incessant firing from +the outposts, every hour threatened to bring on a battle. Half +Burgoyne's soldiers were constantly under arms to repel the attack, +which--in view of the desperate condition they found themselves placed +in, of the steady progress from bad to worse--was rather hoped for than +feared. + +Two weeks passed thus without news of Clinton. Burgoyne's provisions +were now getting alarmingly low. If he staid where he was, in a few +days, at most, he would be starved into surrendering. Again the ominous +word "retreat" was heard around the camp-fires. The hospital was filled +with wounded men. Hard duty and scant food were telling on those fit for +duty. Lincoln's raid announced a new and dangerous complication. It was +necessary to try something, for Gates's do-nothing policy was grinding +them to powder. + +A council was therefore called. It is a maxim, as old as history, that +councils of war never fight. Some of Burgoyne's generals advised putting +the Hudson between themselves and Gates, as the only means now left of +saving the army; none, it is believed, advocated risking another battle. + +Burgoyne could not bring himself to order a retreat without first making +one more effort for victory. He dwelt strongly upon the difficulty of +withdrawing the army in the face of so vigilant and powerful an enemy. +He maintained his own opinion that even in order to secure an honorable +retreat it would be necessary to fight, and it was so determined. + +It is evident that Burgoyne nourished a secret hope that fortune might +yet take a turn favorable to him; otherwise, it is impossible to account +for his making this last and most desperate effort, under conditions +even less favorable than had attended his attack of the 19th of +September. + +Fifteen hundred men and ten guns were chosen for the attempt. In plain +language, Burgoyne started out to provoke a combat with an enemy greatly +his superior in numbers, with less than half the force his former +demonstration had been made with. His idea seems to have been to take up +a position from which his cannon would reach the American works. After +intrenching, it was his intention to bring up his heavy artillery, and +open a cannonade which he was confident the enemy could not withstand, +as their defensive works were chiefly built of logs. And out of this +state of things, Burgoyne hoped to derive some substantial benefit. + +This plan differed from that of the 19th of September, in that it looked +chiefly to obtaining a more advantageous position; while on the former +occasion it was attempted to force a way through or around the American +left. The lesson of that day had not been lost on Burgoyne, who now +meant to utilize his artillery to the utmost, rather than risk the +inevitable slaughter that must ensue from an attempt to carry the +American lines by storm. + +Everything depended upon gaining the desired position before the +Americans could make their dispositions to thwart the attempt. + +The importance to the army of this movement induced Burgoyne to call his +three best generals to his aid; so that nothing that experience could +suggest, or skill attempt, should be left undone. It was kept a profound +secret till the troops who were going out to fight were actually under +arms. The rest of the army was to remain in the works; so that, if worst +came to worst, the enemy might not reap any decided advantage from a +victory gained over the fighting corps. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 7.] + +It was near one o'clock, on the afternoon of the seventh, when Burgoyne +marched out from his own right, toward the American left. He had reached +an eminence rising at the right of the late battle-ground, and not far +removed from Frazer's position on that day, when the pickets of Arnold's +division discovered his approach, and gave the alarm. Having gained a +favorable position for using his guns, Burgoyne halted, and formed his +line. + +Upon hearing that the British had advanced to within half a mile of his +left, and were offering battle, Gates decided to accept the challenge, +as he now felt strong enough to do so without fear for the result, and +the behavior of his own troops in the previous battle had been such as +to put an end to his doubts about their ability to cope with British +soldiers. Morgan was therefore ordered to make a _détour_ through the +woods, and fall on the British right flank, while other troops were +attacking on its left. + +These movements were gallantly executed. At three o'clock, Burgoyne's +artillery opened the battle; at four, the Americans charged the British +position under a heavy fire of cannon and musketry. Again and again, +the Continentals met the British bayonet without flinching. Never was a +battle more manfully fought. Burgoyne faced death like the meanest +soldier in the ranks. After some discharges, the British cannoneers were +shot down at their pieces, and the hill on which they stood was carried +at the point of the bayonet. + +On his part, Morgan grappled with the British right, overthrew it after +a fierce struggle, and drove it back upon the centre. In vain Frazer[52] +tried to stem the tide of defeat by throwing himself into the thickest +of the fight. "That man," said Morgan, pointing him out to his marksmen, +"must die." A rifle bullet soon gave the gallant Scot his death wound, +and he was led from the field. + +The combat had lasted scarce an hour. All Burgoyne's guns were taken. Of +the fifteen hundred soldiers he had led into action, four hundred lay +dead or dying around him. Frazer's fall had carried dismay among those +who were still stubbornly yielding the ground to the victorious +Americans. A retreat was sounded. The Americans followed on with loud +shouts. For a few moments a rearguard fight was kept up, then the +retreat became a rout, the rout a race, to see who should first reach +the British lines. + +Thus far the action had been maintained on our part, by the same troops +who had fought the battle of September 19, and in part on the same +ground. It was now to be transferred to the enemy's own camp. + +Hardly had the British gained the shelter of their works, when the +Americans, led on by Arnold, stormed them with reckless bravery. Gates +had held Arnold back from the field from motives of envy and dislike; +but Arnold, to whom the sound of battle was like the spur to the mettled +courser, at last broke through all restraint. Leaping into the saddle, +he spurred into the thickest of the fight before Gates could stop him. + +The point of attack was strongly defended by artillery, and the +Americans here suffered their first repulse. Other troops came up. The +assault soon began again all along the British line. Beaten off in one +place, Arnold spurred over to the enemy's extreme right, where Breyman +was posted behind a breastwork of logs and rails, that formed a right +angle with the rest of the line. Calling on the nearest battalion to +follow him, Arnold leaped his horse over the parapet. The Germans fired +one volley and fled. Our troops took guns and prisoners. By this success +they had gained an opening on Burgoyne's right and rear, precisely as he +had meant to do by them. In this last assault Breyman was killed, and +Arnold wounded. + +The day was now too far spent for further efforts to be made on either +side. Little by little, the angry roll of musketry sunk into silence. +The battle was over. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[51] SIR HENRY CLINTON then commanded at New York, under the orders of +Sir William Howe. Not having received orders to assist Burgoyne in any +event, until he was about to engage with Washington for the possession +of Philadelphia, Howe turned over the matter of assisting Burgoyne to +Clinton, who was compelled to wait for the arrival of fresh troops, then +on the way from England, before he could organize an expedition to +attack our posts in the Highlands of the Hudson. See Introduction; also +Note 1, "Facing Disaster" (p. 60). + +[52] GENERAL SIMON FRAZER was of Scotch birth, younger son of Frazer of +Balnain. His actual rank on joining Burgoyne was lieutenant-colonel, +24th foot. With other field officers assigned to command brigades, he +was made acting brigadier, and is therefore known as General Frazer, +though Burgoyne was notified that this _local rank_ would cease when his +army joined Sir William Howe. Frazer's remains were disinterred and +taken to England. The spot where he was wounded is marked by a monument, +and indicates where he endeavored to make a stand after being driven +from his first position. Anburey and Madame Riedesel give graphic +accounts of his death and burial. + + + + +XV. + +RETREAT AND SURRENDER. + + +Burgoyne had been everywhere foiled by the battle of the seventh. +Instead of turning Gates's flank his own had been turned. Instead of +thrusting Gates back upon the river, he would surely be forced there +himself, in a few hours, at most. Instead, even, of dealing Gates such a +blow as would favor a retreat, Burgoyne's situation was now more +precarious than ever: it was more than precarious; it was next to +hopeless. + +It is again but too plain that Burgoyne had not taken defeat--such a +defeat--seriously into account, or he would never have led out that +gallant little column of fifteen hundred men; first, for victory, then, +for an honorable retreat. His army was now like the wounded lion, whose +expiring struggles the hunter watches at a distance, without fear, and +without danger. All had been lost but honor. + +The first and only thing to be done now was promptly to form a new line +of defence, behind which the army could mask its retreat. This was +skilfully and quietly done on the night after the battle, our troops not +attempting to do more than hold the ground already won. In the morning +they occupied the deserted works. + +[Illustration: THE RETREAT TO SARATOGA.] + +Burgoyne's new position stretched along the heights next the river, so +as to cover the road to Saratoga. He had merely drawn back his centre +and right, while his left wing remained stationary; and he now stood +facing west, instead of south, as before the battle. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 8.] + +The day passed in skirmishing, reconnoitring, and artillery firing. The +Americans were feeling their way along the enemy's new front, while +Burgoyne's every effort was limited to keeping them at a distance, with +his superior artillery, till night. On our side, his intentions were +rather guessed than certainly known. His great problem was how to get +his army over the Hudson undiscovered. It was supposed that he would +attempt to retreat across his bridge as soon as it was dark. Our +artillery, therefore, tried to destroy it with shot. Moreover, fourteen +hundred men were crossed over to the east bank, and now stood ready to +dispute Burgoyne's passage from that side of the river. + +At sunset, General Frazer was buried[53] inside a battery, on the brow +of the heights, according to his dying wish. Chaplain Brudenell read the +burial service, with our balls ploughing up the earth around him, and +our cannon thundering the soldier's requiem from camp to camp. + +At nine o'clock, the British army began its retreat along the river +road, leaving its camp-fires burning behind it; profound silence was +enjoined. To avoid confusion, the different corps simply moved off in +the order in which they stood on the lines, or by their right. Upon +finding that his crossing would be opposed by the troops who had passed +over to the east bank, Burgoyne had decided to go back the way he came +as far as Saratoga, and on fording the river at that place. Orders were +therefore given to destroy the bridge. Just before day, his rearguard +set fire to it, and marched off without interference. All the sick and +wounded were left behind. + +In view of the fact that all of the enemy's movements announced a rapid +retreat, the Americans seem to have shown a want of vigor in pushing the +advantages they had won by the late battles. This hesitation may be in +part accounted for by the other fact that both Arnold and Lincoln were +disabled. Lincoln had been wounded while reconnoitring the enemy's +right, on the eighth, with a view of passing a force round in his rear. +Gates was thus deprived of his most efficient lieutenants at the moment +when they were most needed. The British army could hardly have been +placed in a more critical position; but, by keeping up a bold front, it +managed to extricate itself without the loss of a man. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 9.] + +[Sidenote: Dovegat, now Coveville.] + +Rain began falling early the next morning. Burgoyne had marched but six +miles, yet dallied till afternoon on the spot where he had halted early +in the day. He then saw, to his inexpressible dismay, the same body of +Americans[54] whom he had seen opposite his encampment at Stillwater, +now marching abreast of him, with the evident design of seizing the +Saratoga ford before he could get to it. The road he meant to take was, +therefore, already as good as in the enemy's hands. + +The discovery that he was being everywhere hemmed in hastened +Burgoyne's departure. Much baggage and many wagons and tents were +burned, in order that the army might march the faster. Like a ship, +laboring with the gale, it was relieving itself of all unnecessary +burdens. + +Pelted by the storm, in silence, and with downcast looks, the soldiers +plodded wearily on, through mud and water, ankle deep. No tap of drum or +bugle-call put life into their heavy tread. The sense of defeat and +disgrace brooded over the minds of officers and men, as they stole away +in darkness and gloom from an enemy for whom they had but lately felt +such high disdain. Grief, shame, and indignation were the common lot of +high and low. No word was spoken, except when the curt "Forward" of the +officers passed along the ranks. All knew instinctively, that this +retreat was but the prelude to greater disaster, which, perchance, was +not far off. + +The same evening, the bedraggled and footsore soldiers waded the +Fishkill[55] where the bridge had been, but was now destroyed, and +bivouacked on the heights of Saratoga.[56] Too weary even to light +fires, to dry their clothing, or cook their suppers, they threw +themselves on the wet ground to snatch a few hours' sleep; for, dark as +it was, and though rain fell in torrents, the firing heard at intervals +throughout the night told them that the Americans were dogging their +footsteps, and would soon be up with them. It seemed as if the foe were +never to be shaken off. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 10.] + +It was not till after daylight that the British artillery could ford +the Fishkill with safety. The guns were then dragged up the heights and +once more pointed toward the advancing enemy. Numbness and torpor seem +to have pervaded the whole movement thus far. Now it was that Frazer's +loss was most bitterly deplored, for he had often pledged himself to +bring off the army in safety, should a retreat become necessary. He had +marked out, and intrenched this very position, in which the army now +found its last retreat. Almost twenty-four hours had been consumed in +marching not quite ten miles, or at a much slower rate of progress than +Burgoyne had censured Breyman for making to Baum's relief, at +Bennington. Burgoyne seemed to find satisfaction in showing that he +would not be hurried. + +The army took up its old positions along the heights into which the +Fishkill cuts deeply, as it runs to the Hudson. Being threatened in +front, flank, and rear, Burgoyne had to form three separate camps, +facing as many different ways. One fronted the Fishkill and commanded +the usual fording-place. A second looked east at the enemy posted across +the Hudson; a third faced the west, where the ground rose above the +camps, and hid itself in a thick forest. + +Though he secured his camps as well as he could, Burgoyne meant to make +no delay here. But it was no longer in his power to control his own +acts. The want of energy shown in the retreat had given the Americans +time to close every avenue of escape against him. + +Let us note how the fate of armies is decided. Active pursuit did not +begin until the morning of the ninth, when the retreat was first +discovered. A start of ten hours had thus been gained by the British. +Their artillery had so cut up the roads as to render them next to +impassable for our troops. Frequent halts had to be made to mend broken +bridges. From these causes, even so late as the morning of the tenth, +our army had advanced but three miles from the battle-ground. But +Burgoyne had marched, when he marched at all, like a general who means +to be overtaken. Four thousand men were being pushed around his right; +an equal number followed in his rear; while fourteen hundred more +menaced with destruction any attempt he might make to ford the river. + +No choice being left but to continue the retreat by the west bank, +pioneers were sent out, under a strong escort, to make the road +passable. + +But the golden moment had already flown. By this time Gates's van had +come up with Burgoyne. Morgan's corps had crossed the Fishkill at a +point above the British camps, had taken post within rifle-shot, and had +thus fastened upon the enemy a grip never more to be shaken off. + +As a last resort, the British general decided to attempt a night +retreat, leaving behind the artillery he had so persistently dragged +after him when the fate of his army was hanging on its speed alone. +Before this desperate venture could be put to trial, worse news came to +hand. It was learned that Stark, with two thousand men, was in +possession of Fort Edward, and of all the fords below it. Turn what way +he would, Burgoyne found a foe in his path. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 13.] + +Even General Burgoyne now saw no way open but surrender; either he must +do this, or let his soldiers be slaughtered where they stood. Cannon and +rifle shot were searching every corner of his camp; retreat was cut off; +his provisions could be made to last but a day or two longer at most; +the bateaux were destroyed; his animals were dying of starvation, and +their dead bodies tainting the air his soldiers breathed; water could +only be had at the risk of life or limb, as the American sharpshooters +picked off every one who attempted to fetch it from the river; and no +more than thirty-five hundred men could be mustered to repel an +assault;--a crisis had now been reached which loudly called on the +British general, in the name of humanity, to desist from further efforts +to maintain so hopeless a struggle. + +Burgoyne called his officers together in council. The absence of such +men as Frazer, Baum, Breyman, Ackland, Clarke, and others from the +meeting, must have brought home to the commanding general, as nothing +else could, a sense of the calamities that had befallen him; while the +faces of the survivors no less ominously prefigured those to come. A +heavy cannonade was in progress. Even while the council was +deliberating, a cannon-ball crashed through the room among them, as if +to enjoin haste in bringing the proceedings to a close. The council +listened to what was already but too well known. Already the finger of +fate pointed undeviatingly to the inevitable result. A general lassitude +had fallen upon the spirits of the soldiers. The situation was +manifestly hopeless to all. + +There could be but one opinion. Enough had been done for honor. All were +agreed that only a surrender could save the army. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 14.] + +Without more delay, an officer was sent to General Gates. At first he +would listen only to an unconditional surrender. This was indignantly +rejected. Two days of suspense followed to both armies. Indeed, the +vanquished seemed dictating terms to the conqueror. But if the British +dreaded a renewal of hostilities, the Americans knew that Clinton's +forces[57] were nearing Albany from below. Gates lowered his demands. +The British army was allowed the honors of war, with liberty to return +to England, on condition of not serving against the United States during +the war. These terms were agreed to, and the treaty was duly signed on +the seventeenth. + +Burgoyne's situation when gathering up his trophies, and issuing his +presumptuous proclamation at Ticonderoga, compared with the straits to +which his reverses had now brought him--a failure before his king and +country, a captain stripped of his laurels by the hand he professed to +despise, a petitioner for the clemency of his conqueror--affords a +striking example of the uncertain chances of war. It really seemed as if +fortune had only raised Burgoyne the higher in order that his fall might +be the more destructive at last. + +[Illustration: WHERE THE SURRENDER TOOK PLACE.] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[53] FRAZER'S BURIAL would not have been molested had our artillerists +known what was going forward. Seeing so many persons collected in the +redoubt, they naturally directed their fire upon it. + +[54] THIS BODY OF AMERICANS was led by Colonel John Fellows, whom Gates +had ordered to seize the fords as high up as Fort Edward. + +[55] FISHKILL, or Fish Creek, is the outlet of Saratoga Lake. Though a +rapid mill-stream, there were several fords. The precipitous banks were +a greater obstacle to troops than the stream itself. + +[56] HEIGHTS OF SARATOGA are in what is now called Schuylerville, a +village owing its prosperity to the water-power of the Fishkill. At the +time of the surrender, there were only a few houses strung along the +river road. Schuyler's house stood in the angle formed by the entrance +of the Fishkill into the Hudson. On arriving at Saratoga, Burgoyne +occupied this house as his headquarters, but burned it to the ground +immediately on the appearance of the Americans. On the opposite (north) +bank of the Fishkill was old Fort Hardy, built during the French War, to +cover the ford of the Hudson at this place. Within this fort, Burgoyne's +army laid down its arms, October 17, 1777. On the heights back of the +river a granite obelisk, one hundred and fifty-four feet high, has been +built to commemorate the event. + +[57] CLINTON'S FORCES carried Forts Montgomery and Clinton, in the +Highlands, by assault on the sixth. Having thus broken down all +opposition to their advance up the Hudson, they reached Kingston +(Esopus) on the thirteenth, burned it, and were within a few hours' sail +of Albany when news of Burgoyne's surrender caused them to retreat down +the river. + + + + +XVI. + +THE SEVENTEENTH OF OCTOBER, 1777. + + +The closing scene of this most memorable campaign is thus described by +one of the actors in it. He says,-- + +"About ten o'clock we marched out, according to treaty, with drums +beating, and the honors of war; but the drums seemed to have lost their +former inspiriting sounds, and though we beat the Grenadiers' March, +which not long before was so animating, yet now it seemed by its last +feeble effort as if almost ashamed to be heard on such an occasion. + +"I shall never forget the appearance of the American troops on our +marching past them. A dead silence reigned through their numerous +columns. I must say their decent behavior to us, so greatly fallen, +merited the utmost praise.... Not one of them was uniformly clad. Each +had on the clothes he wore in the fields, the church, or the tavern; +they stood, however, like soldiers, well arranged, and with a military +air, in which there was but little to find fault with. All the muskets +had bayonets, and the sharpshooters had rifles. The men all stood so +still that we were filled with wonder. Not one of them made a single +motion as if he would speak with his neighbor. Nay, more, all the lads +that stood there in rank and file, kind nature had formed so trim, so +slender, so nervous, that it was a pleasure to look at them, and we were +all surprised at the sight of such a handsome, well-formed race. The +whole nation has a natural turn for war and a soldier's life. + +"The generals wore uniforms, and belts which designated their rank, but +most of the colonels were in their ordinary clothes, with a musket and +bayonet in hand, and a cartridge-box or powder-horn slung over the +shoulder. There were regular regiments which, for want of time or cloth, +were not yet equipped in uniform. These had standards, with various +emblems and mottoes, some of which had a very satirical meaning for us." + +The number of regular troops, British and German, who laid down their +arms at Saratoga was 5,591. The camp-followers amounted to two hundred +more. Forty-two pieces of artillery, nearly five thousand muskets, with +ammunition for both, fell into the victors' hands. + + + + +XVII. + +THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEFEAT. + + +We come now to the reasons why Burgoyne's surrender proved decisive to +the cause of American independence. + +Our opening chapter states that England took Canada from France in 1759, +and annexed it to her own dominions in 1763. This conquest came about +through what is known in history as the Seven Years' War, which had not +only raised all Europe in arms, but had lighted the flames of war +throughout our own continent also. The great battle was fought on the +plains of Quebec. Victory decided for England. Defeated France had, at +last, to give up Canada to her ancient enemy. + +France came out of this conflict sorely humbled. She was brooding over +her defeat, when the American colonies took up arms. The colonists at +once turned with confidence to France; now was her chance to cripple +England, to get back what she had lost, to gain the friendship of a +grateful people, and make them her debtor for all time. But France would +not go to war unless assured that her doing so would turn the scale +against England. The memory of her humiliation was too recent, the +chances of the contest too doubtful, to admit of any other course of +conduct on her part. Meanwhile, she gave us much secret help, but none +openly. The course of events was, however, closely watched, and when +Burgoyne's surrender was known in Paris, it was seen that the day of +revenge had come at last. Doubt and hesitation gave way before the +general demand for war. Franklin was openly received at Versailles. +Within three months, the French court had acknowledged our independence. +Her armies and fleets prepared to give us active aid, and it was not +doubted that her example would soon be followed by Spain and Holland. + +Thus, Burgoyne's surrender gained for us at once recognition as a +nation, and the alliance of the first military power of Europe. + +The effect of the surrender in England is thus described by Gibbon, the +historian, who was then sitting in Parliament: "Dreadful news indeed! An +English army of nearly ten thousand men laid down their arms, and +surrendered, prisoners of war, on condition of being sent to England, +and of never serving against America. They had fought bravely, and were +three days without eating. Burgoyne is said to have received three +wounds; General Frazer, with two thousand men, killed; Colonel Ackland +likewise killed. A general cry for peace." + +England now gave up the colonies for lost. In truth, it needed no +prophet to foretell that what England could not do before, she could do +still less now, with France against her. From this time forward, the war +was carried on more to save the nation's pride than with any hope of +success. The military policy underwent an instant change; it now looked +rather to destroying our commerce and ports, than to marching large +armies into the interior of the country, to meet with a like fate to +Burgoyne's. Howe was ordered to evacuate Philadelphia. In Parliament, a +plan was hurriedly put forth to grant everything the Americans had asked +for, except independence. As Gibbon well said, the two greatest +countries of Europe were fairly running a race for the favor of America. + +The movements taking place on the continent showed everywhere a feeling +hostile to England. No nation was ever so friendless as she, none had so +richly deserved the coldness with which the other powers now treated +her. Spain and Holland were getting ready to follow the lead of France. +It was well known that England could not carry on the war without the +aid of mercenaries. The King of Prussia and the Empress of Austria now +refused to permit any more German soldiers to go to America. In the +threatening condition of affairs at home, England could not spare +another army for so distant a field. Whichever way England looked, she +saw either open enemies or half friends. Everywhere the sky was dark for +her, and bright for us. + +At home the surrender of Burgoyne thrilled the whole land, for all felt +it to be the harbinger of final triumph. The people went wild with joy; +salvos of artillery, toasts, bonfires, illuminations, everywhere +testified to the general exultation. The name of France was hailed with +acclamations. At once a sense of national dignity and solidity took the +place of uncertainty and isolation. Now and henceforth, the flag of the +United States was known and respected; abroad as at home, on the sea as +on the land. + +Burgoyne's disaster has been charged to the grossest carelessness on the +part of some under official of the British War Office. It is said that +the orders for Sir William Howe were never put in the despatch bag at +all, but lay forgotten until the catastrophe at Saratoga brought them to +light. On such trifles does the fate of nations sometimes hang. +Certainly, greater unity of purpose in the two generals might have given +the history of the campaign a different reading. But all such +conjectures must fall before the inexorable logic of accomplished +results. The world has long since passed upon the merits of the great +conflict which set America free. Its verdict is recorded. The actors are +but as dust in the balance. + + + + +INDEX. + + + ALLEN, ETHAN, takes Ticonderoga, 17; + goes before Montgomery, 19. + + ARNOLD, BENEDICT, marches to Canada, 19; + takes command of our flotilla, and fights the enemy, 22; 25, _note_; + sent to relieve Fort Stanwix, and does it by a stratagem, 92; + part at Bemis' Heights, 112; + storms the enemy's intrenchments, 121, 122; + wounded, 122. + + + BATTEN-KILL, British take post at, 70, 87. + + BAUM, FREDERIC, commands British expedition to Bennington, and + marches, 70; + composition of his force, 70; + hears the Americans are waiting for him, 75; + notifies Burgoyne, and goes on, 75; + discovers Stark, and intrenches himself on the Walloomsac, 78, 81; + defeated, 83, 132. + + BENNINGTON, VT.; Burgoyne's plan to seize stores at, 68; + Baum marches for, 72; + Battle of Bennington, 83, 84, 85; + trophies of, 85; 86, _note_; + results of the battle, 88, 89. + + BEMIS' HEIGHTS; position of the army described, 99; + battle of September 19, 106, 107, 108, 111; 112, _note_. + + BOUQUET RIVER; Burgoyne halts at, 37. + + BRANT, JOSEPH, at Oriskany, 91; 94, _note_. + + BREYMAN, HEINRICH C., posted in support of Baum, 70; + marches to Baum's aid, 81; + his slowness fatal to Baum, 84; + defeated, and badly cut up, 85; + his retreat to camp, 89; + part in Battle of Bemis' Heights, 105; + killed, 122. + + BROWN, JOHN, attacks Ticonderoga, 114; 115, _note_. + + BURGOYNE'S ARMY, composition of, 33, 34; + passes Lake Champlain, 35; 36, _notes_ 1 and 2; + invests Ticonderoga, 40, 43; + fights at Hubbardton, 47, 48; + at Fort Anne, 52; + joined by loyalists, 61; + concentrated, and leaves Skenesborough, 66; + arrives at Fort Edward, 66; + joined by savages, 66; + compelled to halt for provisions, 66, 69; + is moved forward to support the expedition to Bennington, 70; + falls back after the defeat of Baum, 87; + its losses, 88; + crosses the Hudson, 102; + order of march from Saratoga to Bemis' Heights, 105; + slow advance, 105; + gives battle to Gates, 106; + troops in action, 107; + on the defensive, 116; + on short rations, 117; + inactivity of, 117; + ordered to fight Gates again, 118; + troops selected, 119; + meets defeat, 121; + camp assaulted and turned, 122; + forms new line, 124; + retreats, 127; + soldiers dispirited, 129; + reaches Saratoga, 129; + makes a last stand, 130; + its camps, 130; + compelled to surrender, 133; + numbers at this time, 138. + + BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN discussed, 10-14; + demand for re-enforcements, 11; + deficiency of transportation service, 12; + cause of failure, 13; + plan of, 26-32; + results in surrender, 133; + effect of it in Europe, especially in France, 140; + effect at home, 141; + said to have failed through blundering in the War Office, 142. + + BURGOYNE, JOHN; his personal traits, 9; + his plan of campaign, 26 _et seq._; + his army, 33; + his proclamation, 38; + aims to cut off St. Clair from Schuyler, 45; + takes Skenesborough, 51; + follows up his successes, 52; + _résumé_ of his campaign thus far, 52; + sends Riedesel to Castleton, 61; + chooses the Fort Anne route to Albany, 61; + his reasons, 62; + march obstructed, 65; + reaches Fort Edward, 66; + plans how to provide for his army, 68; + desire to strike New England, 68; + orders the expedition to Bennington, 70; + how composed, 70; + combinations overthrown by Baum's defeat, 87; + his losses up to this time, 88; + his Indians desert him, 88; + compelled to halt again, 90; + hears of St. Leger's retreat, 93; + his choice of evils, 101; + decides to cross the Hudson, 102; + marches in search of Gates, 105; + order of march, 105; + gives battle, 106 _et seq._; + troops in action, 107; + holds his position, but makes no advance, 113; + brings on another battle, 118, 119; + calls his three best generals to his aid, and commands in person, + 119; + is defeated, and driven into his works, 121; + orders a retreat, 127; + finds a force confronting him on the east bank of the Hudson, 128; + loses valuable time, 128; + burns his baggage, 129; + arrives at Saratoga, 129; + finds retreat cut off, 131; + his camp untenable, 132; + surrenders his army, 133; + scene described by eyewitnesses, 135, 138. + + + CANADA'S alliance desired, 15; + invasion of begun, 19; + attitude toward the colonies, 25, _note_. + + CARLETON, GUY; attitude toward Burgoyne, 11, 12; + gains a naval victory over Arnold, 22, 25. + + CASTLETON, VT.; Riedesel posted there by Burgoyne, 61. + + CHAMBLY, FORT; position of, 16; + taken by Americans, 19; + burnt, 20. + + CLINTON, SIR HENRY, notifies Burgoyne that he is coming to his relief, + 116; + thinks he is only to make a diversion, 117; 122, _note_; + is near Albany when Burgoyne surrenders, 133; 134, _note_. + + CROWN POINT, position of, 16; + when built, 18, _note_; + Americans fall back to, 20; + evacuated, 20; + naval battle near, 22. + + + DIAMOND ISLAND, unsuccessful attack upon, 114. + + DUER'S HOUSE, Frazer's corps at, 68; + British army posted at, 70, 87. + + + FELLOWS, JOHN, commands a detachment to watch Burgoyne, 134. + + FISHKILL CREEK, 129; 134, _note_. + + FORT ANNE, N. Y.; Americans retreat to, from Skenesborough, 51; + Schuyler re-enforces them, 52; + combat at, 52; + burnt and abandoned, 52; + described, 55, _note_; + importance to Burgoyne, 62; + neighborhood described, 62, 63. + + FORT EDWARD, position of, 16; + Schuyler at, 51; + is joined by St. Clair, after Ticonderoga falls, 51; + Burgoyne arrives at, 66; + Schuyler evacuates it, 66; + described, 66, _note_. + + FORT GEORGE, position of, 16; + Americans evacuate it, 66; + and British occupy it, 66. + + FORT OSWEGO, position of, 30. + + FORT STANWIX, position of, 30; + St. Leger's force, 35; + garrisoned and defended, 90, 91; + attempt to relieve fails, 91; + garrison makes a sally, 92; + siege raised, 93; 94, _note_. + + FRANCIS, EBENEZER, covers retreat from Ticonderoga, fights Frazer at + Hubbardton, but is killed, 51; 55, _note_. + + FRAZER, SIMON, commands a corps under Burgoyne, 34, 35; + takes Mt. Hope, 40; + pursues St. Clair, 46; + comes up with the Americans at Hubbardton, and fights them, 47; + on the point of defeat is re-enforced, and gains the day, 48; + crosses the Hudson, and takes post at Saratoga, 70; + recrosses the Hudson, 87; + is posted on the right at Bemis' Heights, 105; + his force, 107; + killed, 121; 123, _note_; + buried, 127; 134, _note_. + + FREEMAN'S FARM, position of, 99; 100, _note_, 105; + first collision at (Sept. 19), 106; + second battle at, 120-122. + + + GANSEVOORT, PETER, at Fort Stanwix, 90; + sallies out upon besiegers, 91; 94, _note_. + + GATES, HORATIO, takes command of the Northern Army, 20; + his rank, 25, _note_; supersedes Schuyler, 95; + good effect on the army, 97; + orders an advance to Stillwater, 97; + want of confidence in Arnold a drawback to success, 98; + posts the army on Bemis' Heights, 98; _note_, 99; + sends Morgan to feel the enemy, 106; + re-enforces in driblets, 108; + his camp and army, 115, _note_s 1 and 2; + accepts battle again, 120; + is victorious, 121, 122; + dilatory pursuit of the enemy, 131; + comes up with Burgoyne, 131; + dispositions for attacking, 131; + receives Burgoyne's surrender, 133. + + + HERKIMER, NICHOLAS, marches to relieve Fort Stanwix, 91; + is waylaid and defeated, 91, 92; + dies of his wounds, 92; 94, _note_. + + HESSIAN MERCENARIES, 36, _note_. + + HOWE, SIR WILLIAM, participation in the campaign discussed, 14; + driven from Boston, 29; + George III. disappointed in him, 29; + gets his orders too late, 31. + + HUBBARDTON, VT., garrison of Ticonderoga retreats to, 44; + St. Clair's rearguard overtaken at, 47; + battle of, 47, 48, 49. + + + JOHNSON, SIR JOHN, at Oriskany, 91; 94, _note_. + + + KOSCIUSKO, THADDEUS, marks out the lines on Bemis' Heights, 98; 100, + _note_. + + + LAKE CHAMPLAIN, the gateway of the north, 16; + naval battle on, 22; + Burgoyne's advance, 35; + shores of, 37; + Americans driven from, 51. + + LINCOLN, BENJAMIN, sent to Manchester, 74; + sketch of, 76, _note_; + makes a raid in Burgoyne's rear, 113; + joins Gates, 115; + wounded, 128. + + LYMAN, PHINEAS, builds Fort Edward, 66. + + + MANCHESTER, VT., Warner posted at, 57; + rendezvous for militia, 73; + Lincoln and Stark at, 74. + + MOHAWK VALLEY, plan for invading it, 30, 35. + + MONTGOMERY, RICHARD, leads an army to Canada, 19; + killed, 20; + sketch of, 25, _note_. + + MORGAN'S RIFLEMEN, 99, _note_; + attack Burgoyne, 106; + part in the battle of October 7, 120, 121. + + MOUNT INDEPENDENCE described, 16; + named, 21; + Americans retreat from Ticonderoga to, 44. + + MOUNT DEFIANCE, the key of Ticonderoga, 43; + seized by Burgoyne's engineers, 43; + compels the evacuation of Ticonderoga, 43; + retaken by the Americans, 114; 115, _note_. + + NEWPORT, R. I., held by the enemy, 30; + Howe's strategy, 60, _note_. + + NEW YORK, plans for its invasion, 26, 29, 30; + resources of for resisting Burgoyne, 58, 59. + + + ORISKANY, N. Y., Americans marching to Fort Stanwix are defeated at, + 91. + + + PHILLIPS, WILLIAM, commands Burgoyne's artillery, 34; + brings up artillery at Bemis' Heights, 111. + + + RIEDESEL, BARON VON, commands Burgoyne's German contingent, 34; + at Ticonderoga, 40; + pursues the retreating Americans, 46; + turns defeat to victory at Hubbardton, 48; + is posted at Castleton, Vt., 61; + falls back to Fort Edward, 86; + supports Burgoyne at Bemis' Heights, 111. + + + SARATOGA, occupied by Burgoyne, 70; + country below described, 98; + Burgoyne's army crosses over to, 102; + falls back to, after being defeated, 129; 134, _note_. + + ST. CLAIR, ARTHUR, commands at Ticonderoga, 39; + evacuates it, 43; + military record of, 44, _note_ 2; also _note_ 5; + marches for Skenesborough, 45; + halts at Hubbardton, 46; + hears Burgoyne has occupied his proposed line of retreat, and now + marches for Bennington, 51; + joins Schuyler at Fort Edward, 51; + accused of treachery, 58; + and ordered to Philadelphia, 60. + + ST. JOHN'S, FORT, position of, 16; + taken by Americans, 19; + burnt, 20; + British build a fleet at, 21. + + ST. LEGER, BARRY, combination with Burgoyne, 13; + his part, 30, 31; + his force, 35, 90; + lays siege to Fort Stanwix, 91; + Arnold's stratagem compels him to raise the siege, 93; + and retreat to Oswego, 93. + + SCHUYLER, PHILIP, at Fort Edward, 51; + St. Clair joins him, 51; + sends a force to Fort Anne, 52; + military record of, 55, _note_; + holds Warner at Manchester, 57; + evacuates Fort Edward on Burgoyne's approach, 66; + state of his army, 66; + urges Stark to join him, 77; + sends Gansevoort to Fort Stanwix, 90; + then Arnold, 93; + superseded by Gates, 95. + + SECOND BATTLE OF FREEMAN'S FARM, 120-122. + + SKENESBOROUGH taken by Americans, 17; + described, 18, _note_; + made a dockyard, 21; + Americans retreat to, from Ticonderoga, 44; + set fire to, and abandoned, 51. + + STARK, JOHN, appointed to sole command over New Hampshire militia, 74; + musters his brigade at Manchester, 74; + refuses to join Schuyler, 74; + his perplexity, 75; + marches to Bennington, 75; + sketch of, 76, _note_; + decides to join Schuyler, 77; + but hears of the enemy's approach, and sends out scouts, 77; + sends for Warner, 78; + re-enforced, 81; + his force, 82; + gains the victory of Bennington, 83; + and defeats Breyman also, 84, 85; + at Fort Edward, 132. + + STILLWATER, position of the American army described, 98. + + + TICONDEROGA, position of described, 16; + taken by Americans, 17; 18, _note_; + Montgomery there, 19; + Burgoyne's landing, 39; + garrison of, 40; + invested by Burgoyne, 40, 43; + evacuated, 44; + effects of its fall, 56, 57; + Americans attack it unsuccessfully, 114. + + TRENTON, N. J., victory at, 32, _note_. + + + VALCOUR ISLAND, naval battle at, 22. + + VERMONT, people of addressed by Burgoyne, 38; + state of settlements in, 44, _note_; + critical situation of after the fall of Ticonderoga, 57. + + + WARNER, SETH, in command at Hubbardton, 47; 55, _note_; + surprised there, 48; + retreats to Bennington, 51; + posted at Manchester, 57; + his Green Mountain Boys, 57; + Stark calls on him for assistance, 77; + gets to Bennington in time, 81; + attacks Breyman, 84. + + WASHINGTON, GEORGE, sets about retrieving the disaster at Ticonderoga, + 60; + his views how to retard Burgoyne's march, 73; + sends Lincoln to carry them out, 74; + his policy vindicated, 85; + efforts to strengthen the northern army, 95, 96; + considerate treatment of Schuyler, 96. + + + + + +-----------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the | + | original document have been preserved. | + | | + | Typographical errors corrected in the text: | + | | + | Page 5 126 changed to 124 | + | Page 5 143 changed to 139 + | Page 143 followes changed to follows | + | Page 144 Fellow's changed to Fellows | + +-----------------------------------------------+ + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Burgoyne's Invasion of 1777, by Samuel Adams Drake + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777 *** + +***** This file should be named 31206-8.txt or 31206-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/2/0/31206/ + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Burgoyne's Invasion of 1777 + With an outline sketch of the American Invasion of Canada, 1775-76. + +Author: Samuel Adams Drake + +Release Date: February 7, 2010 [EBook #31206] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777 *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="65%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="List"> + <tr> + <td class="tdctlr" colspan="2" style="padding-top: .75em;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><b>WORKS BY SAMUEL ADAMS DRAKE</b></span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>OLD LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC PERSONAGES OF BOSTON.</b> Illustrated.</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">$2.00</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>OLD LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC FIELDS OF MIDDLESEX.</b> Illustrated.</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">2.00</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>NOOKS AND CORNERS OF THE NEW ENGLAND COAST.</b> Illustrated.</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">3.50</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>CAPTAIN NELSON.</b> A Romance of Colonial Days.</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">.75</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>THE HEART OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.</b> Illustrated<br /> + (Illuminated Cloth).</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">7.50</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"> Tourist's Edition.</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">3.00</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>AROUND THE HUB.</b> A Boy's Book about Boston. Illustrated.</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">1.50</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>NEW ENGLAND LEGENDS AND FOLK LORE.</b> Illustrated.</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">2.00</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>THE MAKING OF NEW ENGLAND.</b> Illustrated.</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">1.50</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>THE MAKING OF THE GREAT WEST.</b></td> + <td class="tdrrbp">1.75</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>OLD BOSTON TAVERNS.</b> Paper.</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">.50</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdllp"><b>BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777.</b> Net.</td> + <td class="tdrrbp">.50</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdclr" colspan="2"><i>Any book on the above list sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price,<br /> by</i></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdclr" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: .5pt black solid;">LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/frontis.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/frontis.jpg" width="55%" alt="General. Burgoyne." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen smcap" style="margin-top: .2em;">Gen<span style="vertical-align: 15%;">l.</span> Burgoyne.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> + + +<h3> Decisive Events in American History</h3> +<br /> +<br /> +<h1> <span class="smcap">Burgoyne's Invasion of 1777</span></h1> + +<br /> +<br /> +<h3> WITH AN + OUTLINE SKETCH OF THE<br /> AMERICAN INVASION + OF CANADA, 1775-76</h3> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h4> BY</h4> + +<h2>SAMUEL ADAMS DRAKE</h2> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h4> BOSTON 1889<br /> + LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS</h4> + +<h5> 10 MILK STREET NEXT "OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE"<br /> + NEW YORK CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM<br /> + 718 AND 720 BROADWAY</h5> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h5><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1889,<br /> +by<br /> +Lee and Shepard.</span></h5> +<br /> +<br /> +<h5>BOSTON<br /> +<span class="smcap">S. J. Parkhill & Co., Printers</span></h5> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Table opf Contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp" width="10%" style="font-size: 80%;">CHAPTER</td> + <td class="tdl" width="80%"> </td> + <td class="tdr" width="10%" style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp"> </td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Introduction</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">PRELUDE.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">I.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">The Invasion of Canada</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">II.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">The Invasion of Canada</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">BURGOYNE'S INVASION.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">I.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">The Plan of Campaign</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">II.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Burgoyne's Army</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">III.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">The Fall of Ticonderoga</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">IV.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Hubbardton</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">V.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Facing Disaster</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">VI.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">The March to Fort Edward</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">VII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Before Bennington</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">VIII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Battle of Bennington</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">IX.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">After Bennington</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">X.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">St. Leger's Expedition</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">XI.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Our Army Advances</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">XII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Battle of Bemis' Heights</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">XIII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Lincoln's Raid in Burgoyne's Rear</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">XIV.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Second Battle of Freeman's Farm</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">XV.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Retreat and Surrender</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">XVI.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Seventeenth of October, 1777</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">XVII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Consequences of Defeat</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep009.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep009.jpg" width="30%" alt="MILITARY MAP, LAKE CHAMPLAIN." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">MILITARY MAP, LAKE CHAMPLAIN.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Among the decisive events of the Revolutionary struggle, Burgoyne's +campaign deservedly holds the foremost place, as well for what it led +to, as for what it was in inception and execution—at once the most +daring, most quixotic, and most disastrous effort of the whole war.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne was himself, in some respects, so remarkable a man that any +picture of his exploits must needs be more or less tinted with his +personality. And this was unusually picturesque and imposing. He +acquired prestige, at a time when other generals were losing it, through +his participation in Carleton's successful campaign. But Burgoyne was +something more than the professional soldier. His nature was poetic; his +temperament imaginative. He did nothing in a commonplace way. Even his +orders are far more scholarly than soldier-like. At one time he tells +his soldiers that "occasions may occur, when nor difficulty, nor labor, +nor life are to be regarded"—as if soldiers, in general, expected +anything else than to be shot at!—at another, we find him preaching +humanity to Indians, repentance to rebels, or better manners to his +adversary, with all the superb self-consciousness that was Burgoyne's +most prominent characteristic.</p> + +<p>To the military critic, Burgoyne's campaign is <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>instructive, because it +embodies, in itself, about all the operations known to active warfare. +It was destined to great things, but collapsed, like a bubble, with the +first shock of an adverse fortune.</p> + +<p>This campaign is remarkable in yet another way. It has given us the most +voluminous literature extant, that treats of any single episode of the +Revolutionary War. In general, it takes many more words to explain a +defeat than to describe a victory. Hence this fulness is much more +conspicuous upon the British than upon the American side of the history +of this campaign. Not only the general, who had his reputation to +defend, but high officials, whose guiding hand was seen behind the +curtain, were called to the bar of public opinion. The ministers +endeavored to make a scapegoat of the general; the general, to fix the +responsibility for defeat upon the ministers. His demand for a +court-martial was denied. His sovereign refused to hear him. It was thus +meanly attempted to turn the torrent of popular indignation, arising +from the ill success of the expedition, wholly upon the unlucky +general's head. Burgoyne's heroic persistency at length brought the +British nation face to face with the unwelcome fact, which the ministers +were so desirous of concealing,—that somebody besides the general had +blundered; and if the inquiry that Burgoyne obtained from Parliament +failed to vindicate him as a captain, it nevertheless did good service +by exposing both the shortcomings of his accusers, and the motives which +had guided their conduct with respect to himself.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>Besides the official examination by the House of Commons, we have +several excellent narratives, written by officers who served with +Burgoyne, all of which materially contribute to an intelligent study of +the campaign, from a purely military point of view. These narratives are +really histories of the several corps to which the writers belonged, +rather than capable surveys of the whole situation; but they give us the +current gossip of the camp-fire and mess-table, spiced with anecdote, +and enlivened with the daily experiences through which the writers were +passing. And this is much.</p> + +<p>In his defence, General Burgoyne vigorously addresses himself to the +four principal charges brought forward by his accusers: namely, first, +of encumbering himself with a needless amount of artillery; secondly, of +taking the Fort Anne route, rather than the one by way of Lake George; +thirdly, of sending off an expedition to Bennington, under conditions +inviting defeat; and, lastly, of crossing the Hudson after the disasters +of Bennington and Fort Stanwix had taken place.</p> + +<p>The real criticism upon Burgoyne's conduct, so far as it relates to the +movement of his forces only, seems to be that from the moment when the +march was actually to begin, he found himself in want of everything +necessary to a rapid advance. Thus, we find him scarcely arrived at +Skenesborough before he is asking Sir Guy Carleton for reënforcements to +garrison Ticonderoga and Fort George with, to the end that his own force +might not be weakened by the detachments required to hold those +fortresses against the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>Americans, when he should move on. It would seem +that this contingency, at least, might have been foreseen before it +forced itself upon Burgoyne's attention. Yet it was of so serious a +nature, in this general's eyes, that he expresses a doubt whether his +army would be found equal to the task before it, unless Carleton would +assume the defence of the forts referred to above.</p> + +<p>At this time, too, the inadequacy of his transportation service became +so painfully evident, that the expedition to Bennington offered the only +practicable solution to Burgoyne's mind.</p> + +<p>These circumstances stamp the purposed invasion with a certain haphazard +character at the outset, which boded no good to it in the future.</p> + +<p>Carleton having declined to use his troops in the manner suggested, +Burgoyne was compelled to leave a thousand men behind him when he +marched for Albany. Carleton, the saviour of Canada, was justly +chagrined at finding himself superseded in the conduct of this campaign, +by an officer who had served under his orders in the preceding one; and, +though he seems to have acted with loyalty toward Burgoyne, this is by +no means the only instance known in which one general has refused to go +beyond the strict letter of his instructions for the purpose of rescuing +a rival from a dilemma into which he had plunged with his eyes wide +open.</p> + +<p>The Prelude with which our narrative opens, undertakes first, to briefly +outline the history of the Northern Army, which finally brought victory +out of defeat; and next, to render familiar the names, location, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>strategic value of the frontier fortresses, before beginning the story +of the campaign itself.</p> + +<p>Few armies have ever suffered more, or more nobly redeemed an apparently +lost cause, than the one which was defeated at Quebec and victorious at +Saratoga. The train of misfortunes which brought Burgoyne's erratic +course to so untimely an end was nothing by comparison. And the +quickness with which raw yeomanry were formed into armies capable of +fighting veteran troops, affords the strongest proof that the Americans +are a nation of soldiers.</p> + +<p>So many specific causes have been assigned for Burgoyne's failure, that +it is hardly practicable to discuss all of them within reasonable +limits. The simplest statement of the whole case is that he allowed +himself to be beaten in detail. It seems plain enough that any plan, +which exposed his forces to this result, was necessarily vicious in +itself. Moreover, Burgoyne wofully misestimated the resources, spirit, +and fighting capacity of his adversary. With our forces strongly posted +on the Mohawk, St. Leger's advance down the valley was clearly +impracticable. Yet such a combination of movements as would bring about +a junction of the two invading columns, at this point, was all essential +to the success of Burgoyne's campaign. To have effected this in season, +Burgoyne should have made a rapid march to the Mohawk, intrenched +himself there, and operated in conjunction with St. Leger. His delays, +attributable first, to his unwise choice of the Fort Anne route, next, +to Schuyler's activity in obstructing it, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>lastly, to his defeat at +Bennington, gave time to render our army so greatly superior to his own, +that the conditions were wholly altered when the final trial of strength +came to be made.</p> + +<p>What might have happened if Sir W. Howe had moved his large army and +fleet up the Hudson, in due season, is quite another matter. The writer +does not care to discuss futilities. In the first place, he thinks that +Burgoyne's campaign should stand or fall on its own merits. In the next, +such a movement by Howe would have left Washington free to act in the +enemy's rear, or upon his flanks, with a fair prospect of cutting him +off from his base at New York. Of the two commanders-in-chief, +Washington acted most effectively in reënforcing Gates's army from his +own. Howe could not and Carleton would not do this. From the moment that +Burgoyne crossed the Hudson, he seems to have pinned his faith to +chance; but if chance has sometimes saved poor generalship, the general +who commits himself to its guidance, does so with full knowledge that he +is casting his reputation on the hazard of a die. As Burgoyne did just +this, he must be set down, we think, notwithstanding his chivalrous +defence of himself, as the conspicuous failure of the war. And we assume +that the importance which his campaign implied to Europe and America, +more than any high order of ability in the general himself, has lifted +Burgoyne into undeserved prominence.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>PRELUDE</h2> +<br /> +<h2>I.</h2> + +<h2>THE INVASION OF CANADA, 1775.</h2> +<br /> + +<div class="sidenote">Canada's attitude.</div> + +<p>England took Canada from France in 1759, and soon after annexed it to +her own dominions. Twelve years later, her despotic acts drove her +American colonies into open rebellion. England feared, and the colonies +hoped, Canada would join in the revolt against her. But, though they did +not love their new masters, prudence counselled the Canadians to stand +aloof, at least till the Americans had proved their ability to make head +against the might of England.</p> + +<p>That England would be much distressed by Canada's taking sides with the +Americans was plain enough to all men, for the whole continent would +then be one in purpose, and the conflict more equal; but the Americans +also greatly wished it because all New England and New York lay open to +invasion from Canada.</p> + +<p>Nature had created a great highway, stretching southward from the St. +Lawrence to the Hudson, over which rival armies had often passed to +victory or defeat in the old wars. Open water offered an easy transit +for nearly the whole way. A chain of forts <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>extended throughout its +whole length. Chambly and St. John's defended the passage of the +Richelieu, through which the waters of Lake Champlain flow to the St. +Lawrence. Crown Point<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> and Ticonderoga<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> blocked the passage of this +lake in its narrowest part. Ticonderoga, indeed, is placed just where +the outlet of Lake George falls down a mountain gorge into Lake +Champlain. Its cannon, therefore, commanded that outlet also. Fort +George stood at the head of Lake George, within sixteen miles of Fort +Edward, on the Hudson. These were the gates through which a hostile army +might sally forth upon our naked frontier. Much, therefore, depended on +whether they were to be kept by friend or foe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Ticonderoga.</div> + +<p>In natural and artificial strength, Ticonderoga was by far the most +important of these fortresses. At this place the opposite shores of New +York and Vermont are pushed out into the lake toward each other, thus +forming two peninsulas, with the lake contracted to a width of half a +mile, or point-blank cannon range, between them: one is Ticonderoga; the +other, Mount Independence. Thus, together, they command the passage of +the two lakes.</p> + +<p>Ticonderoga itself is a tongue-shaped projection of quite uneven land, +broad and high at the base, or where it joins the hills behind it, but +growing narrower as it descends over intervening hollows or swells to +its farthest point in the lake. That part next the mainland is a wooded +height, having a broad plateau on the brow—large enough to encamp an +army corps <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>upon—but cut down abruptly on the sides washed by the lake. +This height, therefore, commanded the whole peninsula lying before it, +and underneath it, as well as the approach from Lake George, opening +behind it in a rugged mountain pass, since it must be either crossed or +turned before access to the peninsula could be gained. Except for the +higher hills surrounding it, this one is, in every respect, an admirable +military position.</p> + +<p>The French, who built the first fortress here, had covered all the low +ground next the lake with batteries and intrenchments, but had left the +heights rising behind it unguarded, until Abercromby attacked on that +side in 1758. They then hastily threw up a rude intrenchment of logs, +extending quite across the crest in its broadest part. Yet, in spite of +the victory he then obtained, Montcalm was so fully convinced that +Ticonderoga could not stand a siege, that he made no secret of calling +it a trap, for some honest man to disgrace himself in.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>Ticonderoga, however, was henceforth looked upon as a sort of Gibraltar. +People, therefore, were filled with wonder when they heard how Ethan +Allen had surprised and taken it on the 9th of May, 1775, with only a +handful of men; how Seth Warner had also taken Crown Point; and how +Skenesborough<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> and Fort George, being thus cut off from Canada, had +also fallen into our hands without firing a shot.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>Thus, in the very beginning of the war for independence, and at one bold +stroke, we regained possession of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>this gateway of the north; or in +military phrase, we now held all the strategic points by which an +advance from Lower Canada upon the United Colonies was possible.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Crown Point</span>, built by the French in 1731, greatly +strengthened by the British, who took it in 1759.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Ticonderoga</span>, familiarly called "Ty" because the +early spelling of the name was Tyconderoga. Built 1755-56 by the French, +taken 1759 by the British, under Amherst. Three weeks before the battle +of Lexington, an agent of Massachusetts was sent to ascertain the +feelings of the people of Canada. His first advice was that "Ty" should +be seized as quickly as possible.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Montcalm's Prophecy</span> came true in St. Clair's case +in 1777.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Skenesborough</span>, now Whitehall, named for Philip +Skene, a retired British officer, who settled on lands granted him after +the French War. He had about fifty tenants, and a few negro slaves.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> <span class="smcap">The Captured Artillery</span> was taken to Cambridge on +sleds in midwinter, by Colonel Knox. It enabled Washington to bring the +siege of Boston to a favorable conclusion.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>II.</h2> + +<h2>THE INVASION OF CANADA.</h2> +<br /> + +<div class="sidenote">Invasion of Canada.</div> + +<p>The prompt seizure of the lake fortresses had a marked effect upon the +wavering Canadians.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> Many joined us. More stood ready to do so +whenever the signal for revolt should be given. Success begets +confidence. The Americans were now led to believe that by throwing an +army into Canada at once, the people would no longer hesitate to free +themselves from the British yoke. The time seemed the riper for it, +because it was known that the strong places of Canada were but weakly +guarded. Could Quebec and Montreal be taken, British power in Canada +would be at an end.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Our army retreats.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">1776.</div> + +<p>With such promise held out before it, Congress resolved to make the +attempt. Forces were ordered to both places. One body, under General +Montgomery,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> mustered at Ticonderoga. Ethan Allen went before it to +rouse the Canadians, who were expected to receive the Americans with +open arms. This army moved down the lake in October, taking St. John's +and Chambly in its way, and Montreal a little later. The other, led by +Colonel Arnold,<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> ascended the Kennebec to its head, crossed over to +the Chaudière, which was followed to the St. Lawrence, and came before +Quebec at about the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>same time Montgomery entered Montreal. Montgomery +hastened to Arnold with a handful of men. Together they assaulted Quebec +on the morning of December 31. The attack failed, and Montgomery fell. +The Americans lay before Quebec till spring, when the arrival of fresh +troops, for the enemy, forced ours to retreat to Montreal. This, too, +was abandoned. Our army then fell back toward Lake Champlain, setting +fire to Chambly, and St. John's behind it. The enemy followed close, +recapturing these places as our troops left them. Very little fighting +took place, but the Americans were greatly disheartened by having +constantly to retreat, and by the loss of many brave officers and men, +who fell sick and died of the smallpox. July 1 the army finally reached +Crown Point, ragged, sickly, and destitute of everything. Weakened by +the loss of five thousand men and three commanders, it was no longer +able to keep the field. Instead of conquering Canada, it had been driven +out at the point of the bayonet. The great question now was, whether +this army could hold its own against a victorious and advancing enemy.</p> + +<p>General Gates<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> took command of the army at this critical time. +Convinced that he could never hope to hold both Crown Point and +Ticonderoga, and knowing Ticonderoga to be much the stronger, in a +military view, he decided to remove the army to that place at once. This +was promptly done.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> The soldiers were set to work strengthening the +old, or building new, works, under the direction of skilful engineers. +Of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>these new works the strongest, as well as most important, because +they commanded Ticonderoga itself, were those raised on the peninsula +opposite the fortress on the Vermont side, which was christened Mount +Independence on the day the army heard that the colonies had declared +themselves free and independent.</p> + +<p>Having thrown a bridge across the strait, between Ticonderoga and Mount +Independence, the Americans waited for the enemy to come and attack +them, for with such leaders as Gates and Stark they felt confident of +gaining the victory.</p> + +<p>The British were equally active on their side. After driving the +Americans from Canada, they next determined to make themselves masters +of Lake Champlain, recover the forts they had lost, and so gain a +foothold for striking a blow at our northern colonies.</p> + +<p>For this purpose they set about building a fleet at St. John's. Vessels +were sent out from England, for the purpose, which were taken to pieces +below the Chambly rapids, brought across the portage, and put together +again at St. John's. By working diligently, the British got their fleet +ready to sail early in October.</p> + +<p>Well knowing the importance of keeping possession of the lake, the +Americans turned Skenesborough into a dockyard, and were straining every +nerve to get ready a fleet strong enough to cope with the British. As +everything needed for equipping it had to be brought from the sea-coast, +the British had much the advantage in this respect, yet all labored with +so much zeal, that our fleet was first ready for action. Gates <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>gave the +command of it to Arnold, who had once been a sailor, and whose courage +had been tried so signally under the walls of Quebec.</p> + +<p>By the middle of August, Ticonderoga was in fighting trim. The enemy's +delays had given time to make the defences so strong that an attack was +rather hoped for than feared. Ignorant of the great preparations making +at St. John's, the Americans also believed themselves strongest on the +lake. Our fleet, therefore, went forward with confidence to the battle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Naval battle, October 11.</div> + +<p>On the 11th of October the British flotilla was seen coming up the lake. +The rival forces met at Valcour Island, and the battle began. From noon +till night the combatants hurled broadsides at each other without +ceasing. The British then drew off to repair damages, meaning to renew +the fight in the morning. This gave Arnold a chance to slip through them +unperceived, for his vessels were so badly shattered that all hope of +gaining the victory was given over. He was pursued and overtaken. Near +Crown Point the battle began again, but the enemy's superior forces soon +decided it in his favor. Rather than surrender, Arnold ran his disabled +vessels on shore, set fire to them, and with his men escaped to the +woods.</p> + +<p>Having thus cleared the lake, the British commander, Guy Carleton,<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> +sailed back to St. John's, leaving Ticonderoga unmolested behind him, to +the great astonishment of our soldiers, who said Carleton deserved to be +hanged for not following up his victory over Arnold.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep023.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep023.jpg" width="35%" alt="NAVAL BATTLE, LAKE CHAMPLAIN." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">NAVAL BATTLE, LAKE CHAMPLAIN.<br /> +A, American flotilla. B-C, British. D, Line of Retreat, when the British were forced back to E.</p> +</div> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> <span class="smcap">The Wavering Canadians.</span> The Massachusetts +revolutionary authority had been at work upon the wavering Canadians +since 1774, with only partial success. (See note 2, preceding chapter.) +The Americans thought the Canadians would seize the opportunity of +freeing themselves, but events proved this opinion ill-grounded. A +political connection between the Protestants of New England and the +Catholics of Canada, except for mutual defence, could hardly be lasting, +nor did the priests favor it. The military advantages were equally +questionable, though great stress was laid upon them by Washington and +Schuyler, even after the allegiance of the Canadians had been confirmed +to the British side by the reverses our arms sustained. If we had +conquered Canada, it would doubtless have been handed over to France +again at the close of the war.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> <span class="smcap">General Richard Montgomery</span>, of Irish birth, had +served under Amherst at the taking of Crown Point and Ticonderoga in +1759, settled in New York, been one of eight brigadiers created by +Congress in June, 1775; General Schuyler's illness threw the chief +command, for which he proved himself eminently fitted, on Montgomery. +His having served on this line was much in his favor.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Colonel Benedict Arnold</span> had once been a soldier at +Ticonderoga. He went there again with a commission from Massachusetts, +when the fortress was taken by Allen. He had also spent some time in +Quebec. These facts had influence in procuring for him a command in the +invading expedition.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> <span class="smcap">General Horatio Gates</span>, a retired British major, +settled in Virginia, was made adjutant-general of the army, June, 1775.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> <span class="smcap">The Removal of the Army</span> from Crown Point to +Ticonderoga was strongly opposed by Stark and others, and disapproved by +Washington.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Guy Carleton</span>, British governor of Canada, though +driven from Montreal by Montgomery, had successfully defended Quebec +against him. He reconnoitred Ticonderoga, but seems to have thought it +too strong to be attacked with his force.</p></div> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span><br /> +<h2>BURGOYNE'S INVASION</h2> + +<h2>I.</h2> + +<h2>THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>After the British had gone back to Canada, it was thought they would +return as soon as the lake should be frozen hard enough to bear +artillery. But when it was found that they had gone into winter +quarters, and the danger was past, part of the garrison of Ticonderoga +was hurried off to Washington, who was then fighting against great odds +in the Jerseys. This winter was the dark hour of the Revolution, upon +which the victory at Trenton<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> shed the first ray of light. So low had +the American cause fallen at this time, that, but for this unlooked-for +success, it is doubtful if another army could have been brought into the +field.</p> + +<p>The British were really planning to invade New York as soon as the lakes +should be open again, in the spring. For this campaign great +preparations were making, both in Canada and England. Quiet, therefore, +reigned at Ticonderoga throughout the winter of 1776 and 1777.</p> + +<p>General Burgoyne sailed for England in November, to lay before the king +a plan for subduing the colonies in a single campaign. Burgoyne was a +good soldier, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>popular with the army and government, brave to rashness, +but vain and headstrong. He knew the Americans were not to be despised, +for he had seen them fight at Bunker Hill, as well as in the campaign +just closed, in which he himself had taken part; yet an easy confidence +in his own abilities led Burgoyne into committing many grave errors, not +the least of which was underestimating this very enemy.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> + +<div class="sidenote">George III. wants the war pushed.</div> + +<p>Any plan that promised to put down the Americans, was sure of gaining +the king's ear. Justice was never tempered with mercy in this monarch's +treatment of his rebellious subjects. His heart was hardened, his hand +ever ready to strike them the fatal blow. Moreover, the Americans had +just now declared themselves independent of Great Britain. They had +crossed their Rubicon. To crush them with iron hand was now the king's +one thought and purpose. No half measures would do for him. He told his +ministers, in so many words, that every means of distressing the +Americans would meet with his approval. Mercenaries, savages, +refugees—all who could fire a shot, or burn a dwelling, were to be +enrolled under the proud old banner of the isles. No more effectual +means could have been devised to arouse the spirit of resistance to the +highest pitch.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne's ambition was kindled by the hope of making himself the hero +of the war. He combined the qualities of general and statesman without +being great as either. He wrote and talked well, was eloquent and +persuasive, had friends at court, and knew how to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>make the most of his +opportunity. On his part, the king wanted a general badly. He had been +grievously disappointed in Sir William Howe, whose victories seemed +never bringing the war any nearer to an end. Burgoyne brought forward +his plan at the right moment, shrewdly touched the keynote of the king's +discontent by declaring for aggressive war, smoothed every obstacle away +with easy assurance, and so impressed the ministers with his capacity, +that they believed they had found the very man the king wanted for the +work in hand.</p> + +<p>The plan proposed for making short work of the war was briefly this: The +American colonies were to be divided in two parts, by seizing the line +of the Hudson River; just as in later times, the Union armies aimed to +split the Southern Confederacy in two by getting possession of the +Mississippi. To effect this, two armies were to act together. With one, +Burgoyne was to come down the lakes from Canada, and force his way to +Albany, while the other was coming up the Hudson to join him. Once these +armies were united, with full control of the Hudson in their hands, New +England would be cut off from the other colonies by forts and fleets, +and the way laid open to crush out rebellion in what was admitted to be +its cradle and stronghold.</p> + +<p>Ever since Sir William Howe had been driven from Boston, in the spring +of 1776, the opinion prevailed among American generals that, sooner or +later, New England would become the battle-ground.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> This view <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>was +sustained by the enemy's seizure of Newport, in December of the same +year, so that the Americans were perplexed at finding themselves +threatened from this quarter, until the enemy's plans were fully +developed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">St. Leger's part.</div> + +<p>There was yet another part to the plan concerted between Burgoyne and +the British cabinet. It was seen that in proportion as Burgoyne moved +down toward Albany, he would have the fertile Mohawk valley on his +right. This valley was the great thoroughfare between the Hudson and +Lake Ontario, Niagara, and Detroit. In it were many prosperous +settlements, inhabited by a vigorous yeomanry, who were the mainstay of +the patriot cause in this quarter. The passage to and fro was guarded by +Fort Stanwix, which stood where Rome now is, and Fort Oswego, which was +situated at the lake. Fort Stanwix was held by the Americans, and +Oswego, by the British. Perceiving its value to the Americans not only +as a granary, but as a recruiting station, and in view of the danger of +leaving it on his flank, Burgoyne decided to march a force through this +valley, clear it of enemies, and so effectively bring about a timely +coöperation between the two branches of the expedition. Freed of fear +for himself, he could materially aid in the work intrusted to his +auxiliary. It followed that the Americans, with whom Burgoyne himself +might be contending, would, of necessity, be greatly distressed by their +inability to draw either men or supplies from the Mohawk Valley, no less +than by the appearance of this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>force upon their own flank. The command +of it was given to Colonel St. Leger, who was ordered to proceed up the +St. Lawrence to Oswego, and from thence to Fort Stanwix and Albany.</p> + +<p>It must be allowed that this plan was well conceived; yet its success +depended so much upon all the parts working in harmony together, that to +have set it in motion, without consultation or clear understanding +between the generals who were to execute it, is inconceivable. At a +distance of three thousand miles from the scene of war, the British +cabinet undertook to direct complicated military operations, in which +widely separated armies were to take part. General Burgoyne received his +orders on the spot. General Howe did not receive his until the 16th of +August; his army was then entering Chesapeake Bay. Burgoyne was being +defeated at Bennington, at the time Howe was reading his despatch, and +learning from it what he had not known before; namely, that he was +expected to coöperate with the army of Burgoyne. These facts will so +sufficiently illustrate the course that events were taking, as to +foreshadow their conclusion to the feeblest understanding.</p> + +<p>In order to make the war more terrible to the Americans, the British +cabinet decided to use the Indians of Canada, and the Great Lakes, +against them. Not even the plea of military necessity could reconcile +some Englishmen to letting loose these barbarians upon the colonists. +Though enemies, they were men. Lord Chatham, the noblest Englishman of +them all, cried <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>out against it in Parliament. "Who is the man," he +indignantly asked, "who has dared to associate to our arms the tomahawk +and scalping-knife of the savage?" All knew he meant the prime minister, +and, behind him, the king himself. Had not King George just said that +any means of distressing the Americans must meet with his approval?</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Victory at Trenton.</span> After being driven from the +Jerseys, Washington suddenly turned on his pursuers, and by the two fine +combats of Trenton and Princeton, compelled much superior forces +everywhere to retreat before him, thus breaking up all the enemy's plans +for the ensuing campaign, saving Philadelphia, and putting new life into +the American cause.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Underestimating his Enemy.</span> Burgoyne candidly +admits as much in his letter to Lord G. Germaine. <i>State of the +Expedition</i>, Appendix, xcii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> <span class="smcap">New England the Battle-Ground.</span> Sir William Howe +did propose, at first, operating against Boston from Rhode Island, with +ten thousand men, while an equal force should effect a junction with the +army of Canada, by way of the Hudson. This purpose he subsequently +deferred for an advance into Pennsylvania, but Burgoyne asserts that he +was not informed of the change of plan when he sailed for Canada in +April; and, though Sir William Howe afterward wrote him to the same +effect (July 17th) a letter which was received early in August, +Burgoyne, nevertheless, persisted in his intention of passing the +Hudson, notwithstanding he knew, and says (August 20th), that no +operation had yet been undertaken in his favor. <i>State of the +Expedition</i>, 188, 189; Appendix, xlvii.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span><br /> +<h2>II.</h2> + +<h2>BURGOYNE'S ARMY.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Having thus outlined the plan of invasion, let us now look at the means +allotted for its execution. There were in Canada ten thousand British +soldiers; in New York, thirty thousand. Burgoyne was to take with him +seven thousand, of whom three thousand were Germans in the pay of +England.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> In discipline, spirit, and equipment, this was by far the +best little army that had yet taken the field in America.</p> + +<p>Good judges said that England might be searched through and through +before such battalions could be raised. Forty cannon, splendidly served +and equipped, formed its artillery train. All the generals, and most of +the soldiers, were veterans. In short, nothing that experience could +suggest, or unlimited means provide, was omitted to make this army +invincible. It was one with which Burgoyne felt he could do anything, +and dare everything.</p> + +<p>Besides these regular troops, we have said the government had authorized +and even attempted to justify to the world, the employment of Indians. +Four hundred warriors joined the army when it marched, and as many more +when it reached Lake Champlain. They were to scour the woods, hang like +a storm cloud about <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>the enemy's camps, and discover his every movement. +For this service they had no equals. In the woods they could steal upon +an enemy unawares, or lie in wait for his approach. In the field they +were of little use. Much of the terror they inspired came from the +suddenness of their onset, their hideous looks and unearthly war-cries, +and their cruel practice of scalping the wounded.</p> + +<p>To these were added about an equal number of Canadians, and American +refugees, who were designed to act as scouts, skirmishers, or foragers, +as the occasion might require. Being well skilled in bush-fighting, they +were mostly attached to Frazer's corps, for the purpose of clearing the +woods in his front, getting information, or driving in cattle. With his +Indians and irregulars,<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> Burgoyne's whole force could hardly have +numbered less than ten thousand men.</p> + +<p>Taken as a whole, this army was justly thought the equal of twice its +own number of raw yeomanry, suddenly called to the field from the anvil, +the workshop, or the plough. Its strongest arm was its artillery; its +weakest, its Indian allies.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne divided his force into three corps, commanded by Generals +Frazer, Phillips, and Riedesel,—all excellent officers. Frazer's corps +was mostly made up of picked companies, taken from other battalions and +joined with the 24th regiment of the line. As its duty was of the +hardest, so its material was of the best the army could afford. Next to +Burgoyne, Frazer was, beyond all question, the officer most looked up to +by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>the soldiers; in every sense of the word, he was a thorough soldier. +His corps was, therefore, Burgoyne's right arm. Phillips commanded the +artillery; and Riedesel, the Germans.</p> + +<p>In the middle of June this army embarked on Lake Champlain. Of many +warlike pageants the aged mountains had looked down upon, perhaps this +was the most splendid and imposing. From the general to the private +soldier, all were filled with high hopes of a successful campaign. In +front, the Indians, painted and decked out for war, skimmed the lake in +their light canoes. Next came the barges containing Frazer's corps, +marshalled in one regular line, with gunboats flanking it on each side; +next, the Royal George and Inflexible frigates, with other armed vessels +forming the fleet. Behind this strong escort, the main body, with the +generals, followed in close order; and, last of all, came the camp +followers, of whom there were far too many for the nature of the service +in hand.</p> + +<p>In the distance the American watch-boats saw this gallant array bearing +down upon them, in the confidence of its power. Hastening back to +Ticonderoga, the word was passed along the lines to prepare for battle.</p> + +<p>For the Mohawk Valley expedition, St. Leger, who led it, took with him +about seven hundred regular troops, two hundred loyalists, and eight +guns. At Oswego, seven hundred Indians of the Six Nations joined him. +With these, St. Leger started in July for Fort Stanwix, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>which barred +his way to the Hudson, just as Ticonderoga blocked Burgoyne's advance on +the side of Lake Champlain.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Soldiers were hired</span> from the petty German princes +for the American war. The Americans called them all Hessians, because +some came from the principality of Hesse. George III. also tried to hire +twenty thousand Russians of Empress Catharine, but she gave him to +understand that her soldiers would be better employed. There was good +material among the Germans, many of whom had served with credit under +the Great Frederick; but the British showed them little favor as +comrades, while the Americans looked upon them as paid assassins. Not +one in twenty knew any English, so that misconception of orders was not +unfrequent, though orders were usually transmitted from headquarters in +French. A jealousy also grew up out of the belief that Burgoyne gave the +Germans the hardest duty, and the British the most praise. At +Hubbardton, and on the 19th of September, the Germans saved him from +defeat, yet he ungenerously, we think, lays the disaster of October 7th +chiefly at their door.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Indians and Irregulars.</span> It is impossible to give +the number of these accurately, as it was constantly fluctuating. Though +Burgoyne started with only four hundred Indians, the number was +increased by five hundred at Skenesborough, and he was later joined by +some of the Mohawks from St. Leger's force. In like manner, his two +hundred and fifty Canadians and Provincials had grown to more than six +hundred of the latter before he left Skenesborough. Most of these +recruits came from the Vermont settlements. They were put to work +clearing the roads, scouting, getting forward the supplies, collecting +cattle, etc. Their knowledge of the country was greatly serviceable to +Burgoyne. In the returns given of Burgoyne's <i>regular troops</i>, only the +rank and file are accounted for. Staff and line officers would swell the +number considerably.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span><br /> +<h2>III.</h2> + +<h2>THE FALL OF TICONDEROGA.</h2> +<h3>(<i>July 5, 1777.</i>)</h3> +<br /> + +<p>A hundred years ago, the shores of Lake Champlain were for the most part +a wilderness. What few settlements did exist were mostly grouped about +the southeast corner of the lake, into which emigration had naturally +flowed from the older New England States. And even these were but feeble +plantations,<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> separated from the Connecticut valley by lofty +mountains, over which one rough road led the way.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne's companions in arms have told us of the herds of red deer seen +quietly browsing on the hillsides; of the flocks of pigeons, darkening +the air in their flight; and of the store of pike, bass, and maskelonge +with which the waters of the lake abounded. At one encampment the +soldiers lived a whole day on the pigeons they had knocked off the trees +with poles. So the passage of the lake must have seemed more like a +pleasure trip to them than the prelude to a warlike campaign.</p> + +<p>In his way up the lake, Burgoyne landed at the River Bouquet, on the +west shore, where for some days the army rested.</p> + +<p>To this rendezvous, large numbers of Indians had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>come to join the +expedition. It was indispensable to observe the customs which had always +prevailed among these peoples when going to war. So Burgoyne made them a +speech, gave them a feast, and witnessed the wild antics of their war +dance.</p> + +<p>He forbade their scalping the wounded, or destroying women and children. +They listened attentively to his words, and promised obedience; but +these commands were so flatly opposed to all their philosophy of war, +which required the extinction of every human feeling, that Burgoyne +might as well have bidden the waters of the lake flow backward, as +expect an Indian not to use his scalping-knife whenever an enemy lay at +his mercy.</p> + +<p>Still, it is to Burgoyne's credit that he tried to check the ferocity of +these savages, and we would also charitably believe him at least half +ashamed of having to employ them at all, when he saw them brandishing +their tomahawks over the heads of imaginary victims; beheld them +twisting their bodies about in hideous contortions, in mimicry of +tortured prisoners; or heard them howling, like wild beasts, their cry +of triumph when the scalp is torn from an enemy's head.</p> + +<p>While thus drawing the sword with one hand, Burgoyne took his pen in the +other. He drew up a paper which his Tory agents were directed to scatter +among the people of Vermont, many of whom, he was assured, were at heart +loyal to the king. These he invited to join his standard, or offered its +protection to all who should remain neutral. All were warned against +driving off their cattle, hiding their corn, or breaking <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>down the +bridges in his way. Should they dare disobey, he threatened to let loose +his horde of savages upon them. Such a departure from the rules of +honorable warfare would have justified the Americans in declaring no +quarter to the invaders.</p> + +<p>Well aware that he would not conquer the Americans with threats, +Burgoyne now gave the order to his army to go forward. His view of what +lay before him might be thus expressed: The enemy will, probably, fight +at Ticonderoga. Of course I shall beat them. I will give them no time to +rally. When they hear St. Leger is in the valley, their panic will be +completed. We shall have a little promenade of eight days, to Albany.</p> + +<p>On June 29 the army was near Ticonderoga. This day Burgoyne made a +stirring address to his soldiers, in which he gave out the memorable +watchword, "<i>This army must not retreat.</i>"</p> + +<p>The next day, Frazer's corps landed in full view of the fortress. The +rest of the army was posted on both sides of the lake, which is nowhere +wider than a river as the fortress is approached. The fleet kept the +middle of the channel. With drums beating and bugles sounding, the +different battalions took up their allotted stations in the woods +bordering upon the lake. When night fell, the watch-fires of the +besiegers' camps made red the waters that flowed past them. But as yet +no hostile gun boomed from the ramparts of Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p>What was going on behind those grim walls which frowned defiance upon +the invaders? General Gates was no longer there to direct. General St. +Clair<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>now in command of perhaps four thousand effective men, +with whom, nevertheless, he hoped to defend his miles of intrenchments +against the assaults of twice his own numbers. His real weakness lay in +not knowing what point Burgoyne would choose for attack, and he had been +strangely delinquent in not calling for reënforcements until the enemy +was almost at the gates of the fortress itself.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne knew better than to heedlessly rush upon the lines that had +proved Abercromby's destruction.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> He knew they were too strong to be +carried without great bloodshed, and meant first to invest the fortress, +and after cutting off access to it on all sides, then lay siege to it in +regular form.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">July 2, Mount Hope seized.</div> + +<p>To this end, Frazer's corps was moved up to within cannon-shot of the +works. His scouts soon found a way leading through old paths,<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> quite +round the rear of the fortress, to the outlet of Lake George. This was +promptly seized. After a little skirmishing, the enemy planted +themselves firmly, on some high ground rising behind the old French +lines, on this side; thus making themselves masters of the communication +with Lake George, and enclosing the fortress on the rear or land side. +While this was going on, on the west shore, Riedesel's Germans were +moved up still nearer Mount Independence, on the Vermont shore, thus +investing Ticonderoga on three sides.</p> + +<p>A more enterprising general would never have permitted his enemy to +seize his communications with Lake George, without making a struggle +for their possession, but St. Clair appears to have thought his forces +unequal to the attempt, and it was not made. The disaster which followed +was but the natural result.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep041.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep041.jpg" width="35%" alt="THE INVESTMENT OF TICONDEROGA." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE INVESTMENT OF TICONDEROGA.<br /> +<i>Pen and ink sketch by a British officer.</i></p> +<p class="noin" style="margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%;">A-B, Ticonderoga. C-D-E, Mount Independence. F, Barracks. G, Mount +Defiance. H, Bridge joining the fortress proper with Mount Independence. +I, American Fleet. K, Outlet of Lake George. O, British Fleet. P, +Three-Mile Point. Q, First Landing Place of Burgoyne. R, The Germans. +T-U, Position taken on Mount Hope. W, Second Position of same Troops at +U. Z, Portage to Lake George.</p></div> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span><br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +<div class="sidenote">Mount Defiance occupied.</div> + +<p>Just across the basin formed by the widening of the outlet of Lake +George, a steep-sided mountain rises high above all the surrounding +region. Its summit not only looks down upon the fortress, in every part, +but over all its approaches by land or water. Not a man could march +without being distinctly seen from this mountain. Yet, to-day, the eye +measures its forest-shagged sides, in doubt if they can be scaled by +human feet. Indeed, its ascent was so difficult that the Americans had +neglected to occupy it at all. This is Mount Defiance, the most +commanding object for miles around.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">July 5.</div> + +<p>Burgoyne's engineers could not help seeing that if artillery could be +got to the top of this mountain, Ticonderoga was doomed. They +reconnoitred it. Though difficult, they said it might be done. St. +Clair's timidity having given them the way to it, the British instantly +began moving men and guns round the rear of the fortress, and cutting a +road up the mountain-side. The work was pushed forward day and night. It +took most of the oxen belonging to the army to drag two twelve-pounders +up the steep ascent, but when they were once planted on the summit, +Ticonderoga lay at the mercy of the besiegers.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">July 6.</div> + +<p>When St. Clair saw the enemy getting ready to cannonade him from Mount +Defiance, he at once gave <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>orders to evacuate the fortress<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> under +cover of the night. Most of the garrison retreated over the bridge +leading to Mount Independence, and thence by the road to Hubbardton. +What could be saved of the baggage and army stores was sent off to +Skenesborough, by water. Hurry and confusion were everywhere, for it was +not doubted that the enemy would be upon them as soon as daylight should +discover the fortress abandoned. This happened at an early hour of the +morning. The British instantly marched into the deserted works, without +meeting with the least resistance. Ticonderoga's hundred cannon were +silent under the menace of two. Burgoyne was now free to march his +victorious battalions to the east, the west, or the south, whenever he +should give the order.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Feeble Plantations.</span> No permanent settlements were +begun west of the Green Mountains till after the conquest of Canada. +After that, the report of soldiers who had passed over the military road +from Charlestown on the Connecticut River, to Crown Point, brought a +swarm of settlers into what is now Bennington County. Settlement began +in Rutland County in 1771.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> <span class="smcap">General Arthur St. Clair</span>, of Scotch birth, had +been a lieutenant with Wolfe at Quebec; he resigned and settled in +Pennsylvania; served with our army in Canada; made brigadier, August, +1776; major-general, February, 1777.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Abercromby</span> lost two thousand men in assaulting +these lines in 1758. Since then they had been greatly strengthened.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Through Old Paths.</span> The Indians had passed this +way centuries before the fortress was thought of.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> <span class="smcap">St. Clair</span> seems to have waited just long enough +for the defence to become difficult, to admit its impossibility. He +chose the part of safety rather than that of glory.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span><br /> +<h2>IV.</h2> + +<h2>HUBBARDTON.</h2> + +<h3>(<i>July 7, 1777.</i>)</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Not doubting he would find Skenesborough still in our possession, St. +Clair was pushing for that place with all possible speed. He expected to +get there by land, before the enemy could do so by water; then, after +gathering up the men and stores saved from Ticonderoga, St. Clair meant +to fall back toward Fort Edward, where General Schuyler,<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> his +superior officer, lay with two thousand men.</p> + +<p>This was plainly St Clair's true course. Indeed, there was nothing else +for him to do, unless he decided to abandon the direct route to Albany +altogether. So St. Clair did what a good general should. He resolved to +throw himself between Burgoyne and Schuyler, whose force, joined to his +own, would thus be able, even if not strong enough to risk a battle, at +least to keep up a bold front toward the enemy.</p> + +<p>Though Burgoyne really knew nothing about Schuyler's force, he was +keenly alive to the importance of cutting off the garrison of +Ticonderoga from its line of retreat, and, if possible, of striking it a +disabling blow before it could take up a new position. St. Clair counted +on stealing a march before his retreat could <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>be interfered with. He +also depended on the strength of the obstructions at the bridge<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> of +Ticonderoga to delay the enemy's fleet until his own could get safely to +Skenesborough. In both expectations, St. Clair was disappointed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">July 6.</div> + +<p>In the first place, Burgoyne had sent Frazer out in pursuit of him, as +soon as the evacuation was discovered; in the second, Burgoyne's +gunboats had hewed their way through the obstructions by nine in the +morning, and were presently crowding all sail after the American +flotilla, under command of Burgoyne himself.</p> + +<p>Riedesel's camp, we remember, lay on the Vermont side, and so nearest to +Mount Independence, and St. Clair's line of retreat. Burgoyne, +therefore, ordered Riedesel to fall in behind Frazer, who had just +marched, and give that officer any support he might be in want of.</p> + +<p>Thus, most of the hostile forces were in active movement, either by land +or water, at an early hour of the sixth. Let us first follow Frazer, in +his effort to strike the American rear.</p> + +<p>Frazer had with him eight hundred and fifty men of his own corps. He +pushed on so eagerly that the slow-moving Germans were far in the rear +when the British halted for the night, near Hubbardton. The day had been +sultry, the march fatiguing. Frazer's men threw themselves on the +ground, and slept on their arms.</p> + +<p>St. Clair had reached Hubbardton the same afternoon, in great disorder. +He halted only long enough <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>for the rearguard to come up, and then +hastened on, six miles farther, to Castleton, leaving Warner,<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> with +three regiments, to cover his retreat. Instead of keeping within +supporting distance of the main body, Warner foolishly decided to halt +for the night where he was, because his men were tired, thus putting a +gap of six miles between his commander and himself.</p> + +<p>Warner did not neglect, however, to fell some trees in front of his +camp, and this simple precaution, perhaps, proved the salvation of his +command the next day.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">July 7.</div> + +<p>At five in the morning, Frazer's scouts fell upon Warner's pickets while +they were cooking their breakfasts, unsuspicious of danger. The surprise +was complete. With their usual dash, Frazer's men rushed on to the +assault, but soon found themselves entangled among the felled trees and +brushwood, behind which the Americans were hurriedly endeavoring to +form. At the moment of attack, one regiment made a shameful retreat. The +rest were rallied by Warner and Francis,<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> behind trees, in copses, or +wherever a vantage-ground could be had. As the combat took place in the +woods, the British were forced to adopt the same tactics. Musket and +rifle were soon doing deadly work in their ranks, every foot of ground +was obstinately disputed, and when they thought the battle already won +they found the Americans had only just begun to fight.</p> + +<p>For three hours, eight hundred men maintained a gallant and stubborn +fight against the picked soldiers <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>of Burgoyne's army, each side being +repeatedly driven from its ground without gaining decided advantage over +the other. Nor would Frazer have gained the day, as he at length did, +but for the timely arrival of the Germans. Indeed, at the moment when +the British were really beaten and ready to give way, the sound of many +voices, singing aloud, rose above the din of battle, and near at hand. +At first neither of the combatants knew what such strange sounds could +mean. It was Riedesel's Germans advancing to the attack, chanting battle +hymns to the fierce refrain of the musketry and the loud shouts of the +combatants. Fifty fresh men would have turned the scale to either side. +This reënforcement, therefore, decided the day. Being now greatly +outnumbered, the Americans scattered in the woods around them.</p> + +<p>Although a defeat, this spirited little battle was every way honorable +to the Americans, who fought on until all hope of relief had vanished. A +single company would have turned defeat into victory, when to the +British, defeat in the woods, thirty miles from help, meant destruction. +Even as it was, they did not know what to do with the victory they had +just won, with the loss of two hundred men, killed and wounded, +seventeen of whom were officers. They had neither shelter nor medicines +for the wounded, nor provisions for themselves. The battle had exhausted +their ammunition, and every moment was expected to bring another swarm +of foes about their ears.</p> + +<p>The Americans had three hundred men killed and wounded, and many +taken. The brave Colonel Francis, who had so admirably conducted the +retreat from Ticonderoga, was killed while rallying his men. Seldom has +a battle shown more determined obstinacy in the combatants, seldom has +one been more bloody for the numbers engaged.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep049.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep049.jpg" width="40%" alt="ST. CLAIR'S RETREAT" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. CLAIR'S RETREAT—BURGOYNE'S ADVANCE ON FORT EDWARD.</p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>While Frazer was thus driving St. Clair's rearguard before him on the +left, the British were giving chase to the American flotilla on the +lake. This had hardly reached Skenesborough, encumbered with the sick,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +the baggage, and the stores, when the British gunboats came up with, and +furiously attacked, it. Our vessels could not be cleared for action or +make effective resistance. After making what defence they could, they +were abandoned, and blown up by their crews. Skenesborough was then set +on fire, the Americans making good their retreat to Fort Anne,<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> with +the loss of all their stores.</p> + +<p>St. Clair heard of Warner's defeat and of the taking of Skenesborough +almost at the same hour. His first plan had wholly miscarried. His +soldiers were angry and insubordinate, half his available force had been +scattered at Hubbardton, his supplies were gone, his line of retreat in +the enemy's hands. Finding himself thus cut off from the direct route to +Fort Edward, he now marched to join Schuyler by way of Rutland, +Manchester, and Bennington. This he succeeded in doing on the twelfth, +with about half the men he had led from Ticonderoga. Warner, too, +brought off the shattered remnant of his command to Bennington.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>On his part, Schuyler had promptly sent a reënforcement to Fort Anne, to +protect St. Clair's retreat, as soon as he knew of it. These troops soon +found other work on their hands than that cut out for them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">July 7.</div> + +<p>Burgoyne was determined to give the Americans no time either to rally, +or again unite their scattered bands in his front. Without delay, one +regiment was pushed forward to Fort Anne, on the heels of the fugitives +who had just left Skenesborough in flames. When this battalion reached +the fort, instead of waiting to be attacked, the Americans sallied out +upon it with spirit, and were driving it before them in full retreat, +when the yells of some Indians, who were lurking in the neighboring +woods, spread such a panic among the victors that they gave up the +fight, set fire to Fort Anne, and retreated to Fort Edward with no enemy +pursuing them. The defeated British then fell back to Skenesborough, so +that each detachment may be said to have run away from the other.</p> + +<p>General Burgoyne had much reason to be elated with his success thus far. +In one short week he had taken Ticonderoga, with more than one hundred +cannon; had scattered the garrison right and left; had captured or +destroyed a prodigious quantity of warlike stores, the loss of which +distressed the Americans long after; had annihilated their naval +armament on the lake, and had sown dismay among the neighboring colonies +broadcast. It was even a question whether there was any longer a force +in his front capable of offering the least resistance to his march.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep053.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep053.jpg" width="45%" alt="BLOCK HOUSE, FORT ANNE." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">BLOCK HOUSE, FORT ANNE.</p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>With these exploits, the first stage of the invasion may be said to have +ended. If ever a man had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> been favored by fortune, Burgoyne was that man. +The next stage must show him in a very different light, as the fool of +fortune, whose favors he neither knew how to deserve when offered him, +nor how to compel when withheld.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> <span class="smcap">General Philip Schuyler</span>, one of the four +major-generals first created by Congress, June, 1775. Had seen some +service in the French War; was given command of the Northern Department, +including Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Fort Stanwix, etc., February, 1777, +as the one man who could unite the people of New York against the enemy. +Gates declined to serve under him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Obstructions at the Bridge.</span> The Americans had +stretched a boom of logs, strongly chained together, across the strait.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Seth Warner</span> was on the way to Ticonderoga when he +met St. Clair retreating. The rearguard, which Colonel Francis had +previously commanded, was then increased, and put under Warner's +orders.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Colonel Ebenezer Francis</span> of Newton, Mass., +colonel, 11th Massachusetts Regiment. His bravery was so conspicuous +that the British thought he was in chief command of the Americans.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Fort Anne</span>, one of the minor posts built during +the French War to protect the route from Albany to Lake Champlain. It +consisted of a log blockhouse surrounded by a palisade. Boat navigation +of Lake Champlain began here, fourteen miles from Skenesborough, by Wood +Creek flowing into it.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span><br /> +<h2>V.</h2> + +<h2>FACING DISASTER.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>One of Washington's most trusted generals said, and said truly, that it +was only through misfortune that the Americans would rise to the +character of a great people. Perhaps no event of the Revolution more +signally verified the truth of this saying, than the fall of +Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p>Let us see how this disaster was affecting the Northern States. In that +section, stragglers and deserters were spreading exaggerated accounts of +it on every side. In Vermont, the settlers living west of the mountains +were now practically defenceless. Burgoyne's agents were undermining +their loyalty; the fall of Ticonderoga had shaken it still more. Rather +than abandon their farms, many no longer hesitated to put themselves +under British protection. Hundreds, who were too patriotic to do this, +fled over the mountains, spreading consternation as they went. From Lake +Champlain to the New England coast, there was not a village which did +not believe itself to be the especial object of Burgoyne's vengeance. +Indeed, his name became a bugbear, to frighten unruly children with.</p> + +<p>Of those who had been with the army, many believed it their first duty +to protect their families, and so went <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>home. Numbers, who were on the +way to Ticonderoga, turned back, on hearing that it was taken. To +Burgoyne, these results were equal to a battle gained, since he was +weakening the Americans, just as surely, in this way, with entire safety +to himself.</p> + +<p>In despair, those settlers who stood faithful among the faithless, +turned to their New Hampshire brethren. "If we are driven back, the +invader will soon be at your doors," they said. "We are your buckler and +shield. Our humble cabins are the bulwark of your happy firesides. But +our hearts fail us. Help us or we perish!"</p> + +<p>Could Schuyler do nothing for these suffering people? To let them be +ruined and driven out was not only bad policy, but worse strategy. He +knew that Burgoyne must regard these settlements with foreboding, as the +home of a hostile and brave yeomanry, whose presence was a constant +threat to him. To maintain them, then, was an act of simplest wisdom. +Schuyler could ill spare a single soldier, yet it was necessary to do +something, and that quickly, for all New England was in a tumult, and +Burgoyne said to be marching all ways at once. What wonder, since +Washington himself believed New England to be the threatened point!<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></p> + +<p>Warner's regiment had been recruited among the Green Mountain Boys of +this very section. Schuyler posted what was left of it at Manchester, to +be at once a rallying-point for the settlers, a menace to the loyalists, +and a defence against Burgoyne's predatory bands, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>who were already +spreading themselves out over the surrounding region. It was not much, +but it was something.</p> + +<p>From New Hampshire, the panic quickly spread into Massachusetts, and +throughout all New England. As usually happens, the loss of Ticonderoga +was laid at the door of the generals in chief command. Many accused St. +Clair of treacherous dealing. Everywhere, people were filled with wrath +and astonishment. "The fortress has been sold!" they cried. Some of the +officers, who had been present, wrote home that the place could have +held out against Burgoyne for weeks, or until help could have arrived. +This was sure to find ready believers, and so added to the volume of +denunciation cast upon the head of the unlucky St. Clair.</p> + +<p>But these passionate outbursts of feeling were soon quenched by the +necessity all saw for prompt action. Once passion and prejudice had +burned out, our people nobly rose to the demands of the situation. But +confidence in the generals of the Northern army was gone forever. The +men of New England would not sit long in the shadow of defeat, but they +said they would no more be sacrificed to the incompetency of leaders who +had been tried and found wanting. Congress had to pay heed to this +feeling. Washington had to admit the force of it, because he knew that +New England must be chiefly looked to in this crisis, to make head +against Burgoyne. If she failed, all else would fail.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">P. Van Cortlandt's letters.</div> + +<p>If we turn now to New York, what do we see? Five counties in the enemy's +hands. Three more, so divided <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>against themselves as to be without order +or government. Of the remaining six, the resources of Orange, Ulster, +and Dutchess were already heavily taxed with the duty of defending the +passes of the Hudson; Westchester was being overrun by the enemy, at +will; only Tryon and Albany remained, and in Tryon, every able-bodied +citizen, not a loyalist, was arming to repel the invasion of St. Leger, +now imminent.</p> + +<p>We have thus briefly glanced at the dangers resulting from the fall of +Ticonderoga, at the resources of the sections which Burgoyne was now +threatening to lay waste with fire and sword, and at the attitude of the +people toward those generals who had so grievously disappointed them in +the conduct of the campaign, up to this time.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">John Marshall.</div> + +<p>In the words of one distinguished writer, "The evacuation of Ticonderoga +was a shock for which no part of the United States was prepared." In the +language of another, "No event throughout the whole war produced such +consternation, nothing could have been more unexpected."</p> + +<p>It was not so much the loss of the fortress itself,—as costly as it was +to the impoverished colonies, that could have been borne,—but the +people had been led to believe, and did believe, it was next to +impregnable; nor could they understand why those who had been intrusted +with its defence should have fled without striking a blow, or calling +for assistance until too late.</p> + +<p>Congress immediately ordered all the generals of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>Northern army<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> +to Philadelphia, in order that their conduct might be looked into. John +Adams hotly declared that they would never be able to defend a post +until they shot a general. But Washington, always greatest in defeat, +hastened to show how such a step was doubly dangerous to an army when +fronting its enemy, and wisely procured its suspension for the present. +He first set himself to work to soothe Schuyler's wounded pride, while +stimulating him to greater activity. "We should never despair," he nobly +said. And again: "If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new +exertions. I yet look forward to a happy change." It was indeed +fortunate that one so stout of heart, with so steady a hand, so firm in +the belief of final triumph, so calm in the hour of greatest danger, +should have guided the destinies of the infant nation at this trying +hour.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> <span class="smcap">The Threatened Point.</span> Baffled in his purpose of +taking Philadelphia by Washington's success at Trenton, Sir William Howe +had decided on making another attempt; but his manœuvres led +Washington to believe Howe was going to Newport, R.I., with the view of +overrunning Massachusetts. See Note 3, "Plan of Campaign" (p. 32).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Generals of the Northern Army.</span> Schuyler and St. +Clair were chiefly inculpated. Brigadiers Poor, Patterson, and De +Fermoy, who were with St. Clair at Ticonderoga, were included in the +order. All had agreed in the necessity for the evacuation, and all came +in for a share of the public censure. Poor and Patterson nobly redeemed +themselves in the later operations against Burgoyne.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span><br /> +<h2>VI.</h2> + +<h2>THE MARCH TO FORT EDWARD.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></h2> +<br /> + +<p>It is a well-known maxim of war, that the general who makes the fewest +mistakes will come off conqueror.</p> + +<p>In his haste to crush the Americans before they could combine against +him, Burgoyne had overshot his mark. His troops were now so widely +scattered that he could not stir until they were again collected. By the +combats of Hubbardton and Fort Anne, nothing material had been gained, +since St. Clair was at Fort Edward by the time Frazer got to +Skenesborough, and the Americans had returned to Fort Anne as soon as +the British left the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>After the battle of Hubbardton, Riedesel was posted at Castleton, in +order to create the impression that the British army was moving into New +England. By this bit of strategy, Burgoyne expected to keep back +reënforcements from Schuyler. Riedesel's presence also gave much +encouragement to the loyalists, who now joined Burgoyne in such numbers +as to persuade him that a majority of the inhabitants were for the king. +The information they gave, proved of vital consequence in determining +Burgoyne's operations in the near future.</p> + +<p>Two routes were now open to Burgoyne. Contrary to sound judgment, he +decided on marching to Fort <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>Edward, by way of Fort Anne, instead of +going back to Ticonderoga, making that his <i>dépôt</i>, and proceeding +thence up Lake George to Fort Edward and the Hudson. Unquestionably, the +latter route would have taken him to Albany, by the time he actually +reached Fort Edward, and in much better condition to fight.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne had said he was afraid that going back to Ticonderoga would +dispirit his soldiers. It could have been done in half the time required +for bringing the supplies up to it at Skenesborough, to say nothing of +the long and fatiguing marches saved by water carriage across Lake +George.</p> + +<p>Be that as it may, from the moment Burgoyne decided in favor of the Fort +Anne route, that moment the possession of Fort Anne became a necessity +to him. Had he first attacked it with fifteen hundred men, instead of +five hundred, he would have taken it; but even if he had occupied it +after the fight of the eighth, the Americans would have been prevented +from blocking his way, as they subsequently did with so much effect. In +Burgoyne's case, delays were most dangerous. It seems only too plain, +that he was the sort of general who would rather commit two errors than +retract one.</p> + +<p>Let us see what Burgoyne's chosen route offered of advantage or +disadvantage. The distance by it to Fort Edward is only twenty-six +miles. By a good road, in easy marches, an army should be there in two +days; in an exigency, in one. It was mostly a wilderness country, +and, though generally level, much of it was a bog, which could only be +made passable by laying down a corduroy road. There were miles of such +road to be repaired or built before wagons or artillery could be dragged +over it. Indeed, a worse country to march through can hardly be +imagined. On the other hand, of this twenty-six miles, Wood Creek, a +tributary of Lake Champlain, afforded boat navigation for nine or ten, +or as far as Fort Anne, for the artillery, stores, and baggage.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep063.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep063.jpg" width="45%" alt="OLD FORT EDWARD." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">OLD FORT EDWARD.<br /> +A, Magazine. B, Barracks. C, Storehouse. D, Hospital.</p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>But while Burgoyne was getting his scattered forces again in hand, and +was bringing everything up the lake to Skenesborough, the garrison of +Fort Edward had been spreading themselves out over the road he meant to +take, and were putting every obstacle in his way that ingenuity could +devise or experience suggest. Hundreds of trees were felled across the +road. The navigation of Wood Creek was similarly interrupted. Those +trees growing on its banks were dexterously dropped so as to interlock +their branches in mid-stream. Farms were deserted. All the live-stock +was driven out of reach, to the end that the country itself might offer +the most effectual resistance to Burgoyne's march.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne could not move until his working parties had cleared the way, +in whole or in part. From this cause alone, he was detained more than a +week at Skenesborough. This delay was as precious to the Americans as it +was vexatious to Burgoyne, since it gave them time to bring up +reënforcements, form magazines, and prepare for the approaching +struggle, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>while the enemy's difficulties multiplied with every mile he +advanced.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">July 25.</div> + +<p>At length the British army left Skenesborough. It took two days to reach +Fort Anne, and five to arrive at Fort Edward, where it halted to allow +the heavy artillery, sent by way of Lake George, to join it; give time +to bring up its supplies of food and ammunition, without which the army +was helpless to move farther on; and, meanwhile, permit the general to +put in execution a scheme by which he expected to get a supply of +cattle, horses, carts, and forage, of all of which he was in pressing +want.</p> + +<p>Still another body of savages joined Burgoyne at Fort Edward. Better for +him had they staid in their native wilds, for he presently found himself +equally powerless to control their thirst for blood, or greed for +plunder.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">July 21.</div> + +<p>Not yet feeling himself strong enough to risk a battle, Schuyler decided +to evacuate Fort Edward on the enemy's approach. He first called in to +him the garrison at Fort George. Nixon's brigade, which had just been +obstructing the road from Fort Anne, was also called back. All told, +Schuyler now had only about four thousand men. With these he fell back; +first, to Moses's Creek, then to Saratoga, then to Stillwater.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Fort Edward</span>, a link in the chain of forts +extending between Canada and the Hudson,—first called Fort Lyman, for +Colonel Phineas Lyman, who built it in 1755,—stood at the elbow of the +Hudson, where the river turns west, after approaching within sixteen +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +miles of Lake George, to which point there was a good military road. +The fort itself was only a redoubt of timber and earth, surrounded by a +stockade, and having a casern, or barrack, inside, capable of +accommodating two hundred soldiers. It was an important military +position, because this was the old portage, or carrying-place, from the +Hudson to Lake George, though the fort was no great matter.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span><br /> +<h2>VII.</h2> + +<h2>BEFORE BENNINGTON.</h2> +<br /> + +<div class="sidenote">Frazer advances.</div> + +<p>On the 9th of August, Frazer's corps moved down to Duer's house, seven +miles from Fort Edward, and seven from Saratoga. This was done to cover +the expedition Burgoyne had planned; first, to confirm the belief that +he was about to fall on New England, and, next, for supplying his army +with horses, cattle, carts, provisions, forage—everything, in short, of +which he stood in want. Both objects would be gained at once, since fear +of the first would make easy the second.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Real object of the Bennington raid.</div> + +<p>Burgoyne ached to strike a blow at New England. The successes he had +just met with tempted him on toward his wishes; yet he dared not go too +far, because the king's orders forbade his turning aside from his main +object, to march into New England, as he himself had asked for +discretionary power to do, when laying his plan before the ministers. +Still, as New England was to be the final object of the campaign, +Burgoyne was impatient to set about humbling her in good earnest. Events +were working so favorably for him, that he now saw his chance to go at +least half way toward his desires. So the expedition to Bennington was +certainly far from <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>being the effect of any sudden decision on +Burgoyne's part, or wholly due to the pressing want of supplies. It +would, we think, have been undertaken in any event.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the victualling of his army was the one obstacle to +Burgoyne's advance to Albany. So long as every pound of bread and meat +had to be brought from Quebec to Skenesborough, and from Skenesborough +to his camp, the farther the army marched, the greater the difficulty of +feeding it became. It was now living from hand to mouth, so to speak. +Nobody but Tories would sell it a pound of beef or an ear of corn. What +gold could not buy, Burgoyne determined to take by force. If enough +could be gleaned, in this way, from the country round, he could march +on; if not, he must halt where he was, until sufficient could be brought +up over a road every day growing longer and more dangerous. Burgoyne +would never submit to the last alternative without trying the first.</p> + +<p>For the moment then, the problem, how to feed his army so as to put it +in motion with the least possible delay, was all-important with General +Burgoyne. The oldest, and most populous, of the Vermont settlements lay +within striking distance on his left. He knew that rebel flour was +stored in Bennington. He had been told that half the farmers were loyal +at heart, and that the other half would never wait for the coming of +British veterans. Burgoyne was puffed up with the notion that he was +going to conjure the demon of rebellion with the magic of his name. +Already he saw himself <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>not only a conqueror, but lawgiver to the +conquered. On the whole, the plan seemed easy of accomplishment. +Burgoyne was like a man starving in the midst of plenty. Supplies he +must have. If they could be wrung from the enemy, so much the better.</p> + +<p>An expedition chiefly designed to rob barnyards, corn-cribs, and +henroosts promised little glory to those engaged in it. This may have +been the reason why Burgoyne chose to employ his Germans, who were +always excellent foragers, rather than his British soldiers. Perhaps he +thought the Germans would inspire most fear. Be that as it may, never +did a general make a more costly mistake.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a></p> + +<div class="sidenote">Baum marches for Bennington.</div> + +<p>The command was given to Colonel Baum, who, with about a thousand +Germans, Indians, Canadians, and refugee loyalists, started out from +camp on his maraud, on the eleventh, halted at Batten-Kill on the +twelfth, and reached Cambridge on the thirteenth. He was furnished with +Tory guides, who knew the country well, and with instructions looking to +a long absence from the army.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne then began manœuvring so as to mask Baum's movements from +Schuyler.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Frazer crosses the Hudson.</div> + +<p>Frazer was marched down to Batten-Kill, with his own and Breyman's +corps. Leaving Breyman here to support either Baum or himself, in case +of need, Frazer crossed the Hudson on the fourteenth, and encamped on +the heights of Saratoga that night. The rest of the army moved on to +Duer's, the same day. By thus threatening Schuyler with an advance in +force, of which Frazer's crossing was conclusive proof, Burgoyne +supposed Baum would be left to plunder at his leisure, but he seems to +have thought little of the opposition which Baum, on his side, might +meet with from the settlers themselves; though this too was provided +against in Baum's orders, and by posting Breyman on Baum's line of +march.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep071.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep071.jpg" width="45%" alt="POSITION OF BELLIGERENTS BEFORE BENNINGTON." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">POSITION OF BELLIGERENTS BEFORE BENNINGTON.</p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>If Baum succeeded to his wishes, Burgoyne meant to throw the whole army +across the Hudson immediately. Already Frazer was intrenching at +Saratoga, with the view of protecting the crossing. Having now so placed +his troops as to take instant advantage of Baum's success, of which he +felt no manner of doubt, Burgoyne could only sit still till Baum should +be heard from.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the New England militia were flocking to Manchester in +squads, companies, or regiments. Washington had said they were the best +yeomanry in the world, and they were about to prove their right to this +title more decisively than ever. Ministers dismissed their congregations +with the exhortation, "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, +and buy one." Some clergymen even took a musket and went into the ranks. +Apathy and the numbness that succeeds defeat were dissipated by these +appeals and these examples.</p> + +<p>It was Washington's policy to keep a force on Burgoyne's flank, which +might be used to break up his communications, cut off his provision +trains, or otherwise so harass him as to delay his march. In General +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>Lincoln<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> he found an officer, at once capable and brave, who had the +confidence of the New England people. Lincoln was, therefore, sent to +take command of the militia now mustering at Manchester.</p> + +<p>At the same time, New Hampshire called upon the veteran Stark<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> to +lead her forces into the field. Stark had left the army in disgust, +because Congress had promoted other officers over his head, not more +worthy than himself. He was still smarting under the sense of wrong, +when this command was offered him. He was like Achilles, sulking in his +tent.</p> + +<p>Stark said that he asked nothing better than to fight, but insisted that +he would do so only upon condition that the State troops should be +exclusively under his orders. To agree to this would be practically an +exercise of State sovereignty. But time pressed, Stark's name was a host +in itself: it was thought best to give his wounded vanity this sop; for, +by general consent, he was the only man for the crisis.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 6.</div> + +<p>Lincoln found six hundred men assembled at Manchester, most of whom +belonged to Stark's brigade. On the seventh, Stark himself arrived with +eight hundred more. By Schuyler's order, Lincoln desired Stark to march +them to the main army at once. Stark replied that, being in an +independent command, he would take orders from nobody as to how or where +he should move his troops.</p> + +<p>Though plainly subversive of all military rules, Stark's obstinacy +proved Burgoyne's destruction; for if Schuyler <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>had prevailed, there +would never have been a battle of Bennington.</p> + +<p>Though undoubtedly perplexed by the situation in which he found himself +placed, of antagonism to the regularly constituted military authority of +the nation, Stark's future operations show excellent military judgment +on his part. He was not going to abandon Schuyler, or leave Vermont +uncovered; still less was he disposed to throw away the chance of +striking Burgoyne by hanging on his flank, and of thus achieving +something on his own account. Stark's sagacity was soon justified to the +world.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 9.</div> + +<p>He determined to march with part of his force to Bennington, twenty-five +miles south of Manchester, and about the same distance from Stillwater. +In this position he would easily be able to carry out either of the +objects he had in view, assist Schuyler, cover Bennington, or get in a +telling blow somewhere, when least expected.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne's expectation of surprising Bennington was thus completely +frustrated.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 14.</div> + +<p>Baum learned at Cambridge that the Americans were at Bennington, to the +number of eighteen hundred. He immediately wrote Burgoyne to this +effect. On the next day, he marched to Sancoic, a mill-stream falling +into the Walloomsac River in North Hoosac, and after again writing +Burgoyne, confirming the account he had previously sent about the force +in his front, moved on toward Bennington, under the impression that the +Americans would not wait to be attacked.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> <span class="smcap">A Costly Mistake</span> to give the command to an +officer who could not speak English; still another, to intrust an +expedition in which celerity of movement was all-important, to soldiers +loaded down with their equipments, as the Germans were, instead of to +light troops. Colonel Skene went with Baum. See note 4, p. 18.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> <span class="smcap">General Benjamin Lincoln</span>, born at Hingham, Mass., +1733. Made a major-general, February, 1777. Joined Schuyler, July 29, at +Fort Miller, while our army was retreating; sent thence to Manchester. +One of those captains who, while seldom successful, are yet considered +brave and skilful commanders.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> <span class="smcap">General John Stark</span>, born at Londonderry, N.H., +1728, had seen more active service than most officers of his time. He +had fought with Abercromby at Ticonderoga, against Howe at Bunker Hill, +and with Washington at Trenton. Notwithstanding this, he was passed over +in making promotions, perhaps because he had less education than some +others, who lacked his natural capacity for a military life. Congress +first censured him for insubordination, and then voted him thanks, and +promotion to a brigadiership for his victory over Baum.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span><br /> +<h2>VIII.</h2> + +<h2>BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></h2> +<br /> + +<p>Burgoyne's movements convinced Schuyler that he would shortly be +attacked by the whole British army, as Burgoyne had intended and +foreseen. Schuyler therefore again urged Stark to come to his assistance +without more delay, if he would not have the burden of defeat lie at his +own door. This appeal took present effect.</p> + +<p>Nothing happened till the thirteenth. Meantime, Stark had decided to go +to Schuyler's assistance. His brigade was under arms, ready to march, +when a woman rode up in haste with the news that hostile Indians were +running up and down the next town, spreading terror in their path. She +had come herself, because the road was no longer safe for men to travel +it. Stark quickly ordered out two hundred men to stop the supposed +marauders, and gain further intelligence.</p> + +<p>This detachment soon sent back word that the Indians were only clearing +the way for a larger force, which was marching toward Bennington. Swift +couriers were instantly despatched to Manchester, to hurry forward the +troops there to Stark's aid.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 14.</div> + +<p>The next day Stark moved out toward the enemy, in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>order to look for his +detachment. He soon fell in with it, fighting in retreat, with the enemy +following close behind. Stark halted, formed his line, and gathered in +his scouts. This defiance brought the enemy to a stand also.</p> + +<p>Seeing before him a force as strong as, or stronger than, his own, Baum +was now looking about him for ground suitable to receive an attack upon; +making one himself was farthest from his thoughts, as Burgoyne had given +him express orders not to risk an engagement, if opposed by a superior +force, but to intrench, and send back for help at once. This was +precisely Baum's present situation. He therefore lost no time in sending +a courier to headquarters.</p> + +<p>On his part, Stark did not wish to fight till Warner could come up, or +delay fighting long enough for the enemy to be reënforced. Baum's +evident desire to avoid an action made Stark all the more anxious to +attack him, and he resolved to do so not later than the next morning, by +which time he confidently reckoned on having Warner's regiment with him. +Though small, it had fought bravely at Hubbardton, and Stark felt that +his raw militia would be greatly strengthened by the presence of such +veterans among them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 15.</div> + +<p>Rain frustrated Stark's plan for attacking the next day, so there was +only a little skirmishing, in which the Americans had the advantage. +Baum improved the delay by throwing up a redoubt of logs and earth on a +rather high, flat-topped hill, rising behind the little Walloomsac +River. In this he placed his two field-pieces. His Canadians and +loyalists took up a position across and lower down the stream, in his +front, the better to cover the road by which his reënforcements must +come, or the Americans attempt to cut off his retreat. These +dispositions were all that time, the size of his force, and the nature +of the ground, would permit.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep079.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep079.jpg" width="35%" alt="BATTLE OF BENNINGTON." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.<br /> +August 16, 1777.</p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>Rain also kept back the reënforcements that each side was so impatiently +expecting. Stark chafed at the delay, Baum grew more hopeful of holding +out until help could reach him. Burgoyne had, indeed, despatched Breyman +to Baum's assistance at eight o'clock in the morning, with eight hundred +and fifty men and two guns. This corps was toiling on, through mud and +rain, at the rate of only a mile an hour, when an hour, more or less, +was to decide the fate of the expedition itself. The fatigue was so +great, that when urged on to the relief of their comrades, the weary +Germans would grumble out, "Oh, let us give them time to get warm!"</p> + +<p>Warner's regiment could not leave Manchester till the morning of the +fifteenth, but by marching till midnight, it was near Bennington on the +morning of the sixteenth. Breyman put so little energy into his +movements that he was nowhere near Baum at that hour. Stark, however, +was strengthened by the arrival of several hundred militia from +Massachusetts, who came full of fight, and demanding to be led against +the enemy without delay. Stark's reply was characteristic: "Do you want +to go out now, while it is dark and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>rainy?" he asked. "No," the +spokesman rejoined. "Then," continued Stark, "if the Lord should give us +sunshine once more, and I do not give you fighting enough, I will never +ask you to turn out again."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 16.</div> + +<p>The day broke clear and pleasant. Both parties prepared for the coming +battle. Stark had the most men, but Baum the advantage of fighting +behind intrenchments, and of having artillery, while Stark had none.</p> + +<p>At midday, Stark formed his men for the attack. All were yeomanry, in +homespun, rudely equipped with pouches and powder-horns, and armed with +the old brown firelocks, without bayonets, they had brought from their +homes. Some had served in the preceding campaign, but not one in fifty +had ever fired a shot in anger; while many were mere lads, in whom +enthusiasm for their leader and cause supplied the want of experience. +The work now required of them was such as only veterans were thought +capable of doing. They were to storm intrenchments, defended by the +trained soldiers of Europe; yet not a man flinched when Stark, with a +soldier's bluntness and fire, pointed his sword toward the enemy's +redoubt and exclaimed, "There, my lads, are the Hessians! To-night our +flag floats over yonder hill, or Molly Stark is a widow!"</p> + +<p>His men answered with loud cheers, grasped their weapons, and demanded +to be led against the enemy. Stark then gave the wished-for order to +march.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, dismay reigned in Bennington. Every man who could load a +musket had gone out to fight <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>with Stark. Their household goods had been +loaded upon wagons, ready to move off in case the day went against them. +Their wives and little ones stood hand in hand along the village street, +throughout that long summer afternoon, listening to the peal of cannon +and musketry, in fear for those who had gone forth to the battle, and +expecting the moment that was to make them homeless wanderers.</p> + +<p>The story of the battle is soon told. Stark so divided his force as to +attack the enemy in front, flank, and rear, at once. The nature of the +ground was such as to hide the march of the several detachments from +Baum's view, but he had no other idea than to keep close in his +intrenchments.</p> + +<p>At three in the afternoon, firing began in Baum's rear. This was the +signal that the several attacking columns had reached their allotted +stations. All the Americans then rushed on to the assault. Baum found +himself everywhere assailed with unlooked-for vigor. Never had he +expected to see raw rustics charging up to the muzzles of his guns. In +vain he plied them with grape and musketry. The encircling line grew +tighter and tighter; the fire, hotter and hotter. For an hour he +defended himself valiantly, hoping for night or Breyman to come. At last +his fire slackened. The Americans clambered over the breastworks, and +poured into the redoubt. For a few moments there was sharp hand-to-hand +fighting. The Germans threw down their muskets, drew their broadswords, +and desperately attempted to cut their way out. Most of them were +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>beaten back or taken. A few only escaped. The Tories and Canadians +fared no better. The victory was complete and decisive.</p> + +<p>Now, at the eleventh hour, Breyman was marching on the field to the +sound of the firing. He had taken thirty-two hours to get over +twenty-four miles. Supposing the day won, Stark's men were scattered +about in disorder. Not even Stark himself seems to have thought of a +rescuing force. Some were guarding the prisoners, some caring for the +wounded, and some gathering up the booty. All had yielded to the +demoralization of victory, or to the temptation to plunder. Most +opportunely, Warner's men now came fresh into the fight. This gallant +little band flung itself boldly in the path of the advancing foe, thus +giving Stark the time to rally those nearest him, and lead them into +action again.</p> + +<p>At first Breyman gained ground. With steady tread his veterans fired and +moved on, pushing the Americans back, toward the scene of the first +encounter; but Baum was no longer there to assist, the scattered +militiamen were fast closing in round Breyman's flanks, and Stark had +now brought one of Baum's cannon to bear, with destructive effect, upon +the head of the enemy's advancing column.</p> + +<p>In no long time the deadly fire, poured in on all sides, began to tell +upon Breyman's solid battalions. Our marksmen harassed his flanks. His +front was hard pressed, and there were no signs of Baum. Enraged by the +thought of having victory torn from their <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>grasp, the Americans gave +ground foot by foot, and inch by inch. At last the combatants were +firing in each other's faces; so close was the encounter, so deadly the +strife, that Breyman's men were falling round him by scores, under the +close and accurate aim of their assailants. Darkness was closing in. His +artillery horses were shot down in their traces, his flanks driven in, +his advance stopped.</p> + +<p>As soon as they perceived their advantage, the Americans redoubled their +efforts. The firing grew tremendous. It was now Breyman who was forced +back. Soon all order was lost. Favored by the darkness, he began a +disorderly retreat. In an instant his guns were taken. Exhausted by +fighting two battles in one afternoon, no longer able in the darkness to +tell friend from foe, the Americans soon gave over the pursuit. But, for +the second time, they stood victors on the hard-fought field. All felt +it to be a narrow escape from defeat, for if Breyman had loitered by the +way, he had fought like a lion in the toils of the hunter.</p> + +<p>Thus Washington's sagacity had been vindicated, Stark's insubordination +nobly atoned for, Schuyler's worst fears set at rest, by the fortunes of +a single day.</p> + +<p>Four cannon, one thousand stand of arms, and seven hundred prisoners, +were the trophies of this victory. The enemy left two hundred of his +dead on the field. Baum's corps was virtually destroyed, Breyman's badly +cut up, Burgoyne's well-laid plans scattered to the winds.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Battle of Bennington.</span> Both actions actually +occurred in the town of Hoosic, N.Y. (we cannot be held responsible for +the absurd variations in spelling this name), though the troops were +formed for the attack within the limits of Bennington, and Stark's +despatch announcing his victory is dated at this place. A battle +monument, designed to be three hundred and one feet high, is now being +built on a commanding site at Bennington Centre, which is the old +village. No more beautiful spot than this hill-environed valley, +overlooked by Mount Anthony, could possibly commemorate to future +centuries one of the decisive conflicts of the War for Independence.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span><br /> +<h2>IX.</h2> + +<h2>AFTER BENNINGTON.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Stark had, indeed, dealt Burgoyne a stunning blow. In a moment all his +combinations were overthrown. Efforts were made to keep the disaster a +secret from the army, but the movements made in consequence of it told +the story but too plainly.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 17.</div> + +<p>In the first place, the whole army was hurried up to Batten-Kill in +order to cover Breyman's and Frazer's retreat,<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> for Frazer had been +ordered to recross the Hudson at once. Frazer's position was most +critical; his bridge had been broken by a freshet, and for one whole day +he was cut off from the main army.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 18.</div> + +<p>As soon as Breyman's worn-out men had straggled into camp, Burgoyne's +fell back to Duer's again. Meantime, Frazer had repaired his bridge and +hastily recrossed the Hudson. Riedesel's corps was sent back to Fort +Edward. The whole army had thus made a retrograde movement in +consequence of the defeat at Bennington, and now lay in <i>echelon</i><a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> +from Fort Edward to Batten-Kill, in the camps it had occupied before the +advance was begun; it had retreated upon its communications; it was put +on the defensive.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>Burgoyne had now no choice left but to hold fast his communication with +the lakes, and these could not be called safe while a victorious enemy +was threatening his flank. From this time forward, he grew wary and +circumspect. His councils began to be divided. The prestige of the army +was lowered, confidence in its leaders visibly shaken. Even the soldiers +began to grumble, criticise, and reflect. Burgoyne's vain boast that +this army would not retreat, no longer met the conditions in which it +stood. It had retreated.</p> + +<p>As if to prove the truth of the adage that misfortunes never come +singly, most of Burgoyne's Indians now deserted him. So far from +intimidating, their atrocities had served to arouse the Americans as +nothing else could. As soldiers, they had usually run away at the first +fire. As scouts, their minds were wholly fixed upon plundering. Burgoyne +had sharply rebuked them for it. Ever sullen and intractable under +restraint, their answer was at least explicit, "No plunder, no Indians;" +and they were as good as their word.</p> + +<p>We find, then, that the battle of Bennington had cost Burgoyne not far +from two thousand men, whether soldiers or Indians. More than this, it +had thrown him back upon his second alternative, which, we remember, was +to halt until supplies could be brought from Canada. This was easily +equivalent to a month's delay. Thirty days of inaction were thus forced +upon Burgoyne at a time when every one of them was worth five hundred +men to the Americans. Such were some of the substantial results of the +victory at Bennington.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>To the Americans, the moral and material gains were no less striking or +important. At once confidence was restored. Men no longer hesitated to +turn out, or feared for the result. A most hopeful sign was the alacrity +with which the well-to-do farmers went into the ranks. There was general +appreciation of the fact that Burgoyne had seriously compromised himself +by advancing as far as he had; in short, the re-action was quite as +decisive as that which had followed the victory at Trenton.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Breyman's Retreat.</span> The express from Baum arrived +at headquarters at 5 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> of the fifteenth. Orders were +immediately given Breyman to march. News of Baum's defeat reached +Burgoyne during the night of the sixteenth. The 20th regiment, British, +was immediately marched to Breyman's support. Burgoyne's anxiety was so +great, that he followed it until Breyman's corps was met on the road.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Echelon</span>, the French word for step-ladder, by +adoption a universal military term, well describes the posting of +troops, belonging to one army, at stated intervals apart, so as to be +moved forward or backward step by step, always keeping the same relative +distances between the separate bodies. In marking out such positions on +the map, the columns would look like the rounds of a ladder, hence the +term.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span><br /> +<h2>X.</h2> + +<h2>ST. LEGER'S EXPEDITION.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Burgoyne's hopes now chiefly turned upon the promised coöperation of St. +Leger from Oswego, and of Sir William Howe from New York.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Refer to "Plan of Campaign."</div> + +<p>Convinced that the enemy would shortly invade the Mohawk Valley, +Schuyler had sent Colonel Gansevoort<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> to put Fort Stanwix,<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> the +key to this valley, in a state of defence, before it should be attacked.</p> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep090.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep090.jpg" width="55%" alt="ST. LEGER'S ROUTE TO FORT STANWIX." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">ST. LEGER'S ROUTE TO FORT STANWIX.</p> +</div> + +<p>St. Leger's force was the counterpart of Burgoyne's, in that it +consisted of regular troops, loyalists, and Indians. Many of the +loyalists, and most of the Indians, had lived in this valley, so that +St. Leger had no <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>want of guides, who knew every foot of ground, or of +spies acquainted with the sentiments of every settler.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 3.</div> + +<p>A scanty supply of provisions had just been brought into the fort when +St. Leger's scouts opened fire upon it. The garrison shut the gates and +returned the fire. Instead of finding Fort Stanwix defenceless, St. +Leger was compelled to lay siege to it.</p> + +<p>The news of St. Leger's appearance in the valley roused the settlers in +arms. Near a thousand men, all brave, but without discipline, promptly +marched, under General Herkimer,<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> to the relief of Fort Stanwix. +Gansevoort was notified, and was to aid the movement by making a sortie +from the fort, at the proper moment.</p> + +<p>St. Leger's spies soon discovered Herkimer's men coming. All the +rangers, and most of the Indians, went out to waylay them in the thick +forests. Not far from Oriskany, Brant,<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> the Mohawk chief, and +Johnson,<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> the loyalist leader, hid their men in a ravine, through +which the Americans would have to pass, in a thin line, over a causeway +of logs.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 6.</div> + +<p>Meantime, the Americans were heedlessly pressing on, without order, to +the rescue of their comrades. In their impatience, even ordinary +precautions were neglected. When the van entered the ravine, a terrible +fire mowed down the front ranks by scores; those in the rear fled in a +panic from the field. It was downright butchery.</p> + +<p>After the firing had continued some time, those Americans whom panic had +not seized, threw <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>themselves into a posture of defence, and resolved to +sell their lives dearly. Herkimer, their leader, had been struck down by +a bullet, among the first; but, notwithstanding his wound was a +disabling one, he continued to direct his men, and encourage them by his +firm demeanor to fight on. In the face of overwhelming odds they +gallantly stood their ground, until the enemy was alarmed by hearing +firing in its rear, and drew off, leaving Herkimer's little band of +heroes to retire unmolested from the field.</p> + +<p>The firing had been heard at Fort Stanwix, and the cause easily guessed. +While the battle was raging at Oriskany, the garrison of the fort +sallied out upon the besiegers' camps. They met with little opposition, +as most of the defenders had gone out to fight Herkimer. The firing, +however, had called off the savages from Herkimer, to the defence of +their own camps. The sortie was gallantly made, and entirely successful; +but the attack on Herkimer rendered it of so little avail, that the +battle of Oriskany left Gansevoort hardly better off than before.</p> + +<p>Two hundred of Herkimer's men were killed. He, too, soon died of his +wounds.</p> + +<p>Though this attempt to relieve Fort Stanwix had so signally failed, +Schuyler was much too sensible of the importance of holding it, not to +make another effort to raise the siege. He could ill afford to spare the +troops necessary for the undertaking, since Burgoyne was now +manœuvring in his front; but the gravity of the situation could not +be overlooked. He therefore sent <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>Arnold, with Learned's brigade, to +retrieve Herkimer's disaster in the valley.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 22.</div> + +<p>Gansevoort was still holding out against St. Leger as stubbornly as +ever. His situation was, however, growing desperate, when, one day, +without apparent cause, the besiegers suddenly decamped in headlong +haste, leaving their tents standing, their baggage in their tents, and +their artillery in the trenches.</p> + +<p>This inglorious and unlooked-for flight was brought about by emissaries +from Arnold, who spread the report among St. Leger's Indians, that the +Americans were coming with forces as numerous as leaves on the trees. +Arnold, whom no one will accuse of want of courage, was really undecided +about advancing farther with his small force. His stratagem, however, +took effect. Grown weary of the siege, the Indians now made no scruple +of deserting their allies on the spot. In vain St. Leger stormed and +entreated by turns; stay they would not. He therefore had no choice but +to follow them, in mortification and disgust, back to Oswego. In the +belief that Arnold was close upon them, everything was left behind that +could impede the march. The siege was abandoned in disgrace, and Fort +Stanwix saved by a simple stratagem.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 28.</div> + +<p>Six days later, Burgoyne was informed of St. Leger's retreat. He had now +no other resource than in the promised advance up the Hudson, and in the +strength of his artillery. By acting in detachments, his immediate force +had been so seriously weakened that a forward movement on his part, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>without full assurance of active support from New York, savored far +more of recklessness than sound military judgment.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Colonel Peter Gansevoort</span>, born at Albany, 1749, +had fought with Montgomery at Quebec.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Fort Stanwix</span>, also called Schuyler, built by +General Stanwix of Abercromby's army in 1758.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> <span class="smcap">General Nicholas Herkimer</span>, a leading settler of +the Mohawk Valley.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Joseph Brant</span>, or Thayandanega, sometime pupil of +Dr. Wheelock's school (since Dartmouth College), was by all odds the +most active, intelligent, and implacable enemy to the Americans that the +war produced among his people. With Johnson, he held most of the Six +Nations at enmity with us during the Revolution. (See Note 5.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Sir John Johnson</span> was the son of Sir William, who +gained wealth and a title by his victory over Dieskau at Lake George, +1755. He was also the king's superintendent over the Six Nations, and +had his residence at Caughnawaga, since called Johnstown in his honor. +Sir John succeeded to his father's title and estates. He took sides with +the Royalists, raised a body of Tory followers, and with them fled to +Canada. Out of these refugees, he raised a corps of rangers called Royal +Greens, with whom he joined St. Leger, in the hope of crushing out his +enemies in the valley.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span><br /> +<h2>XI.</h2> + +<h2>OUR ARMY ADVANCES.</h2> +<br /> + +<div class="sidenote">Refer to Chapter V., "Facing Disaster."</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 4.</div> + +<p>We remember that the united voice of the army and people had demanded +the recall of those generals whose want of foresight or energy, or both, +had caused the disasters with which the campaign had opened. Congress +chose General Gates<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> to command in room of Schuyler, who, with St. +Clair, was ordered to report at headquarters. With the methods of travel +then in use, Gates was nearly two weeks in getting from Philadelphia to +Albany. This fact will sufficiently illustrate the difficulties which +attended the movement of reënforcements from one army to another, before +the day of railways and steamboats.</p> + +<p>All that lay in the power of man to do, Washington had done for the +Northern army. Though fronting an enemy greatly superior to himself, he +had still found time to so direct operations in the North, that his hand +may almost be said to have guided the course of events in that quarter. +He had soothed Schuyler's wounded self-love, commended his efforts, +strengthened his hands in the field, and nobly stood between him and his +detractors in Congress. When Congress had suspended all the generals of +the Northern army from <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>command, it was Washington who interposed to +save them and the army from the consequences of such blindness and +folly. To Schuyler he had said, "Burgoyne is doing just what we could +wish; let him but continue to scatter his army about, and his ruin is +only a question of time." Schuyler urgently called for more troops. +Brigade after brigade had gone from Washington's own army to swell +Schuyler's ranks. "I care not where the victory is won, so we do but +gain it," Washington said. Schuyler again pleaded his want of general +officers. Washington sent him Arnold, the dare-devil of the army, and +Lincoln, a man of sound head, steady hand, and even temper, as a +counterpoise to Arnold's over-confident and impetuous nature. Thanks to +these efforts, we had created a new army on the ruins of the old.</p> + +<p>Schuyler's deportment toward the Massachusetts authorities at this time +was neither conciliatory nor conducive to the interests of the service. +He knew their feelings of distrust toward him, and in making application +to them for reënforcements showed his resentment in a way that called +forth an acrimonious response. He upbraided them for their shortcomings; +they entreated him to look nearer home. Thus we find General Schuyler +and the Massachusetts Council engaged in an exchange of sarcasms at a +time when the exigency called for something besides a war of words +between the commander of an army and the executive head of a powerful +State.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aug. 19.</div> + +<p>Gates took command just after the Battle of Bennington <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>was won. He +found the army in much disorder, but pleased with the change of +commanders. Gates was a thorough disciplinarian and organizer. In his +hands, the efficiency of the army daily increased. Old jealousies were +silenced, and confidence restored. Letters from the soldiers show the +change in temper and spirit to have been instant and marked. One of them +says, "When we came to Albany, things looked very dark for our side, for +there were officers in town who had left camp, and would not go back as +long as Schuyler had the command. Both officers and soldiers were +determined not to fight under him, and would tell him so to his head. +But General Gates came to town, and then the tune was turned, and every +face showed a merry heart."</p> + +<p>The hostile armies now lay, quietly gathering up their strength for the +decisive struggle, within sound of each other's evening guns.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sept. 9.</div> + +<p>Gates was the first to act. Having been joined by Morgan's rifle +corps,<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> and by large numbers of militia, the whole army now moved up +to Stillwater, within a dozen miles of the enemy, who still remained +intrenched behind the Batten-Kill. This movement put new life into our +soldiers, and was not without its effect upon the enemy, whose spirit +was aroused at finding the antagonist it had been pursuing suddenly +become the aggressor. The Americans had a well-served though not +numerous artillery, but the presence of Morgan's corps more than made +good any deficiency in this respect. The great drawback <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>to the +efficiency of the army was the want of cordiality between Gates and +Arnold. The breach between them was daily widening that was presently to +become an impassable gulf.</p> + +<p>Gates purposed taking up a strong position, and awaiting Burgoyne's +attack behind his intrenchments. Either Burgoyne must risk an assault, +under conditions most favorable to the Americans, or retire discomfited +under conditions highly unfavorable to a successful retreat.</p> + +<p>The country between Saratoga and Stillwater, covered with woods and +intersected by ravines, was wholly unsuited to the free movement of +troops. All the shore of the Hudson is high ground, rising to a nearly +uniform level next the river, but gradually ascending, as the river is +left, to the summit of the streams falling into it. Long slopes or +terraces are thus formed, furrowed here and there by the ravines, which +serve to drain off the water from above into the river below. Puny +rivulets where they begin, these watercourses cut deeper as they run on, +until, at the river, they become impassable gulches. The old military +road skirts the foot of the heights, which sometimes abut closely upon +the river, and sometimes draw back far enough to leave a strip of meadow +between it and them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sept. 12.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Bemis' Heights.</div> + +<p>Kosciusko,<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> Gates's engineer, chose the ground on which to receive +Burgoyne's attack, at one of these places where the heights crowd upon +the river, thus forming a narrow defile, which a handful of men could +easily defend against an army. At <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>this place the house of a settler +named Bemis stood by the roadside. Our army filed off the road here, to +the left, scaled the heights, and encamped along a ridge of land, +running west as far as some high, rough, and woody ground, which formed +the summit.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Freeman's Farm.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Sept. 13.</div> + +<p>Except two or three clearings, all the ground in Gates's front was +thickly wooded. One settler, called Freeman, had cleared and planted +quite a large field in front of the American centre and left, though at +some distance beyond, and hid from view by intervening woods. This field +of Freeman's was one of the few spots of ground lying between the two +armies, on which troops could be manœuvred or artillery used with +advantage. The farm-house stood at the upper edge of it, at a distance +of a mile back from the river. Our pickets immediately took post there, +as no one could enter the clearing without being seen from the house. +Accident has thus made this spot of ground, Freeman's Farm,<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> famous. +The Americans were at work like beavers, strengthening their line with +redoubts, felled trees, and batteries, when the enemy was discovered +marching against them.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> <span class="smcap">General Gates</span> had resigned his command at +Ticonderoga, rather than serve under Schuyler. There was no good feeling +between them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Morgan's Riflemen</span> was the most celebrated corps +of the Continental Army. The men were unerring marksmen, and on that +account greatly feared by the British. All were expert <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>woodsmen, +devoted to their leader, who held them under strict discipline.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Thaddeus Kosciusko</span> came to this country to offer +his services to Congress. "What can you do?" asked Washington. "Try me," +was the laconic reply. In course of time, he was sent to Schuyler as +engineer of his army.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Freeman's House</span> was made use of by Burgoyne, +during the battle of September 9, as his headquarters. After this battle +it was included within the British lines.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span><br /> +<h2>XII.</h2> + +<h2>BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS.<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a></h2> + +<h3>(<i>September 19, 1777.</i>)</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Burgoyne, at Batten-Kill, had only a choice of evils to make. Either he +could save his army by retreating to Fort Edward, and thus give up all +hope of seeing the ends of the campaign fulfilled, or he might still +make a bold push for Albany, and so put everything at the hazard of +battle.</p> + +<p>But to fall back when he had promised to go forward, when the doing so +meant ruin to his reputation, and possibly to the cause of his king, was +not only a bitter alternative, but a responsibility heavier than he was +prepared to take.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, should he now cross the Hudson, with intent to bring +on a decisive battle,—and his crossing meant just this,—Burgoyne knew +that he must drop his communications with Canada, because he could not +afford the guards necessary to keep them open. Already he had been +weakened by the loss of more than fifteen hundred men, without counting +the Indians who had so basely deserted him; St. Leger had failed him in +his utmost need. On his left, the Americans were watching their chance +to strike a blow in his rear. Burgoyne therefore felt that, from the +moment he should <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>put the Hudson between his army and its only way of +retreat, all must be staked on the doubtful issue of battle. He decided +to make the gambler's last throw.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne himself has said that his orders left him no choice but to go +on. It is evident he construed them to his own wishes. He still believed +his six thousand excellent soldiers, with their superb artillery, would +prove themselves more than a match for twice their own number of +undisciplined yeomanry. He would not admit even the possibility of +defeat. He felt confident of beating Gates with ease.</p> + +<p>In choosing to fight, rather than retreat, Burgoyne, perhaps, acted from +the impulse of a brave nature, rather than the promptings of his sober +judgment, as he was bound to do; since he had known for some time that +Sir William Howe had gone to Pennsylvania, without making any definite +preparations to come to his assistance. Notwithstanding this assurance, +that a most important part of the plan of campaign had failed, through +no fault of his, Burgoyne seems to have put his trust in the chapter of +accidents, rather than remain inactive until it was certain he would be +supported from New York. Not one solitary circumstance, except faith in +the valor of his troops, favored a further advance at this time. But his +gallant little army was ready to follow him, the enemy was within +striking distance, and so Burgoyne marched on, bemoaning his ill luck, +but with the pluck characteristic of the man.</p> + +<p>On the thirteenth the British army crossed the Hudson, by a bridge of +boats, to Saratoga. Burgoyne took with him provisions for five weeks, +which were loaded in bateaux and floated down the river as he advanced. +As yet he knew comparatively nothing of what preparations the Americans +were making to receive him, and but little about the country he was in. +But he did know that the patriot army had at last faced about, and that +was enough to rouse the spirit of his soldiers to the highest pitch.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep103.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep103.jpg" width="35%" alt="" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">BURGOYNE'S ORDER OF BATTLE.<br /> +19th September.<br /> +<i>Pen and ink sketch by a British officer.</i><br /> +A, The Line Formed. B, The Columns in March.</p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Sept. 15.</div> + +<p>On the fifteenth the British Army began its march southward in three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +divisions. The only road had to be given up to the baggage and +artillery. To protect it, the left, or German division, marched along +the meadows, next the river. The centre, or British division, kept the +heights above; while Frazer's corps moved at some distance, on the right +of it, with Breyman's following just behind in support. Two divisions +were therefore marching on the heights, and one underneath them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sept. 17.</div> + +<p>What with the delays caused by broken bridges on the road, bridging the +ravines on the heights, or forcing a way through thick woods, which it +was necessary always to reconnoitre with care,—the royal army could get +over but six miles in two days. Being then near the enemy, a halt was +made to prepare for battle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sept. 19.</div> + +<p>On this day, Burgoyne continued his march in the same order as before, +with skirmishers thrown out well in advance of each column. The centre, +which he directed in person, would, in following the direction it was +taking, very shortly find itself at Freeman's Farm.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>On his part, Gates had sent out Morgan's rifle corps to feel the enemy, +in order to learn what they were doing or intending to do. Morgan had +advanced as far as our outpost at Freeman's house, when the British +skirmishers came out of the woods into the clearing. They were instantly +fired upon and returned the fire. It was therefore here that the action +of September 19 began.</p> + +<p>Morgan's hot fire soon drove the enemy back to cover again, with loss. +Our riflemen dashed into the woods after them, got into disorder, and, +before they were aware, fell upon the supporting battalions, by whom +they were defeated and scattered, in their turn. This division then +advanced into the clearing, from which by this time the Americans had +decamped. Burgoyne thus gained the ground about Freeman's house, whence +his pickets were first attacked and driven in.</p> + +<p>At this place, Burgoyne formed his line, facing towards the woods into +which Morgan's men had retreated. He rightly judged the enemy to be +there, though threats failed to extort any information from the +prisoners he had taken. When Frazer told one of Morgan's captains he +would hang him up to the nearest tree, unless he would point out the +place where his comrades were posted, the man undauntedly replied, "You +may, if you please."</p> + +<p>Knowing that Gates could not be attacked on his right, Burgoyne meant to +make the trial on the left. If that wing could be turned, Gates would +have to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>retreat from his works, or be driven into the river. This was +all the simple plan of attack, but as yet, Burgoyne did not know where +the American left was posted. The woods effectually masked the American +position, and all was now quiet.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne now prepared to go forward again. From what had just taken +place, he supposed the troops now with him would strike the American +line first. It was therefore arranged that when he became fully engaged, +Frazer was to charge the American flank, and crush it, making the centre +division his pivot. With his right, Burgoyne meant to turn the American +left.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne had with him four battalions of the line, and four guns. He +would have brought more guns if more could have been used with effect in +the woods, as he greatly relied upon this arm. Frazer had twenty +companies of grenadiers and light infantry, the 24th British regiment, +Breyman's Germans, and all the Canadians, loyalists, and Indians now +left with the army; he also had four pieces of artillery. About four +thousand men were thus in readiness to engage. The left wing was now in +motion along the river road, under the heights, but was too far off to +be of much use in reënforcing the right. It was, however, of service in +preventing Gates from sending troops away from his right, to fight +Burgoyne on the left.</p> + +<p>Though Burgoyne did not know the American position, which thick woods +everywhere masked from his view, he had disclosed his own very clearly +to Morgan, who sent an urgent request for reënforcements.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>Gates wished to receive the attack in his works, not make one himself. +He therefore ordered only one or two battalions from his left to go to +Morgan's assistance, and withstood the entreaties of his officers to be +allowed to meet the enemy in the open field.</p> + +<p>At between two and three o'clock, as Burgoyne had just finished his +dispositions for attacking, a heavy fire broke from the woods in +Frazer's front. This came from Morgan and the troops sent to his +support. Making no impression on Frazer, whose cannon held them in +check, the assailants suddenly shifted their attack over to the left, +where Burgoyne commanded in person. And thus it was that, instead of +attacking, Burgoyne found himself assaulted; instead of turning Gates's +left, his own was being assailed, with the purpose of separating the two +wings of his army.</p> + +<p>On finding a battle actually in progress, Gates reënforced the troops +who were fighting against odds, with driblets of a regiment at a time. +Instead of going on the field himself, or letting Arnold go,<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> he +pretended to believe that his own right was the real object of attack, +and kept in his quarters. This day's battle was therefore fought wholly +by his subordinates, against the British general-in-chief, seconded by +his ablest lieutenants.</p> + +<p>Having found the enemy's left, the Americans chiefly turned their +attention to that flank, as has just been said. The 62d British regiment +was posted here with two guns. This flank was crushed, and its artillery +silenced by a superior fire. Its defeat caused the whole British line +to give way, leaving part of their artillery in our hands.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep109.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep109.jpg" width="35%" alt="FIRST BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">FIRST BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS.<br /> +[<i>Pen and ink sketch by a British officer.</i>]<br /> +A, Americans Attacking. B, British Positions.</p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>So far the battle had gone in our favor. Any demonstration from our +right, upon the enemy's left, would, unquestionably, have rendered the +victory complete. As nothing of the kind was attempted, the British were +able to bring up reënforcements from that wing, without opposition, and +the golden opportunity was lost.</p> + +<p>From the river road, Riedesel, by making a roundabout march, brought two +of his regiments into action. Phillips hurried with four guns taken from +the reserve artillery to the front. Frazer turned part of his force upon +the American flank, thus relieving Burgoyne from the pressure laid upon +him, and enabling him to form a second line. When this was done, the +whole British force advanced again as far as their first position, while +the Americans, for want of fresh troops to meet them, were compelled to +fall back under cover of the woods again. The combat had now lasted four +hours. Darkness put an end to it, nearly on the spot where it had begun. +The British were indeed masters of the field; but instead of attacking, +they had always been attacked, and instead of advancing, they had been +everywhere stopped; their artillery alone had saved them from defeat. +Our army lost three hundred and nineteen killed and wounded; the +British, more than five hundred,—the difference being due to superior +marksmanship. Our losses could easily be made good; the British could +not. All the real advantages, therefore, were clearly on the side of the +Americans.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Battle of Bemis' Heights.</span> Bemis' Heights formed +part of the American position, but not of the battle-ground. Freeman's +Farm would have been a more accurate designation. Stillwater locates it +anywhere within a township of many miles in extent.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Arnold's Part</span> in this battle has been long a +matter of dispute. Gates was jealous of him because he was the idol of +his soldiers. Arnold had no high opinion of Gates. After Arnold turned +traitor, every one seems to have thought it a duty to give him a kick. +This feeling is unfortunately conspicuous in the only detailed account +from the American side we have of this battle, which was written by +Wilkinson, Gates's adjutant-general, and given to the world nearly forty +years (1816) afterwards. Wilkinson seems to have fully shared his +commander's likes and dislikes, and has treated Arnold shabbily. The +battle was almost wholly fought by Arnold's division, and it is equally +incompatible with his duty and temper to suppose he would have remained +in camp when his troops were engaged, though he was probably held back +until a late hour in the day.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span><br /> +<h2>XIII.</h2> + +<h2>LINCOLN'S RAID IN BURGOYNE'S REAR.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Much to Burgoyne's chagrin, he had been obliged to garrison Ticonderoga +with troops taken from his own army, instead of being allowed to draw +upon those left in Canada, under command of General Carleton. About a +thousand men were thus deducted from the force now operating on the +Hudson.</p> + +<p>Ever since the battle of Bennington, Lincoln had been most industriously +gathering in, and organizing the militia, at Manchester. All New England +was now up, and her sons were flocking in such numbers to his camp, that +Lincoln soon found himself at the head of about two thousand excellent +militia.</p> + +<p>Guided by the spirit of Washington's instructions, he now determined on +making an effort to break up Burgoyne's communications, capture his +magazines, harass his outposts, and, perhaps, even throw himself on the +British line of retreat. There is a refreshing boldness and vigor about +the conception, something akin to real generalship and enterprise. It +was a good plan, undertaken without Gates's knowledge or consent.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sept. 13.</div> + +<p>On the same day that Burgoyne was crossing the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>Hudson, Lincoln sent +five hundred men to the head of Lake George, with orders to destroy the +stores there; five hundred more to attack Ticonderoga; and another five +hundred to Skenesborough, to support them in case of need. Unknown to +Lincoln, Burgoyne had now wholly dropped his communications with the +lakes, but these movements were no less productive of good results on +that account.</p> + +<p>The first detachment, under command of Colonel Brown,<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> reached Lake +George landing undiscovered. The blockhouse and mills there were +instantly taken. Mount Defiance and the French lines at Ticonderoga<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> +were next carried without difficulty. In these operations, Brown took +three hundred prisoners, released over one hundred Americans from +captivity, and destroyed a great quantity of stores.</p> + +<p>The second detachment having, meantime, come up before Mount +Independence, Ticonderoga was cannonaded, for some time, without effect. +Unlike St. Clair, the British commander would neither surrender nor +retreat, even when the guns of Mount Defiance were turned against him.</p> + +<p>Failing here, the Americans next went up Lake George, to attack +Burgoyne's artillery depot, at Diamond Island. They were not more +successful in this attempt, as the enemy was strongly fortified and made +a vigorous defence. After burning the enemy's boats on the lake, Brown +returned to Skenesborough.</p> + +<p>General Lincoln was about to march from Skenesborough to Fort Edward, +with seven hundred men, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>when he received a pressing request from Gates, +dated on the morning of the battle, to join him at once.</p> + +<p>Abandoning, therefore, his own plans, Lincoln retraced his steps with so +much speed, that he arrived in Gates's camp<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> on the twenty-second. +Gates immediately gave him command of the right wing<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> of the army.</p> + +<p>The road between Skenesborough and Fort Edward was now constantly +patrolled by parties of American militia; so that it was truly said of +Burgoyne, that the gates of retreat were fast closing behind him.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Colonel John Brown</span>, of Pittsfield, Mass.,—who +had been with Allen at the taking of Ticonderoga in 1775, and with +Montgomery at Quebec,—Colonels Warner, Woodbridge, and Johnson +coöperated in this expedition.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Ticonderoga</span> was garrisoned at this time by one +British and one German battalion, under command of General Powell.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Gates's Camp.</span> By this time, Gates also had +connected his camp with the east bank of the Hudson, by a floating +bridge, to facilitate the crossing of reënforcements to him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> <span class="smcap">The Right Wing</span> was composed of Nixon's, Glover's, +and Patterson's Continental brigades, with a certain proportion of +militia. The left wing of Poor's and Learned's brigades, Dearborn's +Light Infantry, and Morgan's corps, with a like proportion of militia.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span><br /> +<h2>XIV.</h2> + +<h2>SECOND BATTLE OF FREEMAN'S FARM.</h2> + +<h3>(<i>October, 1777.</i>)</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Convinced that another such victory would be his ruin, Burgoyne now +thought only of defending himself until the wished-for help should come. +To this end, he began intrenching the ground on which he stood. The +action of September 19 had, therefore, changed the relative situation of +the antagonists, in that from being the assailant, Burgoyne was now +driven to act wholly on the defensive.</p> + +<p>On the day following the battle, a courier brought Burgoyne the welcome +news that forces from New York would soon be on the way to his relief. +Word was instantly sent back that his army could hold its ground until +the 12th of October, by which time it was not doubted that the relieving +force would be near enough at hand to crush Gates between two fires.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">At Wilber's Basin.</div> + +<p>Burgoyne, therefore, now threw his bridge across the Hudson again, +posted a guard on the farther side, made his camp as strong as possible, +and waited with growing impatience for the sound of Sir Henry +Clinton's<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> cannon to be heard in the distance. But Clinton did not +move to Burgoyne's assistance until too late. The blundering of the War</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Oct. 4.</div> + +<p>Office had worked its inevitable results. By the time Clinton reached<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +Tarrytown, thirty miles above New York, Burgoyne's army had been put on +short rations. With the utmost economy the provisions could not be made +to last much beyond the day fixed in Burgoyne's despatch. Foraging was +out of the question. Nothing could be learned about Clinton's progress. +All between the two British armies was such perilous ground, that +several officers had returned unsuccessful, after making heroic efforts +to reach Clinton's camp.</p> + +<p>While Burgoyne was thus anxiously looking forward to Clinton's energetic +coöperation, that officer supposed he was only making a diversion in +Burgoyne's favor, a feint to call off the enemy's attention from him; +and thus it happened that in the decisive hour of the war, and after the +signal had been given, only one arm was raised to strike, because two +British commanders acted without unison; either through misconception of +the orders they had received, or of what was expected of them in just +such an emergency as the one that now presented itself.</p> + +<p>Perhaps two armies have seldom remained so near together for so long a +time without coming to blows, as the two now facing each other on the +heights of Stillwater. The camps being little more than a mile apart, +brought the hostile pickets so close together, that men strayed into the +opposite lines unawares. Day and night there was incessant firing from +the outposts, every hour threatened to bring on a battle. Half +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>Burgoyne's soldiers were constantly under arms to repel the attack, +which—in view of the desperate condition they found themselves placed +in, of the steady progress from bad to worse—was rather hoped for than +feared.</p> + +<p>Two weeks passed thus without news of Clinton. Burgoyne's provisions +were now getting alarmingly low. If he staid where he was, in a few +days, at most, he would be starved into surrendering. Again the ominous +word "retreat" was heard around the camp-fires. The hospital was filled +with wounded men. Hard duty and scant food were telling on those fit for +duty. Lincoln's raid announced a new and dangerous complication. It was +necessary to try something, for Gates's do-nothing policy was grinding +them to powder.</p> + +<p>A council was therefore called. It is a maxim, as old as history, that +councils of war never fight. Some of Burgoyne's generals advised putting +the Hudson between themselves and Gates, as the only means now left of +saving the army; none, it is believed, advocated risking another battle.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne could not bring himself to order a retreat without first making +one more effort for victory. He dwelt strongly upon the difficulty of +withdrawing the army in the face of so vigilant and powerful an enemy. +He maintained his own opinion that even in order to secure an honorable +retreat it would be necessary to fight, and it was so determined.</p> + +<p>It is evident that Burgoyne nourished a secret hope that fortune might +yet take a turn favorable to him; otherwise, it is impossible to account +for his making <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>this last and most desperate effort, under conditions +even less favorable than had attended his attack of the 19th of +September.</p> + +<p>Fifteen hundred men and ten guns were chosen for the attempt. In plain +language, Burgoyne started out to provoke a combat with an enemy greatly +his superior in numbers, with less than half the force his former +demonstration had been made with. His idea seems to have been to take up +a position from which his cannon would reach the American works. After +intrenching, it was his intention to bring up his heavy artillery, and +open a cannonade which he was confident the enemy could not withstand, +as their defensive works were chiefly built of logs. And out of this +state of things, Burgoyne hoped to derive some substantial benefit.</p> + +<p>This plan differed from that of the 19th of September, in that it looked +chiefly to obtaining a more advantageous position; while on the former +occasion it was attempted to force a way through or around the American +left. The lesson of that day had not been lost on Burgoyne, who now +meant to utilize his artillery to the utmost, rather than risk the +inevitable slaughter that must ensue from an attempt to carry the +American lines by storm.</p> + +<p>Everything depended upon gaining the desired position before the +Americans could make their dispositions to thwart the attempt.</p> + +<p>The importance to the army of this movement induced Burgoyne to call his +three best generals to his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>aid; so that nothing that experience could +suggest, or skill attempt, should be left undone. It was kept a profound +secret till the troops who were going out to fight were actually under +arms. The rest of the army was to remain in the works; so that, if worst +came to worst, the enemy might not reap any decided advantage from a +victory gained over the fighting corps.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Oct. 7.</div> + +<p>It was near one o'clock, on the afternoon of the seventh, when Burgoyne +marched out from his own right, toward the American left. He had reached +an eminence rising at the right of the late battle-ground, and not far +removed from Frazer's position on that day, when the pickets of Arnold's +division discovered his approach, and gave the alarm. Having gained a +favorable position for using his guns, Burgoyne halted, and formed his +line.</p> + +<p>Upon hearing that the British had advanced to within half a mile of his +left, and were offering battle, Gates decided to accept the challenge, +as he now felt strong enough to do so without fear for the result, and +the behavior of his own troops in the previous battle had been such as +to put an end to his doubts about their ability to cope with British +soldiers. Morgan was therefore ordered to make a <i>détour</i> through the +woods, and fall on the British right flank, while other troops were +attacking on its left.</p> + +<p>These movements were gallantly executed. At three o'clock, Burgoyne's +artillery opened the battle; at four, the Americans charged the British +position under a heavy fire of cannon and musketry. Again and again, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>the Continentals met the British bayonet without flinching. Never was a +battle more manfully fought. Burgoyne faced death like the meanest +soldier in the ranks. After some discharges, the British cannoneers were +shot down at their pieces, and the hill on which they stood was carried +at the point of the bayonet.</p> + +<p>On his part, Morgan grappled with the British right, overthrew it after +a fierce struggle, and drove it back upon the centre. In vain Frazer<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> +tried to stem the tide of defeat by throwing himself into the thickest +of the fight. "That man," said Morgan, pointing him out to his marksmen, +"must die." A rifle bullet soon gave the gallant Scot his death wound, +and he was led from the field.</p> + +<p>The combat had lasted scarce an hour. All Burgoyne's guns were taken. Of +the fifteen hundred soldiers he had led into action, four hundred lay +dead or dying around him. Frazer's fall had carried dismay among those +who were still stubbornly yielding the ground to the victorious +Americans. A retreat was sounded. The Americans followed on with loud +shouts. For a few moments a rearguard fight was kept up, then the +retreat became a rout, the rout a race, to see who should first reach +the British lines.</p> + +<p>Thus far the action had been maintained on our part, by the same troops +who had fought the battle of September 19, and in part on the same +ground. It was now to be transferred to the enemy's own camp.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the British gained the shelter of their works, when the +Americans, led on by Arnold, stormed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>them with reckless bravery. Gates +had held Arnold back from the field from motives of envy and dislike; +but Arnold, to whom the sound of battle was like the spur to the mettled +courser, at last broke through all restraint. Leaping into the saddle, +he spurred into the thickest of the fight before Gates could stop him.</p> + +<p>The point of attack was strongly defended by artillery, and the +Americans here suffered their first repulse. Other troops came up. The +assault soon began again all along the British line. Beaten off in one +place, Arnold spurred over to the enemy's extreme right, where Breyman +was posted behind a breastwork of logs and rails, that formed a right +angle with the rest of the line. Calling on the nearest battalion to +follow him, Arnold leaped his horse over the parapet. The Germans fired +one volley and fled. Our troops took guns and prisoners. By this success +they had gained an opening on Burgoyne's right and rear, precisely as he +had meant to do by them. In this last assault Breyman was killed, and +Arnold wounded.</p> + +<p>The day was now too far spent for further efforts to be made on either +side. Little by little, the angry roll of musketry sunk into silence. +The battle was over.</p> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Sir Henry Clinton</span> then commanded at New York, +under the orders of Sir William Howe. Not having received orders to +assist Burgoyne in any event, until he was about to engage with +Washington for the possession of Philadelphia, Howe turned over the +matter of assisting Burgoyne to Clinton, who was compelled to wait for +the arrival of fresh troops, then on the way from England, before he +could organize an expedition to attack our posts in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>the Highlands of +the Hudson. See Introduction; also Note 1, "Facing Disaster" (p. 60).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> <span class="smcap">General Simon Frazer</span> was of Scotch birth, younger +son of Frazer of Balnain. His actual rank on joining Burgoyne was +lieutenant-colonel, 24th foot. With other field officers assigned to +command brigades, he was made acting brigadier, and is therefore known +as General Frazer, though Burgoyne was notified that this <i>local rank</i> +would cease when his army joined Sir William Howe. Frazer's remains were +disinterred and taken to England. The spot where he was wounded is +marked by a monument, and indicates where he endeavored to make a stand +after being driven from his first position. Anburey and Madame Riedesel +give graphic accounts of his death and burial.</p></div> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span><br /> +<h2>XV.</h2> + +<h2>RETREAT AND SURRENDER.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Burgoyne had been everywhere foiled by the battle of the seventh. +Instead of turning Gates's flank his own had been turned. Instead of +thrusting Gates back upon the river, he would surely be forced there +himself, in a few hours, at most. Instead, even, of dealing Gates such a +blow as would favor a retreat, Burgoyne's situation was now more +precarious than ever: it was more than precarious; it was next to +hopeless.</p> + +<p>It is again but too plain that Burgoyne had not taken defeat—such a +defeat—seriously into account, or he would never have led out that +gallant little column of fifteen hundred men; first, for victory, then, +for an honorable retreat. His army was now like the wounded lion, whose +expiring struggles the hunter watches at a distance, without fear, and +without danger. All had been lost but honor.</p> + +<p>The first and only thing to be done now was promptly to form a new line +of defence, behind which the army could mask its retreat. This was +skilfully and quietly done on the night after the battle, our troops not +attempting to do more than hold the ground already won. In the morning +they occupied the deserted works.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep125.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep125.jpg" width="30%" alt="THE RETREAT TO SARATOGA." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE RETREAT TO SARATOGA.</p> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>Burgoyne's new position stretched along the heights next the river, so +as to cover the road to Saratoga. He had merely drawn back his centre +and right, while his left wing remained stationary; and he now stood +facing west, instead of south, as before the battle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Oct. 8.</div> + +<p>The day passed in skirmishing, reconnoitring, and artillery firing. The +Americans were feeling their way along the enemy's new front, while +Burgoyne's every effort was limited to keeping them at a distance, with +his superior artillery, till night. On our side, his intentions were +rather guessed than certainly known. His great problem was how to get +his army over the Hudson undiscovered. It was supposed that he would +attempt to retreat across his bridge as soon as it was dark. Our +artillery, therefore, tried to destroy it with shot. Moreover, fourteen +hundred men were crossed over to the east bank, and now stood ready to +dispute Burgoyne's passage from that side of the river.</p> + +<p>At sunset, General Frazer was buried<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> inside a battery, on the brow +of the heights, according to his dying wish. Chaplain Brudenell read the +burial service, with our balls ploughing up the earth around him, and +our cannon thundering the soldier's requiem from camp to camp.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock, the British army began its retreat along the river +road, leaving its camp-fires burning behind it; profound silence was +enjoined. To avoid confusion, the different corps simply moved off in +the order in which they stood on the lines, or by their right. Upon +finding that his crossing would be opposed by the troops who had passed +over to the east bank, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>Burgoyne had decided to go back the way he came +as far as Saratoga, and on fording the river at that place. Orders were +therefore given to destroy the bridge. Just before day, his rearguard +set fire to it, and marched off without interference. All the sick and +wounded were left behind.</p> + +<p>In view of the fact that all of the enemy's movements announced a rapid +retreat, the Americans seem to have shown a want of vigor in pushing the +advantages they had won by the late battles. This hesitation may be in +part accounted for by the other fact that both Arnold and Lincoln were +disabled. Lincoln had been wounded while reconnoitring the enemy's +right, on the eighth, with a view of passing a force round in his rear. +Gates was thus deprived of his most efficient lieutenants at the moment +when they were most needed. The British army could hardly have been +placed in a more critical position; but, by keeping up a bold front, it +managed to extricate itself without the loss of a man.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Oct. 9.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Dovegat, now Coveville.</div> + +<p>Rain began falling early the next morning. Burgoyne had marched but six +miles, yet dallied till afternoon on the spot where he had halted early +in the day. He then saw, to his inexpressible dismay, the same body of +Americans<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> whom he had seen opposite his encampment at Stillwater, +now marching abreast of him, with the evident design of seizing the +Saratoga ford before he could get to it. The road he meant to take was, +therefore, already as good as in the enemy's hands.</p> + +<p>The discovery that he was being everywhere hemmed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>in hastened +Burgoyne's departure. Much baggage and many wagons and tents were +burned, in order that the army might march the faster. Like a ship, +laboring with the gale, it was relieving itself of all unnecessary +burdens.</p> + +<p>Pelted by the storm, in silence, and with downcast looks, the soldiers +plodded wearily on, through mud and water, ankle deep. No tap of drum or +bugle-call put life into their heavy tread. The sense of defeat and +disgrace brooded over the minds of officers and men, as they stole away +in darkness and gloom from an enemy for whom they had but lately felt +such high disdain. Grief, shame, and indignation were the common lot of +high and low. No word was spoken, except when the curt "Forward" of the +officers passed along the ranks. All knew instinctively, that this +retreat was but the prelude to greater disaster, which, perchance, was +not far off.</p> + +<p>The same evening, the bedraggled and footsore soldiers waded the +Fishkill<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> where the bridge had been, but was now destroyed, and +bivouacked on the heights of Saratoga.<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> Too weary even to light +fires, to dry their clothing, or cook their suppers, they threw +themselves on the wet ground to snatch a few hours' sleep; for, dark as +it was, and though rain fell in torrents, the firing heard at intervals +throughout the night told them that the Americans were dogging their +footsteps, and would soon be up with them. It seemed as if the foe were +never to be shaken off.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Oct. 10.</div> + +<p>It was not till after daylight that the British artillery <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>could ford +the Fishkill with safety. The guns were then dragged up the heights and +once more pointed toward the advancing enemy. Numbness and torpor seem +to have pervaded the whole movement thus far. Now it was that Frazer's +loss was most bitterly deplored, for he had often pledged himself to +bring off the army in safety, should a retreat become necessary. He had +marked out, and intrenched this very position, in which the army now +found its last retreat. Almost twenty-four hours had been consumed in +marching not quite ten miles, or at a much slower rate of progress than +Burgoyne had censured Breyman for making to Baum's relief, at +Bennington. Burgoyne seemed to find satisfaction in showing that he +would not be hurried.</p> + +<p>The army took up its old positions along the heights into which the +Fishkill cuts deeply, as it runs to the Hudson. Being threatened in +front, flank, and rear, Burgoyne had to form three separate camps, +facing as many different ways. One fronted the Fishkill and commanded +the usual fording-place. A second looked east at the enemy posted across +the Hudson; a third faced the west, where the ground rose above the +camps, and hid itself in a thick forest.</p> + +<p>Though he secured his camps as well as he could, Burgoyne meant to make +no delay here. But it was no longer in his power to control his own +acts. The want of energy shown in the retreat had given the Americans +time to close every avenue of escape against him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>Let us note how the fate of armies is decided. Active pursuit did not +begin until the morning of the ninth, when the retreat was first +discovered. A start of ten hours had thus been gained by the British. +Their artillery had so cut up the roads as to render them next to +impassable for our troops. Frequent halts had to be made to mend broken +bridges. From these causes, even so late as the morning of the tenth, +our army had advanced but three miles from the battle-ground. But +Burgoyne had marched, when he marched at all, like a general who means +to be overtaken. Four thousand men were being pushed around his right; +an equal number followed in his rear; while fourteen hundred more +menaced with destruction any attempt he might make to ford the river.</p> + +<p>No choice being left but to continue the retreat by the west bank, +pioneers were sent out, under a strong escort, to make the road +passable.</p> + +<p>But the golden moment had already flown. By this time Gates's van had +come up with Burgoyne. Morgan's corps had crossed the Fishkill at a +point above the British camps, had taken post within rifle-shot, and had +thus fastened upon the enemy a grip never more to be shaken off.</p> + +<p>As a last resort, the British general decided to attempt a night +retreat, leaving behind the artillery he had so persistently dragged +after him when the fate of his army was hanging on its speed alone. +Before this desperate venture could be put to trial, worse news came to +hand. It was learned that Stark, with two <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>thousand men, was in +possession of Fort Edward, and of all the fords below it. Turn what way +he would, Burgoyne found a foe in his path.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Oct. 13.</div> + +<p>Even General Burgoyne now saw no way open but surrender; either he must +do this, or let his soldiers be slaughtered where they stood. Cannon and +rifle shot were searching every corner of his camp; retreat was cut off; +his provisions could be made to last but a day or two longer at most; +the bateaux were destroyed; his animals were dying of starvation, and +their dead bodies tainting the air his soldiers breathed; water could +only be had at the risk of life or limb, as the American sharpshooters +picked off every one who attempted to fetch it from the river; and no +more than thirty-five hundred men could be mustered to repel an +assault;—a crisis had now been reached which loudly called on the +British general, in the name of humanity, to desist from further efforts +to maintain so hopeless a struggle.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne called his officers together in council. The absence of such +men as Frazer, Baum, Breyman, Ackland, Clarke, and others from the +meeting, must have brought home to the commanding general, as nothing +else could, a sense of the calamities that had befallen him; while the +faces of the survivors no less ominously prefigured those to come. A +heavy cannonade was in progress. Even while the council was +deliberating, a cannon-ball crashed through the room among them, as if +to enjoin haste in bringing the proceedings to a close. The council +listened to what was already <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>but too well known. Already the finger of +fate pointed undeviatingly to the inevitable result. A general lassitude +had fallen upon the spirits of the soldiers. The situation was +manifestly hopeless to all.</p> + +<p>There could be but one opinion. Enough had been done for honor. All were +agreed that only a surrender could save the army.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Oct. 14.</div> + +<p>Without more delay, an officer was sent to General Gates. At first he +would listen only to an unconditional surrender. This was indignantly +rejected. Two days of suspense followed to both armies. Indeed, the +vanquished seemed dictating terms to the conqueror. But if the British +dreaded a renewal of hostilities, the Americans knew that Clinton's +forces<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> were nearing Albany from below. Gates lowered his demands. +The British army was allowed the honors of war, with liberty to return +to England, on condition of not serving against the United States during +the war. These terms were agreed to, and the treaty was duly signed on +the seventeenth.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne's situation when gathering up his trophies, and issuing his +presumptuous proclamation at Ticonderoga, compared with the straits to +which his reverses had now brought him—a failure before his king and +country, a captain stripped of his laurels by the hand he professed to +despise, a petitioner for the clemency of his conqueror—affords a +striking example of the uncertain chances of war. It really seemed as if +fortune had only raised Burgoyne the higher in order that his fall might +be the more destructive at last.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep135.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep135.jpg" width="35%" alt="WHERE THE SURRENDER TOOK PLACE." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">WHERE THE SURRENDER TOOK PLACE.</p> +</div> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Frazer's Burial</span> would not have been molested had +our artillerists known what was going forward. Seeing so many persons +collected in the redoubt, they naturally directed their fire upon it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> <span class="smcap">This Body of Americans</span> was led by Colonel John +Fellows, whom Gates had ordered to seize the fords as high up as Fort +Edward.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Fishkill</span>, or Fish Creek, is the outlet of +Saratoga Lake. Though a rapid mill-stream, there were several fords. The +precipitous banks were a greater obstacle to troops than the stream +itself.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Heights of Saratoga</span> are in what is now called +Schuylerville, a village owing its prosperity to the water-power of the +Fishkill. At the time of the surrender, there were only a few houses +strung along the river road. Schuyler's house stood in the angle formed +by the entrance of the Fishkill into the Hudson. On arriving at +Saratoga, Burgoyne occupied this house as his headquarters, but burned +it to the ground immediately on the appearance of the Americans. On the +opposite (north) bank of the Fishkill was old Fort Hardy, built during +the French War, to cover the ford of the Hudson at this place. Within +this fort, Burgoyne's army laid down its arms, October 17, 1777. On the +heights back of the river a granite obelisk, one hundred and fifty-four +feet high, has been built to commemorate the event.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Clinton's Forces</span> carried Forts Montgomery and +Clinton, in the Highlands, by assault on the sixth. Having thus broken +down all opposition to their advance up the Hudson, they reached +Kingston (Esopus) on the thirteenth, burned it, and were within a few +hours' sail of Albany when news of Burgoyne's surrender caused them to +retreat down the river.</p></div> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span><br /> +<h2>XVI.</h2> + +<h2>THE SEVENTEENTH OF OCTOBER, 1777.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The closing scene of this most memorable campaign is thus described by +one of the actors in it. He says,—</p> + +<p>"About ten o'clock we marched out, according to treaty, with drums +beating, and the honors of war; but the drums seemed to have lost their +former inspiriting sounds, and though we beat the Grenadiers' March, +which not long before was so animating, yet now it seemed by its last +feeble effort as if almost ashamed to be heard on such an occasion.</p> + +<p>"I shall never forget the appearance of the American troops on our +marching past them. A dead silence reigned through their numerous +columns. I must say their decent behavior to us, so greatly fallen, +merited the utmost praise.... Not one of them was uniformly clad. Each +had on the clothes he wore in the fields, the church, or the tavern; +they stood, however, like soldiers, well arranged, and with a military +air, in which there was but little to find fault with. All the muskets +had bayonets, and the sharpshooters had rifles. The men all stood so +still that we were filled with wonder. Not one of them made a single +motion as if he would speak with his neighbor. Nay, more, all the lads +that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>stood there in rank and file, kind nature had formed so trim, so +slender, so nervous, that it was a pleasure to look at them, and we were +all surprised at the sight of such a handsome, well-formed race. The +whole nation has a natural turn for war and a soldier's life.</p> + +<p>"The generals wore uniforms, and belts which designated their rank, but +most of the colonels were in their ordinary clothes, with a musket and +bayonet in hand, and a cartridge-box or powder-horn slung over the +shoulder. There were regular regiments which, for want of time or cloth, +were not yet equipped in uniform. These had standards, with various +emblems and mottoes, some of which had a very satirical meaning for us."</p> + +<p>The number of regular troops, British and German, who laid down their +arms at Saratoga was 5,591. The camp-followers amounted to two hundred +more. Forty-two pieces of artillery, nearly five thousand muskets, with +ammunition for both, fell into the victors' hands.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span><br /> +<h2>XVII.</h2> + +<h2>THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEFEAT.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>We come now to the reasons why Burgoyne's surrender proved decisive to +the cause of American independence.</p> + +<p>Our opening chapter states that England took Canada from France in 1759, +and annexed it to her own dominions in 1763. This conquest came about +through what is known in history as the Seven Years' War, which had not +only raised all Europe in arms, but had lighted the flames of war +throughout our own continent also. The great battle was fought on the +plains of Quebec. Victory decided for England. Defeated France had, at +last, to give up Canada to her ancient enemy.</p> + +<p>France came out of this conflict sorely humbled. She was brooding over +her defeat, when the American colonies took up arms. The colonists at +once turned with confidence to France; now was her chance to cripple +England, to get back what she had lost, to gain the friendship of a +grateful people, and make them her debtor for all time. But France would +not go to war unless assured that her doing so would turn the scale +against England. The memory of her humiliation was too recent, the +chances of the contest too doubtful, to admit of any other course of +conduct on her part. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>Meanwhile, she gave us much secret help, but none +openly. The course of events was, however, closely watched, and when +Burgoyne's surrender was known in Paris, it was seen that the day of +revenge had come at last. Doubt and hesitation gave way before the +general demand for war. Franklin was openly received at Versailles. +Within three months, the French court had acknowledged our independence. +Her armies and fleets prepared to give us active aid, and it was not +doubted that her example would soon be followed by Spain and Holland.</p> + +<p>Thus, Burgoyne's surrender gained for us at once recognition as a +nation, and the alliance of the first military power of Europe.</p> + +<p>The effect of the surrender in England is thus described by Gibbon, the +historian, who was then sitting in Parliament: "Dreadful news indeed! An +English army of nearly ten thousand men laid down their arms, and +surrendered, prisoners of war, on condition of being sent to England, +and of never serving against America. They had fought bravely, and were +three days without eating. Burgoyne is said to have received three +wounds; General Frazer, with two thousand men, killed; Colonel Ackland +likewise killed. A general cry for peace."</p> + +<p>England now gave up the colonies for lost. In truth, it needed no +prophet to foretell that what England could not do before, she could do +still less now, with France against her. From this time forward, the war +was carried on more to save the nation's pride than <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>with any hope of +success. The military policy underwent an instant change; it now looked +rather to destroying our commerce and ports, than to marching large +armies into the interior of the country, to meet with a like fate to +Burgoyne's. Howe was ordered to evacuate Philadelphia. In Parliament, a +plan was hurriedly put forth to grant everything the Americans had asked +for, except independence. As Gibbon well said, the two greatest +countries of Europe were fairly running a race for the favor of America.</p> + +<p>The movements taking place on the continent showed everywhere a feeling +hostile to England. No nation was ever so friendless as she, none had so +richly deserved the coldness with which the other powers now treated +her. Spain and Holland were getting ready to follow the lead of France. +It was well known that England could not carry on the war without the +aid of mercenaries. The King of Prussia and the Empress of Austria now +refused to permit any more German soldiers to go to America. In the +threatening condition of affairs at home, England could not spare +another army for so distant a field. Whichever way England looked, she +saw either open enemies or half friends. Everywhere the sky was dark for +her, and bright for us.</p> + +<p>At home the surrender of Burgoyne thrilled the whole land, for all felt +it to be the harbinger of final triumph. The people went wild with joy; +salvos of artillery, toasts, bonfires, illuminations, everywhere +testified to the general exultation. The name of France <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>was hailed with +acclamations. At once a sense of national dignity and solidity took the +place of uncertainty and isolation. Now and henceforth, the flag of the +United States was known and respected; abroad as at home, on the sea as +on the land.</p> + +<p>Burgoyne's disaster has been charged to the grossest carelessness on the +part of some under official of the British War Office. It is said that +the orders for Sir William Howe were never put in the despatch bag at +all, but lay forgotten until the catastrophe at Saratoga brought them to +light. On such trifles does the fate of nations sometimes hang. +Certainly, greater unity of purpose in the two generals might have given +the history of the campaign a different reading. But all such +conjectures must fall before the inexorable logic of accomplished +results. The world has long since passed upon the merits of the great +conflict which set America free. Its verdict is recorded. The actors are +but as dust in the balance.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span><br /> +<h2>INDEX.</h2> +<br /> + + +<ul><li> <span class="smcap">Allen, Ethan</span>, takes Ticonderoga, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> goes before Montgomery, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Arnold, Benedict</span>, marches to Canada, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> takes command of our flotilla, and fights the enemy, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>; <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> sent to relieve Fort Stanwix, and does it by a stratagem, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>;</li> + <li> part at Bemis' Heights, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>;</li> + <li> storms the enemy's intrenchments, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>;</li> + <li> wounded, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Batten-Kill</span>, British take post at, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Baum, Frederic</span>, commands British expedition to Bennington, and marches, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> composition of his force, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>;</li> + <li> hears the Americans are waiting for him, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</li> + <li> notifies Burgoyne, and goes on, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</li> + <li> discovers Stark, and intrenches himself on the Walloomsac, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</li> + <li> defeated, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Bennington, Vt.</span>; Burgoyne's plan to seize stores at, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> Baum marches for, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;</li> + <li> Battle of Bennington, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</li> + <li> trophies of, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>; <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> results of the battle, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Bemis' Heights</span>; position of the army described, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> battle of September <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>; <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Bouquet River</span>; Burgoyne halts at, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Brant, Joseph</span>, at Oriskany, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>; <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Breyman, Heinrich C.</span>, posted in support of Baum, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> marches to Baum's aid, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</li> + <li> his slowness fatal to Baum, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>;</li> + <li> defeated, and badly cut up, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</li> + <li> his retreat to camp, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>;</li> + <li> part in Battle of Bemis' Heights, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>;</li> + <li> killed, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Brown, John</span>, attacks Ticonderoga, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>; <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Burgoyne's Army</span>, composition of, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> passes Lake Champlain, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>; <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <i>notes</i> 1 and 2;</li> + <li> invests Ticonderoga, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</li> + <li> fights at Hubbardton, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>;</li> + <li> at Fort Anne, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> + <li> joined by loyalists, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;</li> + <li> concentrated, and leaves Skenesborough, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> + <li> arrives at Fort Edward, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> + <li> joined by savages, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> + <li> compelled to halt for provisions, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>;</li> + <li> is moved forward to support the expedition to Bennington, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>;</li> + <li> falls back after the defeat of Baum, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>;</li> + <li> its losses, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> + <li> crosses the Hudson, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> + <li> order of march from Saratoga to Bemis' Heights, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>;</li> + <li> slow advance, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>;</li> + <li> gives battle to Gates, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>;</li> + <li> troops in action, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> + <li> on the defensive, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;</li> + <li> on short rations, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>;</li> + <li> inactivity of, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>;</li> + <li> ordered to fight Gates again, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>;</li> + <li> troops selected, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;</li> + <li> meets defeat, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>;</li> + <li> camp assaulted and turned, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>;</li> + <li> forms new line, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>;</li> + <li> retreats, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</li> + <li> soldiers dispirited, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;</li> + <li> reaches Saratoga, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;</li> + <li> makes a last stand, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</li> + <li> its camps, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</li> + <li> compelled to surrender, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>;</li> + <li> numbers at this time, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Burgoyne's Campaign</span> discussed, <a href="#Page_10">10-14</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> demand for re-enforcements, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>;</li> + <li> deficiency of transportation service, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</li> + <li> cause of failure, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>;</li> + <li> plan of, <a href="#Page_26">26-32</a>;</li> + <li> results in surrender, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>;</li> + <li> effect of it in Europe, especially in France, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>;</li> + <li> effect at home, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>;</li> + <li> said to have failed through blundering in the War Office, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Burgoyne, John</span>; his personal traits, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> his plan of campaign, <a href="#Page_26">26</a> <i>et seq.</i>;</li> + <li> his army, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>;</li> + <li> his proclamation, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>;</li> + <li> aims to cut off St. Clair from Schuyler, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>;</li> + <li> takes Skenesborough, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> + <li> follows up his successes, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> + <li> <i>résumé</i> of his campaign thus far, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> + <li> sends Riedesel to Castleton, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;</li> + <li> chooses the Fort Anne route to Albany, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;</li> + <li> his reasons, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;</li> + <li> march obstructed, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;</li> + <li> reaches Fort Edward, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> + <li> plans how to provide for his army, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></li> + <li> desire to strike New England, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>;</li> + <li> orders the expedition to Bennington, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>;</li> + <li> how composed, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>;</li> + <li> combinations overthrown by Baum's defeat, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>;</li> + <li> his losses up to this time, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> + <li> his Indians desert him, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> + <li> compelled to halt again, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>;</li> + <li> hears of St. Leger's retreat, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</li> + <li> his choice of evils, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>;</li> + <li> decides to cross the Hudson, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> + <li> marches in search of Gates, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>;</li> + <li> order of march, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>;</li> + <li> gives battle, <a href="#Page_106">106</a> <i>et seq.</i>;</li> + <li> troops in action, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> + <li> holds his position, but makes no advance, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>;</li> + <li> brings on another battle, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;</li> + <li> calls his three best generals to his aid, and commands in person, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;</li> + <li> is defeated, and driven into his works, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>;</li> + <li> orders a retreat, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</li> + <li> finds a force confronting him on the east bank of the Hudson, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;</li> + <li> loses valuable time, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;</li> + <li> burns his baggage, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;</li> + <li> arrives at Saratoga, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;</li> + <li> finds retreat cut off, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>;</li> + <li> his camp untenable, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>;</li> + <li> surrenders his army, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>;</li> + <li> scene described by eyewitnesses, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Canada's</span> alliance desired, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> invasion of begun, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>;</li> + <li> attitude toward the colonies, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Carleton, Guy</span>; attitude toward Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> gains a naval victory over Arnold, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Castleton, Vt.</span>; Riedesel posted there by Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Chambly, Fort</span>; position of, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> taken by Americans, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>;</li> + <li> burnt, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Clinton, Sir Henry</span>, notifies Burgoyne that he is coming to his relief, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> thinks he is only to make a diversion, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>; <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> is near Albany when Burgoyne surrenders, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>; <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Crown Point</span>, position of, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> when built, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> Americans fall back to, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;</li> + <li> evacuated, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;</li> + <li> naval battle near, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Diamond Island</span>, unsuccessful attack upon, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Duer's House</span>, Frazer's corps at, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> British army posted at, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Fellows, John</span>, commands a detachment to watch Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Fishkill Creek</span>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>; <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Fort Anne, N. Y.</span>; Americans retreat to, from Skenesborough, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> Schuyler re-enforces them, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> + <li> combat at, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> + <li> burnt and abandoned, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> + <li> described, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> importance to Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;</li> + <li> neighborhood described, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Fort Edward</span>, position of, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> Schuyler at, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> + <li> is joined by St. Clair, after Ticonderoga falls, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> + <li> Burgoyne arrives at, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> + <li> Schuyler evacuates it, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> + <li> described, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Fort George</span>, position of, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> Americans evacuate it, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> + <li> and British occupy it, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Fort Oswego</span>, position of, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Fort Stanwix</span>, position of, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> St. Leger's force, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>;</li> + <li> garrisoned and defended, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;</li> + <li> attempt to relieve fails, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;</li> + <li> garrison makes a sally, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>;</li> + <li> siege raised, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>; <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Francis, Ebenezer,</span> covers retreat from Ticonderoga, fights Frazer at Hubbardton, but is killed, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>; <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Frazer, Simon</span>, commands a corps under Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> takes Mt. Hope, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>;</li> + <li> pursues St. Clair, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</li> + <li> comes up with the Americans at Hubbardton, and fights them, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>;</li> + <li> on the point of defeat is re-enforced, and gains the day, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>;</li> + <li> crosses the Hudson, and takes post at Saratoga, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>;</li> + <li> recrosses the Hudson, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>;</li> + <li> is posted on the right at Bemis' Heights, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>;</li> + <li> his force, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> + <li> killed, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>; <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> buried, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>; <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Freeman's Farm</span>, position of, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>; <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <i>note</i>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> first collision at (Sept. 19), <a href="#Page_106">106</a>;</li> + <li> second battle at, <a href="#Page_120">120-122</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Gansevoort, Peter</span>, at Fort Stanwix, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> sallies out upon besiegers, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>; <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Gates, Horatio</span>, takes command of the Northern Army, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> his rank, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> supersedes Schuyler, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>;</li> + <li> good effect on the army, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>;</li> + <li> orders an advance to Stillwater, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>;</li> + <li> want of confidence in Arnold a drawback to success, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>;</li> + <li> posts the army on Bemis' Heights, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>; <i>note</i>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>;</li> + <li> sends Morgan to feel the enemy, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>;</li> + <li> re-enforces in driblets, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>;</li> + <li> his camp and army, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <i>note</i>s 1 and 2;</li> + <li> accepts battle again, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>;</li> + <li> is victorious, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></li> + <li> dilatory pursuit of the enemy, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>;</li> + <li> comes up with Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>;</li> + <li> dispositions for attacking, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>;</li> + <li> receives Burgoyne's surrender, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Herkimer, Nicholas</span>, marches to relieve Fort Stanwix, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> is waylaid and defeated, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>;</li> + <li> dies of his wounds, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>; <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Hessian Mercenaries</span>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Howe, Sir William</span>, participation in the campaign discussed, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> driven from Boston, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>;</li> + <li> George III. disappointed in him, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>;</li> + <li> gets his orders too late, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Hubbardton, Vt.</span>, garrison of Ticonderoga retreats to, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> St. Clair's rearguard overtaken at, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>;</li> + <li> battle of, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Johnson, Sir John</span>, at Oriskany, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>; <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <i>note</i>.<br /><br /></li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Kosciusko, Thaddeus</span>, marks out the lines on Bemis' Heights, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>; <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <i>note</i>.<br /><br /></li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Lake Champlain</span>, the gateway of the north, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> naval battle on, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>;</li> + <li> Burgoyne's advance, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>;</li> + <li> shores of, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>;</li> + <li> Americans driven from, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Lincoln, Benjamin</span>, sent to Manchester, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> sketch of, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> makes a raid in Burgoyne's rear, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>;</li> + <li> joins Gates, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>;</li> + <li> wounded, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Lyman, Phineas</span>, builds Fort Edward, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.<br /><br /></li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Manchester, Vt.</span>, Warner posted at, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> rendezvous for militia, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</li> + <li> Lincoln and Stark at, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Mohawk Valley</span>, plan for invading it, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Montgomery, Richard</span>, leads an army to Canada, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> killed, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;</li> + <li> sketch of, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Morgan's Riflemen</span>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <i>note</i>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> attack Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>;</li> + <li> part in the battle of October 7, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Mount Independence</span> described, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> named, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>;</li> + <li> Americans retreat from Ticonderoga to, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Mount Defiance</span>, the key of Ticonderoga, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> seized by Burgoyne's engineers, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</li> + <li> compels the evacuation of Ticonderoga, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</li> + <li> retaken by the Americans, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>; <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Newport, R. I.</span>, held by the enemy, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> Howe's strategy, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">New York</span>, plans for its invasion, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> resources of for resisting Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Oriskany, N. Y.</span>, Americans marching to Fort Stanwix are defeated at, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.<br /><br /></li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Phillips, William</span>, commands Burgoyne's artillery, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> brings up artillery at Bemis' Heights, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Riedesel, Baron von</span>, commands Burgoyne's German contingent, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> at Ticonderoga, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>;</li> + <li> pursues the retreating Americans, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</li> + <li> turns defeat to victory at Hubbardton, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>;</li> + <li> is posted at Castleton, Vt., <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;</li> + <li> falls back to Fort Edward, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>;</li> + <li> supports Burgoyne at Bemis' Heights, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Saratoga</span>, occupied by Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> country below described, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>;</li> + <li> Burgoyne's army crosses over to, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> + <li> falls back to, after being defeated, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>; <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <i>note</i>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">St. Clair, Arthur</span>, commands at Ticonderoga, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> evacuates it, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</li> + <li> military record of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <i>note</i> 2; also <i>note</i> 5;</li> + <li> marches for Skenesborough, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>;</li> + <li> halts at Hubbardton, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</li> + <li> hears Burgoyne has occupied his proposed line of retreat, and now marches for Bennington, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> + <li> joins Schuyler at Fort Edward, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> + <li> accused of treachery, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>;</li> + <li> and ordered to Philadelphia, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">St. John's, Fort</span>, position of, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> taken by Americans, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>;</li> + <li> burnt, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;</li> + <li> British build a fleet at, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">St. Leger, Barry</span>, combination with Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> his part, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>;</li> + <li> his force, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>;</li> + <li> lays siege to Fort Stanwix, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;</li> + <li> Arnold's stratagem compels him to raise the siege, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</li> + <li> and retreat to Oswego, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Schuyler, Philip</span>, at Fort Edward, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> St. Clair joins him, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> + <li> sends a force to Fort Anne, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> + <li> military record of, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> holds Warner at Manchester, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</li> + <li> evacuates Fort Edward on Burgoyne's approach, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> + <li> state of his army, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</li> + <li> urges Stark to join him, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>;</li> + <li> sends Gansevoort to Fort Stanwix, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>;</li> + <li> then Arnold, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</li> + <li> superseded by Gates, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Second Battle of Freeman's Farm</span>, <a href="#Page_120">120-122</a>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Skenesborough</span> taken by Americans, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> described, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> made a dockyard, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>;</li> + <li> Americans retreat to, from Ticonderoga, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;</li> + <li> set fire to, and abandoned, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Stark, John</span>, appointed to sole command over New Hampshire militia, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> musters his brigade at Manchester, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;</li> + <li> refuses to join Schuyler, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;</li> + <li> his perplexity, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</li> + <li> marches to Bennington, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</li> + <li> sketch of, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> decides to join Schuyler, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>;</li> + <li> but hears of the enemy's approach, and sends out scouts, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>;</li> + <li> sends for Warner, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</li> + <li> re-enforced, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</li> + <li> his force, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>;</li> + <li> gains the victory of Bennington, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>;</li> + <li> and defeats Breyman also, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</li> + <li> at Fort Edward, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Stillwater</span>, position of the American army described, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.<br /><br /></li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Ticonderoga</span>, position of described, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> taken by Americans, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>; <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> Montgomery there, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>;</li> + <li> Burgoyne's landing, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>;</li> + <li> garrison of, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>;</li> + <li> invested by Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</li> + <li> evacuated, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;</li> + <li> effects of its fall, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</li> + <li> Americans attack it unsuccessfully, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Trenton, N. J.</span>, victory at, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <i>note</i>.<br /><br /></li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Valcour Island</span>, naval battle at, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Vermont</span>, people of addressed by Burgoyne, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> state of settlements in, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <i>note</i>;</li> + <li> critical situation of after the fall of Ticonderoga, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + </ul> +<br /> +</li> + + +<li> <span class="smcap">Warner, Seth</span>, in command at Hubbardton, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>; <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <i>note</i>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> surprised there, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>;</li> + <li> retreats to Bennington, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> + <li> posted at Manchester, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</li> + <li> his Green Mountain Boys, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</li> + <li> Stark calls on him for assistance, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>;</li> + <li> gets to Bennington in time, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</li> + <li> attacks Breyman, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> + +<li> <span class="smcap">Washington, George</span>, sets about retrieving the disaster at Ticonderoga, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>; + <ul class="nest"> + <li> his views how to retard Burgoyne's march, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</li> + <li> sends Lincoln to carry them out, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;</li> + <li> his policy vindicated, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</li> + <li> efforts to strengthen the northern army, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>;</li> + <li> considerate treatment of Schuyler, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.</li> + </ul> +</li> +</ul> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen"><a name="TN" id="TN"></a>Transcriber's Note</p> +<br /> + +Some inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in +the original document has been preserved.<br /> +<br /> +Typographical errors corrected in the text:<br /> +<br /> +Page 5 126 changed to 124<br /> +Page 5 143 changed to 139<br /> +Page 143 followes changed to follows<br /> +Page 144 Fellow's changed to Fellows<br /> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Burgoyne's Invasion of 1777, by Samuel Adams Drake + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777 *** + +***** This file should be named 31206-h.htm or 31206-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/2/0/31206/ + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Burgoyne's Invasion of 1777 + With an outline sketch of the American Invasion of Canada, 1775-76. + +Author: Samuel Adams Drake + +Release Date: February 7, 2010 [EBook #31206] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777 *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + WORKS BY SAMUEL ADAMS DRAKE + + OLD LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC PERSONAGES + OF BOSTON. Illustrated $2.00 + + OLD LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC FIELDS OF + MIDDLESEX. Illustrated 2.00 + + NOOKS AND CORNERS OF THE NEW ENGLAND + COAST. Illustrated 3.50 + + CAPTAIN NELSON. A Romance of Colonial Days .75 + + THE HEART OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. Illustrated + (Illuminated Cloth) 7.50 + + Tourist's Edition 3.00 + + AROUND THE HUB. A Boy's Book about Boston. + Illustrated 1.50 + + NEW ENGLAND LEGENDS AND FOLK LORE. + Illustrated 2.00 + + THE MAKING OF NEW ENGLAND. Illustrated 1.50 + + THE MAKING OF THE GREAT WEST 1.75 + + OLD BOSTON TAVERNS. Paper .50 + + BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777. Net .50 + + _Any book on the above list sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt + of price, by_ + + LEE AND SHEPARD, BOSTON + + +[Illustration: GENL. BURGOYNE.] + + + + + Decisive Events in American History + + + BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777 + + + WITH AN + OUTLINE SKETCH OF THE AMERICAN INVASION + OF CANADA, 1775-76 + + + BY + SAMUEL ADAMS DRAKE + + + BOSTON 1889 + LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS + 10 MILK STREET NEXT "OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE" + NEW YORK CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM + 718 AND 720 BROADWAY + + + + + BOSTON + S. J. PARKHILL & CO., PRINTERS + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + INTRODUCTION 9 + + PRELUDE. + + I. THE INVASION OF CANADA 15 + + II. THE INVASION OF CANADA 19 + + + BURGOYNE'S INVASION. + + I. THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN 27 + + II. BURGOYNE'S ARMY 33 + + III. THE FALL OF TICONDEROGA 37 + + IV. HUBBARDTON 45 + + V. FACING DISASTER 56 + + VI. THE MARCH TO FORT EDWARD 61 + + VII. BEFORE BENNINGTON 68 + + VIII. BATTLE OF BENNINGTON 77 + + IX. AFTER BENNINGTON 87 + + X. ST. LEGER'S EXPEDITION 90 + + XI. OUR ARMY ADVANCES 95 + + XII. BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS 101 + + XIII. LINCOLN'S RAID IN BURGOYNE'S REAR 113 + + XIV. SECOND BATTLE OF FREEMAN'S FARM 116 + + XV. RETREAT AND SURRENDER 126 + + XVI. SEVENTEENTH OF OCTOBER, 1777 137 + + XVII. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFEAT 143 + +[Illustration: MILITARY MAP, LAKE CHAMPLAIN.] + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Among the decisive events of the Revolutionary struggle, Burgoyne's +campaign deservedly holds the foremost place, as well for what it led +to, as for what it was in inception and execution--at once the most +daring, most quixotic, and most disastrous effort of the whole war. + +Burgoyne was himself, in some respects, so remarkable a man that any +picture of his exploits must needs be more or less tinted with his +personality. And this was unusually picturesque and imposing. He +acquired prestige, at a time when other generals were losing it, through +his participation in Carleton's successful campaign. But Burgoyne was +something more than the professional soldier. His nature was poetic; his +temperament imaginative. He did nothing in a commonplace way. Even his +orders are far more scholarly than soldier-like. At one time he tells +his soldiers that "occasions may occur, when nor difficulty, nor labor, +nor life are to be regarded"--as if soldiers, in general, expected +anything else than to be shot at!--at another, we find him preaching +humanity to Indians, repentance to rebels, or better manners to his +adversary, with all the superb self-consciousness that was Burgoyne's +most prominent characteristic. + +To the military critic, Burgoyne's campaign is instructive, because it +embodies, in itself, about all the operations known to active warfare. +It was destined to great things, but collapsed, like a bubble, with the +first shock of an adverse fortune. + +This campaign is remarkable in yet another way. It has given us the most +voluminous literature extant, that treats of any single episode of the +Revolutionary War. In general, it takes many more words to explain a +defeat than to describe a victory. Hence this fulness is much more +conspicuous upon the British than upon the American side of the history +of this campaign. Not only the general, who had his reputation to +defend, but high officials, whose guiding hand was seen behind the +curtain, were called to the bar of public opinion. The ministers +endeavored to make a scapegoat of the general; the general, to fix the +responsibility for defeat upon the ministers. His demand for a +court-martial was denied. His sovereign refused to hear him. It was thus +meanly attempted to turn the torrent of popular indignation, arising +from the ill success of the expedition, wholly upon the unlucky +general's head. Burgoyne's heroic persistency at length brought the +British nation face to face with the unwelcome fact, which the ministers +were so desirous of concealing,--that somebody besides the general had +blundered; and if the inquiry that Burgoyne obtained from Parliament +failed to vindicate him as a captain, it nevertheless did good service +by exposing both the shortcomings of his accusers, and the motives which +had guided their conduct with respect to himself. + +Besides the official examination by the House of Commons, we have +several excellent narratives, written by officers who served with +Burgoyne, all of which materially contribute to an intelligent study of +the campaign, from a purely military point of view. These narratives are +really histories of the several corps to which the writers belonged, +rather than capable surveys of the whole situation; but they give us the +current gossip of the camp-fire and mess-table, spiced with anecdote, +and enlivened with the daily experiences through which the writers were +passing. And this is much. + +In his defence, General Burgoyne vigorously addresses himself to the +four principal charges brought forward by his accusers: namely, first, +of encumbering himself with a needless amount of artillery; secondly, of +taking the Fort Anne route, rather than the one by way of Lake George; +thirdly, of sending off an expedition to Bennington, under conditions +inviting defeat; and, lastly, of crossing the Hudson after the disasters +of Bennington and Fort Stanwix had taken place. + +The real criticism upon Burgoyne's conduct, so far as it relates to the +movement of his forces only, seems to be that from the moment when the +march was actually to begin, he found himself in want of everything +necessary to a rapid advance. Thus, we find him scarcely arrived at +Skenesborough before he is asking Sir Guy Carleton for reenforcements to +garrison Ticonderoga and Fort George with, to the end that his own force +might not be weakened by the detachments required to hold those +fortresses against the Americans, when he should move on. It would seem +that this contingency, at least, might have been foreseen before it +forced itself upon Burgoyne's attention. Yet it was of so serious a +nature, in this general's eyes, that he expresses a doubt whether his +army would be found equal to the task before it, unless Carleton would +assume the defence of the forts referred to above. + +At this time, too, the inadequacy of his transportation service became +so painfully evident, that the expedition to Bennington offered the only +practicable solution to Burgoyne's mind. + +These circumstances stamp the purposed invasion with a certain haphazard +character at the outset, which boded no good to it in the future. + +Carleton having declined to use his troops in the manner suggested, +Burgoyne was compelled to leave a thousand men behind him when he +marched for Albany. Carleton, the saviour of Canada, was justly +chagrined at finding himself superseded in the conduct of this campaign, +by an officer who had served under his orders in the preceding one; and, +though he seems to have acted with loyalty toward Burgoyne, this is by +no means the only instance known in which one general has refused to go +beyond the strict letter of his instructions for the purpose of rescuing +a rival from a dilemma into which he had plunged with his eyes wide +open. + +The Prelude with which our narrative opens, undertakes first, to briefly +outline the history of the Northern Army, which finally brought victory +out of defeat; and next, to render familiar the names, location, and +strategic value of the frontier fortresses, before beginning the story +of the campaign itself. + +Few armies have ever suffered more, or more nobly redeemed an apparently +lost cause, than the one which was defeated at Quebec and victorious at +Saratoga. The train of misfortunes which brought Burgoyne's erratic +course to so untimely an end was nothing by comparison. And the +quickness with which raw yeomanry were formed into armies capable of +fighting veteran troops, affords the strongest proof that the Americans +are a nation of soldiers. + +So many specific causes have been assigned for Burgoyne's failure, that +it is hardly practicable to discuss all of them within reasonable +limits. The simplest statement of the whole case is that he allowed +himself to be beaten in detail. It seems plain enough that any plan, +which exposed his forces to this result, was necessarily vicious in +itself. Moreover, Burgoyne wofully misestimated the resources, spirit, +and fighting capacity of his adversary. With our forces strongly posted +on the Mohawk, St. Leger's advance down the valley was clearly +impracticable. Yet such a combination of movements as would bring about +a junction of the two invading columns, at this point, was all essential +to the success of Burgoyne's campaign. To have effected this in season, +Burgoyne should have made a rapid march to the Mohawk, intrenched +himself there, and operated in conjunction with St. Leger. His delays, +attributable first, to his unwise choice of the Fort Anne route, next, +to Schuyler's activity in obstructing it, and lastly, to his defeat at +Bennington, gave time to render our army so greatly superior to his own, +that the conditions were wholly altered when the final trial of strength +came to be made. + +What might have happened if Sir W. Howe had moved his large army and +fleet up the Hudson, in due season, is quite another matter. The writer +does not care to discuss futilities. In the first place, he thinks that +Burgoyne's campaign should stand or fall on its own merits. In the next, +such a movement by Howe would have left Washington free to act in the +enemy's rear, or upon his flanks, with a fair prospect of cutting him +off from his base at New York. Of the two commanders-in-chief, +Washington acted most effectively in reenforcing Gates's army from his +own. Howe could not and Carleton would not do this. From the moment that +Burgoyne crossed the Hudson, he seems to have pinned his faith to +chance; but if chance has sometimes saved poor generalship, the general +who commits himself to its guidance, does so with full knowledge that he +is casting his reputation on the hazard of a die. As Burgoyne did just +this, he must be set down, we think, notwithstanding his chivalrous +defence of himself, as the conspicuous failure of the war. And we assume +that the importance which his campaign implied to Europe and America, +more than any high order of ability in the general himself, has lifted +Burgoyne into undeserved prominence. + + + + +PRELUDE + +I. + +THE INVASION OF CANADA, 1775. + + +[Sidenote: Canada's attitude.] + +England took Canada from France in 1759, and soon after annexed it to +her own dominions. Twelve years later, her despotic acts drove her +American colonies into open rebellion. England feared, and the colonies +hoped, Canada would join in the revolt against her. But, though they did +not love their new masters, prudence counselled the Canadians to stand +aloof, at least till the Americans had proved their ability to make head +against the might of England. + +That England would be much distressed by Canada's taking sides with the +Americans was plain enough to all men, for the whole continent would +then be one in purpose, and the conflict more equal; but the Americans +also greatly wished it because all New England and New York lay open to +invasion from Canada. + +Nature had created a great highway, stretching southward from the St. +Lawrence to the Hudson, over which rival armies had often passed to +victory or defeat in the old wars. Open water offered an easy transit +for nearly the whole way. A chain of forts extended throughout its +whole length. Chambly and St. John's defended the passage of the +Richelieu, through which the waters of Lake Champlain flow to the St. +Lawrence. Crown Point[1] and Ticonderoga[2] blocked the passage of this +lake in its narrowest part. Ticonderoga, indeed, is placed just where +the outlet of Lake George falls down a mountain gorge into Lake +Champlain. Its cannon, therefore, commanded that outlet also. Fort +George stood at the head of Lake George, within sixteen miles of Fort +Edward, on the Hudson. These were the gates through which a hostile army +might sally forth upon our naked frontier. Much, therefore, depended on +whether they were to be kept by friend or foe. + +[Sidenote: Ticonderoga.] + +In natural and artificial strength, Ticonderoga was by far the most +important of these fortresses. At this place the opposite shores of New +York and Vermont are pushed out into the lake toward each other, thus +forming two peninsulas, with the lake contracted to a width of half a +mile, or point-blank cannon range, between them: one is Ticonderoga; the +other, Mount Independence. Thus, together, they command the passage of +the two lakes. + +Ticonderoga itself is a tongue-shaped projection of quite uneven land, +broad and high at the base, or where it joins the hills behind it, but +growing narrower as it descends over intervening hollows or swells to +its farthest point in the lake. That part next the mainland is a wooded +height, having a broad plateau on the brow--large enough to encamp an +army corps upon--but cut down abruptly on the sides washed by the lake. +This height, therefore, commanded the whole peninsula lying before it, +and underneath it, as well as the approach from Lake George, opening +behind it in a rugged mountain pass, since it must be either crossed or +turned before access to the peninsula could be gained. Except for the +higher hills surrounding it, this one is, in every respect, an admirable +military position. + +The French, who built the first fortress here, had covered all the low +ground next the lake with batteries and intrenchments, but had left the +heights rising behind it unguarded, until Abercromby attacked on that +side in 1758. They then hastily threw up a rude intrenchment of logs, +extending quite across the crest in its broadest part. Yet, in spite of +the victory he then obtained, Montcalm was so fully convinced that +Ticonderoga could not stand a siege, that he made no secret of calling +it a trap, for some honest man to disgrace himself in.[3] + +Ticonderoga, however, was henceforth looked upon as a sort of Gibraltar. +People, therefore, were filled with wonder when they heard how Ethan +Allen had surprised and taken it on the 9th of May, 1775, with only a +handful of men; how Seth Warner had also taken Crown Point; and how +Skenesborough[4] and Fort George, being thus cut off from Canada, had +also fallen into our hands without firing a shot.[5] + +Thus, in the very beginning of the war for independence, and at one bold +stroke, we regained possession of this gateway of the north; or in +military phrase, we now held all the strategic points by which an +advance from Lower Canada upon the United Colonies was possible. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] CROWN POINT, built by the French in 1731, greatly strengthened by +the British, who took it in 1759. + +[2] TICONDEROGA, familiarly called "Ty" because the early spelling of +the name was Tyconderoga. Built 1755-56 by the French, taken 1759 by the +British, under Amherst. Three weeks before the battle of Lexington, an +agent of Massachusetts was sent to ascertain the feelings of the people +of Canada. His first advice was that "Ty" should be seized as quickly as +possible. + +[3] MONTCALM'S PROPHECY came true in St. Clair's case in 1777. + +[4] SKENESBOROUGH, now Whitehall, named for Philip Skene, a retired +British officer, who settled on lands granted him after the French War. +He had about fifty tenants, and a few negro slaves. + +[5] THE CAPTURED ARTILLERY was taken to Cambridge on sleds in midwinter, +by Colonel Knox. It enabled Washington to bring the siege of Boston to a +favorable conclusion. + + + + +II. + +THE INVASION OF CANADA. + + +[Sidenote: Invasion of Canada.] + +The prompt seizure of the lake fortresses had a marked effect upon the +wavering Canadians.[6] Many joined us. More stood ready to do so +whenever the signal for revolt should be given. Success begets +confidence. The Americans were now led to believe that by throwing an +army into Canada at once, the people would no longer hesitate to free +themselves from the British yoke. The time seemed the riper for it, +because it was known that the strong places of Canada were but weakly +guarded. Could Quebec and Montreal be taken, British power in Canada +would be at an end. + +[Sidenote: Our army retreats.] + +[Sidenote: 1776.] + +With such promise held out before it, Congress resolved to make the +attempt. Forces were ordered to both places. One body, under General +Montgomery,[7] mustered at Ticonderoga. Ethan Allen went before it to +rouse the Canadians, who were expected to receive the Americans with +open arms. This army moved down the lake in October, taking St. John's +and Chambly in its way, and Montreal a little later. The other, led by +Colonel Arnold,[8] ascended the Kennebec to its head, crossed over to +the Chaudiere, which was followed to the St. Lawrence, and came before +Quebec at about the same time Montgomery entered Montreal. Montgomery +hastened to Arnold with a handful of men. Together they assaulted Quebec +on the morning of December 31. The attack failed, and Montgomery fell. +The Americans lay before Quebec till spring, when the arrival of fresh +troops, for the enemy, forced ours to retreat to Montreal. This, too, +was abandoned. Our army then fell back toward Lake Champlain, setting +fire to Chambly, and St. John's behind it. The enemy followed close, +recapturing these places as our troops left them. Very little fighting +took place, but the Americans were greatly disheartened by having +constantly to retreat, and by the loss of many brave officers and men, +who fell sick and died of the smallpox. July 1 the army finally reached +Crown Point, ragged, sickly, and destitute of everything. Weakened by +the loss of five thousand men and three commanders, it was no longer +able to keep the field. Instead of conquering Canada, it had been driven +out at the point of the bayonet. The great question now was, whether +this army could hold its own against a victorious and advancing enemy. + +General Gates[9] took command of the army at this critical time. +Convinced that he could never hope to hold both Crown Point and +Ticonderoga, and knowing Ticonderoga to be much the stronger, in a +military view, he decided to remove the army to that place at once. This +was promptly done.[10] The soldiers were set to work strengthening the +old, or building new, works, under the direction of skilful engineers. +Of these new works the strongest, as well as most important, because +they commanded Ticonderoga itself, were those raised on the peninsula +opposite the fortress on the Vermont side, which was christened Mount +Independence on the day the army heard that the colonies had declared +themselves free and independent. + +Having thrown a bridge across the strait, between Ticonderoga and Mount +Independence, the Americans waited for the enemy to come and attack +them, for with such leaders as Gates and Stark they felt confident of +gaining the victory. + +The British were equally active on their side. After driving the +Americans from Canada, they next determined to make themselves masters +of Lake Champlain, recover the forts they had lost, and so gain a +foothold for striking a blow at our northern colonies. + +For this purpose they set about building a fleet at St. John's. Vessels +were sent out from England, for the purpose, which were taken to pieces +below the Chambly rapids, brought across the portage, and put together +again at St. John's. By working diligently, the British got their fleet +ready to sail early in October. + +Well knowing the importance of keeping possession of the lake, the +Americans turned Skenesborough into a dockyard, and were straining every +nerve to get ready a fleet strong enough to cope with the British. As +everything needed for equipping it had to be brought from the sea-coast, +the British had much the advantage in this respect, yet all labored with +so much zeal, that our fleet was first ready for action. Gates gave the +command of it to Arnold, who had once been a sailor, and whose courage +had been tried so signally under the walls of Quebec. + +By the middle of August, Ticonderoga was in fighting trim. The enemy's +delays had given time to make the defences so strong that an attack was +rather hoped for than feared. Ignorant of the great preparations making +at St. John's, the Americans also believed themselves strongest on the +lake. Our fleet, therefore, went forward with confidence to the battle. + +[Sidenote: Naval battle, October 11.] + +On the 11th of October the British flotilla was seen coming up the lake. +The rival forces met at Valcour Island, and the battle began. From noon +till night the combatants hurled broadsides at each other without +ceasing. The British then drew off to repair damages, meaning to renew +the fight in the morning. This gave Arnold a chance to slip through them +unperceived, for his vessels were so badly shattered that all hope of +gaining the victory was given over. He was pursued and overtaken. Near +Crown Point the battle began again, but the enemy's superior forces soon +decided it in his favor. Rather than surrender, Arnold ran his disabled +vessels on shore, set fire to them, and with his men escaped to the +woods. + +Having thus cleared the lake, the British commander, Guy Carleton,[11] +sailed back to St. John's, leaving Ticonderoga unmolested behind him, to +the great astonishment of our soldiers, who said Carleton deserved to be +hanged for not following up his victory over Arnold. + +[Illustration: NAVAL BATTLE, LAKE CHAMPLAIN. + +A, American flotilla. B-C, British. D, Line of Retreat, when the British +were forced back to E.] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] THE WAVERING CANADIANS. The Massachusetts revolutionary authority +had been at work upon the wavering Canadians since 1774, with only +partial success. (See note 2, preceding chapter.) The Americans thought +the Canadians would seize the opportunity of freeing themselves, but +events proved this opinion ill-grounded. A political connection between +the Protestants of New England and the Catholics of Canada, except for +mutual defence, could hardly be lasting, nor did the priests favor it. +The military advantages were equally questionable, though great stress +was laid upon them by Washington and Schuyler, even after the allegiance +of the Canadians had been confirmed to the British side by the reverses +our arms sustained. If we had conquered Canada, it would doubtless have +been handed over to France again at the close of the war. + +[7] GENERAL RICHARD MONTGOMERY, of Irish birth, had served under Amherst +at the taking of Crown Point and Ticonderoga in 1759, settled in New +York, been one of eight brigadiers created by Congress in June, 1775; +General Schuyler's illness threw the chief command, for which he proved +himself eminently fitted, on Montgomery. His having served on this line +was much in his favor. + +[8] COLONEL BENEDICT ARNOLD had once been a soldier at Ticonderoga. He +went there again with a commission from Massachusetts, when the fortress +was taken by Allen. He had also spent some time in Quebec. These facts +had influence in procuring for him a command in the invading expedition. + +[9] GENERAL HORATIO GATES, a retired British major, settled in Virginia, +was made adjutant-general of the army, June, 1775. + +[10] THE REMOVAL OF THE ARMY from Crown Point to Ticonderoga was +strongly opposed by Stark and others, and disapproved by Washington. + +[11] GUY CARLETON, British governor of Canada, though driven from +Montreal by Montgomery, had successfully defended Quebec against him. He +reconnoitred Ticonderoga, but seems to have thought it too strong to be +attacked with his force. + + + + +BURGOYNE'S INVASION + +I. + +THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. + + +After the British had gone back to Canada, it was thought they would +return as soon as the lake should be frozen hard enough to bear +artillery. But when it was found that they had gone into winter +quarters, and the danger was past, part of the garrison of Ticonderoga +was hurried off to Washington, who was then fighting against great odds +in the Jerseys. This winter was the dark hour of the Revolution, upon +which the victory at Trenton[12] shed the first ray of light. So low had +the American cause fallen at this time, that, but for this unlooked-for +success, it is doubtful if another army could have been brought into the +field. + +The British were really planning to invade New York as soon as the lakes +should be open again, in the spring. For this campaign great +preparations were making, both in Canada and England. Quiet, therefore, +reigned at Ticonderoga throughout the winter of 1776 and 1777. + +General Burgoyne sailed for England in November, to lay before the king +a plan for subduing the colonies in a single campaign. Burgoyne was a +good soldier, popular with the army and government, brave to rashness, +but vain and headstrong. He knew the Americans were not to be despised, +for he had seen them fight at Bunker Hill, as well as in the campaign +just closed, in which he himself had taken part; yet an easy confidence +in his own abilities led Burgoyne into committing many grave errors, not +the least of which was underestimating this very enemy.[13] + +[Sidenote: George III. wants the war pushed.] + +Any plan that promised to put down the Americans, was sure of gaining +the king's ear. Justice was never tempered with mercy in this monarch's +treatment of his rebellious subjects. His heart was hardened, his hand +ever ready to strike them the fatal blow. Moreover, the Americans had +just now declared themselves independent of Great Britain. They had +crossed their Rubicon. To crush them with iron hand was now the king's +one thought and purpose. No half measures would do for him. He told his +ministers, in so many words, that every means of distressing the +Americans would meet with his approval. Mercenaries, savages, +refugees--all who could fire a shot, or burn a dwelling, were to be +enrolled under the proud old banner of the isles. No more effectual +means could have been devised to arouse the spirit of resistance to the +highest pitch. + +Burgoyne's ambition was kindled by the hope of making himself the hero +of the war. He combined the qualities of general and statesman without +being great as either. He wrote and talked well, was eloquent and +persuasive, had friends at court, and knew how to make the most of his +opportunity. On his part, the king wanted a general badly. He had been +grievously disappointed in Sir William Howe, whose victories seemed +never bringing the war any nearer to an end. Burgoyne brought forward +his plan at the right moment, shrewdly touched the keynote of the king's +discontent by declaring for aggressive war, smoothed every obstacle away +with easy assurance, and so impressed the ministers with his capacity, +that they believed they had found the very man the king wanted for the +work in hand. + +The plan proposed for making short work of the war was briefly this: The +American colonies were to be divided in two parts, by seizing the line +of the Hudson River; just as in later times, the Union armies aimed to +split the Southern Confederacy in two by getting possession of the +Mississippi. To effect this, two armies were to act together. With one, +Burgoyne was to come down the lakes from Canada, and force his way to +Albany, while the other was coming up the Hudson to join him. Once these +armies were united, with full control of the Hudson in their hands, New +England would be cut off from the other colonies by forts and fleets, +and the way laid open to crush out rebellion in what was admitted to be +its cradle and stronghold. + +Ever since Sir William Howe had been driven from Boston, in the spring +of 1776, the opinion prevailed among American generals that, sooner or +later, New England would become the battle-ground.[14] This view was +sustained by the enemy's seizure of Newport, in December of the same +year, so that the Americans were perplexed at finding themselves +threatened from this quarter, until the enemy's plans were fully +developed. + +[Sidenote: St. Leger's part.] + +There was yet another part to the plan concerted between Burgoyne and +the British cabinet. It was seen that in proportion as Burgoyne moved +down toward Albany, he would have the fertile Mohawk valley on his +right. This valley was the great thoroughfare between the Hudson and +Lake Ontario, Niagara, and Detroit. In it were many prosperous +settlements, inhabited by a vigorous yeomanry, who were the mainstay of +the patriot cause in this quarter. The passage to and fro was guarded by +Fort Stanwix, which stood where Rome now is, and Fort Oswego, which was +situated at the lake. Fort Stanwix was held by the Americans, and +Oswego, by the British. Perceiving its value to the Americans not only +as a granary, but as a recruiting station, and in view of the danger of +leaving it on his flank, Burgoyne decided to march a force through this +valley, clear it of enemies, and so effectively bring about a timely +cooeperation between the two branches of the expedition. Freed of fear +for himself, he could materially aid in the work intrusted to his +auxiliary. It followed that the Americans, with whom Burgoyne himself +might be contending, would, of necessity, be greatly distressed by their +inability to draw either men or supplies from the Mohawk Valley, no less +than by the appearance of this force upon their own flank. The command +of it was given to Colonel St. Leger, who was ordered to proceed up the +St. Lawrence to Oswego, and from thence to Fort Stanwix and Albany. + +It must be allowed that this plan was well conceived; yet its success +depended so much upon all the parts working in harmony together, that to +have set it in motion, without consultation or clear understanding +between the generals who were to execute it, is inconceivable. At a +distance of three thousand miles from the scene of war, the British +cabinet undertook to direct complicated military operations, in which +widely separated armies were to take part. General Burgoyne received his +orders on the spot. General Howe did not receive his until the 16th of +August; his army was then entering Chesapeake Bay. Burgoyne was being +defeated at Bennington, at the time Howe was reading his despatch, and +learning from it what he had not known before; namely, that he was +expected to cooeperate with the army of Burgoyne. These facts will so +sufficiently illustrate the course that events were taking, as to +foreshadow their conclusion to the feeblest understanding. + +In order to make the war more terrible to the Americans, the British +cabinet decided to use the Indians of Canada, and the Great Lakes, +against them. Not even the plea of military necessity could reconcile +some Englishmen to letting loose these barbarians upon the colonists. +Though enemies, they were men. Lord Chatham, the noblest Englishman of +them all, cried out against it in Parliament. "Who is the man," he +indignantly asked, "who has dared to associate to our arms the tomahawk +and scalping-knife of the savage?" All knew he meant the prime minister, +and, behind him, the king himself. Had not King George just said that +any means of distressing the Americans must meet with his approval? + +FOOTNOTES: + +[12] VICTORY AT TRENTON. After being driven from the Jerseys, Washington +suddenly turned on his pursuers, and by the two fine combats of Trenton +and Princeton, compelled much superior forces everywhere to retreat +before him, thus breaking up all the enemy's plans for the ensuing +campaign, saving Philadelphia, and putting new life into the American +cause. + +[13] UNDERESTIMATING HIS ENEMY. Burgoyne candidly admits as much in his +letter to Lord G. Germaine. _State of the Expedition_, Appendix, xcii. + +[14] NEW ENGLAND THE BATTLE-GROUND. Sir William Howe did propose, at +first, operating against Boston from Rhode Island, with ten thousand +men, while an equal force should effect a junction with the army of +Canada, by way of the Hudson. This purpose he subsequently deferred for +an advance into Pennsylvania, but Burgoyne asserts that he was not +informed of the change of plan when he sailed for Canada in April; and, +though Sir William Howe afterward wrote him to the same effect (July +17th) a letter which was received early in August, Burgoyne, +nevertheless, persisted in his intention of passing the Hudson, +notwithstanding he knew, and says (August 20th), that no operation had +yet been undertaken in his favor. _State of the Expedition_, 188, 189; +Appendix, xlvii. + + + + +II. + +BURGOYNE'S ARMY. + + +Having thus outlined the plan of invasion, let us now look at the means +allotted for its execution. There were in Canada ten thousand British +soldiers; in New York, thirty thousand. Burgoyne was to take with him +seven thousand, of whom three thousand were Germans in the pay of +England.[15] In discipline, spirit, and equipment, this was by far the +best little army that had yet taken the field in America. + +Good judges said that England might be searched through and through +before such battalions could be raised. Forty cannon, splendidly served +and equipped, formed its artillery train. All the generals, and most of +the soldiers, were veterans. In short, nothing that experience could +suggest, or unlimited means provide, was omitted to make this army +invincible. It was one with which Burgoyne felt he could do anything, +and dare everything. + +Besides these regular troops, we have said the government had authorized +and even attempted to justify to the world, the employment of Indians. +Four hundred warriors joined the army when it marched, and as many more +when it reached Lake Champlain. They were to scour the woods, hang like +a storm cloud about the enemy's camps, and discover his every movement. +For this service they had no equals. In the woods they could steal upon +an enemy unawares, or lie in wait for his approach. In the field they +were of little use. Much of the terror they inspired came from the +suddenness of their onset, their hideous looks and unearthly war-cries, +and their cruel practice of scalping the wounded. + +To these were added about an equal number of Canadians, and American +refugees, who were designed to act as scouts, skirmishers, or foragers, +as the occasion might require. Being well skilled in bush-fighting, they +were mostly attached to Frazer's corps, for the purpose of clearing the +woods in his front, getting information, or driving in cattle. With his +Indians and irregulars,[16] Burgoyne's whole force could hardly have +numbered less than ten thousand men. + +Taken as a whole, this army was justly thought the equal of twice its +own number of raw yeomanry, suddenly called to the field from the anvil, +the workshop, or the plough. Its strongest arm was its artillery; its +weakest, its Indian allies. + +Burgoyne divided his force into three corps, commanded by Generals +Frazer, Phillips, and Riedesel,--all excellent officers. Frazer's corps +was mostly made up of picked companies, taken from other battalions and +joined with the 24th regiment of the line. As its duty was of the +hardest, so its material was of the best the army could afford. Next to +Burgoyne, Frazer was, beyond all question, the officer most looked up to +by the soldiers; in every sense of the word, he was a thorough soldier. +His corps was, therefore, Burgoyne's right arm. Phillips commanded the +artillery; and Riedesel, the Germans. + +In the middle of June this army embarked on Lake Champlain. Of many +warlike pageants the aged mountains had looked down upon, perhaps this +was the most splendid and imposing. From the general to the private +soldier, all were filled with high hopes of a successful campaign. In +front, the Indians, painted and decked out for war, skimmed the lake in +their light canoes. Next came the barges containing Frazer's corps, +marshalled in one regular line, with gunboats flanking it on each side; +next, the Royal George and Inflexible frigates, with other armed vessels +forming the fleet. Behind this strong escort, the main body, with the +generals, followed in close order; and, last of all, came the camp +followers, of whom there were far too many for the nature of the service +in hand. + +In the distance the American watch-boats saw this gallant array bearing +down upon them, in the confidence of its power. Hastening back to +Ticonderoga, the word was passed along the lines to prepare for battle. + +For the Mohawk Valley expedition, St. Leger, who led it, took with him +about seven hundred regular troops, two hundred loyalists, and eight +guns. At Oswego, seven hundred Indians of the Six Nations joined him. +With these, St. Leger started in July for Fort Stanwix, which barred +his way to the Hudson, just as Ticonderoga blocked Burgoyne's advance on +the side of Lake Champlain. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] SOLDIERS WERE HIRED from the petty German princes for the American +war. The Americans called them all Hessians, because some came from the +principality of Hesse. George III. also tried to hire twenty thousand +Russians of Empress Catharine, but she gave him to understand that her +soldiers would be better employed. There was good material among the +Germans, many of whom had served with credit under the Great Frederick; +but the British showed them little favor as comrades, while the +Americans looked upon them as paid assassins. Not one in twenty knew any +English, so that misconception of orders was not unfrequent, though +orders were usually transmitted from headquarters in French. A jealousy +also grew up out of the belief that Burgoyne gave the Germans the +hardest duty, and the British the most praise. At Hubbardton, and on the +19th of September, the Germans saved him from defeat, yet he +ungenerously, we think, lays the disaster of October 7th chiefly at +their door. + +[16] INDIANS AND IRREGULARS. It is impossible to give the number of +these accurately, as it was constantly fluctuating. Though Burgoyne +started with only four hundred Indians, the number was increased by five +hundred at Skenesborough, and he was later joined by some of the Mohawks +from St. Leger's force. In like manner, his two hundred and fifty +Canadians and Provincials had grown to more than six hundred of the +latter before he left Skenesborough. Most of these recruits came from +the Vermont settlements. They were put to work clearing the roads, +scouting, getting forward the supplies, collecting cattle, etc. Their +knowledge of the country was greatly serviceable to Burgoyne. In the +returns given of Burgoyne's _regular troops_, only the rank and file are +accounted for. Staff and line officers would swell the number +considerably. + + + + +III. + +THE FALL OF TICONDEROGA. + +(_July 5, 1777._) + + +A hundred years ago, the shores of Lake Champlain were for the most part +a wilderness. What few settlements did exist were mostly grouped about +the southeast corner of the lake, into which emigration had naturally +flowed from the older New England States. And even these were but feeble +plantations,[17] separated from the Connecticut valley by lofty +mountains, over which one rough road led the way. + +Burgoyne's companions in arms have told us of the herds of red deer seen +quietly browsing on the hillsides; of the flocks of pigeons, darkening +the air in their flight; and of the store of pike, bass, and maskelonge +with which the waters of the lake abounded. At one encampment the +soldiers lived a whole day on the pigeons they had knocked off the trees +with poles. So the passage of the lake must have seemed more like a +pleasure trip to them than the prelude to a warlike campaign. + +In his way up the lake, Burgoyne landed at the River Bouquet, on the +west shore, where for some days the army rested. + +To this rendezvous, large numbers of Indians had come to join the +expedition. It was indispensable to observe the customs which had always +prevailed among these peoples when going to war. So Burgoyne made them a +speech, gave them a feast, and witnessed the wild antics of their war +dance. + +He forbade their scalping the wounded, or destroying women and children. +They listened attentively to his words, and promised obedience; but +these commands were so flatly opposed to all their philosophy of war, +which required the extinction of every human feeling, that Burgoyne +might as well have bidden the waters of the lake flow backward, as +expect an Indian not to use his scalping-knife whenever an enemy lay at +his mercy. + +Still, it is to Burgoyne's credit that he tried to check the ferocity of +these savages, and we would also charitably believe him at least half +ashamed of having to employ them at all, when he saw them brandishing +their tomahawks over the heads of imaginary victims; beheld them +twisting their bodies about in hideous contortions, in mimicry of +tortured prisoners; or heard them howling, like wild beasts, their cry +of triumph when the scalp is torn from an enemy's head. + +While thus drawing the sword with one hand, Burgoyne took his pen in the +other. He drew up a paper which his Tory agents were directed to scatter +among the people of Vermont, many of whom, he was assured, were at heart +loyal to the king. These he invited to join his standard, or offered its +protection to all who should remain neutral. All were warned against +driving off their cattle, hiding their corn, or breaking down the +bridges in his way. Should they dare disobey, he threatened to let loose +his horde of savages upon them. Such a departure from the rules of +honorable warfare would have justified the Americans in declaring no +quarter to the invaders. + +Well aware that he would not conquer the Americans with threats, +Burgoyne now gave the order to his army to go forward. His view of what +lay before him might be thus expressed: The enemy will, probably, fight +at Ticonderoga. Of course I shall beat them. I will give them no time to +rally. When they hear St. Leger is in the valley, their panic will be +completed. We shall have a little promenade of eight days, to Albany. + +On June 29 the army was near Ticonderoga. This day Burgoyne made a +stirring address to his soldiers, in which he gave out the memorable +watchword, "_This army must not retreat._" + +The next day, Frazer's corps landed in full view of the fortress. The +rest of the army was posted on both sides of the lake, which is nowhere +wider than a river as the fortress is approached. The fleet kept the +middle of the channel. With drums beating and bugles sounding, the +different battalions took up their allotted stations in the woods +bordering upon the lake. When night fell, the watch-fires of the +besiegers' camps made red the waters that flowed past them. But as yet +no hostile gun boomed from the ramparts of Ticonderoga. + +What was going on behind those grim walls which frowned defiance upon +the invaders? General Gates was no longer there to direct. General St. +Clair[18] was now in command of perhaps four thousand effective men, +with whom, nevertheless, he hoped to defend his miles of intrenchments +against the assaults of twice his own numbers. His real weakness lay in +not knowing what point Burgoyne would choose for attack, and he had been +strangely delinquent in not calling for reenforcements until the enemy +was almost at the gates of the fortress itself. + +Burgoyne knew better than to heedlessly rush upon the lines that had +proved Abercromby's destruction.[19] He knew they were too strong to be +carried without great bloodshed, and meant first to invest the fortress, +and after cutting off access to it on all sides, then lay siege to it in +regular form. + +[Sidenote: July 2, Mount Hope seized.] + +To this end, Frazer's corps was moved up to within cannon-shot of the +works. His scouts soon found a way leading through old paths,[20] quite +round the rear of the fortress, to the outlet of Lake George. This was +promptly seized. After a little skirmishing, the enemy planted +themselves firmly, on some high ground rising behind the old French +lines, on this side; thus making themselves masters of the communication +with Lake George, and enclosing the fortress on the rear or land side. +While this was going on, on the west shore, Riedesel's Germans were +moved up still nearer Mount Independence, on the Vermont shore, thus +investing Ticonderoga on three sides. + +A more enterprising general would never have permitted his enemy to +seize his communications with Lake George, without making a struggle +for their possession, but St. Clair appears to have thought his forces +unequal to the attempt, and it was not made. The disaster which followed +was but the natural result. + +[Illustration: THE INVESTMENT OF TICONDEROGA. + +[_Pen and ink sketch by a British officer._] + +A-B, Ticonderoga. C-D-E, Mount Independence. F, Barracks. G, Mount +Defiance. H, Bridge joining the fortress proper with Mount Independence. +I, American Fleet. K, Outlet of Lake George. O, British Fleet. P, +Three-Mile Point. Q, First Landing Place of Burgoyne. R, The Germans. +T-U, Position taken on Mount Hope. W, Second Position of same Troops at +U. Z, Portage to Lake George.] + +[Sidenote: Mount Defiance occupied.] + +Just across the basin formed by the widening of the outlet of Lake +George, a steep-sided mountain rises high above all the surrounding +region. Its summit not only looks down upon the fortress, in every part, +but over all its approaches by land or water. Not a man could march +without being distinctly seen from this mountain. Yet, to-day, the eye +measures its forest-shagged sides, in doubt if they can be scaled by +human feet. Indeed, its ascent was so difficult that the Americans had +neglected to occupy it at all. This is Mount Defiance, the most +commanding object for miles around. + +[Sidenote: July 5.] + +Burgoyne's engineers could not help seeing that if artillery could be +got to the top of this mountain, Ticonderoga was doomed. They +reconnoitred it. Though difficult, they said it might be done. St. +Clair's timidity having given them the way to it, the British instantly +began moving men and guns round the rear of the fortress, and cutting a +road up the mountain-side. The work was pushed forward day and night. It +took most of the oxen belonging to the army to drag two twelve-pounders +up the steep ascent, but when they were once planted on the summit, +Ticonderoga lay at the mercy of the besiegers. + +[Sidenote: July 6.] + +When St. Clair saw the enemy getting ready to cannonade him from Mount +Defiance, he at once gave orders to evacuate the fortress[21] under +cover of the night. Most of the garrison retreated over the bridge +leading to Mount Independence, and thence by the road to Hubbardton. +What could be saved of the baggage and army stores was sent off to +Skenesborough, by water. Hurry and confusion were everywhere, for it was +not doubted that the enemy would be upon them as soon as daylight should +discover the fortress abandoned. This happened at an early hour of the +morning. The British instantly marched into the deserted works, without +meeting with the least resistance. Ticonderoga's hundred cannon were +silent under the menace of two. Burgoyne was now free to march his +victorious battalions to the east, the west, or the south, whenever he +should give the order. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[17] FEEBLE PLANTATIONS. No permanent settlements were begun west of the +Green Mountains till after the conquest of Canada. After that, the +report of soldiers who had passed over the military road from +Charlestown on the Connecticut River, to Crown Point, brought a swarm of +settlers into what is now Bennington County. Settlement began in Rutland +County in 1771. + +[18] GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR, of Scotch birth, had been a lieutenant +with Wolfe at Quebec; he resigned and settled in Pennsylvania; served +with our army in Canada; made brigadier, August, 1776; major-general, +February, 1777. + +[19] ABERCROMBY lost two thousand men in assaulting these lines in 1758. +Since then they had been greatly strengthened. + +[20] THROUGH OLD PATHS. The Indians had passed this way centuries before +the fortress was thought of. + +[21] ST. CLAIR seems to have waited just long enough for the defence to +become difficult, to admit its impossibility. He chose the part of +safety rather than that of glory. + + + + +IV. + +HUBBARDTON. + +(_July 7, 1777._) + + +Not doubting he would find Skenesborough still in our possession, St. +Clair was pushing for that place with all possible speed. He expected to +get there by land, before the enemy could do so by water; then, after +gathering up the men and stores saved from Ticonderoga, St. Clair meant +to fall back toward Fort Edward, where General Schuyler,[22] his +superior officer, lay with two thousand men. + +This was plainly St Clair's true course. Indeed, there was nothing else +for him to do, unless he decided to abandon the direct route to Albany +altogether. So St. Clair did what a good general should. He resolved to +throw himself between Burgoyne and Schuyler, whose force, joined to his +own, would thus be able, even if not strong enough to risk a battle, at +least to keep up a bold front toward the enemy. + +Though Burgoyne really knew nothing about Schuyler's force, he was +keenly alive to the importance of cutting off the garrison of +Ticonderoga from its line of retreat, and, if possible, of striking it a +disabling blow before it could take up a new position. St. Clair counted +on stealing a march before his retreat could be interfered with. He +also depended on the strength of the obstructions at the bridge[23] of +Ticonderoga to delay the enemy's fleet until his own could get safely to +Skenesborough. In both expectations, St. Clair was disappointed. + +[Sidenote: July 6.] + +In the first place, Burgoyne had sent Frazer out in pursuit of him, as +soon as the evacuation was discovered; in the second, Burgoyne's +gunboats had hewed their way through the obstructions by nine in the +morning, and were presently crowding all sail after the American +flotilla, under command of Burgoyne himself. + +Riedesel's camp, we remember, lay on the Vermont side, and so nearest to +Mount Independence, and St. Clair's line of retreat. Burgoyne, +therefore, ordered Riedesel to fall in behind Frazer, who had just +marched, and give that officer any support he might be in want of. + +Thus, most of the hostile forces were in active movement, either by land +or water, at an early hour of the sixth. Let us first follow Frazer, in +his effort to strike the American rear. + +Frazer had with him eight hundred and fifty men of his own corps. He +pushed on so eagerly that the slow-moving Germans were far in the rear +when the British halted for the night, near Hubbardton. The day had been +sultry, the march fatiguing. Frazer's men threw themselves on the +ground, and slept on their arms. + +St. Clair had reached Hubbardton the same afternoon, in great disorder. +He halted only long enough for the rearguard to come up, and then +hastened on, six miles farther, to Castleton, leaving Warner,[24] with +three regiments, to cover his retreat. Instead of keeping within +supporting distance of the main body, Warner foolishly decided to halt +for the night where he was, because his men were tired, thus putting a +gap of six miles between his commander and himself. + +Warner did not neglect, however, to fell some trees in front of his +camp, and this simple precaution, perhaps, proved the salvation of his +command the next day. + +[Sidenote: July 7.] + +At five in the morning, Frazer's scouts fell upon Warner's pickets while +they were cooking their breakfasts, unsuspicious of danger. The surprise +was complete. With their usual dash, Frazer's men rushed on to the +assault, but soon found themselves entangled among the felled trees and +brushwood, behind which the Americans were hurriedly endeavoring to +form. At the moment of attack, one regiment made a shameful retreat. The +rest were rallied by Warner and Francis,[25] behind trees, in copses, or +wherever a vantage-ground could be had. As the combat took place in the +woods, the British were forced to adopt the same tactics. Musket and +rifle were soon doing deadly work in their ranks, every foot of ground +was obstinately disputed, and when they thought the battle already won +they found the Americans had only just begun to fight. + +For three hours, eight hundred men maintained a gallant and stubborn +fight against the picked soldiers of Burgoyne's army, each side being +repeatedly driven from its ground without gaining decided advantage over +the other. Nor would Frazer have gained the day, as he at length did, +but for the timely arrival of the Germans. Indeed, at the moment when +the British were really beaten and ready to give way, the sound of many +voices, singing aloud, rose above the din of battle, and near at hand. +At first neither of the combatants knew what such strange sounds could +mean. It was Riedesel's Germans advancing to the attack, chanting battle +hymns to the fierce refrain of the musketry and the loud shouts of the +combatants. Fifty fresh men would have turned the scale to either side. +This reenforcement, therefore, decided the day. Being now greatly +outnumbered, the Americans scattered in the woods around them. + +Although a defeat, this spirited little battle was every way honorable +to the Americans, who fought on until all hope of relief had vanished. A +single company would have turned defeat into victory, when to the +British, defeat in the woods, thirty miles from help, meant destruction. +Even as it was, they did not know what to do with the victory they had +just won, with the loss of two hundred men, killed and wounded, +seventeen of whom were officers. They had neither shelter nor medicines +for the wounded, nor provisions for themselves. The battle had exhausted +their ammunition, and every moment was expected to bring another swarm +of foes about their ears. + +The Americans had three hundred men killed and wounded, and many +taken. The brave Colonel Francis, who had so admirably conducted the +retreat from Ticonderoga, was killed while rallying his men. Seldom has +a battle shown more determined obstinacy in the combatants, seldom has +one been more bloody for the numbers engaged. + +[Illustration: ST. CLAIR'S RETREAT--BURGOYNE'S ADVANCE ON FORT EDWARD.] + +While Frazer was thus driving St. Clair's rearguard before him on the +left, the British were giving chase to the American flotilla on the +lake. This had hardly reached Skenesborough, encumbered with the sick, +the baggage, and the stores, when the British gunboats came up with, and +furiously attacked, it. Our vessels could not be cleared for action or +make effective resistance. After making what defence they could, they +were abandoned, and blown up by their crews. Skenesborough was then set +on fire, the Americans making good their retreat to Fort Anne,[26] with +the loss of all their stores. + +St. Clair heard of Warner's defeat and of the taking of Skenesborough +almost at the same hour. His first plan had wholly miscarried. His +soldiers were angry and insubordinate, half his available force had been +scattered at Hubbardton, his supplies were gone, his line of retreat in +the enemy's hands. Finding himself thus cut off from the direct route to +Fort Edward, he now marched to join Schuyler by way of Rutland, +Manchester, and Bennington. This he succeeded in doing on the twelfth, +with about half the men he had led from Ticonderoga. Warner, too, +brought off the shattered remnant of his command to Bennington. + +On his part, Schuyler had promptly sent a reenforcement to Fort Anne, to +protect St. Clair's retreat, as soon as he knew of it. These troops soon +found other work on their hands than that cut out for them. + +[Sidenote: July 7.] + +Burgoyne was determined to give the Americans no time either to rally, +or again unite their scattered bands in his front. Without delay, one +regiment was pushed forward to Fort Anne, on the heels of the fugitives +who had just left Skenesborough in flames. When this battalion reached +the fort, instead of waiting to be attacked, the Americans sallied out +upon it with spirit, and were driving it before them in full retreat, +when the yells of some Indians, who were lurking in the neighboring +woods, spread such a panic among the victors that they gave up the +fight, set fire to Fort Anne, and retreated to Fort Edward with no enemy +pursuing them. The defeated British then fell back to Skenesborough, so +that each detachment may be said to have run away from the other. + +General Burgoyne had much reason to be elated with his success thus far. +In one short week he had taken Ticonderoga, with more than one hundred +cannon; had scattered the garrison right and left; had captured or +destroyed a prodigious quantity of warlike stores, the loss of which +distressed the Americans long after; had annihilated their naval +armament on the lake, and had sown dismay among the neighboring colonies +broadcast. It was even a question whether there was any longer a force +in his front capable of offering the least resistance to his march. + +[Illustration: BLOCK HOUSE, FORT ANNE.] + +With these exploits, the first stage of the invasion may be said to have +ended. If ever a man had been favored by fortune, Burgoyne was that man. +The next stage must show him in a very different light, as the fool of +fortune, whose favors he neither knew how to deserve when offered him, +nor how to compel when withheld. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[22] GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER, one of the four major-generals first +created by Congress, June, 1775. Had seen some service in the French +War; was given command of the Northern Department, including +Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Fort Stanwix, etc., February, 1777, as the one +man who could unite the people of New York against the enemy. Gates +declined to serve under him. + +[23] OBSTRUCTIONS AT THE BRIDGE. The Americans had stretched a boom of +logs, strongly chained together, across the strait. + +[24] SETH WARNER was on the way to Ticonderoga when he met St. Clair +retreating. The rearguard, which Colonel Francis had previously +commanded, was then increased, and put under Warner's orders. + +[25] COLONEL EBENEZER FRANCIS of Newton, Mass., colonel, 11th +Massachusetts Regiment. His bravery was so conspicuous that the British +thought he was in chief command of the Americans. + +[26] FORT ANNE, one of the minor posts built during the French War to +protect the route from Albany to Lake Champlain. It consisted of a log +blockhouse surrounded by a palisade. Boat navigation of Lake Champlain +began here, fourteen miles from Skenesborough, by Wood Creek flowing +into it. + + + + +V. + +FACING DISASTER. + + +One of Washington's most trusted generals said, and said truly, that it +was only through misfortune that the Americans would rise to the +character of a great people. Perhaps no event of the Revolution more +signally verified the truth of this saying, than the fall of +Ticonderoga. + +Let us see how this disaster was affecting the Northern States. In that +section, stragglers and deserters were spreading exaggerated accounts of +it on every side. In Vermont, the settlers living west of the mountains +were now practically defenceless. Burgoyne's agents were undermining +their loyalty; the fall of Ticonderoga had shaken it still more. Rather +than abandon their farms, many no longer hesitated to put themselves +under British protection. Hundreds, who were too patriotic to do this, +fled over the mountains, spreading consternation as they went. From Lake +Champlain to the New England coast, there was not a village which did +not believe itself to be the especial object of Burgoyne's vengeance. +Indeed, his name became a bugbear, to frighten unruly children with. + +Of those who had been with the army, many believed it their first duty +to protect their families, and so went home. Numbers, who were on the +way to Ticonderoga, turned back, on hearing that it was taken. To +Burgoyne, these results were equal to a battle gained, since he was +weakening the Americans, just as surely, in this way, with entire safety +to himself. + +In despair, those settlers who stood faithful among the faithless, +turned to their New Hampshire brethren. "If we are driven back, the +invader will soon be at your doors," they said. "We are your buckler and +shield. Our humble cabins are the bulwark of your happy firesides. But +our hearts fail us. Help us or we perish!" + +Could Schuyler do nothing for these suffering people? To let them be +ruined and driven out was not only bad policy, but worse strategy. He +knew that Burgoyne must regard these settlements with foreboding, as the +home of a hostile and brave yeomanry, whose presence was a constant +threat to him. To maintain them, then, was an act of simplest wisdom. +Schuyler could ill spare a single soldier, yet it was necessary to do +something, and that quickly, for all New England was in a tumult, and +Burgoyne said to be marching all ways at once. What wonder, since +Washington himself believed New England to be the threatened point![27] + +Warner's regiment had been recruited among the Green Mountain Boys of +this very section. Schuyler posted what was left of it at Manchester, to +be at once a rallying-point for the settlers, a menace to the loyalists, +and a defence against Burgoyne's predatory bands, who were already +spreading themselves out over the surrounding region. It was not much, +but it was something. + +From New Hampshire, the panic quickly spread into Massachusetts, and +throughout all New England. As usually happens, the loss of Ticonderoga +was laid at the door of the generals in chief command. Many accused St. +Clair of treacherous dealing. Everywhere, people were filled with wrath +and astonishment. "The fortress has been sold!" they cried. Some of the +officers, who had been present, wrote home that the place could have +held out against Burgoyne for weeks, or until help could have arrived. +This was sure to find ready believers, and so added to the volume of +denunciation cast upon the head of the unlucky St. Clair. + +But these passionate outbursts of feeling were soon quenched by the +necessity all saw for prompt action. Once passion and prejudice had +burned out, our people nobly rose to the demands of the situation. But +confidence in the generals of the Northern army was gone forever. The +men of New England would not sit long in the shadow of defeat, but they +said they would no more be sacrificed to the incompetency of leaders who +had been tried and found wanting. Congress had to pay heed to this +feeling. Washington had to admit the force of it, because he knew that +New England must be chiefly looked to in this crisis, to make head +against Burgoyne. If she failed, all else would fail. + +[Sidenote: P. Van Cortlandt's letters.] + +If we turn now to New York, what do we see? Five counties in the enemy's +hands. Three more, so divided against themselves as to be without order +or government. Of the remaining six, the resources of Orange, Ulster, +and Dutchess were already heavily taxed with the duty of defending the +passes of the Hudson; Westchester was being overrun by the enemy, at +will; only Tryon and Albany remained, and in Tryon, every able-bodied +citizen, not a loyalist, was arming to repel the invasion of St. Leger, +now imminent. + +We have thus briefly glanced at the dangers resulting from the fall of +Ticonderoga, at the resources of the sections which Burgoyne was now +threatening to lay waste with fire and sword, and at the attitude of the +people toward those generals who had so grievously disappointed them in +the conduct of the campaign, up to this time. + +[Sidenote: John Marshall.] + +In the words of one distinguished writer, "The evacuation of Ticonderoga +was a shock for which no part of the United States was prepared." In the +language of another, "No event throughout the whole war produced such +consternation, nothing could have been more unexpected." + +It was not so much the loss of the fortress itself,--as costly as it was +to the impoverished colonies, that could have been borne,--but the +people had been led to believe, and did believe, it was next to +impregnable; nor could they understand why those who had been intrusted +with its defence should have fled without striking a blow, or calling +for assistance until too late. + +Congress immediately ordered all the generals of the Northern army[28] +to Philadelphia, in order that their conduct might be looked into. John +Adams hotly declared that they would never be able to defend a post +until they shot a general. But Washington, always greatest in defeat, +hastened to show how such a step was doubly dangerous to an army when +fronting its enemy, and wisely procured its suspension for the present. +He first set himself to work to soothe Schuyler's wounded pride, while +stimulating him to greater activity. "We should never despair," he nobly +said. And again: "If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new +exertions. I yet look forward to a happy change." It was indeed +fortunate that one so stout of heart, with so steady a hand, so firm in +the belief of final triumph, so calm in the hour of greatest danger, +should have guided the destinies of the infant nation at this trying +hour. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[27] THE THREATENED POINT. Baffled in his purpose of taking Philadelphia +by Washington's success at Trenton, Sir William Howe had decided on +making another attempt; but his manoeuvres led Washington to believe +Howe was going to Newport, R.I., with the view of overrunning +Massachusetts. See Note 3, "Plan of Campaign" (p. 32). + +[28] GENERALS OF THE NORTHERN ARMY. Schuyler and St. Clair were chiefly +inculpated. Brigadiers Poor, Patterson, and De Fermoy, who were with St. +Clair at Ticonderoga, were included in the order. All had agreed in the +necessity for the evacuation, and all came in for a share of the public +censure. Poor and Patterson nobly redeemed themselves in the later +operations against Burgoyne. + + + + +VI. + +THE MARCH TO FORT EDWARD.[29] + + +It is a well-known maxim of war, that the general who makes the fewest +mistakes will come off conqueror. + +In his haste to crush the Americans before they could combine against +him, Burgoyne had overshot his mark. His troops were now so widely +scattered that he could not stir until they were again collected. By the +combats of Hubbardton and Fort Anne, nothing material had been gained, +since St. Clair was at Fort Edward by the time Frazer got to +Skenesborough, and the Americans had returned to Fort Anne as soon as +the British left the neighborhood. + +After the battle of Hubbardton, Riedesel was posted at Castleton, in +order to create the impression that the British army was moving into New +England. By this bit of strategy, Burgoyne expected to keep back +reenforcements from Schuyler. Riedesel's presence also gave much +encouragement to the loyalists, who now joined Burgoyne in such numbers +as to persuade him that a majority of the inhabitants were for the king. +The information they gave, proved of vital consequence in determining +Burgoyne's operations in the near future. + +Two routes were now open to Burgoyne. Contrary to sound judgment, he +decided on marching to Fort Edward, by way of Fort Anne, instead of +going back to Ticonderoga, making that his _depot_, and proceeding +thence up Lake George to Fort Edward and the Hudson. Unquestionably, the +latter route would have taken him to Albany, by the time he actually +reached Fort Edward, and in much better condition to fight. + +Burgoyne had said he was afraid that going back to Ticonderoga would +dispirit his soldiers. It could have been done in half the time required +for bringing the supplies up to it at Skenesborough, to say nothing of +the long and fatiguing marches saved by water carriage across Lake +George. + +Be that as it may, from the moment Burgoyne decided in favor of the Fort +Anne route, that moment the possession of Fort Anne became a necessity +to him. Had he first attacked it with fifteen hundred men, instead of +five hundred, he would have taken it; but even if he had occupied it +after the fight of the eighth, the Americans would have been prevented +from blocking his way, as they subsequently did with so much effect. In +Burgoyne's case, delays were most dangerous. It seems only too plain, +that he was the sort of general who would rather commit two errors than +retract one. + +Let us see what Burgoyne's chosen route offered of advantage or +disadvantage. The distance by it to Fort Edward is only twenty-six +miles. By a good road, in easy marches, an army should be there in two +days; in an exigency, in one. It was mostly a wilderness country, +and, though generally level, much of it was a bog, which could only be +made passable by laying down a corduroy road. There were miles of such +road to be repaired or built before wagons or artillery could be dragged +over it. Indeed, a worse country to march through can hardly be +imagined. On the other hand, of this twenty-six miles, Wood Creek, a +tributary of Lake Champlain, afforded boat navigation for nine or ten, +or as far as Fort Anne, for the artillery, stores, and baggage. + +[Illustration: OLD FORT EDWARD. + +A, Magazine. B, Barracks. C, Storehouse. D, Hospital.] + +But while Burgoyne was getting his scattered forces again in hand, and +was bringing everything up the lake to Skenesborough, the garrison of +Fort Edward had been spreading themselves out over the road he meant to +take, and were putting every obstacle in his way that ingenuity could +devise or experience suggest. Hundreds of trees were felled across the +road. The navigation of Wood Creek was similarly interrupted. Those +trees growing on its banks were dexterously dropped so as to interlock +their branches in mid-stream. Farms were deserted. All the live-stock +was driven out of reach, to the end that the country itself might offer +the most effectual resistance to Burgoyne's march. + +Burgoyne could not move until his working parties had cleared the way, +in whole or in part. From this cause alone, he was detained more than a +week at Skenesborough. This delay was as precious to the Americans as it +was vexatious to Burgoyne, since it gave them time to bring up +reenforcements, form magazines, and prepare for the approaching +struggle, while the enemy's difficulties multiplied with every mile he +advanced. + +[Sidenote: July 25.] + +At length the British army left Skenesborough. It took two days to reach +Fort Anne, and five to arrive at Fort Edward, where it halted to allow +the heavy artillery, sent by way of Lake George, to join it; give time +to bring up its supplies of food and ammunition, without which the army +was helpless to move farther on; and, meanwhile, permit the general to +put in execution a scheme by which he expected to get a supply of +cattle, horses, carts, and forage, of all of which he was in pressing +want. + +Still another body of savages joined Burgoyne at Fort Edward. Better for +him had they staid in their native wilds, for he presently found himself +equally powerless to control their thirst for blood, or greed for +plunder. + +[Sidenote: July 21.] + +Not yet feeling himself strong enough to risk a battle, Schuyler decided +to evacuate Fort Edward on the enemy's approach. He first called in to +him the garrison at Fort George. Nixon's brigade, which had just been +obstructing the road from Fort Anne, was also called back. All told, +Schuyler now had only about four thousand men. With these he fell back; +first, to Moses's Creek, then to Saratoga, then to Stillwater. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[29] FORT EDWARD, a link in the chain of forts extending between Canada +and the Hudson,--first called Fort Lyman, for Colonel Phineas Lyman, who +built it in 1755,--stood at the elbow of the Hudson, where the river +turns west, after approaching within sixteen miles of Lake George, to +which point there was a good military road. The fort itself was only a +redoubt of timber and earth, surrounded by a stockade, and having a +casern, or barrack, inside, capable of accommodating two hundred +soldiers. It was an important military position, because this was the +old portage, or carrying-place, from the Hudson to Lake George, though +the fort was no great matter. + + + + +VII. + +BEFORE BENNINGTON. + + +[Sidenote: Frazer advances.] + +On the 9th of August, Frazer's corps moved down to Duer's house, seven +miles from Fort Edward, and seven from Saratoga. This was done to cover +the expedition Burgoyne had planned; first, to confirm the belief that +he was about to fall on New England, and, next, for supplying his army +with horses, cattle, carts, provisions, forage--everything, in short, of +which he stood in want. Both objects would be gained at once, since fear +of the first would make easy the second. + +[Sidenote: Real object of the Bennington raid.] + +Burgoyne ached to strike a blow at New England. The successes he had +just met with tempted him on toward his wishes; yet he dared not go too +far, because the king's orders forbade his turning aside from his main +object, to march into New England, as he himself had asked for +discretionary power to do, when laying his plan before the ministers. +Still, as New England was to be the final object of the campaign, +Burgoyne was impatient to set about humbling her in good earnest. Events +were working so favorably for him, that he now saw his chance to go at +least half way toward his desires. So the expedition to Bennington was +certainly far from being the effect of any sudden decision on +Burgoyne's part, or wholly due to the pressing want of supplies. It +would, we think, have been undertaken in any event. + +On the other hand, the victualling of his army was the one obstacle to +Burgoyne's advance to Albany. So long as every pound of bread and meat +had to be brought from Quebec to Skenesborough, and from Skenesborough +to his camp, the farther the army marched, the greater the difficulty of +feeding it became. It was now living from hand to mouth, so to speak. +Nobody but Tories would sell it a pound of beef or an ear of corn. What +gold could not buy, Burgoyne determined to take by force. If enough +could be gleaned, in this way, from the country round, he could march +on; if not, he must halt where he was, until sufficient could be brought +up over a road every day growing longer and more dangerous. Burgoyne +would never submit to the last alternative without trying the first. + +For the moment then, the problem, how to feed his army so as to put it +in motion with the least possible delay, was all-important with General +Burgoyne. The oldest, and most populous, of the Vermont settlements lay +within striking distance on his left. He knew that rebel flour was +stored in Bennington. He had been told that half the farmers were loyal +at heart, and that the other half would never wait for the coming of +British veterans. Burgoyne was puffed up with the notion that he was +going to conjure the demon of rebellion with the magic of his name. +Already he saw himself not only a conqueror, but lawgiver to the +conquered. On the whole, the plan seemed easy of accomplishment. +Burgoyne was like a man starving in the midst of plenty. Supplies he +must have. If they could be wrung from the enemy, so much the better. + +An expedition chiefly designed to rob barnyards, corn-cribs, and +henroosts promised little glory to those engaged in it. This may have +been the reason why Burgoyne chose to employ his Germans, who were +always excellent foragers, rather than his British soldiers. Perhaps he +thought the Germans would inspire most fear. Be that as it may, never +did a general make a more costly mistake.[30] + +[Sidenote: Baum marches for Bennington.] + +The command was given to Colonel Baum, who, with about a thousand +Germans, Indians, Canadians, and refugee loyalists, started out from +camp on his maraud, on the eleventh, halted at Batten-Kill on the +twelfth, and reached Cambridge on the thirteenth. He was furnished with +Tory guides, who knew the country well, and with instructions looking to +a long absence from the army. + +Burgoyne then began manoeuvring so as to mask Baum's movements from +Schuyler. + +[Sidenote: Frazer crosses the Hudson.] + +Frazer was marched down to Batten-Kill, with his own and Breyman's +corps. Leaving Breyman here to support either Baum or himself, in case +of need, Frazer crossed the Hudson on the fourteenth, and encamped on +the heights of Saratoga that night. The rest of the army moved on to +Duer's, the same day. By thus threatening Schuyler with an advance in +force, of which Frazer's crossing was conclusive proof, Burgoyne +supposed Baum would be left to plunder at his leisure, but he seems to +have thought little of the opposition which Baum, on his side, might +meet with from the settlers themselves; though this too was provided +against in Baum's orders, and by posting Breyman on Baum's line of +march. + +[Illustration: POSITION OF BELLIGERENTS BEFORE BENNINGTON.] + +If Baum succeeded to his wishes, Burgoyne meant to throw the whole army +across the Hudson immediately. Already Frazer was intrenching at +Saratoga, with the view of protecting the crossing. Having now so placed +his troops as to take instant advantage of Baum's success, of which he +felt no manner of doubt, Burgoyne could only sit still till Baum should +be heard from. + +Meanwhile, the New England militia were flocking to Manchester in +squads, companies, or regiments. Washington had said they were the best +yeomanry in the world, and they were about to prove their right to this +title more decisively than ever. Ministers dismissed their congregations +with the exhortation, "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, +and buy one." Some clergymen even took a musket and went into the ranks. +Apathy and the numbness that succeeds defeat were dissipated by these +appeals and these examples. + +It was Washington's policy to keep a force on Burgoyne's flank, which +might be used to break up his communications, cut off his provision +trains, or otherwise so harass him as to delay his march. In General +Lincoln[31] he found an officer, at once capable and brave, who had the +confidence of the New England people. Lincoln was, therefore, sent to +take command of the militia now mustering at Manchester. + +At the same time, New Hampshire called upon the veteran Stark[32] to +lead her forces into the field. Stark had left the army in disgust, +because Congress had promoted other officers over his head, not more +worthy than himself. He was still smarting under the sense of wrong, +when this command was offered him. He was like Achilles, sulking in his +tent. + +Stark said that he asked nothing better than to fight, but insisted that +he would do so only upon condition that the State troops should be +exclusively under his orders. To agree to this would be practically an +exercise of State sovereignty. But time pressed, Stark's name was a host +in itself: it was thought best to give his wounded vanity this sop; for, +by general consent, he was the only man for the crisis. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 6.] + +Lincoln found six hundred men assembled at Manchester, most of whom +belonged to Stark's brigade. On the seventh, Stark himself arrived with +eight hundred more. By Schuyler's order, Lincoln desired Stark to march +them to the main army at once. Stark replied that, being in an +independent command, he would take orders from nobody as to how or where +he should move his troops. + +Though plainly subversive of all military rules, Stark's obstinacy +proved Burgoyne's destruction; for if Schuyler had prevailed, there +would never have been a battle of Bennington. + +Though undoubtedly perplexed by the situation in which he found himself +placed, of antagonism to the regularly constituted military authority of +the nation, Stark's future operations show excellent military judgment +on his part. He was not going to abandon Schuyler, or leave Vermont +uncovered; still less was he disposed to throw away the chance of +striking Burgoyne by hanging on his flank, and of thus achieving +something on his own account. Stark's sagacity was soon justified to the +world. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 9.] + +He determined to march with part of his force to Bennington, twenty-five +miles south of Manchester, and about the same distance from Stillwater. +In this position he would easily be able to carry out either of the +objects he had in view, assist Schuyler, cover Bennington, or get in a +telling blow somewhere, when least expected. + +Burgoyne's expectation of surprising Bennington was thus completely +frustrated. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 14.] + +Baum learned at Cambridge that the Americans were at Bennington, to the +number of eighteen hundred. He immediately wrote Burgoyne to this +effect. On the next day, he marched to Sancoic, a mill-stream falling +into the Walloomsac River in North Hoosac, and after again writing +Burgoyne, confirming the account he had previously sent about the force +in his front, moved on toward Bennington, under the impression that the +Americans would not wait to be attacked. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[30] A COSTLY MISTAKE to give the command to an officer who could not +speak English; still another, to intrust an expedition in which celerity +of movement was all-important, to soldiers loaded down with their +equipments, as the Germans were, instead of to light troops. Colonel +Skene went with Baum. See note 4, p. 18. + +[31] GENERAL BENJAMIN LINCOLN, born at Hingham, Mass., 1733. Made a +major-general, February, 1777. Joined Schuyler, July 29, at Fort Miller, +while our army was retreating; sent thence to Manchester. One of those +captains who, while seldom successful, are yet considered brave and +skilful commanders. + +[32] GENERAL JOHN STARK, born at Londonderry, N.H., 1728, had seen more +active service than most officers of his time. He had fought with +Abercromby at Ticonderoga, against Howe at Bunker Hill, and with +Washington at Trenton. Notwithstanding this, he was passed over in +making promotions, perhaps because he had less education than some +others, who lacked his natural capacity for a military life. Congress +first censured him for insubordination, and then voted him thanks, and +promotion to a brigadiership for his victory over Baum. + + + + +VIII. + +BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.[33] + + +Burgoyne's movements convinced Schuyler that he would shortly be +attacked by the whole British army, as Burgoyne had intended and +foreseen. Schuyler therefore again urged Stark to come to his assistance +without more delay, if he would not have the burden of defeat lie at his +own door. This appeal took present effect. + +Nothing happened till the thirteenth. Meantime, Stark had decided to go +to Schuyler's assistance. His brigade was under arms, ready to march, +when a woman rode up in haste with the news that hostile Indians were +running up and down the next town, spreading terror in their path. She +had come herself, because the road was no longer safe for men to travel +it. Stark quickly ordered out two hundred men to stop the supposed +marauders, and gain further intelligence. + +This detachment soon sent back word that the Indians were only clearing +the way for a larger force, which was marching toward Bennington. Swift +couriers were instantly despatched to Manchester, to hurry forward the +troops there to Stark's aid. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 14.] + +The next day Stark moved out toward the enemy, in order to look for his +detachment. He soon fell in with it, fighting in retreat, with the enemy +following close behind. Stark halted, formed his line, and gathered in +his scouts. This defiance brought the enemy to a stand also. + +Seeing before him a force as strong as, or stronger than, his own, Baum +was now looking about him for ground suitable to receive an attack upon; +making one himself was farthest from his thoughts, as Burgoyne had given +him express orders not to risk an engagement, if opposed by a superior +force, but to intrench, and send back for help at once. This was +precisely Baum's present situation. He therefore lost no time in sending +a courier to headquarters. + +On his part, Stark did not wish to fight till Warner could come up, or +delay fighting long enough for the enemy to be reenforced. Baum's +evident desire to avoid an action made Stark all the more anxious to +attack him, and he resolved to do so not later than the next morning, by +which time he confidently reckoned on having Warner's regiment with him. +Though small, it had fought bravely at Hubbardton, and Stark felt that +his raw militia would be greatly strengthened by the presence of such +veterans among them. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 15.] + +Rain frustrated Stark's plan for attacking the next day, so there was +only a little skirmishing, in which the Americans had the advantage. +Baum improved the delay by throwing up a redoubt of logs and earth on a +rather high, flat-topped hill, rising behind the little Walloomsac +River. In this he placed his two field-pieces. His Canadians and +loyalists took up a position across and lower down the stream, in his +front, the better to cover the road by which his reenforcements must +come, or the Americans attempt to cut off his retreat. These +dispositions were all that time, the size of his force, and the nature +of the ground, would permit. + +[Illustration: BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. + +August 16, 1777.] + +Rain also kept back the reenforcements that each side was so impatiently +expecting. Stark chafed at the delay, Baum grew more hopeful of holding +out until help could reach him. Burgoyne had, indeed, despatched Breyman +to Baum's assistance at eight o'clock in the morning, with eight hundred +and fifty men and two guns. This corps was toiling on, through mud and +rain, at the rate of only a mile an hour, when an hour, more or less, +was to decide the fate of the expedition itself. The fatigue was so +great, that when urged on to the relief of their comrades, the weary +Germans would grumble out, "Oh, let us give them time to get warm!" + +Warner's regiment could not leave Manchester till the morning of the +fifteenth, but by marching till midnight, it was near Bennington on the +morning of the sixteenth. Breyman put so little energy into his +movements that he was nowhere near Baum at that hour. Stark, however, +was strengthened by the arrival of several hundred militia from +Massachusetts, who came full of fight, and demanding to be led against +the enemy without delay. Stark's reply was characteristic: "Do you want +to go out now, while it is dark and rainy?" he asked. "No," the +spokesman rejoined. "Then," continued Stark, "if the Lord should give us +sunshine once more, and I do not give you fighting enough, I will never +ask you to turn out again." + +[Sidenote: Aug. 16.] + +The day broke clear and pleasant. Both parties prepared for the coming +battle. Stark had the most men, but Baum the advantage of fighting +behind intrenchments, and of having artillery, while Stark had none. + +At midday, Stark formed his men for the attack. All were yeomanry, in +homespun, rudely equipped with pouches and powder-horns, and armed with +the old brown firelocks, without bayonets, they had brought from their +homes. Some had served in the preceding campaign, but not one in fifty +had ever fired a shot in anger; while many were mere lads, in whom +enthusiasm for their leader and cause supplied the want of experience. +The work now required of them was such as only veterans were thought +capable of doing. They were to storm intrenchments, defended by the +trained soldiers of Europe; yet not a man flinched when Stark, with a +soldier's bluntness and fire, pointed his sword toward the enemy's +redoubt and exclaimed, "There, my lads, are the Hessians! To-night our +flag floats over yonder hill, or Molly Stark is a widow!" + +His men answered with loud cheers, grasped their weapons, and demanded +to be led against the enemy. Stark then gave the wished-for order to +march. + +Meanwhile, dismay reigned in Bennington. Every man who could load a +musket had gone out to fight with Stark. Their household goods had been +loaded upon wagons, ready to move off in case the day went against them. +Their wives and little ones stood hand in hand along the village street, +throughout that long summer afternoon, listening to the peal of cannon +and musketry, in fear for those who had gone forth to the battle, and +expecting the moment that was to make them homeless wanderers. + +The story of the battle is soon told. Stark so divided his force as to +attack the enemy in front, flank, and rear, at once. The nature of the +ground was such as to hide the march of the several detachments from +Baum's view, but he had no other idea than to keep close in his +intrenchments. + +At three in the afternoon, firing began in Baum's rear. This was the +signal that the several attacking columns had reached their allotted +stations. All the Americans then rushed on to the assault. Baum found +himself everywhere assailed with unlooked-for vigor. Never had he +expected to see raw rustics charging up to the muzzles of his guns. In +vain he plied them with grape and musketry. The encircling line grew +tighter and tighter; the fire, hotter and hotter. For an hour he +defended himself valiantly, hoping for night or Breyman to come. At last +his fire slackened. The Americans clambered over the breastworks, and +poured into the redoubt. For a few moments there was sharp hand-to-hand +fighting. The Germans threw down their muskets, drew their broadswords, +and desperately attempted to cut their way out. Most of them were +beaten back or taken. A few only escaped. The Tories and Canadians +fared no better. The victory was complete and decisive. + +Now, at the eleventh hour, Breyman was marching on the field to the +sound of the firing. He had taken thirty-two hours to get over +twenty-four miles. Supposing the day won, Stark's men were scattered +about in disorder. Not even Stark himself seems to have thought of a +rescuing force. Some were guarding the prisoners, some caring for the +wounded, and some gathering up the booty. All had yielded to the +demoralization of victory, or to the temptation to plunder. Most +opportunely, Warner's men now came fresh into the fight. This gallant +little band flung itself boldly in the path of the advancing foe, thus +giving Stark the time to rally those nearest him, and lead them into +action again. + +At first Breyman gained ground. With steady tread his veterans fired and +moved on, pushing the Americans back, toward the scene of the first +encounter; but Baum was no longer there to assist, the scattered +militiamen were fast closing in round Breyman's flanks, and Stark had +now brought one of Baum's cannon to bear, with destructive effect, upon +the head of the enemy's advancing column. + +In no long time the deadly fire, poured in on all sides, began to tell +upon Breyman's solid battalions. Our marksmen harassed his flanks. His +front was hard pressed, and there were no signs of Baum. Enraged by the +thought of having victory torn from their grasp, the Americans gave +ground foot by foot, and inch by inch. At last the combatants were +firing in each other's faces; so close was the encounter, so deadly the +strife, that Breyman's men were falling round him by scores, under the +close and accurate aim of their assailants. Darkness was closing in. His +artillery horses were shot down in their traces, his flanks driven in, +his advance stopped. + +As soon as they perceived their advantage, the Americans redoubled their +efforts. The firing grew tremendous. It was now Breyman who was forced +back. Soon all order was lost. Favored by the darkness, he began a +disorderly retreat. In an instant his guns were taken. Exhausted by +fighting two battles in one afternoon, no longer able in the darkness to +tell friend from foe, the Americans soon gave over the pursuit. But, for +the second time, they stood victors on the hard-fought field. All felt +it to be a narrow escape from defeat, for if Breyman had loitered by the +way, he had fought like a lion in the toils of the hunter. + +Thus Washington's sagacity had been vindicated, Stark's insubordination +nobly atoned for, Schuyler's worst fears set at rest, by the fortunes of +a single day. + +Four cannon, one thousand stand of arms, and seven hundred prisoners, +were the trophies of this victory. The enemy left two hundred of his +dead on the field. Baum's corps was virtually destroyed, Breyman's badly +cut up, Burgoyne's well-laid plans scattered to the winds. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[33] BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. Both actions actually occurred in the town of +Hoosic, N.Y. (we cannot be held responsible for the absurd variations in +spelling this name), though the troops were formed for the attack within +the limits of Bennington, and Stark's despatch announcing his victory is +dated at this place. A battle monument, designed to be three hundred and +one feet high, is now being built on a commanding site at Bennington +Centre, which is the old village. No more beautiful spot than this +hill-environed valley, overlooked by Mount Anthony, could possibly +commemorate to future centuries one of the decisive conflicts of the War +for Independence. + + + + +IX. + +AFTER BENNINGTON. + + +Stark had, indeed, dealt Burgoyne a stunning blow. In a moment all his +combinations were overthrown. Efforts were made to keep the disaster a +secret from the army, but the movements made in consequence of it told +the story but too plainly. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 17.] + +In the first place, the whole army was hurried up to Batten-Kill in +order to cover Breyman's and Frazer's retreat,[34] for Frazer had been +ordered to recross the Hudson at once. Frazer's position was most +critical; his bridge had been broken by a freshet, and for one whole day +he was cut off from the main army. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 18.] + +As soon as Breyman's worn-out men had straggled into camp, Burgoyne's +fell back to Duer's again. Meantime, Frazer had repaired his bridge and +hastily recrossed the Hudson. Riedesel's corps was sent back to Fort +Edward. The whole army had thus made a retrograde movement in +consequence of the defeat at Bennington, and now lay in _echelon_[35] +from Fort Edward to Batten-Kill, in the camps it had occupied before the +advance was begun; it had retreated upon its communications; it was put +on the defensive. + +Burgoyne had now no choice left but to hold fast his communication with +the lakes, and these could not be called safe while a victorious enemy +was threatening his flank. From this time forward, he grew wary and +circumspect. His councils began to be divided. The prestige of the army +was lowered, confidence in its leaders visibly shaken. Even the soldiers +began to grumble, criticise, and reflect. Burgoyne's vain boast that +this army would not retreat, no longer met the conditions in which it +stood. It had retreated. + +As if to prove the truth of the adage that misfortunes never come +singly, most of Burgoyne's Indians now deserted him. So far from +intimidating, their atrocities had served to arouse the Americans as +nothing else could. As soldiers, they had usually run away at the first +fire. As scouts, their minds were wholly fixed upon plundering. Burgoyne +had sharply rebuked them for it. Ever sullen and intractable under +restraint, their answer was at least explicit, "No plunder, no Indians;" +and they were as good as their word. + +We find, then, that the battle of Bennington had cost Burgoyne not far +from two thousand men, whether soldiers or Indians. More than this, it +had thrown him back upon his second alternative, which, we remember, was +to halt until supplies could be brought from Canada. This was easily +equivalent to a month's delay. Thirty days of inaction were thus forced +upon Burgoyne at a time when every one of them was worth five hundred +men to the Americans. Such were some of the substantial results of the +victory at Bennington. + +To the Americans, the moral and material gains were no less striking or +important. At once confidence was restored. Men no longer hesitated to +turn out, or feared for the result. A most hopeful sign was the alacrity +with which the well-to-do farmers went into the ranks. There was general +appreciation of the fact that Burgoyne had seriously compromised himself +by advancing as far as he had; in short, the re-action was quite as +decisive as that which had followed the victory at Trenton. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[34] BREYMAN'S RETREAT. The express from Baum arrived at headquarters at +5 A.M. of the fifteenth. Orders were immediately given Breyman to march. +News of Baum's defeat reached Burgoyne during the night of the +sixteenth. The 20th regiment, British, was immediately marched to +Breyman's support. Burgoyne's anxiety was so great, that he followed it +until Breyman's corps was met on the road. + +[35] ECHELON, the French word for step-ladder, by adoption a universal +military term, well describes the posting of troops, belonging to one +army, at stated intervals apart, so as to be moved forward or backward +step by step, always keeping the same relative distances between the +separate bodies. In marking out such positions on the map, the columns +would look like the rounds of a ladder, hence the term. + + + + +X. + +ST. LEGER'S EXPEDITION. + + +Burgoyne's hopes now chiefly turned upon the promised cooeperation of St. +Leger from Oswego, and of Sir William Howe from New York. + +[Sidenote: Refer to "Plan of Campaign."] + +Convinced that the enemy would shortly invade the Mohawk Valley, +Schuyler had sent Colonel Gansevoort[36] to put Fort Stanwix,[37] the +key to this valley, in a state of defence, before it should be attacked. + +[Illustration: ST. LEGER'S ROUTE TO FORT STANWIX.] + +St. Leger's force was the counterpart of Burgoyne's, in that it +consisted of regular troops, loyalists, and Indians. Many of the +loyalists, and most of the Indians, had lived in this valley, so that +St. Leger had no want of guides, who knew every foot of ground, or of +spies acquainted with the sentiments of every settler. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 3.] + +A scanty supply of provisions had just been brought into the fort when +St. Leger's scouts opened fire upon it. The garrison shut the gates and +returned the fire. Instead of finding Fort Stanwix defenceless, St. +Leger was compelled to lay siege to it. + +The news of St. Leger's appearance in the valley roused the settlers in +arms. Near a thousand men, all brave, but without discipline, promptly +marched, under General Herkimer,[38] to the relief of Fort Stanwix. +Gansevoort was notified, and was to aid the movement by making a sortie +from the fort, at the proper moment. + +St. Leger's spies soon discovered Herkimer's men coming. All the +rangers, and most of the Indians, went out to waylay them in the thick +forests. Not far from Oriskany, Brant,[39] the Mohawk chief, and +Johnson,[40] the loyalist leader, hid their men in a ravine, through +which the Americans would have to pass, in a thin line, over a causeway +of logs. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 6.] + +Meantime, the Americans were heedlessly pressing on, without order, to +the rescue of their comrades. In their impatience, even ordinary +precautions were neglected. When the van entered the ravine, a terrible +fire mowed down the front ranks by scores; those in the rear fled in a +panic from the field. It was downright butchery. + +After the firing had continued some time, those Americans whom panic had +not seized, threw themselves into a posture of defence, and resolved to +sell their lives dearly. Herkimer, their leader, had been struck down by +a bullet, among the first; but, notwithstanding his wound was a +disabling one, he continued to direct his men, and encourage them by his +firm demeanor to fight on. In the face of overwhelming odds they +gallantly stood their ground, until the enemy was alarmed by hearing +firing in its rear, and drew off, leaving Herkimer's little band of +heroes to retire unmolested from the field. + +The firing had been heard at Fort Stanwix, and the cause easily guessed. +While the battle was raging at Oriskany, the garrison of the fort +sallied out upon the besiegers' camps. They met with little opposition, +as most of the defenders had gone out to fight Herkimer. The firing, +however, had called off the savages from Herkimer, to the defence of +their own camps. The sortie was gallantly made, and entirely successful; +but the attack on Herkimer rendered it of so little avail, that the +battle of Oriskany left Gansevoort hardly better off than before. + +Two hundred of Herkimer's men were killed. He, too, soon died of his +wounds. + +Though this attempt to relieve Fort Stanwix had so signally failed, +Schuyler was much too sensible of the importance of holding it, not to +make another effort to raise the siege. He could ill afford to spare the +troops necessary for the undertaking, since Burgoyne was now +manoeuvring in his front; but the gravity of the situation could not +be overlooked. He therefore sent Arnold, with Learned's brigade, to +retrieve Herkimer's disaster in the valley. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 22.] + +Gansevoort was still holding out against St. Leger as stubbornly as +ever. His situation was, however, growing desperate, when, one day, +without apparent cause, the besiegers suddenly decamped in headlong +haste, leaving their tents standing, their baggage in their tents, and +their artillery in the trenches. + +This inglorious and unlooked-for flight was brought about by emissaries +from Arnold, who spread the report among St. Leger's Indians, that the +Americans were coming with forces as numerous as leaves on the trees. +Arnold, whom no one will accuse of want of courage, was really undecided +about advancing farther with his small force. His stratagem, however, +took effect. Grown weary of the siege, the Indians now made no scruple +of deserting their allies on the spot. In vain St. Leger stormed and +entreated by turns; stay they would not. He therefore had no choice but +to follow them, in mortification and disgust, back to Oswego. In the +belief that Arnold was close upon them, everything was left behind that +could impede the march. The siege was abandoned in disgrace, and Fort +Stanwix saved by a simple stratagem. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 28.] + +Six days later, Burgoyne was informed of St. Leger's retreat. He had now +no other resource than in the promised advance up the Hudson, and in the +strength of his artillery. By acting in detachments, his immediate force +had been so seriously weakened that a forward movement on his part, +without full assurance of active support from New York, savored far +more of recklessness than sound military judgment. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[36] COLONEL PETER GANSEVOORT, born at Albany, 1749, had fought with +Montgomery at Quebec. + +[37] FORT STANWIX, also called Schuyler, built by General Stanwix of +Abercromby's army in 1758. + +[38] GENERAL NICHOLAS HERKIMER, a leading settler of the Mohawk Valley. + +[39] JOSEPH BRANT, or Thayandanega, sometime pupil of Dr. Wheelock's +school (since Dartmouth College), was by all odds the most active, +intelligent, and implacable enemy to the Americans that the war produced +among his people. With Johnson, he held most of the Six Nations at +enmity with us during the Revolution. (See Note 5.) + +[40] SIR JOHN JOHNSON was the son of Sir William, who gained wealth and +a title by his victory over Dieskau at Lake George, 1755. He was also +the king's superintendent over the Six Nations, and had his residence at +Caughnawaga, since called Johnstown in his honor. Sir John succeeded to +his father's title and estates. He took sides with the Royalists, raised +a body of Tory followers, and with them fled to Canada. Out of these +refugees, he raised a corps of rangers called Royal Greens, with whom he +joined St. Leger, in the hope of crushing out his enemies in the valley. + + + + +XI. + +OUR ARMY ADVANCES. + + +[Sidenote: Refer to Chapter V., "Facing Disaster."] + +[Sidenote: Aug. 4.] + +We remember that the united voice of the army and people had demanded +the recall of those generals whose want of foresight or energy, or both, +had caused the disasters with which the campaign had opened. Congress +chose General Gates[41] to command in room of Schuyler, who, with St. +Clair, was ordered to report at headquarters. With the methods of travel +then in use, Gates was nearly two weeks in getting from Philadelphia to +Albany. This fact will sufficiently illustrate the difficulties which +attended the movement of reenforcements from one army to another, before +the day of railways and steamboats. + +All that lay in the power of man to do, Washington had done for the +Northern army. Though fronting an enemy greatly superior to himself, he +had still found time to so direct operations in the North, that his hand +may almost be said to have guided the course of events in that quarter. +He had soothed Schuyler's wounded self-love, commended his efforts, +strengthened his hands in the field, and nobly stood between him and his +detractors in Congress. When Congress had suspended all the generals of +the Northern army from command, it was Washington who interposed to +save them and the army from the consequences of such blindness and +folly. To Schuyler he had said, "Burgoyne is doing just what we could +wish; let him but continue to scatter his army about, and his ruin is +only a question of time." Schuyler urgently called for more troops. +Brigade after brigade had gone from Washington's own army to swell +Schuyler's ranks. "I care not where the victory is won, so we do but +gain it," Washington said. Schuyler again pleaded his want of general +officers. Washington sent him Arnold, the dare-devil of the army, and +Lincoln, a man of sound head, steady hand, and even temper, as a +counterpoise to Arnold's over-confident and impetuous nature. Thanks to +these efforts, we had created a new army on the ruins of the old. + +Schuyler's deportment toward the Massachusetts authorities at this time +was neither conciliatory nor conducive to the interests of the service. +He knew their feelings of distrust toward him, and in making application +to them for reenforcements showed his resentment in a way that called +forth an acrimonious response. He upbraided them for their shortcomings; +they entreated him to look nearer home. Thus we find General Schuyler +and the Massachusetts Council engaged in an exchange of sarcasms at a +time when the exigency called for something besides a war of words +between the commander of an army and the executive head of a powerful +State. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 19.] + +Gates took command just after the Battle of Bennington was won. He +found the army in much disorder, but pleased with the change of +commanders. Gates was a thorough disciplinarian and organizer. In his +hands, the efficiency of the army daily increased. Old jealousies were +silenced, and confidence restored. Letters from the soldiers show the +change in temper and spirit to have been instant and marked. One of them +says, "When we came to Albany, things looked very dark for our side, for +there were officers in town who had left camp, and would not go back as +long as Schuyler had the command. Both officers and soldiers were +determined not to fight under him, and would tell him so to his head. +But General Gates came to town, and then the tune was turned, and every +face showed a merry heart." + +The hostile armies now lay, quietly gathering up their strength for the +decisive struggle, within sound of each other's evening guns. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 9.] + +Gates was the first to act. Having been joined by Morgan's rifle +corps,[42] and by large numbers of militia, the whole army now moved up +to Stillwater, within a dozen miles of the enemy, who still remained +intrenched behind the Batten-Kill. This movement put new life into our +soldiers, and was not without its effect upon the enemy, whose spirit +was aroused at finding the antagonist it had been pursuing suddenly +become the aggressor. The Americans had a well-served though not +numerous artillery, but the presence of Morgan's corps more than made +good any deficiency in this respect. The great drawback to the +efficiency of the army was the want of cordiality between Gates and +Arnold. The breach between them was daily widening that was presently to +become an impassable gulf. + +Gates purposed taking up a strong position, and awaiting Burgoyne's +attack behind his intrenchments. Either Burgoyne must risk an assault, +under conditions most favorable to the Americans, or retire discomfited +under conditions highly unfavorable to a successful retreat. + +The country between Saratoga and Stillwater, covered with woods and +intersected by ravines, was wholly unsuited to the free movement of +troops. All the shore of the Hudson is high ground, rising to a nearly +uniform level next the river, but gradually ascending, as the river is +left, to the summit of the streams falling into it. Long slopes or +terraces are thus formed, furrowed here and there by the ravines, which +serve to drain off the water from above into the river below. Puny +rivulets where they begin, these watercourses cut deeper as they run on, +until, at the river, they become impassable gulches. The old military +road skirts the foot of the heights, which sometimes abut closely upon +the river, and sometimes draw back far enough to leave a strip of meadow +between it and them. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 12.] + +[Sidenote: Bemis' Heights.] + +Kosciusko,[43] Gates's engineer, chose the ground on which to receive +Burgoyne's attack, at one of these places where the heights crowd upon +the river, thus forming a narrow defile, which a handful of men could +easily defend against an army. At this place the house of a settler +named Bemis stood by the roadside. Our army filed off the road here, to +the left, scaled the heights, and encamped along a ridge of land, +running west as far as some high, rough, and woody ground, which formed +the summit. + +[Sidenote: Freeman's Farm.] + +[Sidenote: Sept. 13.] + +Except two or three clearings, all the ground in Gates's front was +thickly wooded. One settler, called Freeman, had cleared and planted +quite a large field in front of the American centre and left, though at +some distance beyond, and hid from view by intervening woods. This field +of Freeman's was one of the few spots of ground lying between the two +armies, on which troops could be manoeuvred or artillery used with +advantage. The farm-house stood at the upper edge of it, at a distance +of a mile back from the river. Our pickets immediately took post there, +as no one could enter the clearing without being seen from the house. +Accident has thus made this spot of ground, Freeman's Farm,[44] famous. +The Americans were at work like beavers, strengthening their line with +redoubts, felled trees, and batteries, when the enemy was discovered +marching against them. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[41] GENERAL GATES had resigned his command at Ticonderoga, rather than +serve under Schuyler. There was no good feeling between them. + +[42] MORGAN'S RIFLEMEN was the most celebrated corps of the Continental +Army. The men were unerring marksmen, and on that account greatly feared +by the British. All were expert woodsmen, devoted to their leader, who +held them under strict discipline. + +[43] THADDEUS KOSCIUSKO came to this country to offer his services to +Congress. "What can you do?" asked Washington. "Try me," was the laconic +reply. In course of time, he was sent to Schuyler as engineer of his +army. + +[44] FREEMAN'S HOUSE was made use of by Burgoyne, during the battle of +September 9, as his headquarters. After this battle it was included +within the British lines. + + + + +XII. + +BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS.[45] + +(_September 19, 1777._) + + +Burgoyne, at Batten-Kill, had only a choice of evils to make. Either he +could save his army by retreating to Fort Edward, and thus give up all +hope of seeing the ends of the campaign fulfilled, or he might still +make a bold push for Albany, and so put everything at the hazard of +battle. + +But to fall back when he had promised to go forward, when the doing so +meant ruin to his reputation, and possibly to the cause of his king, was +not only a bitter alternative, but a responsibility heavier than he was +prepared to take. + +On the other hand, should he now cross the Hudson, with intent to bring +on a decisive battle,--and his crossing meant just this,--Burgoyne knew +that he must drop his communications with Canada, because he could not +afford the guards necessary to keep them open. Already he had been +weakened by the loss of more than fifteen hundred men, without counting +the Indians who had so basely deserted him; St. Leger had failed him in +his utmost need. On his left, the Americans were watching their chance +to strike a blow in his rear. Burgoyne therefore felt that, from the +moment he should put the Hudson between his army and its only way of +retreat, all must be staked on the doubtful issue of battle. He decided +to make the gambler's last throw. + +Burgoyne himself has said that his orders left him no choice but to go +on. It is evident he construed them to his own wishes. He still believed +his six thousand excellent soldiers, with their superb artillery, would +prove themselves more than a match for twice their own number of +undisciplined yeomanry. He would not admit even the possibility of +defeat. He felt confident of beating Gates with ease. + +In choosing to fight, rather than retreat, Burgoyne, perhaps, acted from +the impulse of a brave nature, rather than the promptings of his sober +judgment, as he was bound to do; since he had known for some time that +Sir William Howe had gone to Pennsylvania, without making any definite +preparations to come to his assistance. Notwithstanding this assurance, +that a most important part of the plan of campaign had failed, through +no fault of his, Burgoyne seems to have put his trust in the chapter of +accidents, rather than remain inactive until it was certain he would be +supported from New York. Not one solitary circumstance, except faith in +the valor of his troops, favored a further advance at this time. But his +gallant little army was ready to follow him, the enemy was within +striking distance, and so Burgoyne marched on, bemoaning his ill luck, +but with the pluck characteristic of the man. + +On the thirteenth the British army crossed the Hudson, by a bridge of +boats, to Saratoga. Burgoyne took with him provisions for five weeks, +which were loaded in bateaux and floated down the river as he advanced. +As yet he knew comparatively nothing of what preparations the Americans +were making to receive him, and but little about the country he was in. +But he did know that the patriot army had at last faced about, and that +was enough to rouse the spirit of his soldiers to the highest pitch. + +[Illustration: BURGOYNE'S ORDER OF BATTLE. + +19th September. + +[_Pen and ink sketch by a British officer._] + +A, The Line Formed. B, The Columns in March.] + +[Sidenote: Sept. 15.] + +On the fifteenth the British Army began its march southward in three +divisions. The only road had to be given up to the baggage and +artillery. To protect it, the left, or German division, marched along +the meadows, next the river. The centre, or British division, kept the +heights above; while Frazer's corps moved at some distance, on the right +of it, with Breyman's following just behind in support. Two divisions +were therefore marching on the heights, and one underneath them. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 17.] + +What with the delays caused by broken bridges on the road, bridging the +ravines on the heights, or forcing a way through thick woods, which it +was necessary always to reconnoitre with care,--the royal army could get +over but six miles in two days. Being then near the enemy, a halt was +made to prepare for battle. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 19.] + +On this day, Burgoyne continued his march in the same order as before, +with skirmishers thrown out well in advance of each column. The centre, +which he directed in person, would, in following the direction it was +taking, very shortly find itself at Freeman's Farm. + +On his part, Gates had sent out Morgan's rifle corps to feel the enemy, +in order to learn what they were doing or intending to do. Morgan had +advanced as far as our outpost at Freeman's house, when the British +skirmishers came out of the woods into the clearing. They were instantly +fired upon and returned the fire. It was therefore here that the action +of September 19 began. + +Morgan's hot fire soon drove the enemy back to cover again, with loss. +Our riflemen dashed into the woods after them, got into disorder, and, +before they were aware, fell upon the supporting battalions, by whom +they were defeated and scattered, in their turn. This division then +advanced into the clearing, from which by this time the Americans had +decamped. Burgoyne thus gained the ground about Freeman's house, whence +his pickets were first attacked and driven in. + +At this place, Burgoyne formed his line, facing towards the woods into +which Morgan's men had retreated. He rightly judged the enemy to be +there, though threats failed to extort any information from the +prisoners he had taken. When Frazer told one of Morgan's captains he +would hang him up to the nearest tree, unless he would point out the +place where his comrades were posted, the man undauntedly replied, "You +may, if you please." + +Knowing that Gates could not be attacked on his right, Burgoyne meant to +make the trial on the left. If that wing could be turned, Gates would +have to retreat from his works, or be driven into the river. This was +all the simple plan of attack, but as yet, Burgoyne did not know where +the American left was posted. The woods effectually masked the American +position, and all was now quiet. + +Burgoyne now prepared to go forward again. From what had just taken +place, he supposed the troops now with him would strike the American +line first. It was therefore arranged that when he became fully engaged, +Frazer was to charge the American flank, and crush it, making the centre +division his pivot. With his right, Burgoyne meant to turn the American +left. + +Burgoyne had with him four battalions of the line, and four guns. He +would have brought more guns if more could have been used with effect in +the woods, as he greatly relied upon this arm. Frazer had twenty +companies of grenadiers and light infantry, the 24th British regiment, +Breyman's Germans, and all the Canadians, loyalists, and Indians now +left with the army; he also had four pieces of artillery. About four +thousand men were thus in readiness to engage. The left wing was now in +motion along the river road, under the heights, but was too far off to +be of much use in reenforcing the right. It was, however, of service in +preventing Gates from sending troops away from his right, to fight +Burgoyne on the left. + +Though Burgoyne did not know the American position, which thick woods +everywhere masked from his view, he had disclosed his own very clearly +to Morgan, who sent an urgent request for reenforcements. + +Gates wished to receive the attack in his works, not make one himself. +He therefore ordered only one or two battalions from his left to go to +Morgan's assistance, and withstood the entreaties of his officers to be +allowed to meet the enemy in the open field. + +At between two and three o'clock, as Burgoyne had just finished his +dispositions for attacking, a heavy fire broke from the woods in +Frazer's front. This came from Morgan and the troops sent to his +support. Making no impression on Frazer, whose cannon held them in +check, the assailants suddenly shifted their attack over to the left, +where Burgoyne commanded in person. And thus it was that, instead of +attacking, Burgoyne found himself assaulted; instead of turning Gates's +left, his own was being assailed, with the purpose of separating the two +wings of his army. + +On finding a battle actually in progress, Gates reenforced the troops +who were fighting against odds, with driblets of a regiment at a time. +Instead of going on the field himself, or letting Arnold go,[46] he +pretended to believe that his own right was the real object of attack, +and kept in his quarters. This day's battle was therefore fought wholly +by his subordinates, against the British general-in-chief, seconded by +his ablest lieutenants. + +Having found the enemy's left, the Americans chiefly turned their +attention to that flank, as has just been said. The 62d British regiment +was posted here with two guns. This flank was crushed, and its artillery +silenced by a superior fire. Its defeat caused the whole British line +to give way, leaving part of their artillery in our hands. + +[Illustration: FIRST BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS. + +[_Pen and ink sketch by a British officer._] + +A, Americans Attacking. B, British Positions.] + +So far the battle had gone in our favor. Any demonstration from our +right, upon the enemy's left, would, unquestionably, have rendered the +victory complete. As nothing of the kind was attempted, the British were +able to bring up reenforcements from that wing, without opposition, and +the golden opportunity was lost. + +From the river road, Riedesel, by making a roundabout march, brought two +of his regiments into action. Phillips hurried with four guns taken from +the reserve artillery to the front. Frazer turned part of his force upon +the American flank, thus relieving Burgoyne from the pressure laid upon +him, and enabling him to form a second line. When this was done, the +whole British force advanced again as far as their first position, while +the Americans, for want of fresh troops to meet them, were compelled to +fall back under cover of the woods again. The combat had now lasted four +hours. Darkness put an end to it, nearly on the spot where it had begun. +The British were indeed masters of the field; but instead of attacking, +they had always been attacked, and instead of advancing, they had been +everywhere stopped; their artillery alone had saved them from defeat. +Our army lost three hundred and nineteen killed and wounded; the +British, more than five hundred,--the difference being due to superior +marksmanship. Our losses could easily be made good; the British could +not. All the real advantages, therefore, were clearly on the side of the +Americans. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[45] BATTLE OF BEMIS' HEIGHTS. Bemis' Heights formed part of the +American position, but not of the battle-ground. Freeman's Farm would +have been a more accurate designation. Stillwater locates it anywhere +within a township of many miles in extent. + +[46] ARNOLD'S PART in this battle has been long a matter of dispute. +Gates was jealous of him because he was the idol of his soldiers. Arnold +had no high opinion of Gates. After Arnold turned traitor, every one +seems to have thought it a duty to give him a kick. This feeling is +unfortunately conspicuous in the only detailed account from the American +side we have of this battle, which was written by Wilkinson, Gates's +adjutant-general, and given to the world nearly forty years (1816) +afterwards. Wilkinson seems to have fully shared his commander's likes +and dislikes, and has treated Arnold shabbily. The battle was almost +wholly fought by Arnold's division, and it is equally incompatible with +his duty and temper to suppose he would have remained in camp when his +troops were engaged, though he was probably held back until a late hour +in the day. + + + + +XIII. + +LINCOLN'S RAID IN BURGOYNE'S REAR. + + +Much to Burgoyne's chagrin, he had been obliged to garrison Ticonderoga +with troops taken from his own army, instead of being allowed to draw +upon those left in Canada, under command of General Carleton. About a +thousand men were thus deducted from the force now operating on the +Hudson. + +Ever since the battle of Bennington, Lincoln had been most industriously +gathering in, and organizing the militia, at Manchester. All New England +was now up, and her sons were flocking in such numbers to his camp, that +Lincoln soon found himself at the head of about two thousand excellent +militia. + +Guided by the spirit of Washington's instructions, he now determined on +making an effort to break up Burgoyne's communications, capture his +magazines, harass his outposts, and, perhaps, even throw himself on the +British line of retreat. There is a refreshing boldness and vigor about +the conception, something akin to real generalship and enterprise. It +was a good plan, undertaken without Gates's knowledge or consent. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 13.] + +On the same day that Burgoyne was crossing the Hudson, Lincoln sent +five hundred men to the head of Lake George, with orders to destroy the +stores there; five hundred more to attack Ticonderoga; and another five +hundred to Skenesborough, to support them in case of need. Unknown to +Lincoln, Burgoyne had now wholly dropped his communications with the +lakes, but these movements were no less productive of good results on +that account. + +The first detachment, under command of Colonel Brown,[47] reached Lake +George landing undiscovered. The blockhouse and mills there were +instantly taken. Mount Defiance and the French lines at Ticonderoga[48] +were next carried without difficulty. In these operations, Brown took +three hundred prisoners, released over one hundred Americans from +captivity, and destroyed a great quantity of stores. + +The second detachment having, meantime, come up before Mount +Independence, Ticonderoga was cannonaded, for some time, without effect. +Unlike St. Clair, the British commander would neither surrender nor +retreat, even when the guns of Mount Defiance were turned against him. + +Failing here, the Americans next went up Lake George, to attack +Burgoyne's artillery depot, at Diamond Island. They were not more +successful in this attempt, as the enemy was strongly fortified and made +a vigorous defence. After burning the enemy's boats on the lake, Brown +returned to Skenesborough. + +General Lincoln was about to march from Skenesborough to Fort Edward, +with seven hundred men, when he received a pressing request from Gates, +dated on the morning of the battle, to join him at once. + +Abandoning, therefore, his own plans, Lincoln retraced his steps with so +much speed, that he arrived in Gates's camp[49] on the twenty-second. +Gates immediately gave him command of the right wing[50] of the army. + +The road between Skenesborough and Fort Edward was now constantly +patrolled by parties of American militia; so that it was truly said of +Burgoyne, that the gates of retreat were fast closing behind him. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[47] COLONEL JOHN BROWN, of Pittsfield, Mass.,--who had been with Allen +at the taking of Ticonderoga in 1775, and with Montgomery at +Quebec,--Colonels Warner, Woodbridge, and Johnson cooeperated in this +expedition. + +[48] TICONDEROGA was garrisoned at this time by one British and one +German battalion, under command of General Powell. + +[49] GATES'S CAMP. By this time, Gates also had connected his camp with +the east bank of the Hudson, by a floating bridge, to facilitate the +crossing of reenforcements to him. + +[50] THE RIGHT WING was composed of Nixon's, Glover's, and Patterson's +Continental brigades, with a certain proportion of militia. The left +wing of Poor's and Learned's brigades, Dearborn's Light Infantry, and +Morgan's corps, with a like proportion of militia. + + + + +XIV. + +SECOND BATTLE OF FREEMAN'S FARM. + +(_October, 1777._) + + +Convinced that another such victory would be his ruin, Burgoyne now +thought only of defending himself until the wished-for help should come. +To this end, he began intrenching the ground on which he stood. The +action of September 19 had, therefore, changed the relative situation of +the antagonists, in that from being the assailant, Burgoyne was now +driven to act wholly on the defensive. + +On the day following the battle, a courier brought Burgoyne the welcome +news that forces from New York would soon be on the way to his relief. +Word was instantly sent back that his army could hold its ground until +the 12th of October, by which time it was not doubted that the relieving +force would be near enough at hand to crush Gates between two fires. + +[Sidenote: At Wilber's Basin.] + +Burgoyne, therefore, now threw his bridge across the Hudson again, +posted a guard on the farther side, made his camp as strong as possible, +and waited with growing impatience for the sound of Sir Henry +Clinton's[51] cannon to be heard in the distance. But Clinton did not +move to Burgoyne's assistance until too late. The blundering of the War + +[Sidenote: Oct. 4.] + +Office had worked its inevitable results. By the time Clinton reached +Tarrytown, thirty miles above New York, Burgoyne's army had been put on +short rations. With the utmost economy the provisions could not be made +to last much beyond the day fixed in Burgoyne's despatch. Foraging was +out of the question. Nothing could be learned about Clinton's progress. +All between the two British armies was such perilous ground, that +several officers had returned unsuccessful, after making heroic efforts +to reach Clinton's camp. + +While Burgoyne was thus anxiously looking forward to Clinton's energetic +cooeperation, that officer supposed he was only making a diversion in +Burgoyne's favor, a feint to call off the enemy's attention from him; +and thus it happened that in the decisive hour of the war, and after the +signal had been given, only one arm was raised to strike, because two +British commanders acted without unison; either through misconception of +the orders they had received, or of what was expected of them in just +such an emergency as the one that now presented itself. + +Perhaps two armies have seldom remained so near together for so long a +time without coming to blows, as the two now facing each other on the +heights of Stillwater. The camps being little more than a mile apart, +brought the hostile pickets so close together, that men strayed into the +opposite lines unawares. Day and night there was incessant firing from +the outposts, every hour threatened to bring on a battle. Half +Burgoyne's soldiers were constantly under arms to repel the attack, +which--in view of the desperate condition they found themselves placed +in, of the steady progress from bad to worse--was rather hoped for than +feared. + +Two weeks passed thus without news of Clinton. Burgoyne's provisions +were now getting alarmingly low. If he staid where he was, in a few +days, at most, he would be starved into surrendering. Again the ominous +word "retreat" was heard around the camp-fires. The hospital was filled +with wounded men. Hard duty and scant food were telling on those fit for +duty. Lincoln's raid announced a new and dangerous complication. It was +necessary to try something, for Gates's do-nothing policy was grinding +them to powder. + +A council was therefore called. It is a maxim, as old as history, that +councils of war never fight. Some of Burgoyne's generals advised putting +the Hudson between themselves and Gates, as the only means now left of +saving the army; none, it is believed, advocated risking another battle. + +Burgoyne could not bring himself to order a retreat without first making +one more effort for victory. He dwelt strongly upon the difficulty of +withdrawing the army in the face of so vigilant and powerful an enemy. +He maintained his own opinion that even in order to secure an honorable +retreat it would be necessary to fight, and it was so determined. + +It is evident that Burgoyne nourished a secret hope that fortune might +yet take a turn favorable to him; otherwise, it is impossible to account +for his making this last and most desperate effort, under conditions +even less favorable than had attended his attack of the 19th of +September. + +Fifteen hundred men and ten guns were chosen for the attempt. In plain +language, Burgoyne started out to provoke a combat with an enemy greatly +his superior in numbers, with less than half the force his former +demonstration had been made with. His idea seems to have been to take up +a position from which his cannon would reach the American works. After +intrenching, it was his intention to bring up his heavy artillery, and +open a cannonade which he was confident the enemy could not withstand, +as their defensive works were chiefly built of logs. And out of this +state of things, Burgoyne hoped to derive some substantial benefit. + +This plan differed from that of the 19th of September, in that it looked +chiefly to obtaining a more advantageous position; while on the former +occasion it was attempted to force a way through or around the American +left. The lesson of that day had not been lost on Burgoyne, who now +meant to utilize his artillery to the utmost, rather than risk the +inevitable slaughter that must ensue from an attempt to carry the +American lines by storm. + +Everything depended upon gaining the desired position before the +Americans could make their dispositions to thwart the attempt. + +The importance to the army of this movement induced Burgoyne to call his +three best generals to his aid; so that nothing that experience could +suggest, or skill attempt, should be left undone. It was kept a profound +secret till the troops who were going out to fight were actually under +arms. The rest of the army was to remain in the works; so that, if worst +came to worst, the enemy might not reap any decided advantage from a +victory gained over the fighting corps. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 7.] + +It was near one o'clock, on the afternoon of the seventh, when Burgoyne +marched out from his own right, toward the American left. He had reached +an eminence rising at the right of the late battle-ground, and not far +removed from Frazer's position on that day, when the pickets of Arnold's +division discovered his approach, and gave the alarm. Having gained a +favorable position for using his guns, Burgoyne halted, and formed his +line. + +Upon hearing that the British had advanced to within half a mile of his +left, and were offering battle, Gates decided to accept the challenge, +as he now felt strong enough to do so without fear for the result, and +the behavior of his own troops in the previous battle had been such as +to put an end to his doubts about their ability to cope with British +soldiers. Morgan was therefore ordered to make a _detour_ through the +woods, and fall on the British right flank, while other troops were +attacking on its left. + +These movements were gallantly executed. At three o'clock, Burgoyne's +artillery opened the battle; at four, the Americans charged the British +position under a heavy fire of cannon and musketry. Again and again, +the Continentals met the British bayonet without flinching. Never was a +battle more manfully fought. Burgoyne faced death like the meanest +soldier in the ranks. After some discharges, the British cannoneers were +shot down at their pieces, and the hill on which they stood was carried +at the point of the bayonet. + +On his part, Morgan grappled with the British right, overthrew it after +a fierce struggle, and drove it back upon the centre. In vain Frazer[52] +tried to stem the tide of defeat by throwing himself into the thickest +of the fight. "That man," said Morgan, pointing him out to his marksmen, +"must die." A rifle bullet soon gave the gallant Scot his death wound, +and he was led from the field. + +The combat had lasted scarce an hour. All Burgoyne's guns were taken. Of +the fifteen hundred soldiers he had led into action, four hundred lay +dead or dying around him. Frazer's fall had carried dismay among those +who were still stubbornly yielding the ground to the victorious +Americans. A retreat was sounded. The Americans followed on with loud +shouts. For a few moments a rearguard fight was kept up, then the +retreat became a rout, the rout a race, to see who should first reach +the British lines. + +Thus far the action had been maintained on our part, by the same troops +who had fought the battle of September 19, and in part on the same +ground. It was now to be transferred to the enemy's own camp. + +Hardly had the British gained the shelter of their works, when the +Americans, led on by Arnold, stormed them with reckless bravery. Gates +had held Arnold back from the field from motives of envy and dislike; +but Arnold, to whom the sound of battle was like the spur to the mettled +courser, at last broke through all restraint. Leaping into the saddle, +he spurred into the thickest of the fight before Gates could stop him. + +The point of attack was strongly defended by artillery, and the +Americans here suffered their first repulse. Other troops came up. The +assault soon began again all along the British line. Beaten off in one +place, Arnold spurred over to the enemy's extreme right, where Breyman +was posted behind a breastwork of logs and rails, that formed a right +angle with the rest of the line. Calling on the nearest battalion to +follow him, Arnold leaped his horse over the parapet. The Germans fired +one volley and fled. Our troops took guns and prisoners. By this success +they had gained an opening on Burgoyne's right and rear, precisely as he +had meant to do by them. In this last assault Breyman was killed, and +Arnold wounded. + +The day was now too far spent for further efforts to be made on either +side. Little by little, the angry roll of musketry sunk into silence. +The battle was over. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[51] SIR HENRY CLINTON then commanded at New York, under the orders of +Sir William Howe. Not having received orders to assist Burgoyne in any +event, until he was about to engage with Washington for the possession +of Philadelphia, Howe turned over the matter of assisting Burgoyne to +Clinton, who was compelled to wait for the arrival of fresh troops, then +on the way from England, before he could organize an expedition to +attack our posts in the Highlands of the Hudson. See Introduction; also +Note 1, "Facing Disaster" (p. 60). + +[52] GENERAL SIMON FRAZER was of Scotch birth, younger son of Frazer of +Balnain. His actual rank on joining Burgoyne was lieutenant-colonel, +24th foot. With other field officers assigned to command brigades, he +was made acting brigadier, and is therefore known as General Frazer, +though Burgoyne was notified that this _local rank_ would cease when his +army joined Sir William Howe. Frazer's remains were disinterred and +taken to England. The spot where he was wounded is marked by a monument, +and indicates where he endeavored to make a stand after being driven +from his first position. Anburey and Madame Riedesel give graphic +accounts of his death and burial. + + + + +XV. + +RETREAT AND SURRENDER. + + +Burgoyne had been everywhere foiled by the battle of the seventh. +Instead of turning Gates's flank his own had been turned. Instead of +thrusting Gates back upon the river, he would surely be forced there +himself, in a few hours, at most. Instead, even, of dealing Gates such a +blow as would favor a retreat, Burgoyne's situation was now more +precarious than ever: it was more than precarious; it was next to +hopeless. + +It is again but too plain that Burgoyne had not taken defeat--such a +defeat--seriously into account, or he would never have led out that +gallant little column of fifteen hundred men; first, for victory, then, +for an honorable retreat. His army was now like the wounded lion, whose +expiring struggles the hunter watches at a distance, without fear, and +without danger. All had been lost but honor. + +The first and only thing to be done now was promptly to form a new line +of defence, behind which the army could mask its retreat. This was +skilfully and quietly done on the night after the battle, our troops not +attempting to do more than hold the ground already won. In the morning +they occupied the deserted works. + +[Illustration: THE RETREAT TO SARATOGA.] + +Burgoyne's new position stretched along the heights next the river, so +as to cover the road to Saratoga. He had merely drawn back his centre +and right, while his left wing remained stationary; and he now stood +facing west, instead of south, as before the battle. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 8.] + +The day passed in skirmishing, reconnoitring, and artillery firing. The +Americans were feeling their way along the enemy's new front, while +Burgoyne's every effort was limited to keeping them at a distance, with +his superior artillery, till night. On our side, his intentions were +rather guessed than certainly known. His great problem was how to get +his army over the Hudson undiscovered. It was supposed that he would +attempt to retreat across his bridge as soon as it was dark. Our +artillery, therefore, tried to destroy it with shot. Moreover, fourteen +hundred men were crossed over to the east bank, and now stood ready to +dispute Burgoyne's passage from that side of the river. + +At sunset, General Frazer was buried[53] inside a battery, on the brow +of the heights, according to his dying wish. Chaplain Brudenell read the +burial service, with our balls ploughing up the earth around him, and +our cannon thundering the soldier's requiem from camp to camp. + +At nine o'clock, the British army began its retreat along the river +road, leaving its camp-fires burning behind it; profound silence was +enjoined. To avoid confusion, the different corps simply moved off in +the order in which they stood on the lines, or by their right. Upon +finding that his crossing would be opposed by the troops who had passed +over to the east bank, Burgoyne had decided to go back the way he came +as far as Saratoga, and on fording the river at that place. Orders were +therefore given to destroy the bridge. Just before day, his rearguard +set fire to it, and marched off without interference. All the sick and +wounded were left behind. + +In view of the fact that all of the enemy's movements announced a rapid +retreat, the Americans seem to have shown a want of vigor in pushing the +advantages they had won by the late battles. This hesitation may be in +part accounted for by the other fact that both Arnold and Lincoln were +disabled. Lincoln had been wounded while reconnoitring the enemy's +right, on the eighth, with a view of passing a force round in his rear. +Gates was thus deprived of his most efficient lieutenants at the moment +when they were most needed. The British army could hardly have been +placed in a more critical position; but, by keeping up a bold front, it +managed to extricate itself without the loss of a man. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 9.] + +[Sidenote: Dovegat, now Coveville.] + +Rain began falling early the next morning. Burgoyne had marched but six +miles, yet dallied till afternoon on the spot where he had halted early +in the day. He then saw, to his inexpressible dismay, the same body of +Americans[54] whom he had seen opposite his encampment at Stillwater, +now marching abreast of him, with the evident design of seizing the +Saratoga ford before he could get to it. The road he meant to take was, +therefore, already as good as in the enemy's hands. + +The discovery that he was being everywhere hemmed in hastened +Burgoyne's departure. Much baggage and many wagons and tents were +burned, in order that the army might march the faster. Like a ship, +laboring with the gale, it was relieving itself of all unnecessary +burdens. + +Pelted by the storm, in silence, and with downcast looks, the soldiers +plodded wearily on, through mud and water, ankle deep. No tap of drum or +bugle-call put life into their heavy tread. The sense of defeat and +disgrace brooded over the minds of officers and men, as they stole away +in darkness and gloom from an enemy for whom they had but lately felt +such high disdain. Grief, shame, and indignation were the common lot of +high and low. No word was spoken, except when the curt "Forward" of the +officers passed along the ranks. All knew instinctively, that this +retreat was but the prelude to greater disaster, which, perchance, was +not far off. + +The same evening, the bedraggled and footsore soldiers waded the +Fishkill[55] where the bridge had been, but was now destroyed, and +bivouacked on the heights of Saratoga.[56] Too weary even to light +fires, to dry their clothing, or cook their suppers, they threw +themselves on the wet ground to snatch a few hours' sleep; for, dark as +it was, and though rain fell in torrents, the firing heard at intervals +throughout the night told them that the Americans were dogging their +footsteps, and would soon be up with them. It seemed as if the foe were +never to be shaken off. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 10.] + +It was not till after daylight that the British artillery could ford +the Fishkill with safety. The guns were then dragged up the heights and +once more pointed toward the advancing enemy. Numbness and torpor seem +to have pervaded the whole movement thus far. Now it was that Frazer's +loss was most bitterly deplored, for he had often pledged himself to +bring off the army in safety, should a retreat become necessary. He had +marked out, and intrenched this very position, in which the army now +found its last retreat. Almost twenty-four hours had been consumed in +marching not quite ten miles, or at a much slower rate of progress than +Burgoyne had censured Breyman for making to Baum's relief, at +Bennington. Burgoyne seemed to find satisfaction in showing that he +would not be hurried. + +The army took up its old positions along the heights into which the +Fishkill cuts deeply, as it runs to the Hudson. Being threatened in +front, flank, and rear, Burgoyne had to form three separate camps, +facing as many different ways. One fronted the Fishkill and commanded +the usual fording-place. A second looked east at the enemy posted across +the Hudson; a third faced the west, where the ground rose above the +camps, and hid itself in a thick forest. + +Though he secured his camps as well as he could, Burgoyne meant to make +no delay here. But it was no longer in his power to control his own +acts. The want of energy shown in the retreat had given the Americans +time to close every avenue of escape against him. + +Let us note how the fate of armies is decided. Active pursuit did not +begin until the morning of the ninth, when the retreat was first +discovered. A start of ten hours had thus been gained by the British. +Their artillery had so cut up the roads as to render them next to +impassable for our troops. Frequent halts had to be made to mend broken +bridges. From these causes, even so late as the morning of the tenth, +our army had advanced but three miles from the battle-ground. But +Burgoyne had marched, when he marched at all, like a general who means +to be overtaken. Four thousand men were being pushed around his right; +an equal number followed in his rear; while fourteen hundred more +menaced with destruction any attempt he might make to ford the river. + +No choice being left but to continue the retreat by the west bank, +pioneers were sent out, under a strong escort, to make the road +passable. + +But the golden moment had already flown. By this time Gates's van had +come up with Burgoyne. Morgan's corps had crossed the Fishkill at a +point above the British camps, had taken post within rifle-shot, and had +thus fastened upon the enemy a grip never more to be shaken off. + +As a last resort, the British general decided to attempt a night +retreat, leaving behind the artillery he had so persistently dragged +after him when the fate of his army was hanging on its speed alone. +Before this desperate venture could be put to trial, worse news came to +hand. It was learned that Stark, with two thousand men, was in +possession of Fort Edward, and of all the fords below it. Turn what way +he would, Burgoyne found a foe in his path. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 13.] + +Even General Burgoyne now saw no way open but surrender; either he must +do this, or let his soldiers be slaughtered where they stood. Cannon and +rifle shot were searching every corner of his camp; retreat was cut off; +his provisions could be made to last but a day or two longer at most; +the bateaux were destroyed; his animals were dying of starvation, and +their dead bodies tainting the air his soldiers breathed; water could +only be had at the risk of life or limb, as the American sharpshooters +picked off every one who attempted to fetch it from the river; and no +more than thirty-five hundred men could be mustered to repel an +assault;--a crisis had now been reached which loudly called on the +British general, in the name of humanity, to desist from further efforts +to maintain so hopeless a struggle. + +Burgoyne called his officers together in council. The absence of such +men as Frazer, Baum, Breyman, Ackland, Clarke, and others from the +meeting, must have brought home to the commanding general, as nothing +else could, a sense of the calamities that had befallen him; while the +faces of the survivors no less ominously prefigured those to come. A +heavy cannonade was in progress. Even while the council was +deliberating, a cannon-ball crashed through the room among them, as if +to enjoin haste in bringing the proceedings to a close. The council +listened to what was already but too well known. Already the finger of +fate pointed undeviatingly to the inevitable result. A general lassitude +had fallen upon the spirits of the soldiers. The situation was +manifestly hopeless to all. + +There could be but one opinion. Enough had been done for honor. All were +agreed that only a surrender could save the army. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 14.] + +Without more delay, an officer was sent to General Gates. At first he +would listen only to an unconditional surrender. This was indignantly +rejected. Two days of suspense followed to both armies. Indeed, the +vanquished seemed dictating terms to the conqueror. But if the British +dreaded a renewal of hostilities, the Americans knew that Clinton's +forces[57] were nearing Albany from below. Gates lowered his demands. +The British army was allowed the honors of war, with liberty to return +to England, on condition of not serving against the United States during +the war. These terms were agreed to, and the treaty was duly signed on +the seventeenth. + +Burgoyne's situation when gathering up his trophies, and issuing his +presumptuous proclamation at Ticonderoga, compared with the straits to +which his reverses had now brought him--a failure before his king and +country, a captain stripped of his laurels by the hand he professed to +despise, a petitioner for the clemency of his conqueror--affords a +striking example of the uncertain chances of war. It really seemed as if +fortune had only raised Burgoyne the higher in order that his fall might +be the more destructive at last. + +[Illustration: WHERE THE SURRENDER TOOK PLACE.] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[53] FRAZER'S BURIAL would not have been molested had our artillerists +known what was going forward. Seeing so many persons collected in the +redoubt, they naturally directed their fire upon it. + +[54] THIS BODY OF AMERICANS was led by Colonel John Fellows, whom Gates +had ordered to seize the fords as high up as Fort Edward. + +[55] FISHKILL, or Fish Creek, is the outlet of Saratoga Lake. Though a +rapid mill-stream, there were several fords. The precipitous banks were +a greater obstacle to troops than the stream itself. + +[56] HEIGHTS OF SARATOGA are in what is now called Schuylerville, a +village owing its prosperity to the water-power of the Fishkill. At the +time of the surrender, there were only a few houses strung along the +river road. Schuyler's house stood in the angle formed by the entrance +of the Fishkill into the Hudson. On arriving at Saratoga, Burgoyne +occupied this house as his headquarters, but burned it to the ground +immediately on the appearance of the Americans. On the opposite (north) +bank of the Fishkill was old Fort Hardy, built during the French War, to +cover the ford of the Hudson at this place. Within this fort, Burgoyne's +army laid down its arms, October 17, 1777. On the heights back of the +river a granite obelisk, one hundred and fifty-four feet high, has been +built to commemorate the event. + +[57] CLINTON'S FORCES carried Forts Montgomery and Clinton, in the +Highlands, by assault on the sixth. Having thus broken down all +opposition to their advance up the Hudson, they reached Kingston +(Esopus) on the thirteenth, burned it, and were within a few hours' sail +of Albany when news of Burgoyne's surrender caused them to retreat down +the river. + + + + +XVI. + +THE SEVENTEENTH OF OCTOBER, 1777. + + +The closing scene of this most memorable campaign is thus described by +one of the actors in it. He says,-- + +"About ten o'clock we marched out, according to treaty, with drums +beating, and the honors of war; but the drums seemed to have lost their +former inspiriting sounds, and though we beat the Grenadiers' March, +which not long before was so animating, yet now it seemed by its last +feeble effort as if almost ashamed to be heard on such an occasion. + +"I shall never forget the appearance of the American troops on our +marching past them. A dead silence reigned through their numerous +columns. I must say their decent behavior to us, so greatly fallen, +merited the utmost praise.... Not one of them was uniformly clad. Each +had on the clothes he wore in the fields, the church, or the tavern; +they stood, however, like soldiers, well arranged, and with a military +air, in which there was but little to find fault with. All the muskets +had bayonets, and the sharpshooters had rifles. The men all stood so +still that we were filled with wonder. Not one of them made a single +motion as if he would speak with his neighbor. Nay, more, all the lads +that stood there in rank and file, kind nature had formed so trim, so +slender, so nervous, that it was a pleasure to look at them, and we were +all surprised at the sight of such a handsome, well-formed race. The +whole nation has a natural turn for war and a soldier's life. + +"The generals wore uniforms, and belts which designated their rank, but +most of the colonels were in their ordinary clothes, with a musket and +bayonet in hand, and a cartridge-box or powder-horn slung over the +shoulder. There were regular regiments which, for want of time or cloth, +were not yet equipped in uniform. These had standards, with various +emblems and mottoes, some of which had a very satirical meaning for us." + +The number of regular troops, British and German, who laid down their +arms at Saratoga was 5,591. The camp-followers amounted to two hundred +more. Forty-two pieces of artillery, nearly five thousand muskets, with +ammunition for both, fell into the victors' hands. + + + + +XVII. + +THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEFEAT. + + +We come now to the reasons why Burgoyne's surrender proved decisive to +the cause of American independence. + +Our opening chapter states that England took Canada from France in 1759, +and annexed it to her own dominions in 1763. This conquest came about +through what is known in history as the Seven Years' War, which had not +only raised all Europe in arms, but had lighted the flames of war +throughout our own continent also. The great battle was fought on the +plains of Quebec. Victory decided for England. Defeated France had, at +last, to give up Canada to her ancient enemy. + +France came out of this conflict sorely humbled. She was brooding over +her defeat, when the American colonies took up arms. The colonists at +once turned with confidence to France; now was her chance to cripple +England, to get back what she had lost, to gain the friendship of a +grateful people, and make them her debtor for all time. But France would +not go to war unless assured that her doing so would turn the scale +against England. The memory of her humiliation was too recent, the +chances of the contest too doubtful, to admit of any other course of +conduct on her part. Meanwhile, she gave us much secret help, but none +openly. The course of events was, however, closely watched, and when +Burgoyne's surrender was known in Paris, it was seen that the day of +revenge had come at last. Doubt and hesitation gave way before the +general demand for war. Franklin was openly received at Versailles. +Within three months, the French court had acknowledged our independence. +Her armies and fleets prepared to give us active aid, and it was not +doubted that her example would soon be followed by Spain and Holland. + +Thus, Burgoyne's surrender gained for us at once recognition as a +nation, and the alliance of the first military power of Europe. + +The effect of the surrender in England is thus described by Gibbon, the +historian, who was then sitting in Parliament: "Dreadful news indeed! An +English army of nearly ten thousand men laid down their arms, and +surrendered, prisoners of war, on condition of being sent to England, +and of never serving against America. They had fought bravely, and were +three days without eating. Burgoyne is said to have received three +wounds; General Frazer, with two thousand men, killed; Colonel Ackland +likewise killed. A general cry for peace." + +England now gave up the colonies for lost. In truth, it needed no +prophet to foretell that what England could not do before, she could do +still less now, with France against her. From this time forward, the war +was carried on more to save the nation's pride than with any hope of +success. The military policy underwent an instant change; it now looked +rather to destroying our commerce and ports, than to marching large +armies into the interior of the country, to meet with a like fate to +Burgoyne's. Howe was ordered to evacuate Philadelphia. In Parliament, a +plan was hurriedly put forth to grant everything the Americans had asked +for, except independence. As Gibbon well said, the two greatest +countries of Europe were fairly running a race for the favor of America. + +The movements taking place on the continent showed everywhere a feeling +hostile to England. No nation was ever so friendless as she, none had so +richly deserved the coldness with which the other powers now treated +her. Spain and Holland were getting ready to follow the lead of France. +It was well known that England could not carry on the war without the +aid of mercenaries. The King of Prussia and the Empress of Austria now +refused to permit any more German soldiers to go to America. In the +threatening condition of affairs at home, England could not spare +another army for so distant a field. Whichever way England looked, she +saw either open enemies or half friends. Everywhere the sky was dark for +her, and bright for us. + +At home the surrender of Burgoyne thrilled the whole land, for all felt +it to be the harbinger of final triumph. The people went wild with joy; +salvos of artillery, toasts, bonfires, illuminations, everywhere +testified to the general exultation. The name of France was hailed with +acclamations. At once a sense of national dignity and solidity took the +place of uncertainty and isolation. Now and henceforth, the flag of the +United States was known and respected; abroad as at home, on the sea as +on the land. + +Burgoyne's disaster has been charged to the grossest carelessness on the +part of some under official of the British War Office. It is said that +the orders for Sir William Howe were never put in the despatch bag at +all, but lay forgotten until the catastrophe at Saratoga brought them to +light. On such trifles does the fate of nations sometimes hang. +Certainly, greater unity of purpose in the two generals might have given +the history of the campaign a different reading. But all such +conjectures must fall before the inexorable logic of accomplished +results. The world has long since passed upon the merits of the great +conflict which set America free. Its verdict is recorded. The actors are +but as dust in the balance. + + + + +INDEX. + + + ALLEN, ETHAN, takes Ticonderoga, 17; + goes before Montgomery, 19. + + ARNOLD, BENEDICT, marches to Canada, 19; + takes command of our flotilla, and fights the enemy, 22; 25, _note_; + sent to relieve Fort Stanwix, and does it by a stratagem, 92; + part at Bemis' Heights, 112; + storms the enemy's intrenchments, 121, 122; + wounded, 122. + + + BATTEN-KILL, British take post at, 70, 87. + + BAUM, FREDERIC, commands British expedition to Bennington, and + marches, 70; + composition of his force, 70; + hears the Americans are waiting for him, 75; + notifies Burgoyne, and goes on, 75; + discovers Stark, and intrenches himself on the Walloomsac, 78, 81; + defeated, 83, 132. + + BENNINGTON, VT.; Burgoyne's plan to seize stores at, 68; + Baum marches for, 72; + Battle of Bennington, 83, 84, 85; + trophies of, 85; 86, _note_; + results of the battle, 88, 89. + + BEMIS' HEIGHTS; position of the army described, 99; + battle of September 19, 106, 107, 108, 111; 112, _note_. + + BOUQUET RIVER; Burgoyne halts at, 37. + + BRANT, JOSEPH, at Oriskany, 91; 94, _note_. + + BREYMAN, HEINRICH C., posted in support of Baum, 70; + marches to Baum's aid, 81; + his slowness fatal to Baum, 84; + defeated, and badly cut up, 85; + his retreat to camp, 89; + part in Battle of Bemis' Heights, 105; + killed, 122. + + BROWN, JOHN, attacks Ticonderoga, 114; 115, _note_. + + BURGOYNE'S ARMY, composition of, 33, 34; + passes Lake Champlain, 35; 36, _notes_ 1 and 2; + invests Ticonderoga, 40, 43; + fights at Hubbardton, 47, 48; + at Fort Anne, 52; + joined by loyalists, 61; + concentrated, and leaves Skenesborough, 66; + arrives at Fort Edward, 66; + joined by savages, 66; + compelled to halt for provisions, 66, 69; + is moved forward to support the expedition to Bennington, 70; + falls back after the defeat of Baum, 87; + its losses, 88; + crosses the Hudson, 102; + order of march from Saratoga to Bemis' Heights, 105; + slow advance, 105; + gives battle to Gates, 106; + troops in action, 107; + on the defensive, 116; + on short rations, 117; + inactivity of, 117; + ordered to fight Gates again, 118; + troops selected, 119; + meets defeat, 121; + camp assaulted and turned, 122; + forms new line, 124; + retreats, 127; + soldiers dispirited, 129; + reaches Saratoga, 129; + makes a last stand, 130; + its camps, 130; + compelled to surrender, 133; + numbers at this time, 138. + + BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN discussed, 10-14; + demand for re-enforcements, 11; + deficiency of transportation service, 12; + cause of failure, 13; + plan of, 26-32; + results in surrender, 133; + effect of it in Europe, especially in France, 140; + effect at home, 141; + said to have failed through blundering in the War Office, 142. + + BURGOYNE, JOHN; his personal traits, 9; + his plan of campaign, 26 _et seq._; + his army, 33; + his proclamation, 38; + aims to cut off St. Clair from Schuyler, 45; + takes Skenesborough, 51; + follows up his successes, 52; + _resume_ of his campaign thus far, 52; + sends Riedesel to Castleton, 61; + chooses the Fort Anne route to Albany, 61; + his reasons, 62; + march obstructed, 65; + reaches Fort Edward, 66; + plans how to provide for his army, 68; + desire to strike New England, 68; + orders the expedition to Bennington, 70; + how composed, 70; + combinations overthrown by Baum's defeat, 87; + his losses up to this time, 88; + his Indians desert him, 88; + compelled to halt again, 90; + hears of St. Leger's retreat, 93; + his choice of evils, 101; + decides to cross the Hudson, 102; + marches in search of Gates, 105; + order of march, 105; + gives battle, 106 _et seq._; + troops in action, 107; + holds his position, but makes no advance, 113; + brings on another battle, 118, 119; + calls his three best generals to his aid, and commands in person, + 119; + is defeated, and driven into his works, 121; + orders a retreat, 127; + finds a force confronting him on the east bank of the Hudson, 128; + loses valuable time, 128; + burns his baggage, 129; + arrives at Saratoga, 129; + finds retreat cut off, 131; + his camp untenable, 132; + surrenders his army, 133; + scene described by eyewitnesses, 135, 138. + + + CANADA'S alliance desired, 15; + invasion of begun, 19; + attitude toward the colonies, 25, _note_. + + CARLETON, GUY; attitude toward Burgoyne, 11, 12; + gains a naval victory over Arnold, 22, 25. + + CASTLETON, VT.; Riedesel posted there by Burgoyne, 61. + + CHAMBLY, FORT; position of, 16; + taken by Americans, 19; + burnt, 20. + + CLINTON, SIR HENRY, notifies Burgoyne that he is coming to his relief, + 116; + thinks he is only to make a diversion, 117; 122, _note_; + is near Albany when Burgoyne surrenders, 133; 134, _note_. + + CROWN POINT, position of, 16; + when built, 18, _note_; + Americans fall back to, 20; + evacuated, 20; + naval battle near, 22. + + + DIAMOND ISLAND, unsuccessful attack upon, 114. + + DUER'S HOUSE, Frazer's corps at, 68; + British army posted at, 70, 87. + + + FELLOWS, JOHN, commands a detachment to watch Burgoyne, 134. + + FISHKILL CREEK, 129; 134, _note_. + + FORT ANNE, N. Y.; Americans retreat to, from Skenesborough, 51; + Schuyler re-enforces them, 52; + combat at, 52; + burnt and abandoned, 52; + described, 55, _note_; + importance to Burgoyne, 62; + neighborhood described, 62, 63. + + FORT EDWARD, position of, 16; + Schuyler at, 51; + is joined by St. Clair, after Ticonderoga falls, 51; + Burgoyne arrives at, 66; + Schuyler evacuates it, 66; + described, 66, _note_. + + FORT GEORGE, position of, 16; + Americans evacuate it, 66; + and British occupy it, 66. + + FORT OSWEGO, position of, 30. + + FORT STANWIX, position of, 30; + St. Leger's force, 35; + garrisoned and defended, 90, 91; + attempt to relieve fails, 91; + garrison makes a sally, 92; + siege raised, 93; 94, _note_. + + FRANCIS, EBENEZER, covers retreat from Ticonderoga, fights Frazer at + Hubbardton, but is killed, 51; 55, _note_. + + FRAZER, SIMON, commands a corps under Burgoyne, 34, 35; + takes Mt. Hope, 40; + pursues St. Clair, 46; + comes up with the Americans at Hubbardton, and fights them, 47; + on the point of defeat is re-enforced, and gains the day, 48; + crosses the Hudson, and takes post at Saratoga, 70; + recrosses the Hudson, 87; + is posted on the right at Bemis' Heights, 105; + his force, 107; + killed, 121; 123, _note_; + buried, 127; 134, _note_. + + FREEMAN'S FARM, position of, 99; 100, _note_, 105; + first collision at (Sept. 19), 106; + second battle at, 120-122. + + + GANSEVOORT, PETER, at Fort Stanwix, 90; + sallies out upon besiegers, 91; 94, _note_. + + GATES, HORATIO, takes command of the Northern Army, 20; + his rank, 25, _note_; supersedes Schuyler, 95; + good effect on the army, 97; + orders an advance to Stillwater, 97; + want of confidence in Arnold a drawback to success, 98; + posts the army on Bemis' Heights, 98; _note_, 99; + sends Morgan to feel the enemy, 106; + re-enforces in driblets, 108; + his camp and army, 115, _note_s 1 and 2; + accepts battle again, 120; + is victorious, 121, 122; + dilatory pursuit of the enemy, 131; + comes up with Burgoyne, 131; + dispositions for attacking, 131; + receives Burgoyne's surrender, 133. + + + HERKIMER, NICHOLAS, marches to relieve Fort Stanwix, 91; + is waylaid and defeated, 91, 92; + dies of his wounds, 92; 94, _note_. + + HESSIAN MERCENARIES, 36, _note_. + + HOWE, SIR WILLIAM, participation in the campaign discussed, 14; + driven from Boston, 29; + George III. disappointed in him, 29; + gets his orders too late, 31. + + HUBBARDTON, VT., garrison of Ticonderoga retreats to, 44; + St. Clair's rearguard overtaken at, 47; + battle of, 47, 48, 49. + + + JOHNSON, SIR JOHN, at Oriskany, 91; 94, _note_. + + + KOSCIUSKO, THADDEUS, marks out the lines on Bemis' Heights, 98; 100, + _note_. + + + LAKE CHAMPLAIN, the gateway of the north, 16; + naval battle on, 22; + Burgoyne's advance, 35; + shores of, 37; + Americans driven from, 51. + + LINCOLN, BENJAMIN, sent to Manchester, 74; + sketch of, 76, _note_; + makes a raid in Burgoyne's rear, 113; + joins Gates, 115; + wounded, 128. + + LYMAN, PHINEAS, builds Fort Edward, 66. + + + MANCHESTER, VT., Warner posted at, 57; + rendezvous for militia, 73; + Lincoln and Stark at, 74. + + MOHAWK VALLEY, plan for invading it, 30, 35. + + MONTGOMERY, RICHARD, leads an army to Canada, 19; + killed, 20; + sketch of, 25, _note_. + + MORGAN'S RIFLEMEN, 99, _note_; + attack Burgoyne, 106; + part in the battle of October 7, 120, 121. + + MOUNT INDEPENDENCE described, 16; + named, 21; + Americans retreat from Ticonderoga to, 44. + + MOUNT DEFIANCE, the key of Ticonderoga, 43; + seized by Burgoyne's engineers, 43; + compels the evacuation of Ticonderoga, 43; + retaken by the Americans, 114; 115, _note_. + + NEWPORT, R. I., held by the enemy, 30; + Howe's strategy, 60, _note_. + + NEW YORK, plans for its invasion, 26, 29, 30; + resources of for resisting Burgoyne, 58, 59. + + + ORISKANY, N. Y., Americans marching to Fort Stanwix are defeated at, + 91. + + + PHILLIPS, WILLIAM, commands Burgoyne's artillery, 34; + brings up artillery at Bemis' Heights, 111. + + + RIEDESEL, BARON VON, commands Burgoyne's German contingent, 34; + at Ticonderoga, 40; + pursues the retreating Americans, 46; + turns defeat to victory at Hubbardton, 48; + is posted at Castleton, Vt., 61; + falls back to Fort Edward, 86; + supports Burgoyne at Bemis' Heights, 111. + + + SARATOGA, occupied by Burgoyne, 70; + country below described, 98; + Burgoyne's army crosses over to, 102; + falls back to, after being defeated, 129; 134, _note_. + + ST. CLAIR, ARTHUR, commands at Ticonderoga, 39; + evacuates it, 43; + military record of, 44, _note_ 2; also _note_ 5; + marches for Skenesborough, 45; + halts at Hubbardton, 46; + hears Burgoyne has occupied his proposed line of retreat, and now + marches for Bennington, 51; + joins Schuyler at Fort Edward, 51; + accused of treachery, 58; + and ordered to Philadelphia, 60. + + ST. JOHN'S, FORT, position of, 16; + taken by Americans, 19; + burnt, 20; + British build a fleet at, 21. + + ST. LEGER, BARRY, combination with Burgoyne, 13; + his part, 30, 31; + his force, 35, 90; + lays siege to Fort Stanwix, 91; + Arnold's stratagem compels him to raise the siege, 93; + and retreat to Oswego, 93. + + SCHUYLER, PHILIP, at Fort Edward, 51; + St. Clair joins him, 51; + sends a force to Fort Anne, 52; + military record of, 55, _note_; + holds Warner at Manchester, 57; + evacuates Fort Edward on Burgoyne's approach, 66; + state of his army, 66; + urges Stark to join him, 77; + sends Gansevoort to Fort Stanwix, 90; + then Arnold, 93; + superseded by Gates, 95. + + SECOND BATTLE OF FREEMAN'S FARM, 120-122. + + SKENESBOROUGH taken by Americans, 17; + described, 18, _note_; + made a dockyard, 21; + Americans retreat to, from Ticonderoga, 44; + set fire to, and abandoned, 51. + + STARK, JOHN, appointed to sole command over New Hampshire militia, 74; + musters his brigade at Manchester, 74; + refuses to join Schuyler, 74; + his perplexity, 75; + marches to Bennington, 75; + sketch of, 76, _note_; + decides to join Schuyler, 77; + but hears of the enemy's approach, and sends out scouts, 77; + sends for Warner, 78; + re-enforced, 81; + his force, 82; + gains the victory of Bennington, 83; + and defeats Breyman also, 84, 85; + at Fort Edward, 132. + + STILLWATER, position of the American army described, 98. + + + TICONDEROGA, position of described, 16; + taken by Americans, 17; 18, _note_; + Montgomery there, 19; + Burgoyne's landing, 39; + garrison of, 40; + invested by Burgoyne, 40, 43; + evacuated, 44; + effects of its fall, 56, 57; + Americans attack it unsuccessfully, 114. + + TRENTON, N. J., victory at, 32, _note_. + + + VALCOUR ISLAND, naval battle at, 22. + + VERMONT, people of addressed by Burgoyne, 38; + state of settlements in, 44, _note_; + critical situation of after the fall of Ticonderoga, 57. + + + WARNER, SETH, in command at Hubbardton, 47; 55, _note_; + surprised there, 48; + retreats to Bennington, 51; + posted at Manchester, 57; + his Green Mountain Boys, 57; + Stark calls on him for assistance, 77; + gets to Bennington in time, 81; + attacks Breyman, 84. + + WASHINGTON, GEORGE, sets about retrieving the disaster at Ticonderoga, + 60; + his views how to retard Burgoyne's march, 73; + sends Lincoln to carry them out, 74; + his policy vindicated, 85; + efforts to strengthen the northern army, 95, 96; + considerate treatment of Schuyler, 96. + + + + + +-----------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the | + | original document have been preserved. | + | | + | Typographical errors corrected in the text: | + | | + | Page 5 126 changed to 124 | + | Page 5 143 changed to 139 + | Page 143 followes changed to follows | + | Page 144 Fellow's changed to Fellows | + +-----------------------------------------------+ + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Burgoyne's Invasion of 1777, by Samuel Adams Drake + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BURGOYNE'S INVASION OF 1777 *** + +***** This file should be named 31206.txt or 31206.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/2/0/31206/ + +Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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