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JIJHX BURGONXI'
(R.iME, 1750),
« painlini; bv Ramiey, in poisfsswn of Miss Unrgoyi,,, a: liampion Court Pa/ac:
THE CAMI'A1(;N
LIEUT. Gl-N. 101 IN BURC.OYNE,
THE EXPEDITION
iLieut. CoL Barrp ^t. Heger.
WILLIAM L. STONE,
.iuth r .f tl-i Lift jnd Titti, ~t S-rr IfiHum John, an B.irt., L:f, and IfriUnf, 0/ Col.
H-'m. L. Stsni, Riminu^^n^,, of ^nji . 1 j,;,i B.illsl.n, Tranilaur of Iht M,mo,r,
jnj M,:,:jr. J.urnjI, of Mr,. JoJ .l/.y.r U , n , , J ! Rir r/ part a/the Sf/r'j^oimriin^t^ co/j
as it M^as af i/ip tim e .
SGAT^F OE G IMC JTES TO /X, r^ITLE:
ISTejIc-on's Ivfap 7ievi_sed
Selkirk iSr Fo
\
y
V ,
px»iv, aiiu completeness of appointment had never been
z
jersj-Lith Albany, MY^
BUEGOTl«5"E^S CAMPAIGN.
1 HE disastrous result of the campaign of General
3urgoyne is to be ascribed more to his own blunders /
nd incompetency than to any special military skill on
^le part of his conqueror. In December, 1776, Bur-
3yne, dissatisfied with his subordinate position under
arleton, concocted with the British ministry a plan for
e campaign of 1777. A large force under himself was
proceed to Albany by way of Lakes Champlain and
eorge; while another large body, under Sir Henry
inton, advanced up the Hudson in order to cut off
Timunication between the northern and southern colo-
s, in the expectation that each section being left to
If would be subdued with little difficulty. At the
— le time. Colonel Barry St. Leger was to make a
;rsion on the Mohawk river.
"or the accomplishment of the first part of this plan,
werful force was organized in Canada, the command
vhich was transferred from Sir Guy Carleton — the
5t British general, by the way, at that time or
squently in America — and conferred upon General
■pyne — an army which, for thoroughness of disci-
-i, and completeness of appointment had never been
lo Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
excelled in America.' The generals, also, who were
to second him in the expedition were trustworthy and
able officers. Major General Phillips was not only dis-
tinguished as an artillery officer, but had given proof
of exceptional strategical skill ; Major General Riedesel
had been specially selected for his military experience,
acquired during a long service, and particularly during
the seven years' war, where he had enjoyed the entire
confidence of Prince Ferdinand. The English Brigadiers
Fraser and Hamilton, and the German ones, Specht, and
Gall and Lieut. Col. Breymann, had been -appointed to
commands solely on the ground of their professional .
merits. The former had attained a high reputation for
judgment and cool daring, and was considered one of
the most promising officers in the army. Colonel King-
ston, the adjutant general, had served with distinction in
Burgoyne's horse in Portugal, and Majors Lord Balcarras,
^ Burgoyne arrived in Quebec on the 6th of May, 1777, and received
the command of the forces from General Carleton on the loih. General
Riedesel, however, with his Brunswiclc Contingent, had been in Canada
for fully a year — during which time, he, with the practical strategy and
acuteness of observation which always distinguished him, had employed
that time in drilling his troops to meet the customs of the Americans,
** Thus," he says in one of his letters, '* I perceived that the American rifle-
men always shot further than our forces — consequently I made my men'
practice at long range and benind trees that they might at least be enough
for them." Speaking of the removal of Carleton'at this juncture, Riedesel
further says : " a great mistake was undoubtedly here made by the British
ministry. Carleton had, hitherto, worked with energy and success \ he
knew the army thoroughly, and enjoyed the confidence of the officers and
men. It was a great risk to remove a man, who was so peculiarly fitted
for so important a position, without a better cause." y
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 1 1
and Ackland, commanding respectively the light infantry
and grenadiers, were each, in his own way, considered
officers of high professional attainments and brilliant
courage."
All things being in readiness, Burgoyne, in the early
summer of 1777, sailed up Lake Champlain ; and, on
the 17th of June encamped on the western shore of
that lake at the falls of the little river Bouquet, now
Willsborough. At this place he was joined by about
four hundred Indians, under the Chevalier St. Luc and
Charles De Langlade,^ whom, in a council and war
feast called and given specially for the purpose, he ad-
dressed in a speech designedly couched in their own
' Fonblanque's Life of Burgoyne. For the detailed return of the troops
(English and German) employed on the expedition (compiled at consider-
able labor by Mr. Fonblanque), and also for remarks on the question of the
employment of Germans by the English government, see Appendix No. II.
= Thomas Anburey, an officer in the army of Genera] Burgoyne, wrote
in 1777 from the borders of Lake Champlain : " We are expecting the
Ottawas. They are led by M. de Saint Luc and M. de Langlade, both
great partisans of the French cause in the last war j the latter is the person
•who, at the bead of the tribe ivhicb he noiv commands planned and executed
the defeat of General Braddocky
Burgoyne, the unfortunate commander of the aforesaid army, expressed
himself in a no less formal manner, in a letter to Lord George Germain,
dated Skenesborough, July the eleventh, 1777 : " I am informed," says
he, ** that the Ottawas and other Indian tribes, who are two days' march
from us, are brave and faithful, and that they practice war and not pillage.
They are under the orders of a M. Saint Luc, a Canadian of merit, and one
of the best partisans of the French cause during the last war, and of a M.
de Langlade, the very man who with these tribes projected and executed
Braddock's defeat. See Appendix XII, for a further account of Langlade's
connection with Burgoyne and the latter's relations with his Indian allies.
12 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
figurative language, and intended both to excite their
ardor in the approaching campaign, and " to inculcate
those humane principles of civilized w^arfare which to
them must have been incomprehensible." On the 30th of
June, the main army made a still further advance and oc-
cupied Crown point' (Fort St. Frederick), while General
Fraser pushed ahead as far as Putnam's creek, three
miles north of Ticonderoga. In the evening the follow-
ing orders were given : " The army embarks to-morrow
to approach the enemy. The services required on this
expedition are critical and conspicuous. During our
progress occasions may occur in which nor difficulty,
nor labor, nor, life are to be regarded. This army must
not retreat." Then, having issued a grandiloquent pro-
clamation designed to terrify the inhabitants of the sur-
' Called Kruyn, or Kroonfunt (or Scalp point), by the Dutch ; and by the
French, Point a la Chcvelcure. The ramparts of this fortress, which are
still standing, are of wood and earth riveted with solid masonry. They are
twenty-four feet high, twenty-five thick, and inclose an area of fifteen
hundred yards square, surrounded by a deep, broad moat, cut into granite.
There are, also, a double row of stone barracks j and on the north, a gate
with a draw-bridge, together with a subterranean or covered passage leading
from one of the bastions to the bank of the lake. The size and extent of
these works render their exploration very satisfactory and instructive. The
promontory which juts out from the farther shore directly opposite Crown
point and on which Gen. Riedesel was encamped for a day or two, is called
Chimney point. When Fort Frederick was built, in 1731,3 French set-
tlement of considerable size was begun at this place. During the old French
war, however, it was destroyed by a party of Mohawk Indians, who burned
the wood-work of the houses, leaving the stone chimneys standing. For
many years afterwards these stood, like solitary and grim sentinels, watching
over the ruins. Hence the name.
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 13
rounding country into submission, Burgoyne prepared
to invest Ticonderoga.
Leaving a detachment of one staff officer and two
hundred men at Crown point for the defence of the
magazines, the royal army in their bateaux started again
at five o'clock in the morning of July ist, in two divi-
sions. The corps of General Phillips was on the west
and that of General Riedesel on the east side of the lake.
The Dragoons formed the van of the whole army. The
fleet advanced as far as Putnam's creek almost within
cannon shot of the Americans. The right wing of the
army encamped on the spot recently occupied by the
brigade of Fraser (that officer having again gone ahead),
and the leff' wing under Riedesel occupied the eastern shore
opposite the right wing. The corps of General Breymann
advanced on the same shore as far as the left wing of
the fleet, from the flag-ship of which, the Royal George,
the American position could easily be seen. The garri-
son of Ticonderoga was estimated at from four to five
thousand men, and consisted of twelve regiments divided
into four brigades commanded by General St. Clair.
Its position was covered on the right flank by Fort
Independence, a star-fort built on a considerable emi-
nence, on the east shore of Lake Champlain and fortified
by three successive lines of fortifications. It was se-
parated by water from Ticonderoga which lay on the
opposite side and consisted chiefly of the old French
works.' In the lake between the two forts lay four
■ Ticonderoga (called by the French respectively Fort Vaudreuil — after
an early Canadian governor — and Fort Carillon) is situated fifteen miles
14 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
armed vessels, and both were connected by a bridge.
In front of this bridge there was a strong iron chain
hanging across the water, which was intended to break
the first assault of the British. To the left of Ticon-
deroga there was another fortification upon a hill covering
the enemy's left toward the saw-mills on the portage
between Lake Champlainand Lake George. Ticonde-
roga was garrisoned by one-half of the American force,
or two brigades ; the third brigade was at Fort Independ-
ence, and the fourth was distributed in the entrench-
ments outside of the fort. This was the position of the
Americans when General Burgoyne arrived in front of
Ticonderoga.
At noon of the 2d of July, Fraser moved forward,
and taking possession of some high ground which com-
manded the American line and cut off" their communica-
tion with Lake George, named it Mount Hope, in
south of Crown point and thirty north of Whitehall. It is formed by a
sharp angle in the narrow waters of the lake, and an arm of that lake
stretching to the westward which receives the waters of Lake George at the
foot of a precipitous fall of some twenty feet. The stream which connects
these lakes makes a considerable curvature to the west, and in the distance
of two miles tumbles over successive layers of rocks about 300 feet — the
difference of the level between the surface of Lake George and that of Lake
Champlain, furnishing a variety of excellent mill-sites, accessible to the
navigable waters of Lake George forty miles, and to those of Lake Cham-
plain and the river Sorel 130 miles. This position was fortified by the
French long before the war of 1755. It is rendered famous by the repulse
of Abercrombie by Montcalm in 1758 with the loss of 2000 men, although
he might, by taking possession of Mt. Defiance (Sugar-loaf hill) have
carried the place without hazarding a man.
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 1 5
anticipation of victory.^ At the same time, Phillips
moved more to the right and occupied the saw-mills,^
Riedesel likewise advanced with Breymann's corps and
took up a position in front of Fort Indepeni^ence behind
the stream, Petite Marie. Meanwhile, unfortunately for
the Americans, their engineers had overlooked the high
peak ormountain, called Sugar-loaf hill (Mount Defiance),
situated south of the bridge on the point of land at the
' In the beginning of this skirmish Lord Balcarras, who commanded the
light-infantry, had his coat and trousers pierced with thirty balls, and
escaped with a slight wound j while at the same time, Lieut. Haggit received
a mortal wound in both eyes by a ball, and Lieut. Douglass of the 29th,
while being carried wounded off the field, was shot through the heart by a
sharp-shooter.
Mount Hope is thus described by Wilkinson: ** When the French
officer [Montcilm] who commanded at Ticonderoga in 1758, heard of
Abercrombte's approach, he found it necessary to take possession of an ele-
vated ridge on the direct route to it from the landing at Lake George, which,
at less than half a mile entirely overlooked the works. This ridpe is flat on
the summit, and extends westwardly about half a mile to the saw-mills at
the perpendicular fall at the outlet of Lake George where it terminatesiTT-
still higher ground called Mount Hope. On the south it presents a bold
declivity washed by the strait, and on the north it declines until it sinks
into a plain which is extended about one hundred rods to the shore of the
lake where the bank is ten or twelve feet high." It was here that Aber-
crombie suffered so disastrous a repulse.
=^ On the approach of Gen. Fraser, the Americans, most unaccountably,
immediately abandoned all their works in the direction of Lake George,
setting fire to the block-houses and saw-mills j and without sally or other
interruption, permitted the enemy under Maj. Gen. Phillips, to take pos-
session of the very advantageous post of Mount Hope, which besides com-
manding their lines in a dangerous degree, totally cut off their communica-
tion with Lake George. The only excuse for such an early abandonment
of this important point, was found in the fact that General St. Clair had
not force enough to man all the defences." — - Stone's Brant.
1 6 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
confluence of the waters of Lakes George and Cham-
plain. Originally it had been supposed and taken for
granted, that the crest of Sugar-loaf hill was not only inac-
cessible, but too distant to be of any avail in coveri
the main fortress. This opinion was an error, to whi
the attention of the officers had been called the pj
ceding year by Colonel John Trumbull, then adjuta
general for the Northern department. When Color
Trumbull made the suggestion, he was laughed at
the mess; but he soon proved the accuracy of his ov
vision, by throwing a cannon-shot to the summit ; ai
subsequently clambered up to the top, accompanied
Colonels Stevens, Wayne and Arnold.' It was a ci
minal neglect, on the part of the Americans, that tl
oversight was not at once corrected, by the constructic
of a work upon that point, which would have con
manded the whole post. It was a neglect, howeve
that was soon to cost them dear. While the maneuve
of Fraser and Phillips, above described, were executin
Lieutenant Twiss made a thorough personal examinatic
of Sugar-loaf hill, and reported that the hill " complete
commanded the works and buildings both at Ticoi
deroga and Fort Independence ; that it was distai
about 1400 yards from the former and 1500 from tl
latter ; that the ground might be levelled so :
to receive cannon ; and that a road to convey then
though extremely difficult, might be built in twenty-foi
hours. Accordingly, as soon as darkness had set in,
■ Conversations of the author's father with Col. John Trumbull.
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 1 7
winding road was cut to its summit, a battery com-
menced and cannon to serve it transported thither. In
fact, so expeditiously was the work carried forward
under Phillips," that the garrison of Ticonderoga, on
awaking the next morning found to their amazement and
dismay that from the crags seven hundred feet above,
the British were coolly looking down upon them, watching
their every movement, and only waiting for the com-
pletion of their batteries to open fire. In this critical
situation, St. Clair at once called a council of war, which
unanimously decided on an immediate evacuation. It
was also determined that the baggage of the army, with
such artillery, stores and provisions as the necessity of
the occasion would admit, should be embarked with a
strong detachment on board of two hundred bateaux,
and dispatched under convoy of five armed galleys, up
the lake to Skenesborough (Whitehall), and that the
main body of the army should proceed by land, taking
its route on the road to Castleton in Vermont, which
was about thirty miles south-east of Ticonderoga, and
join the boats and galleys at Skenesborough. Absolute
secrecy was also enjoined. Accordingly, early in the
evening. Colonel Long, with five armed galleys and six
hundred men, set out with the sick and wounded for
Skenesborough ; and a ie^-w hours later, about two
o'clock in the morning of July 6th, St. Clair with the
' " General Phillips Has as expeditiously conveyed cannon to the summit
of this hill [Mount Defiance], as he brought it up in that memorable battle
at Minden, where, it is said, such was his anxiousness in expediting the
artillery, that he split no less than fifteen canes in beating the horses." —
Anburey^s Letters.
1 8 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
main body of the troops passed over the floating bridge
in safety, and probably would have effected his retreat
wholly undiscovered, had not the head-quarters^ of
General Roche De Fermoy, who commanded F(
Independence, either through accident or treachery, be
set on fire/ This unfortunate occurrence threw t
Americans into disorder, and informed the British oft
retreat. At early daylight, Riedesel embarked his m
and took possession of Fort Independence ; at the sar
time that Fraser occupied Ticonderoga. Eighty lar
cannon, five thousand tons of flour, a great quantity
meat and provisions, fifteen stands of arms, a lar
amount of ammunition, and two hundred oxen, besid
baggage and tents, were found in the deserted forts.
There would seem to have been no necessity for tl
stampede. The camps of the Americans were not si
rounded — on the contrary the road to Vermont w
still open — and the batteries of the assailants were n
yet in position. " Great fright and consternatior
says General Riedesel in his journal, " must have pi
vailed in the enemy's camp, otherwise they would ha
taken time to destroy the stores and save something."
^ It is a somewhat singular fact, says General J, Wj:tts De Peyster, t
generally whenever the Americans were unsuccessful a foreigner was mi
up in it. A little thought on the part of the reader will confirm the tr
of this observation.
^ And yet, St. Clair's retreat was by no means so disorderly as some h
represented it. Lamb, who was a conscientious and shrewd observer, spe
ing of this says : "After the enemy retreated we marched down to
works, and were obliged to halt at the bridge of communication which
been broken down. In passing the bridge and possessing ourselves of
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 19
The news of the fall of Ticonderoga was received in
England with every demonstration of joy. The king
rushed into the queen's apartment, crying " I have beat
them, I have beat all the Americans ;" and " Lord George
Germaine announced the event in parliament as if it had
been decisive of the campaign and of the fate of the
colonies."
II.
In the retreat from Fort Ticonderoga, Colonel
Francis succeeded in bringing off the rear guard in a
regular manner. When the troops arrived at Hubbard-
ton, in Vermont, they were halted for nearly two hours,
and the rear guard was increased by many who did not
at first belong to it, but were picked up on the road,
having been unable to keep up with their regiments.
The rear guard was here put under the command of
Col. Seth Warner, with strict orders to follow the army,
as soon as the whole came up, and to halt a mile and a
half short of the main body. The army under St.
Clair, then proceeded to Castleton, about six miles
works we found four men lying intoxicated with drinlcing, who had been
left to fire the guns of a large battery on our approach. Had the men
obeyed the commands they received, we must have suffered great injury}
but they were allured by the opportunity of a cask of madeira to forget their
instructions, and drown their cares in wine. It appeared evident they were
left for the purpose alluded to, as matches were found lighted, the ground
was strewed with powder, and the heads of some powder-casks were knocked
off in order, no doubt, to injure our men on their gaining the works. An
Indian had like to do some mischief from his curiosity — holding a lighted
match near one of the guns, it exploded, but being elevated, it discharged
without harm."
20 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
further — Col. Warner, with the rear guard and the
stragglers, against the express orders of his commanding
general, remaining at Hubbardton."
The retreat of the Americans from Ticonderoga and
Mount Independence, was no sooner perceived by the
British, than Gen. Fraser began an eager pursuit with
his brigade, Major-General Riedesel being ordered to
follow with the greater part of his Brunswickers. Fra-
ser continued the pursuit through the day, and having
received intelligence that the rear-guard of the American
army was at no great distance, ordered his men to lie
that night upon their arms. On the yth July, at five
o'clock in the morning, he came up with Colonel Warner,
who had about one thousand men. The British advanced
boldly to the attack, and the two bodies formed within
sixty yards of each other. The conflict was fierce and
bloody. Colonel Francis fell at the head of his regiment
while fighting with great gallantry, and after the action,
was buried by the Brunswick troops.'' Colonel Warner
^ " Col. Warner was a hardy, valiant soldier, but uneducated and a
stranger to military discipline j his insubordination at Hubbardton, exempli-
fies the danger and miafortujies which attend the disobedience of military
commands ; for, if he had obeyed the orders he received, our corps would
have been united, and as the discipline of the enemy could have availed
them little in a mountainous country covered with wood, we should infalli-
bly have dismembered, and probably captured, the flower of the British
army." — Tf^ilkinsons Memoirs.
2 Speaking of the death of Col. Francis, Lamb says: "The nature of
hostilities on the American continent acquired a sort of implacable ardor
and revenge, which happily are a good deal unknown in the prosecution of
war in general. This remark is justified by the fate of Capt. Shrimpton,
of the 62d, after the battle [Hubbardton] just mentioned. Some of our
CdDipaign of General John Burgoyne. 1 1
was so well supported by his officers and men, that the
assailants broke and gave way. They soon, however,
recovered from their disorder, reformed, and charged the
Americans with the bayonet, who, in turn, began to
waver. The latter, however, again rallied, and return-
ing to the charge, the issue of the battle hung in the
balance, when at this critical juncture Genera! Riedesel
appeared, with his Brunswickers. He saw at a glance
that the Americans were moving more and more to the
right with the evident intention of surrounding Fraser's
left wing. He therefore resolved to out maneuver them,
if possible, and gain their rear. Accordingly, he ordered
a company of yagers to advance to the attack, while
the rest of the troops were to endeavor to fall upon the
rear of the Americans. In order, moreover, to make
them believe that their assailants were stronger than they
really were, he ordered a band of music to precede the
yagers. At this moment, an aid arrived with a message
from Fraser to the effect that he feared his left wing
would be surrounded. Riedesel sent word back to him
to keep up courage for that he was, at that very instant,
about to attack the enemy's right wing. Accord-
ingly, at the word, Riedesel's yagers, chaunting their
:nationaI hymns, advanced courageously upon the Ame-
ricans, and were met by a brisk fire from four hundred
officers stood eximining papers taken from the pocket of Col. Francis on
the field. As the captain held the papers he leaped and exclaimed that he
was badly wounded. The officers heard the whizzing of the ball, and saw
the smoke of the fire, but failed to find the man who aimed with such
^effect, and who escaped without seizure or even being seen."
2 2 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
men. Far, however, from shrinking, the Brunswiclcers
pressed on so vigorously that the Americans seeing
themselves almost surrounded, stopped fighting and
retreated, leaving behind them twelve pieces of ar-
tillery. The victory, however, had not been easily won.
General Fraser acknowledged that he would have been
in great danger had it not been for Riedesel's timely aid ;
since if reinforcements had not arrived at the very
moment they did, his whole corps would have been sur-
rounded and cut off to a man.
The loss in this action was severe on both sides.
Colonel Hale, who, on account of illness, had not
brought his regiment into action, fell in with a snriall
party of the British, and, with a number of his men,
all raw militia, was captured.^ In killed, wounded and
prisoners, the Americans lost in this action three hundred
and twenty-four men, and the British, one hundred and
'Col. Nathan Hale (the grandfather of Hon. Roberts. Hale, M.C. of
Elizabethtown, Essex Co., N. Y.), who was in this battle was charged, ai
the time, by personal enemies, not only with cowardice, but also with
treasonable communication with Burgoyne while a prisoner. The matter
was thoroughly investigated, and both charges found without a shadow in
evidence to sustain it. Indeed, I have now before me a certificate in
Burgoyne's own handwriting (who, although he may not have been a great
general, yet certainly was a man of honor), in which he certifies '*onhis
honor as a gentleman and a soldier,'' that Col. Hale has never communi-
cated to him any improper information, and further, that no conversatiojl,
even, has passed between them, "excipt the ordinary dinner table courtesiel
between gentlemen.'' Poor Hale died a prisoner at the age of thirty-seven,
and never had the opportunity, which he earnestly sought, to vindicate him-
self by court martial.
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 23
eighty-three — among whom was Maj. Grant, of the
grenadiers, a most excellent and brave officer.
While these events were taking place upon the land,
General Burgoyne was pursuing the enemy upon the
water. In a few hours he destroyed the boom and
bridge which had been constructed in front of Ticon-
deroga, and which had been the work of months to
complete ; and by a few well directed cannon shots, he
broke in two the colossal chain upon which so many
hopes had hung. The passage being cleared, the fleet
of Burgoyne immediately entered Wood creek, and
favored by a brisk wind, came up with the American
flotilla at Skenesborough, in the afternoon. Mean-
while, three regiments, which had landed at South bay,
crossed a mountain with great celerity, with the object
of turning the Americans above Wood creek, and de-
stroying their works at Skenesborough, thus cutting off
their retreat to Fort Anne. The Americans, however,
eluded this stroke by the rapidity of their flight, but in
the meantime the British frigates having now come up,
the galleys, already hard pushed by the gun boats, were
completely overpowered. Two of them surrendered,
and three were blown up. The Americans now de-
spaired, and having set fire to their works, mills and
bateaux, and otherwise destroyed what they were unable
to burn, the detachment, under Colonel Long, hastily
retreated by way of Wood creek to Fort Anne.
Meanwhile, General St. Clair, who had arrived with
the van-guard at Castleton, in Vermont, upon learn-
ing of the discomfiture at Hubbardton and the disaster
24 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
at Skenesborough, and apprehensive that he would be
interrupted if he proceeded toward Fort Anne, struck
into the woods, uncertain whether he should repair to
New England or Fort Edward. Being joined, how-
ever, two days afterward at Manchester, by the remains
of the corps of Colonel Warner, he proceeded to Fort
Edward and united with the force of General Schuyler.
As soon as Burgoyne had taken possession of Skenes-
borough, he detached Lieutenant Colonel Hill, with
the gth regiment, to Fort Anne, with the view both of
intercepting such of the enemy as should attempt to re-
treat to that fort, and of increasing the panic produced
by the fall of Ticonderoga. This detachment had not
proceeded many miles through the woods, before it over-
took some boats laden with baggage, women and invalids
belonging to the enemy, moving up Wood creek in order
to escape to Fort Anne. These were at once secured.
Arriving within a quarter of a mile of the fort. Col. Hill
learned through an American deserter (in reality a spy)
that it was strongly garrisoned ; and although he had
with him five hundred and forty-three veterans, he at
once halted in a strong position, and sending back a
messenger to Burgoyne for reinforcements, lay that night
upon his arms.
Meanwhile, Colonels Long and Van Rensselaer, who,
by the direction of Schuyler, with five hundred men —
many of them convalescents — had taken post at Fort
Anne, were not persons to await an attack.' Learning
^ When Ticonderoga was abandoned by the Americans, Gtn. Schuyler
requested Gen. Washington to send Col. Henry Van Rensselaer to the
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 25
from the spy before mentioned, who had returned, the
strength of the British, they determined to force an
engagement before Burgoyne should be able to assist
Col. Hill. Accordingly, early the following morning
(July 8th), Long suddenly issued from the fort and
attacked the English in front ; while, at the same time, a
strong column under Van Rensselaer crossed the creek,
and, takingadvantageof a thick wood, passed nearly round
the left flank of the British, and, in the language of a
participator in the action, "poured down upon them like
a mighty torrent." This, accompanied by a tremendous
Northern army. The First New York regiment, with a park of brass
artillery, was at Fort George. To save it was all-important to the Ame-
rican cause. Col. Van Rensselaer was directed to pick out of the militia
then at Fort George four hundred volunteers, and stop the British advance
at a defile near Fort Anne at all hazards, until he could remove the stores,
etc., from Fort George. How far he executed this order, and the good effect
it had in rallying a new army, will be found in BurgoytieU Tria/j TVilkin-
son*s Memoirs, etc. In this affair he was so grievously wounded, as to
disqualify him from taking rank in the line, and he became a cripple for
life. The ball, which entered the upper part of the thigh bone, was ex-
tracted after his death, quite flattened.
Whatever prejudice afterward existed against the manor influence, in
the counties of Albany and Rensselaer, it was fortunate for the American
cause that it existed, and was exerted with all its energy at the dawn of the
Revolution, to give impulse to its progress. Whilst some other manors
held back until after the surrender of Burgoyne, the upper and lower manors
of the Van Rensselaers struck at once for American freedom j and by so
doing enlisted in its cause all its numerous connections of blood, marriage
and dependence ; and this produced a counterpoise to the numerous and
powerful tory families residing in those frontier counties. The Van
Rensselaers, in 1776, consisted of eighteen males. During the struggle
every adult except two old men, and all minors except four boys, bore arms
at one or more battles, during its progress.
26 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
and well directed fire of small arms,' compelled Col.
Hill, in order to avoid being completely surrounded, to
talce post on the top of a hill. No sooner, however, had
he taken up this position, than the Americans reformed
and attacked it so vigorously, in an engagement which
lasted for more tl.an two hours, that he must soon have
surrendered, had not the ammunition of the Americans
given out — a misfortune, moreover, which was increased
by the arrival, at this critical time most opportunely for
the British, of a party of Indians, under Colonel Money,
who with the war-whoop, dashed in, and forced the Ame-
ricans, in their turn, to give way. Colonel Long, there- ■
upon, not being able to withstand the force of Major
General Phillips, who with the 20th regiment consisting
cf five hundred and twenty men and two pieces of ar-
tillery, was pressing forward to the assistance of Hill,
fi[red the fort, and with the remnants of his spartan band
fell back on Fort Edward.
General Phillips, learning upon his arrival, that the
enemy had retired, immediatelv marched back to Skenes-
borough, leaving behind a sergeant and a small guard to
take care of the wounded. ° On the 13th the Americans
reoccupied the site of the fort.
^ Deputy Quartermaster-General Money said that the Americans' fire was
heavier at Fort Anne than on any other occasion during the campaign, ex-
cept in the action of the 19th September.
^ Journal of Occurrences during the late American ivar^ to the year 1783,
by R. Lamb, sergeant in the Royal Welsh fusileers, Dublin, 1809. Mr.
Lamb, who is the one referred to in the text as a " participator in the
action," and who was the sergeant left in charge of the wounded, was
evidently a man of education and intelligence. He gives a graphic account
of the action at Fort Anne, and says ;
Campaign of General John Burgoyne, 27
General Burgoyne, in accordance with his usual policy,
claimed a victory in this affair, a claim which was not
justified by the facts. He certainly did not retain pos-
session of the battlefield ; and not only does General
Riedesel state, in his journal, " that the English, after a
long fight at Fort Anne were forced to retreat," but the
British abandoned Captain Montgomery — ->. brother-in-
law of Lord Townshe; d and a wounded officer of great
merit- — -a surgeon and other prisoners, when — in the
language of Burgoyne in describing this action to Lord
Germaine — they '^changed ground." This scarcely
reads like a victory. ^
" It was a distressing sight to see the wounded men bleeding on the
ground, and what made it more so, the rain came pouring down like a
deluge upon us j and still to add to the distress of the sufferers, there was
nothing to dress their wounds, as the small medicine box which was filled
with salve, was left belilnd with Sergeant Shelly and Captain Montgomery
at the time of our movement up the hill. The poor fellows earnestly en-
treated me to tie up their wounds. Immediately I took off^ my shirt, tore
it up, and with the help of a soldier's wife (the only woman that was with
us, and who also kept close by her husband's side during the engagement),
made some bandages, stopped the bleeding of their wounds, and conveyed
them in blankets to a small hut about two miles in our rear. . . . Our regi-
ment now marched back to Skenesborough, leaving me behind to attend to
the wounded with a small guard for our protection. I was directed that, in
case I was either surrounded or overpowered by the Americans, to deliver a
letter, which General Burgoyne gave me, to their commanding officer.
There I remained seven days with the wounded men, expecting every
moment to be taken prisoners j but although we heard the enemy cutting
trees every night during our stay, in order to block up the passages of the
road and the river, we were never molested."
'To enable the reader of the present day to have a clear idea of the
scene of this action, the following Js given from Neilson : " On leaving the
street of Fort Anne village, there is a bridge over Wood creek, leading to
2 8 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Up to the time of Burgoyne's occupying Skenes-
borough, all had gone well. From that point, however,
his fortunes began to wane. His true course would have
been to return to Ticonderoga, and thence up Lake
George to the fort of that name, whence there was a
direct road to Fort Edward ; ^ instead of which he de-
termined to push on to Fort Anne and Fort Edward, a
course which gave Schuyler ample time to gather the
yeomanry together, and effectually oppose his progress.
its left bank. Immediately beyond the bridge there is a narrow pass, only
wide enough for a carriage, and cut in a great measure, out of a rocky
ledge, which terminates here exactly at the creek. This ledge is the
southern end of a high rocky hill, which converges towards Wood creek,
and between the two is a narrow tract of level ground, which terminates
at the pass already mentioned. On this ground the battle took place, and
the wood on the right bank of the creek, from which the Americans fired
upon the left flank of the British, is still there, and it was up this rocky
hill that they retreated and took their stand."
^ The excuse which Burgoyne gives for not going round by Lake George,
** that the fort there (Fort George) would have detained him, is not ade-
quate, for it would have offered no opposition whatever j Fort George, as
Schuyler very truly replied to Washington as a reason for abandoning it at
this time, " was part of an unfinished bastion of an intended fortification.
In it was a barrack capable of containing between thirty and fifty men j
without ditch, without wall, without cistern, and without any picket to
prevent an enemy from running over the wall. So small, as not to con-
tain above one hundred and fifty men, and commanded by ground greatly
overlooking it, and within point blank shot j and so situated that five hun-
dred men may lie between the bastion and the lake, without being seen
from this extremely defensible fortress." Neither, however, do we give
credence to the report current at the time that Burgoyne chose the route
to Fort Anne in order to oblige his friend Major Skene — a large land-
holder in that region — by giving him the use of his troops to open for him
a road to the river. Burgoyne, whatever else his faults, was an honorable
man. He probably simply erred in judgment.
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 29
The country between Fort Anne and Fort Edward,
a distance of about sixteen miles, was extremely rough
and savage ; the ground unequal and broken up by nu-
merous roads and creeks interspersed by wide and deep
swamps. General Schuyler neglected no means of
adding by art to the difficulties with which nature seemed
to have purposely interdicted this passage. Trenches
were opened ; the roads and paths obstructed ; large
rocks thrown into Wood creek, the bridges broken up ;
and, in the only practicable defiles, immense trees were
cut in such a manner on both sides of the road, as to
fall across and lengthwise, which with their branches in-
terlocked presented an insurmountable barrier. In fact,
this wilderness, in itself so horrible, was rendered almost
impenetrable. Burgoyne, consequently, was compelled
not only to remove all these obstructions, but to build
more than forty bridges — - one particularly, over a morass
of more than two mile§ in length. Nor was this all.
On his arrival at Fort Anne' instead of advancing at
once upon Fort Edward and thence to Albany before
Schuyler had time to concentrate his forces in his front,
he sent a detachment of Brunswickers, under Colonel
Baum, to Bennington to surprise and capture some stores
which he had heard were at that place, and of which he
stood sorely in need. He was also influenced to this
step by the advice of his friend Major Skene, who as-
sured him that large numbers of the yoemanry of the
' It was while Burgoyne was at Fort Anne that the accidental shooting
of Jane McCrea by the garrison of Fort Edward occurred. For a true
history of this affair see Appendix No. IV.
30 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
country would flock to his standard — an expectat
which the event proved to be entirely fallacious.
General Riedesel, who commanded the German all
was totally opposed to this diversion, but being overrul
he proposed that Baum should march in the rear of
enemy, by way of Castleton, toward the Connecti
river. Had this plan been adopted, the probability
that the Americans would not have had time to prev
Baum from falling unawares upon their rear. Burgo)
however, against the advice of Riedesel and Phillips,
sisted obstinately on his plan, which was that Bai
should cross the Batten kil opposite Saratoga, move do
the Connecticut river in a direct line to Benningti
destroy the magazine at that place, and mount the Bru:
wick dragoons, who were destined to form part of I
expedition.' In this latter order a fatal blunder was co
mitted by employing troops, the most awkward and hea
in an enterprise where everything depended on 1
greatest celerity of movement, while the rangers w
were lightly equipped, were left behind !
Let us look for a moment at a fully equipped Brui
wick dragoon as he appeared at that time. He wore hi
and heavy jack boots, with large long spurs, stout and s
leather breeches, gauntlets, reaching high up upon
arms, and a hat with a huge tuft of ornamental feathe
On his side he trailed a tremendous broad sword ; a sh
but clumsy carbine was slung over his shoulder ; a
down his back like a Chinese mandarin, dangled a lo
' And yet General Riedesel states that 1500 horses had been purch;
in Canada as early as the middle of June, for the army. What becam(
them ?
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 3 1
queue. Such were the troops sent out by the British
general, on a service requiring the lightest of light skir-
mishers. The latter however, did not err from ignorance.
From the beginning of the campaign the English officers
had ridiculed these unwieldy troopers, who strolled about
the camp with their heavy sabres dragging on the ground,
saying (what was a fact) that the hat and sword of one
of them were as heavy as the whole of an English pri-
vate's equipment. But, as if this was not sufficient,
these light dragoons were still further cumbered by being
obliged to carry flour, and drive a herd of cattle before
them for their maintenance on the way.
The result may be easily foreseen. By a rapid move-
ment of the Americans under Stark, at three o'clock of
the afternoon of the i6th of Aug-ust, Baum was cut off
from his English allies, who fled and left him to fight
alone, with his awkwardly equipped squad, an enemy
far superior in numbers. In this maneuver Stark was
greatly aided by a ruse practiced on the German colonel.
" Toward 9 o'clock on the morning of the i6th," writes
General Riedesel, in giving an account of this action,
" small bodies of armed men made their appearance from
different directions. These men were mostly in their
shirt sleeves. They did not act as if they intended to
make an attack ; and Baum, being told by a provincial
who had joined his army on the line of march, that they
were all loyalists and would make common cause with
him, suffered them to encamp on his sides and rear.'
^ This confidence, perhaps, was the first and chief false step which caused
the defeat of Bennington, and consequently the failure of Burgoyne. This
is an entirely new revelation.
32 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Shortly after another force of the rebels arrived and at-
tacked his rear ; but with the aid of artillery, they were
repulsed. After a little while a stronger body made their
appearance and attacked more vigorously. This was the
signal for the seeming loyalists, who had encamped on
the sides and rear of the army, to attack the Germans;
and the result was that Baum suddenly found himself cut
off from all his detached posts." For over two hours
he withstood the sallies and fire of the Americans — his
dragoons to a man, fighting like heroes — but at last,
his ammunition giving out, and the reinforcements which
he had sent for not arriving, he was obliged to give way
before superior numbers and retreat. " The enemy," says
Riedesel, " seemed to spring out of the ground." Twice
the dragoons succeeded in breaking a road through the
forces of Stark, for, upon their ammunition being used
up, Baum ordered that they should sling their carbines
over their shoulders, and trust to their swords. But
bravery was now in vain ; and the heroic leader, himself
mortally wounded in the abdomen by a bullet, and having
lost three hundred and sixty out of four hundred, was
forced to surrender. Meanwhile, the Indians and Pro-
vincials had taken flight and sought safety in the forest.
While these events were taking place. Lieutenant
Colonel Breymann, who had been sent by Riedesel to
the aid of Baum, reached the bridge of St. Luke at three
o'clock in the afternoon. Here he was met by Major
Skene, who assured him that he was only two miles dis-
tant from Lieutenant Colonel Baum. Skene, however,
not informing him of the latter's defeat, he continued his ■
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. t^Ti
march as quickly as possible, although his troops — the
day being unusually hot and sultry — were greatly
fatigued. Scarcely had he advanced fifteen hundred
paces on the bridge, when he descried a strongly armed
force on an eminence toward the west. Skene assured
him this force were not the enemy ; but Breymann, not
satisfied with this assurance, sent ahead some scouts who
were immediately received with a volley of musketry."
Perceiving how the case stood, he at once ordered Major
Earner to advance upon the hill, sent his grenadiers to
the right, put the guns of both regiments into position,
and directed the fire upon a log-house occupied by the'
Americans. The Germans drove the enemy across
three ridges of land, but their ammunition giving out,
they were obliged to desist from the pursuit. Thereupon,
the Americans, guessing the cause of the halt, in their
turn once more advanced ; upon which Breymann, rely-
ing solely upon the fast gathering darkness to save him-
self, halted his men opposite the enemy, and remained
there until it was perfectly dark. Then under cover of
the night, he retreated across the bridge but was forced
to leave his cannon. At twelve o'clock that same night,
he arrived with his tired troops at Cambridge, and reached
the main army at Fort Miller on the 17th. In this
' Stedman, in his History of the American War, part i, .p. 417, states
that Baum captured on the first day, an American corps, which was released
the following day by Major Skene, under the impression that this act of
magnanimity would influence the released Americans to take no farther
part against their king. He adds that these very ones fought the hardest
against the English at Bennington. No mention, however, of this cir-
cumstance is made either in Riedesel's journals or in the report of Baum.
4
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 35
action, the Americans captured four brass cannons,'
besides some hundred stands of arms and brass barrelled
drums, several Brunswick swords, and about seven hun-
dred prisoners. = " It is true," says Riedesel, in com-
menting upon this action, " that justice was done to the
bravery of Colonel Baum, but the English also said, that
he did not possess the least knowledge of the country,
its people, or its language. But who selected him for
this expedition ? "
Wiih the failure of this expedition against Bennington,
the first lightning flashed from Burgoyne's hitherto serene
sky. The soldiers, as well as their officers, had set out
on this campaign with cheerful hearts ; for the campaign
successfully brought to a close, all must end in the tri-
umph of the royal arms. " Britons never go back,"
* These beautiful brass pieces of artillery were destined to undergo several
of the vicissitudes of war. They are French cast, and were brought from
Quebec with the army of Burgoyne. They were afterward inscribed ** taken
at Bennington, August i6, 1777," and constituted a part of the artillery of
General Hull's army, and fell into the enemy's hands at Detroit. When
the British officer of the day ordered the evening salutes to be fired from
the American cannon, he chanced to read the inscription, *' Taken at
Bennington, August i6th, 1777,'' whereupon he observed that he would
cause to be added as an additional line to the verse, " Retaken at Detroit,
August 1 6th, 1812." The guns were carried by the British down to Fort
George, at the mouth of the Niagara river, where they again fell into the
hands of the American army, which captured that fortress. General Dear-
born had them transported to Sackett's-Harbor, and with them were fired
the salutes in honor of Harrison's victory over Proctor at the river Thames,
in Upper Canada. The guns are now in Washington.
= For Stark's account of the battle of Bennington in a letter to General
Schuyler, and^also a narrative of one of the participants in the action, se?
Appendix, No. III.
^6 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Bugoyne exultantly had said, as the flotilla passed down
Lake.Champlain. Now, however, the Indians deserted
by scores, and an almost general consternation and lan-
guor took the place of the former confidence and
buoyancy.
On his arrival at Fort Edward, which had been
evacuated by the Americans on the approach of the British
army, the English general was joined by the Mohawk
Nation, or, as they were called, Sir William Johnson's
Indians. They agreed to fight provided their women and
children were sent to Canada and supported, a condition
which was faithfully carried out. Beyond this post, the
country was peopled with German, Dutch, and English
settlers. The latter, pretending to be good royalists, were
allowed by Burgoyne, against the strong representations of
his officers, not only to carry their arms, but to stroll
about the camp at their leisure, and without any
restraint. " These men, however," says Riedesel's
journal, " were all but royalists. They consequently
improved the opportunity to gain intelligence of all the
occurrences in the army by appearances, and they forth-
with communicated to the commanders of the enemy's
forces that which they had seen and heard." Having
finally reached the Hudson at the mouth of the Batten
kil, those of the German dragoons that were left were
horsed. Their number had now diminished to twenty,
and this number constituted the entire cavalry force of
the invading; army.
Campaign of General John Burgoyne, ]j
III.
On the 13th of September, the royal army, with the
exception of the German troops composing the left wing,
crossed the Hudson by a bridge of boats, with the de-
sign of forming a junction with Sir Henry Clinton at
Albany.^ It encamped on the heights and plains of Sara-
toga near the mouth of Fish creek (the present site of
Schuylerville), within a few miles of the northern divi-
sion of the continentals under Gates — Burgoyne selecting
General Schuyler's house as his headquarters.^ After
* The Brunswick Journal states, that as early as the 19th of August,
Fraser having occupied Fort Miller on the 9th of that month, a bridge was
first made abo've the present Saratoga falls or rapids j but upon a better
place being found lower down, it was broken up and a new one built belo'w
the rapids.
While preparations for crossing the river were making, Burgoyne, says
Neilson, " encamped on an extensive flat or intervale, about one hundred rod
north of Lansing's saw-mill. Here he had quite an extensive slaughter-yard
which so enriched the soil that its effects are still visible on the corn crops
and other productions.'' The exact place where the British crossed the
Hudson was just below the Saratoga falls, two miles above Schuylerville,
some eighty rods northwest of the present residence of Abraham Yates
Rogers. The entrenchments which were at that time thrown up to cover
the passage of the river, are still to be seen very plainly. They are three
hundred feet in length and from four to six feet high, but are overgrown
with scrub pines, Mr. Rogers, whose grandfather lived on the farm at
the time, informs me that within thirty years the wooden platforms for the
cannon were in existence behind the entrenchment.'* The survey of the
railroad from Greenwich to Saratoga Springs was through these entrench-
ments.
* Burgoyne did not cross as soon as he expected, because, finding his
provisions short, he was obliged to wait until supplies could be brought up
38 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
crossing the bridge' the 9th, 20tli, 2 1 stand 62d regiments,
with the artillery, were stationed on the plain near the
river, between the barracks^ and the Fish kil, the bateaux
on the right bank being crossed by six companies of the
47th. The hills around Saratoga were so densely
covered with woods and underbrush that it was impos-
sible to place the army in position to withstand an attack
from the Americans. Accordingly all of the generals
from Ticonderoga. Sergeant Lamb was accordingly sent back alone (as
being thus less liable to attract observation) to that post and soon returned
with a month's provisions. For an account of his trip, see Appendix No.
XV.
' The Brunswick Journal, in speaking of the passage of this bridge, says :
" The a'vanl-guarde under Fraser was the first to march over. At nine
o'clock the reserve under Lieut. Col. Breymann followed after them in
order to cover Fraser's left flank. The Germans, who formed the left
wing of the army went over last of all [two days afterwards] j as soon as the
last man had crossed the bridge it was broicen up. They had passed the
Rubicon, and all further communication with Canada was now cut off.
The army which, on first setting off from there, was 10,000 strong, had
already diminished to 6000 [1000 had been left at Ticonderoga] and even
these were provided with provisions not only scant in quantity, but bad in
quality.
^ These barracks were used as a hospital and were located on the north
side of the road to Saratoga Springs, directly upon the present site of the red
barns of the Hon. Alonzo Welch of Schuylerville, who resides a few rods
east of the barns in the main village street. The barracks were standing
and occupied by a farmer up to within thirty years. In March, 1867, Mr.
Welch, while plowing back of his barns, came across the burying place of
the hospital. The bones thus exhumed, he carefully reburied.
Schuyler's house (so say the manuscript Journals of the Brunswick offi-
cers) was betiueer. the old village of Ticonderoga and the Fish kil. This
fact is of great importance in locating the old village, which, by the way,
at best consisted of only a few scattered houses.
'ff-t
<^^^-7f
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 39
carefully inspected the high ground nearest the camp,
and agreed upon a position to be taken up at a moment's
notice, in case of an attack. The situation of the army,
moreover, was rendered still more precarious by the fact
of its being divided by the river, and thus obliged to be
constantly on its guard. New entrenchments were there-
fore thrown up, especially on the side toward Bennington.
After the evacuation of Fort Edward, Schuyler had
fallen down the river, first to Stillwater, and then to Van
Schaick's island at the mouth of the Mohawk.' On the
19th day of August, however, he was superseded by
Gates, who, on the 8th day of September, advanced with
six thousand men to Bemis's heights, three miles north
of Stillwater. These heights were at once fortified,
'"The reason," says Neilson, *' why Schuyler fortified Van Schaick's
island with the expectation of opposing Burgoyne in his march to Albany,
was as follows: at tiiat time there were no bridges across either the Hudson
or Mohawk, nor were there ferries as plenty as they have been since. The
only ferry on the Mohawk, between the Hudson river and Schenectady,
was Loudon's, five miles above its mouth, where Arnold was posted with the
left wing of the American army, for the purpose of preventing a passage at
that place. There was another ferry near Halfmoon point (Waterford),
across the Hudson, but that would only have been leading him out of the
way on the opposite side of the river. Besides, the conveying so large an
army over that stream in a common scow-boat, and at the same time sub-
ject to be opposed by the Americans who lay near by, would have rendered
such an undertaking impracticable. Those being the facts, his course ne-
cessarily lay across the sprouts^ as they were called, or mouths of the Mo-
hawk, which, except in time of freshets, were fordable, and by four of
which that stream enters the Hudson j the second and third forming Van
Schaick's island, across which the road passed, and was the usual route at
that time."
40 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
under the direction of Kosciusko. Along the brow of
the river hills he threw up a line of breastworks about
three-fourths of a mile in extent, with a strong battery
at each end, and one in the centre, in such positions as
to sweep the alluvial meadows between them and the
river. A line of entrenchments, also, ran fiom west to
east half a mile in length, and terminated on the east
end on the west side of the intervale. The right wing
occupied a hill nearest the river, and was protected in
front by a wide, marshy ravine, and behind this by abattis.
From the foot of this hill, across the flats to the river,
an entrenchment was opened, at the extremity of which,
on the margin of the river, another strong battery was
constructed. The left wing commanded by Arnold
(who after the defeat of St. Leger at Fort Stanwix, had
joined Gates) extended onto a height three quarters of a
mile further north, its left flank being also protected on
the hillside by felled trees, or slashings. Gates's head-
quarters were in the centre, a little south of what was
then, and is now, known as the Neilson farm,
On the 15th, the Germans crossed the river, and Bur-
goyne, having destroyed the bridge, gave the order to
advance in search of the enemy, supposed to be some'
where in the forest ; for, strange as it appears, that gene-
ral had no knowledge of the position of the Americans,
nor had he taken any pains to inform himself upon this
vital point.' The army in gala dress, with its left wing
' For an account of Alexander Bryan, the scout who gave Gates timely
notice of the passage of the Hudson by Burgoyne, see Appendix XI.
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 41
resting on the Hudson, set off on its march with drums
beating, colors flying, and their arms glistening in the
sunshine of that lovely autumn day. " It was a superb
spectacle," says an eye-witness, " reminding one of a
grand parade in the midst of peace." That night they
pitched their camp at Dovogat's house (Coveville).'
On the following morning, the enemy's drums were
' This house, which is still (1877) standing in good preservation, on the
margin of the Champlain canal, about fifty rods from the Hudson,
is situated about forty rods east of the road from Schuylerville to Stillwater,
in what is called "Van Vechten's cove, at CoveviUe.
In regard to the origin of this name. Professor Asa Fitch writes as
follows :
"yuly 4, 1877 — Dear Sir — Having resided six years in Stillwater, eight
miles below, and in Ft. Miller over a year, eight miles above Co-vemlle, I
have often been to and through the place, and am quite familiar with the
names it has had. Here is very much the largest of the coves or narrow
bays (ancient beds of the river) which occur along the stream between Ft.
Miller and Stillwater. In summer, when the river is low, this cove is an
immense mud-hole or marsh. Hence it was first named by the Dutch,
the Great Vlie, or simply the Vlie. This was its current name during the
Old French war, and the New England troops passing have probably sup-
posed the name alluded to the swarms of muslcetoes they here encountered,
for they wrote it the F/y, and the Great Fly.
The cove was formerly a noted resort for flocks of wild ducks, attracting
hunters hither from all the country around j and from this the place re-
ceived its next name. Dovecot, i.e., dove house or dove place. This is the
current statement among the inhabitants of the vicinity, and I doubt not
it is correct. This was the prevalent name at the period of the revolution
and for many years after. Some writers, unaware of the derivation and
meaning of the name spell it differently. Thus in Wilkinson's Memoirs
it is spelled Da-vocote. No doubt Baron Riedesel, on inquiring the origin
or signification of this name, was told it meant dome's house, and he, im-
perfectly acquainted with our language, and supposing it to be the name of
a person, and writing it as he understood it to be pronounced, entered it in
his journal, Do-vegaf i.bouse,"
42 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
heard calling the men to arms, but although in such close
proximity, the invading army knew not whence the
sounds came, nor in what strength he was posted. In-
deed, it does not seem that up to this time, Burgoyne
had sent off eclaireurs or scouting parties to discover the
situation of the enemy. Now, however, he mounted his
horse to attend to it himself, taking with him, a strong
body guard, consisting of the four regiments of Specht
and Hesse-Hanau with six heavy pieces of ordnance,
and two hundred workmen to construct bridges and roads.
This was the parly, with which he proposed, "to scout,
and if occasion served," these were his words, " to attack
the rebels on the spot." This remarkable scouting party
moved with such celerity, as to accomplish two and a
half miles the first day,' when in the evening, the entire
army, which had followed on, encamped at Sword's
house, within five miles of the American lines. ^
I am inrlined, however, to think that the word is a compound from the
Dutch words dcof or doove^ dull, and gat, hole, in other words a kind of
Sleepy hollow. Riedesel probably gives the name to the house not from a
person of that name living in it, but from the place, i.e., the house at
Do'vogat.
^ A New Hampshire regiment, while endeavoring to head off Clinton and
save Albany, marched forty miles from Saratoga (Schuylerville), in fourteen
hours and forded the Mohawk below Cohoes falls. Belknap^ s New Hampshire.
Col. Otho Williams marched forty miles on the l8th of November, 1781.
Bancroft, x, 473. Tarleton rode seventy miles in twenty-four hours, de-
stroying public stores on the way. Idem. And Cornwallis, in marching
order, pursued Greene's lightened retreating troops at the rate of thirty miles
in a day. ^ -
= The site of Sword's house is on the south side of a spring brook, about
fifty yards west of the Hudson river, and a few rods north of the south
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 43
The night of the i8th passed quietly, the scouts that
had finally been sent out, having returned without dis-
covering a trace of the enemy. Indeed, it is a note-
worthy fact that throughout the entire campaign, Bur-
goyne was never able to obtain accurate knowledge,
either of the position of the Americans or of their move-
ments ; whereas, all his own plans were publicly known
long before they were officially given out in orders. "I
observe," writes Mrs. General Riedesel at this time,
" that the wives of the officers are beforehand informed
of all the military plans. Thus the Americans anticipate
all our movements, and expect us whenever we arrive ;
and this, of course, injures our affairs."
On the morning of the 19th, a further advance was
again ordered, an advance which prudence dictated should
be made with the greatest caution. The army was now
in the immediate vicinity of an alert and thoroughly
aroused enemy, of whose strength they knew as little as
of the country.' Notwithstanding this, the army not
only was divided into three columns, each marching half
a mile apart, but at 11 o'clock, a cannon, fired as a
line of the town of Saratoga, It may be readily found from being about
thirty rods north of a highway leading from the Hudson river road westerly,
which highway is the first one north of Wilbur's basin. Tliis highway
was nearly the same at the time of General jBurgoyne's visit in 1777 as
now. All traces of the house are now (1877) obliterated save a few bricks
and a slight depression in the soil where was the cellar.
' " At this encampment (Sword's house) several of our men having pro-
ceeded into a field of potatoes, were surprised by a party of the enemy that
killed about thirty of them. They might without difficulty have been
surrounded and taken prisoners, but the Americans could not resist the op-
portunity of shedding blood." — Lamb's Memoirs. Dublin, 181 1.
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Campaign of General John Burgoyne. iii
you show me so much kindness.' I then learned that '
he was the American General Schuyler."
The English and German generals dined with the
American commander in his tent, on boards laid across
barrels. The dinner which was served up in four dishes
consisted only of ordinary viands, the Americans at this
period being accustomed to plain and frugal meals. The
drink, on this occasion, was cider, and rum mixed with
water. Burgoyne appeared in excellent humor. He
talked a great deal and spoke very flatteringly of the Ameri-
cans, remarking among other things that he admired the
number, dress and disciphne of their army and above all
the decorum and regularity that were observed. " Your
funds of men," he said to Gates, "are inexhaustible. Like
the Hydra's head, when cut off, seven more spring up in
its stead."
He also proposed a toast to General Washington, an
attention that Gates returned by drinking the health of
the king of England. The conversation on both sides
was unrestrained, affable and free. Indeed the conduct
of Gates throughout, after the terms of the surrender had
been adjusted, was marked with equal delicacy and mag-
nanimity, as Burgoyne himself admitted in a letter to the
Earl of Derby. In that letter, the captive general par-
ticularly mentioned one circumstance which he said ex-
ceeded all he had ever seen or read of on a like occasion.
It was, that when the British soldiers had marched out of
their camp to the place where they were to pile their arms,
not a man of the American troops was to be seen, General
Gates having ordered his whole army out of sight, that
122 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
not one of them should be a spectator of the humiliation
of the British troops. This was a refinement of delicacy
and of military generosity and politeness reflecting the
highest credit upon the conqueror ; and was spoken of
by the officers of Burgoyne in the strongest terms of
approbation.'
As the company rose from table, the royal army filed
past in their march to the seaboard. Thereupon, by pre-
concerted arrangement, the generals stepped out, and
Burgoyne drawing his sword presented it in the presence
of the two armies to General Gates. The latter re-
ceived it with a courteous bow, and immediately returned
it to the vanquished general. Colonel Trumbull has
graphically depicted this scene in one of his paintings in
the rotunda at Washington.^
Remembrancer of 1777, pages 482 and 3. A letter published in that
repository of the American Revolution, at the same time, stated that "some
few of the New England men desired to have Burgoyne in their hands for
half an hour. Being asked for what purpose, they said they * would do him
no harm; they would tar and feather him, and make him stand on the
head of one of his own empty beef-barrels, and read his own proclamation.' "
p. 481—82. If made at all, the suggestion must have been merely the
sportive sally of a wag.
^ The headquarters of General Gates — when the surrender took place —
were situated about one hundred and fifty rods south of Fish creek^ very nearly
on the west side of the present river road from Schuylerville to Stillwater,
in a rude cabin partially dug out of the bank on that side of the road (see
note on pages 11 8- 19). By some — and it has given rise to much
discussion' — it has been supposed, that these head-quarters were on a
bluff overlooking the scene of the laying down of arms, just south of
Fish creek, and nearly fronting Schuyler's house. This mistake, how-
ever, probably arose from the fact, that, during the negotiations between
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 1 2 j
General Schuyler, as we have seen, was in the camp
with Gates at the time of the surrender ; and when
Burgoyne, with his general officers, arrived in Albany,
they were the guests of Schuyler, by whom they were
treated with great hospitality. Madame Riedesel, also,
speaks with much feeling of the kindness she received
on this occasion at the hands of Mrs. Schuyler and her
daughters. The urbanity of General Schuyler's manners,
and the chivalric magnanimity of his character, smarting
as he was under the extent and severity of his pecuniary
losses, are attested by General Burgoyne, himself, in his
speech in 1778, in the British House of Commons. He
then declared that, by his orders, " a very good dwelling
house, exceeding large store-houses, great saw-mills, and
other out-buildings, to the value altogether perhaps of
£10,000 sterling," belonging to General Schuyler, at
Saratoga, were destroyed by fire a few days before the
the two generals for the surrender, a tent, for the accommodation of General
Wilkinson on the part of Gates, and of Major Kingston of Burgoyne, was
pitched, says Wilkinson, " betiveen the ad'vanced guards of the two armies,
on the first bank just above General Schuyler's saw-mill." Thus, very
naturally, the mistake arose — that it was a mistake, there can be not
the shadow of a doubt, as any one, who will read Wikinson attentively,
must at once perceive. — See General Mattoons Letter, Appendix XIII.
" My father, then a small boy, living a mile and a half west of this vil-
lage (Ballston, N. Y.), which was then a wilderness, remembers to have
heard the noise of the artillery in both engagements. Several of the neigh-
bors went over to Saratoga (SchuylerviUe) to witness the capitulation. He
remembered that Judge Beriah Palmer stopped at the house on his return,
and said he saw Gen. Burgoyne surrender his sword to Gftn. Gates, and
gave many particulars of the occurrence." — Hon. Geo. G. Scott of Balhton,
N. T., to the Author, June 23, 1877.
1 24 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
surrender to give greater play to his artillery. He said
further, that one of the first persons he saw, after the
Convention was signed, was General Schuyler; and when
expressing to him his regret at the event which had
happened to his property. General Schuyler desired him
" to think no more of it, and that the occasion justified it
accordingto the rules of war." " Hedid more," continued
Burgoyne ; " he sent an aid-de-camp " to conduct me to
Albany, in order, as he expressed it, to procure better
quarters than a stranger might be able to find. That
gentleman conducted me to a very elegant house, and
to my great surprise, presented me to Mrs. Schuyler and
her family. In that house I remained during my whole
stay in Albany, with a table of more than twenty covers
for me and my friends, and every other demonstration
of hospitality."^
XIV.
General Burgoyne, until his unfortunate campaign,
stood very high in his profession. He had made a bril-
liant record on the banks of the Tagus for dash, as well
^ The late Col. Richard Variclc, then the military secretary of General
Schuyler.
'Parliamentary Hislory, Vol. XIX, p. 1 1 82, as quoted by Chancellor
Kent in his address before the N. Y. His. See
During Mrs. Riedesel'a st.iy at Albany, as the guest of Gen. and Mrs.
Schuyler, one of her little girls, on first coming into the house, exclaimed,
" Oh mama ! Is this the palace papa was to have when he came to Ameri-
ca ? " As the Schuyler family understood German, Madame Riedesel
colored at the remark, which, however, was pleasantly got over. — Life
of Peter Van Schaick.
The Schuyler mansion, which stands on Clinton street facing Schuyler
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 125
as judgment, under the eye of a master in the art of war,
the famous Count Schaumberg Lippe, who had been
selected by Frederic the Great, or the second Frederic,
Prince Ferdinano of Brunswick, to save the kingdom of
Portugal, on the very verge of ruin. He also added to
a prepossessing exterior the polished manners and keen
sagacity of a courtier. He was likewise witty and brave.
But personal courage alone does not constitute a com-
mander ; for of a commander other qualities are expected,
especially experience and presence of mind. Burgoyne,
in all his undertakings, was hasty and self-willed. De-
siring to do everything himself, he rarely consulted with
others ; and yet he never knew how to keep a plan
secret. While in a subordinate position, although con-
tinually carping at his military superiors and complaining
of his inferior position, yet when given a separate com-
mand he was guilty of the same faults which he had
street, was not built by Schuyler, himself, but by the wife of General Brad-
street while the latter was on his expedition to Oswego in 1759. ^^^
barraclis stood some fifteen rods back of the house, between which it is
supposed an underground passage existed, though no traces of it have ever
been found. The mansion even for this day is a fine one ; and for that
period must have been superb. It is now (1877) owned and occupied by
Mrs. John Tracey. Mrs. Tracey, who cherishes all the traditions of the
place, received the author with great courtesy, and kindly acted as his
cicerone in visiting the interior of the house and the grounds. For the
attempt to capture Schuyler by the Indians and Tories see Lossfng's Field
Book of the Re-volution. The mark of the tomahawk, which, hurled at
Mrs. Schuyler's daughter as she snatched her infant sister from its cradle to
bear it to a place of safety, is still clearly seen on the banister.
126 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
reprehended in others.' Being a great sybarite he often
neglected the duties of a general, as well toward his king
as his subordinates. He could easily make light of
everything, provided he was eating a good meal, or was
with his mistress; and while he was enjoying his cham-
pagne and choice food his army suffered the keenest want.
Thus, immediately after the capitulation, he could eat and
drink with the enemy's generals, and talk with the
greatest ease of the most important events.
Soon after the surrender, he returned to England and
justly threw the failure of the expedition upon the admin-
istration. There can be no doubt, that had he been
properly supported by Howe, as he had a right to ex-
pect, he would, despite his mistakes, have reached Albany ;
since, in that case, Gates would not have been at Still-
water with an army to oppose him. Mr. Fonblanque,
in his life of Burgoyne, draws particular attention for the
first time, to a fact that throws entirely new light on the ap-
parent failure of Howe, and clears up all that has hitherto
seemed mysterious and contradictory. Orders, fully as
imperative as those to Burgoyne, were to have been sent
to Howe, but, owing to the carelessness of Germaine —
who preferred going to a good dinner in Kent to waiting
a few moments to append his signature — they were
^ Had Burgoyne had the experience of his campaign, when he wrote to
his friend Sir Gilbert Elliot from Boston, in 1775, he would doubtless have
exercised more charity. In that letter he writes, '* For God's sake urge
the ministry to encourage the general [Gage] in the use of it [money] fo*"
the secret service. I am bold to say he has not proper intelligence of wha*^
passes within half a mile of us." — Fonblanque s Burgoyne^ p. 204. See
also pp. 142—155 in same connection.
Campaign of General John Burgoyne, 127
pigeon-holed in London, where they were found, after the
convention of Saratoga, carefully docketed, and only want-
ing the signature of the minister/ Hence, Howe acted
on the discretionary orders sent to him previously, and
concluded to go to Philadelphia instead of to Albany —
merely telling Clinton, that if other reinforcements came
meanwhile from England, he might make a diversion in
favor of Burgoyne. Primarily, then, the failure of the
expedition was due to the gross negligence of the war
minister, though the failure of Howe does not excuse
the blunders through which Burgoyne lost his army in the
retreat. It should, moreover, also be stated in justice to
^ Lord E. Fitzmaurice, in his Life of Lord Shelburne (Germaine), quotes
a memorandum from the hand of that statesman on the subject of that dis-
astrous blunder. He says, " The inconsistent orders given to Generals
Howe and Burgoyne could not be accounted for except in a way which it
must be difficult for any person who is not conversant with the negligence
of office to comprehend. It might appear incredible, if his own secretary
and the most respectable persons in office had not assured me of the fact,
and what corroborates it, is that it can be accounted for in no other way.
It requires as much experience in business to comprehend the very trifling
causes which have produced the greatest events, as it does strength of reason
to develope the very deepest designs. Among many singularities, Lord
Shelburne had a particular aversion to being put out of his way on any
occasion. He had fixed to go into Kent at a particular hour and to call on
his way at his office to sign the despatches (all of which had been settled)
to both these generals. By some mistake those to Gen. Howe were not
fair copied, and upon his growing impatient at it, the office, which was a
very idle one, promised to send it to the country after him, while they
despatched the others to Gen. Burgoyne, expecting that Howe's could be
expedited before the packet sailed with the first. By some mistake, how-
ever, the ship sailed without them, and they were not signed and were for-
gotten on his return to town."
128 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Burgoyne that in arranging the campaign with the king
he insisted most strenuously that his success depended
upon Howe's cooperation.
On his first arrival in England he was received very
coldly by the court and people, the king refusing to
see him ; but upon a change of the ministry he regained
somewhat of his popularity. In 1780, he appeared be-
fore the public in a vindication of himself in a work
entitled the State of the Expedition. Subsequently,
he wrote several popular comedies ; and was one of the
managers of the impeachment of Lord Hastings. He
did not live, however, to see the result of that trial. He
died on the 4th of August, 1792, and was buried in
Westminster Abbey.
In regard to General Gates, the same incapacity, which
afterward became so apparent in his unfortunate southern
campaign, was manifested from the time of his assuming
the command of the northern army until the surrender.
It was perhaps no fault of his that he had been placed in
command at the north, just at the auspicious moment
when the discomfiture of Burgoyne was no longer prob-
lematical. He was ordered by congress to the station,
and performed his duty passably well. But it is no less
true, that the laurels won by him ought to have been worn
by Schuyler. Col. Wilkinson, who was a member of
Gates's military family, has placed this question in its
true aspect. He maintains that not only had the army
of Burgoyne been essentially disabled by the defeat of the
Germans at Bennington before the arrival of Gates, but
that the repulse of St. Leger at Fort Stanwix had deranged
^ in
^ 'r,
O r.
E r
i q f n
,- ? i ^ -^
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 129
his plans ; while safety had been restored to the western
frontier, and the panic, thereby caused, had subsided.
He likewise maintains that after the reverses at the north,
nowise attributable to him, and before the arrival of
Gates, the zeal, patriotism and sanitary arrangements of
General Schuyler had vanquished the prejudices excited
against him ; that by the defeat of Baum and St. Leger,
Schuyler had been enabled to concentrate and oppose his
whole Continental force against the main body of the
enemy ; and that by him, also before the arrival of Gen.
Gates, the friends of the Revolution had been re-animated
and excited to manly resistance, while the adherents of
the royal cause were intimidated, and had shrunk into
silence and inactivity. From these premises, which are
indisputable, it is no more than a fair deduction to say
"that the same force which enabled Gates to subdue
the British army, would have produced a similar effect
under the orders of General Schuyler ; since the opera-
tions of the campaign did not involve a single instance
of professional skill, and the triumph of the American
arms was accomplished by the physical force, and valor
of the troops under the protection and direction
OF the God of Battles.'
Gates was a man of great plausibility and address, and.
^*'A Thanksgiving sermon,'' says Lamb, " was preached on the occasion
of the surrender before the American army by the chaplain, from Joel ii,
20th. ' But I will remove far from you the Northern army, and will drive
him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the East sea, and
his hinder part toward the utmost sea j and his ill savor shall come up be-
cause he hath done great things.' "
130 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
withal, a handsome fellow and a great lion in society. It
is therefore not surprising, that, flushed with his for-
tuitous success, or rather with the success attending his
fortuitous position, he did not wear his honors with any
remarkable meekness. On the contrary, his bearing
toward the commander-in-chief was far from respectful.
He did not even write to Washington on the occasion,
until after a considerable time had elapsed. In the first
instance, Wilkinson was sent as the bearer of despatches
to congress, but did not reach that body until fifteen
days after the articles of capitulation had been signed ;
and three days more were occupied in arranging his
papers before they were presented.' The first mention
which Washington makes of the defeat of Burgoyne, is
contained in a letter written to his brother on the 18th
of October, the news having been communicated to him
by Governor Clinton. He spoke of the event again on
the 19th, in a letter addressed to General Putnam. On
the 25th, in a letter addressed to that officer, he ac-
knowledges the reception of a copy of the articles of
capitulation from him — ^ adding, that it was the first
authentic intelligence he had received of the affair, and
that he had begun to grow uneasy, and almost to suspect
that the previous accounts were premature. And it
was not until the 2d of November that Gates deigned
to communicate to the commander-in-chief a word upon
^ " It was on this occasion that one of the members made a motion
in congress, that they should compliment Colonel Wilkinson with the
gift of a pair of spurs." — Sparks.
Campaign of General John Burgoyne, 131
the subject, and then only incidentally, as though it were
a matter of secondary importance.^
Transferred three years afterward to the chief com-
mand of the Southern department, his disastrous defeat
and irresolute, not to say cowardly, conduct soon pricked
the bubble of his reputation ; and after living in com-
parative obscurity forseveral years on his farm in Virginia,
he died in the city of New York, April 10th, 1806.^
^In the unfortunate battle of Camden, De Kalb, at the sacrifice of his
life, played the same role to Gates — though without the same result —
that Arnold did in the battle of Saratoga. Colonel, Marquis of Armand,
who led the right advance at Camden, accused Gates, openly, of treason and
cowardice.
^ Congress, in the first flush of its gratitude, decreed that Gates should be
presented with a medal of gold, to be struck expressly in commemoration
of so glorious a victory. On one side of it was the bust of the general?
with these words around it : Horatio Gates, Duel strenuo ,- and in the
middle, Comitia Americana. On the reverse, Burgoyne was represented in
the attitude of delivering his sword j and in the back ground, on the one
side and on the other, were seen the two armies of England and America.
At the top were these words, Salus regionum Septentrional ^ and at the foot,
Hoste ad Saratogam in deditione aacpta. Die XVII Oct. M.D.CCLXXVII.
Mr. Benson J, Lossing, who designed the seal of the Saratoga Monument
Association, has incorporated in it the reverse of the medal.
In his domestic relation Gen. Gates was an affectionate husband and
father. In a letter to his wife, written from Albany three days after the
surrender, he says :
"The voice of fame, ere this reaches you, will tell how greatly fortunate
we have been in this department. Burgoyne and his whole army have
laid down their arms, and surrendered themselves to me and my Yankees.
Thanks to the giver of all victory for this triumphant success. I got here
night before last, and all now are camped upon the heights to the south of
this city. Major General Phillips, who wrote me that saucy note last year
fi-om St. Johns, with Lord Petersham, Major Ackland, son of Sir Thomas,
132 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
XV.
The Battle of Saratoga has justly been designated by
Sir Edward Creasy " one of the fifteen decisive battles of
and his lady, daughter of Lord llchester, sister to the famous Lady Susan, and
about a dozen members of parliament, Scotch lords, etc., are among the cap-
tured. I wrote to J. Boone, by Mr. Fluck, an engineer, whom I permitted
to pass to Canada, and who goes immediately from thence to England. I
could not help, in a modest manner, putting him in mind of the fete
champetre that I three years ago told him Burgoyne would meet with if he
came to America. If Old England is not by this lesson taught humility,
then she is an obstinate old slut, bent upon her ruin. I long much to see
you, and have, therefore, sent the bearers to Albany by the way of Read-
ing, where you will be received and entertained by Mrs. Potts. Before you
leave Reading, you must take advice whether to come by - Nazareth or
Bethlehem j after that your road up the country by Van Camp's, through
the Minisinks, to Hurley and Esopus, Is plain and well known to the bearer.
" Don't let Bob's zeal to get to papa, hurry you faster than, considering
the length of the journey, you ought to come. If you come by Bethlehem,
there is a Mr. Oakley, who holds an office under Mifflin, who will pro-
vide you with everything you may have occasion for, and will introduce you
to Madame Langton, and the Bishop and Mrs. Ilsley, etc. Perhaps you
may get ruffles to your apron ; if they are finished I desire you will bespeak
them.
*' Tell my dear Bob not to be too elated at this great good fortune of his
father. He and I have seen many days adverse as well as prosperous. Let
us through life endeavor to bear both with an equal mind. General Bur-
goyne has promised me to deliver any letters I please to commit to his care
in England. I think to send a few to some principal men there. Perhaps
they may have a good effect for both countries. I would fain have
the mother reconciled to her child, and consent, since she is big enough
to be married, to let her rule and govern her own house. I hope Lady
Harriet Ackland will be here when you arrive. She is the most amiable,
delicate little piece of quality you ever beheld. Her husband Is one of the
prettiest fellows I have seen, learned, sensible, and an Englishman to all
Campaign of General John Burgoyne. 13 j
history." It secured for the American colonies the
French alliance, and lifted the cloud of nnoraland financial
gloom that had settled upon the hearts of the people,
dampening the hopes of the leaders of the Revolution,
and wringing despairing words even from the hopeful
Washington. From that auspicious day, belief in the
ultimate triumph of American liberty never abandoned
the nation till it was realized and sealed four years later,
almost to a day, in the final surrender at Yorktown.^'^'^
A century has elapsed since that illustrious event.
All the actors in the great drama have passed away, and
their descendants are now reaping the rewards of their
devotion and suffering. And yet, no monument has
arisen to commemorate that turning point of our national
destiny. Lexington and Bunker hill have their imposing
memorials to tell of the earliest bloodshed in the cause
of Cisatlantic freedom ; and, in our own day, the self con-
secration of Antietam and Gettysburg are made enduring
in granite records for the admiration of generations yet
to be. The purpose is noble, the tribute deserved, for
every such memorial stands as an educator to gratitude
and patriotism.
intents and purposes j has been a most confounded tory, but I hope to make
him as good a whig as myself before we separate. You must expect bad
and cold days upon the journey j therefore, prepare against it. I thank God
I am pretty well; have had a bad cold, with loss of appetite from being
continually harassed with so much business; but I hope to find some rest
in winter and much comfort in your*s and Bob's company. I will try and
get some good tea for you from some of the English officers. Accept my
tenderest wishes for your health and safety, and assure my dear Bob how
much laminterestedinhis welfare. Heaven grant us a happy meeting."' —
Gates's papers in the''Jc::/.l/,vvJi 20 %gs iy./SM'^//<_hmJ,M
THE EXPEDITION
LIEUT. COLONEL BARRY ST. LEGER.^
Contemporaneously with the descent of
Burgoyne upon Northern New York, Colonel Barry
St. Leger, as stated in Part First, had been despatched
from Montreal, by the way of the St. Lawrence and
Lake Ontario, to Oswego, there to form a junction with
the Indians and loyalists under Sir John Johnson and
Captain Brant. From Oswego, St. Leger was to pene-
trate by the way of Oneida lake and Wood creek to
the Mohawk river, with a view of forming a junction
from that direction with Burgoyne, on his arrival in
Albany.^ The alarm everywhere felt on the approach
of Burgoyne from the North, was greatly increased in
Tryon county, on receiving intelligence of the contem-
plated invasion by the Indians and loyalists from the
West. The news of this movement was first brought
'This account is taken, in the main, from my father's Life of Brant —
as being the most accurate and thorough narration of St. Leger's expedition
yet written. I have, however, added a number of notes and made a few
additions to the text.
= Burgoyne^ State of the Expedition, Appendix, p. xii.
140 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
to the inhabitants by an Oneida half-breed sachem name
Thomas Spencer, who came therewith direct fror
Canada, whither he had gone as a secret emissary t
obtain information. Spencer stated that he had bee
present at a council held at the Indian castle of Cassas
senny, at which Colonel Claus presided.' According t'
Thomas's relation, Colonel Claus strongly urged th
Indians to join in the expedition into the Mohawk valle
by the western approach ; boasting of the strength of th
army under Burgoyne, which had gone against Ticon
deroga, and the number of Indians with them, and befon
whom he assured them Ticonderoga would fall. " Yes,'
said Colonel Claus, " Ticonderoga is mine. This i
true : you may depend on it, and not one gun shall bi
fired." Singularly enough, though improbable at th(
time, the prediction, as we have seen, was literally ful
filhed. " The same," added the superintendent, " is trui
of Fort Schuyler. I am sure that when I come before
that fort, and the commanding oiEcer shall see me, h(
also will not fire a shot, but will surrender the fort t(
me." The Oneida sachem farther informed the peoph
that Sir John Johnson and Colonel Claus were then ai
Oswego with their families, with seven hundred Indians
and four hundred regular troops. There were also si>
hundred tories on one of the islands above Oswegatchie
preparing to join them ; and Colonel Butler was to arrive
at Oswego on the 14th of July from Niagara, to hold i
■Colonel Daniel Claus, a brother-in-law of Sir John Johnson, had eithe:
superseded Guy Johnson as Indian superintendent in Canada, or been ap'
pointed a deputy.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 141
council with the Six Nations, to all of whom he would
offer the hatchet to join them and strike the Americans.
Thomas thereupon concluded his communication in the
following speech :
" Brothers : Now is your time to awake, and not to
sleep longer ; or, on the contrary, it shall go with Fort
Schuyler as it went already with Ticonderoga.
" Brothers : I therefore desire you to be spirited,
and to encourage one another to march on to the assist-
ance of Fort Schuyler. Come up, and show yourselves
as men, to defend and save your country before it is too
late. Despatch yourselves to clear the brush about the
fort, and send a party to cut trees in the Wood creek to
stop up the same.
" Brothers : If you don't come soon, without delay,
to assist this place, we cannot stay much longer on your
side ; for if you leave this fort without succor, and the
enemy shall get possession thereof, we shall suffer like
you in your settlements, and shall be destroyed with you.
We are suspicious that your enemies have engaged the
Indians, and endeavor daily yet to strike and fight against
you ; and General Schuyler refuses always that we shall
take up arms in the country's behalf.
" Brothers : I can assure you, that as soon as Butler's
.speech at Oswego shall be over, they intend to march
down the country immediately to Albany. You may
judge yourselves that if you don't try to resist, we shall
be obliged to join them or fly from our castles, as we
cannot hinder them alone. We, the good friends of the
country, are of opinion, that if more force appears at
13
142 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Fort Schuyler, the enemy will not move from Osw<
to invade these frontiers. You may depend on it
are willing to help you if you will do some efforts toi
The counsel of the faithful Oneida was neither ea
enough, nor was it seconded with sufficient promptiti
on the part of the iiihabitants. Indeed, it must be C(
fessed, that, as the siorm of wr rolled onward, gather
at once from different directions, and threatening dj
to break upon them with increasing fury, many of
yeoman who had hitherto borne themselves nobly, bej
to falter. A spirit of disaffection had also been m
widely diffused among the settlements than could h;
been supposed from the previous patriotic conduct
the people, while treason lurked in many places wh
least suspected. Upon this subject, and with spec
reference to the popular feeling and conduct in Tr\
county, John Jay, then sitting in the state convention
Kingston, addressed the following letter to Gouverm
Morris, a member of the council of safety, who \
at that time with General Schuyler in the North ■.
John Jay to Governeur Morris.
Kingston^ July 21 st, IJJJ.
"• Dear Morris,
" The situation of Tryon county is both shameful ;
alarming. Such abject dejection and despondency,
mark the letters we have received from thence, disgn
human nature. God knows what to do with, or
them. Were they alone interested in their fate, I she
be for leaving their cart in the slough till they wo
put their shoulders to the wheel.
Expedition of Lt. CoL Barry St. Leger. 143
" Schuyler has his enemies here, and they use these
things to his disadvantage. Suspicions of his having
been privy to the evacuation of Ticonderoga spread
wide ; and twenty little circumstances, which perhaps
are false, are trumped up to gi\e color to the conjecture.^
We could wish that your letters might contain paragraphs
for the public. We are silent because we have nothing
to say ; and the people suspect the worst because we
say nothing. Their curiosity must be constantly grati-
fied, or they will be uneasy. Indeed, I do not wonder
at their impatience, the late northern events having been
^Reference has already been made, in the text of Part First, to the in-
justice done towards General Schuyler during this memorable year. There
was probably no officer in the service, the commander-in-chief alone ex-
cepted, who was considered by the enemy so great an obstacle to the suc-
cess of their arms. A narrow sectional prejudice existed against him in
New England. The failure of the Canadian campaign had been most
wrongfully attributed to him in 1776, and with equal Injustice the fall of
Ticonderoga was now charged to his remissness by his own countrymen.
The enemy were not slow to avail themselves of these prejudices and
groundless imputations^ and through the agency of the tories, the most
artful and insidious means were employed to destroy the public confidence
in his integrity and capacity. The flame of suspicion was fanned by them
until it became general, and was openly avowed. Committees, towns, and
districts, assembled, and passed resolves expressing their distrust in him, and
both congress and the provincial legislature of New York were addressed
upon the subject. General Schuyler, than whom there was not a truer
patriot, nor a more earnest or active in the public service, was well aware
of these movements. To a committee of the provincial congress, who had
formally communicated the charges to him, he returned an answer worthy
of a brave and magnanimous soldier. The character of this answer will be
understood from this single sentence : " We must bear with the caprice,
jealousy, and envy of our misguided friends, and pity them."
• 44 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
such as to have occasioned alarm and suspicion. I ha
not leisure to add anything more, than that I am, ve
sincerely, yours, etc.
" John Jay."
As early as the loth of April, Colonel Robert V
Rensselaer wrote to a friend, that the chairman of t
county committee had applied to him tor the assistan
of his militia, to quell an insurrection of the loyalists
Ballston ; but such was the condition of his own re]
ment, that he was obliged to decline the request. T
spirit of disaffection had become so prevalent among 1
men, that numbers of them had taken the oath of secre
and allegiance to Great Britain. However, he add
that seventeen of the villains had been' arrested by t
vigilance of the officers, and were then in confinemen
and a hope was indulged of being able to detect t
whole.' Early in the following month the residue
the Roman Catholic Scotch settlers in the neighborho
of Johnstown ran ofF to Canada, together with some
the loyalist Germans — all headed by- two men narr
M'Donald, who had been permitted by General Schi
ler to visit their families. The fact that the wives a
families of the absconding loyalists were holding co
munications with them, and administering to their si
sistence on the outskirts of the settlements, had sugges'
their arrest, and removal to a place of safety, to i
number of four hundred — a measure that was appro\
■ MS. documents in the Department of State, Albany.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 145
by General Herkimer' and his officers.' Alarming re-
ports of various descriptions were continually in circula-
tion, and the inhabitants were harassed beyond measure
by the necessity of performing frequent tours of military
duty — acting as scouts and reconnoitering parties ; and
standing, some of them, as sentinels around their fields,
while others did the labor. No neighborhood felt secure,
and all were apprehensive that the whole country would
be ravaged by the Indians ; while parties of the dis-
affected were continually stealing away to augment the
ranks of the enemy. Thus circumstanced, and at the
very moment when they were called upon to reinforce
Fort Schuyler, the committee both of Palatine and Scho-
harie, feeling that they were not strong enough even for
self-defence, were calhng upon the council of safety at
Albany to send additional forces for their protection.
Mr. Paris wrote repeatedly upon the subject. The
Schoharie committee, on the 17th of July, wrote very
frankly, that "the late advantages gained by the enemy
had such an effect, that many who had been counted as.
friends ofthe state were drawing back. " Our situation," he
added, " is deplorable — excepting those who have sought
protection from the enemy. We are entirely open to
the Indians and tories, whom we expect every hour to
come upon us. Part of our militia are at Fort Edward ;
^ Herkheimer {^Ergheimer), by which name he was known — was a man
in the prime of years, between forty-six and fifty, and a son ofthe soil — a
tiller of it who had amassed an honest independence by labor and frugality.
° IWS. documents in the Department of State, Albany — Letter of Isaac
Paris.
146 Campaign of General John Burgoyne,
and of the few that are here, many are unwilling to take
up arms to defend t'r.emselves, as they are unable to stand
against so many enemies. Therefore if your honors do
not grant us immediate relief to the amount of about five
hundred men, we must either fall a prey to ihe enemy,
or take protection also." ^ On the i8th of July, General
Schuyler wrote to the Hon. Pierre Van Courtlandt, from
Saratoga, and again on the 21st from Fort Edward, to
the same effect, " I am exceedingly chagrined," he
says, " at the pusillanimous spirit which prevails in the
county of Tryon. I apprehend much of it is to be at-
tributed to the infidelity of the leading persons of that
quarter." " If I had one thousand regular troops, in
addition to those now above and on the march, I should
venture to keep only every third man of the militia, and
would send them down." " The substance of Colonel
Harper's information had been transmitted about a month
ago. In consequence whereof, I sent Colonel Van
Schaick into Tryon county with as many troops as I
could collect. After the improper agreement made by
General Herkimer,^ these troops were marched back ;
but as soon as I was informed of the march, I ordered
them to remain in Tryon county, where they are still,
and I have sent up Colonel Wesson's reoiment to rein-
force them. But if I may be allowed to judge of the
temper of General Herkimer and the committee of Tryon
^ MS. correspondence with the Provincial Congress — Secretary's office,
Albany.
= Probably referring to the interview between Herkimer and Brant at
Unadilla.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 147
county, from their letters to me, nothing will satisfy
them unless I march the whole army into that quarter.
With deference to the better judgment of the council of
safety, I cannot by any means think it prudent to bring
on an open rupture with the savages at the present time.
The inhabitants of Tryon county are already too much
inclined to lay down their arms, and take whatever terms
the enemy may please to afford them. Half the militia
from this (Tryon) county, and the neighboring state of
Massachusetts, we have been under the necessity of dis-
missing ; but the whole should go." " I enclose you the
proceedings of a council of general officers, held at this
place on the 20th instant. You will perceive that we
have been driven to the necessity of allowing some of
the militia to return to their plantation. The remainder
have promised to remain three weeks longer — -that is
to say, unless they choose to return sooner, which will
doubtless be the case, and for which they have many
reasons." "
The complaints of General Schuyler weie not without
just foundation, as the reader has already seen. Indeed,
both regulars and militia in Tryon county, seemed for
the moment to have lost all the high qualities of soldiers
or citizens. Of two hundred militiamen ordered to
muster and join the garrison of Fort Schuyler, only a
part obeyed ; while two companies of regular troops, re-
ceiving the like orders, entered upon the service with
great reluctance, and not without urging various ex-
I MS. Cor. Council of Safety — Secretary's office, Albany.
148 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
cuses — complaining that service in scouting parties had
unfitted them for garrison duty.' Under circumstances
of such discouragement, it was a time of peculiar trial
to the officers and committee of safety. Tryon county
had early espoused the cause of freedom, and apparently
with greater unanimity than any other county in the
state ; and the extensive defection, or criminal apathy,
which we have just been contemplating, was altogether
unexpected. But a crisis was approaching, which ne-
cessity soon obliged them to meet. Accordingly, on the
17th of July, General Herkimer issued a patriotic pro-
clamation to the inhabitants of the county, announcing
the gathering of the enemy at Oswego, " Christians and
savages," to the number of two thousand strong, with
the intention of invading the frontier, and calling upon
the people en masse^ to be ready at a moment's warning
to repair to the field, with arms and accoutrements, on
the approach of the enemy. Those in health, from
sixteen to sixty years of age, were designated for actual
service ; while those above sixty years of i.ge, or invalids,
were directed to arm for the defence of the women and
children at whatever place they might be gathered in for
safety. Concerning the disaffected, and those who might
refuse to obey the orders, it was directed in the proclam-
ation that they should be arrested, their arms secured,
and themselves placed under guard to join the main body.
All the members of the committee, and all those who, by
reason of having formerly held commissions, had become
' Annals of Tryon County.
Expedition of Lt. Col Barry St. Leger. 149
exempts from service, were invited to repair to the ren-
dezvous, and aid in repulsing the foe : " not doubting
that the Almighty Power, upon our humble prayers, and
sincere trust in Him, will then graciously succor our
arms in battle for our just cause, and victory cannot fail
on our side."
The Oneida Indians, who were sincerely disposed to
favor the cau'^e of the United States, but who, pursuant
to the humane policy of congress and the advice of
General Schuyler, had determined to preseive their neu-
trality, beheld the approaching invasion from Oswego
with no small degree of apprehension. The course they
had marked out for themselves, as they were well aware,
was viewed with displeasure by their Mohawk brethren,
while the other members of their confederacy were ob-
viously inclined to side with their " Uncle."' Living,
moreover, in the immediate neighborhood of Fort Schuy-
ler, where St. Leger's first blow must be struck, they
were not a little troubled in the prospect of what might
happen to themselves. The watchful Thomas Spencer,
therefore, despatched the following letter to the com-
mittee on the 2gth of July which was received on the
30th:
" At a meeting of the chiefs, they tell me that there
is but four days remaining of the time set for the king's
troops to come to Fort Schuyler, and they think it likely
they will be here sooner.
'In the Six Nations, the Mohawks — the head tribe — were called
" uncle." The Oneidas were " the elder brother,'' etc.
1 50 Campaign of General John Burs^oyne.
"The chiefs desire the commanding officers at Fort
Schuyler not to make a Ticonderoga of it ; but they hope
you will be courageous.
" They desire General Schuyler may have this with
speed, and send a good army here ; there is nothing to
do at New York ; we think there is men to be spared — •
we expect the road is stopped to the inhabitants by a
party through the woods ; we shall be surrounded as
soon as they come. This may be our last advice, as
these soldiers are part of those that are to hold a treaty.
Send this to the committee — -as soon as they receive it,
let the militia rise up and come to Fort Schuyler.
" To-morrow we are a-going to the Three rivers ' to
the treaty. We expect to meet the warriors, and when
we come there and declare we are for peace, we expect
to be used wltlj indifference and sent away.
" Let all the troops that come to Fort Schuyler take
care on their march, as there is a party of Indians to stop
the road below the fort, abnut 80 or 100. We hear they
are to bring their cannon up Fish creek. We hear there
is lOOD going to meet the enemy. We advise not —
the army is too large for so few men to defend the fort —
we send a belt of eight rows to confirm the truth of what
we say.
" It looks likely to me the troops are near — hope all
friends to liberty, and that love their families, will not
be backward, but exert themselves ; as one resolute blow
^ The junction of the Oneida, Seneca, and Oswego rivers — not Three
Rivers in Canada
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 151
would secure the friendship of the Six Nations, and al-
most free this part of the country from the incursions
of the enemy." '
The certainty that the invaders were thus approach-
ing, the earnestness of the appeals of the committee to
the patriotism of the people, the influence of the pro-
clamation of the German general, who was a much bet-
ter man than officer, save only in the single attribute of
courage ; and, above all, the positive existence of a
common danger from which there was no escape ; were
circumstances, together, not without their effect. And
although the eleventli hour had arrived, yet the militia,
and all upon whom the call to arms had been made,
now began to move with a degree of alacrity and an
exhibition of spirit that went far to atone for the un-
patriotic, if not craven, symptoms already noticed.
Meantime, having completed his organization at Os-
wego, Lieut. Colonel St. Leger commenced his march
upon Fort Schuyler, moving by the route already indi-
cated, though with great circumspection. The name
of this place of rendezvous has already recurred more
than once, or twice, in the preceding pages. Its posi-
tion was important, and it had been a place of renown
in the earlier wars of the colony. The river bearing
the same name, which here pours northwardly into
Lake Ontario, is the outlet both of the Oneida and
' M.S. letter among the papers of General Gansevoort. Thomas
Spencer was a blacksmith, who had resided among the Cayugas, and was
greatly beloved by the Indians. — Letter from General Schuyler to Colonel
Dayton — Ganse'voort papers.
152 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Seneca rivers, through which, and their tributary
streams, it is connected with the chain of small lakes
bearing the names of Oneida, Cazenovia, Skaneateles,
Owasco, Cayuga, Seneca, and Canandaigua. Its
estuary, of course, forms the natural opening into the
rich district of country surrounding these lakes, which,
down to the period of the present history, contained the
principal towns of four of the five nations of Indians.
During the wars between the French and Five Nations,
Oswego was repeatedly occupied by the armies of the
former. It was here that Count Frontenac landed, on
his invasion of the Onondaga country in 1692, at which
time, or subsequently, a considerable military work was
erected on the western side of the river. During the
war with France, which was closed in America by the
conquest in Canada, it was in the occupancy of the
Provincials and English. The expedition destined to
descend the St. Lawrence upon Montreal, was assem-
bled at this point in 1759, after the fall of Niagara,
under General Shirley and Sir William Johnson. The
army was encamped here several weeks, and finally
broke up without attempting its main object' — owing, as
Sir William Johnson intimates in his private diary, to a
want of energy on the part of Shirley. After the fall of
Quebec and Montreal into the hands of the English, a
battalion of the 55th regiment was stationed at Oswego,
under Major Duncan, a brother of the naval hero of
Camperdown. A new and far more formidable work
was constructed upon the eastern or northeastern
promontory, formed by the embouchure of the river
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. i c^t,
into the lake. The new position was far better chosen
for a fortress than the old ; and, ultimately, before the
Britons were dispossessed of it by the Americans, it be-
came a work of somewhat formidable strength and di-
mensions. The situation is one of the most beautiful
that can be imagined ; and during the two or three
years in which Major Duncan was in command, by the
cultivation of a large garden, the laying out and im-
proving of a bowling-green and other pleasure-grounds,
it was rendered a little paradise in the wilderness.'
All told, the army of St. Leger consisted of seven-
teen hundred men — Indians included. These latter
were led by Thayendanegea. The order of their march
as beautifully drawn and colored, was subsequently
taken, with the escritoire of the commanding general.
The advance of the main body, was formed of Indians,
marching in five Indian columns ; that is, in single
files, at large distances from each other, and four
hundred and sixty paces in front of the line. From
these columns of Indians, files were stretched at a
distance of ten paces from each other, forming a line
of communication with the advanced guard of the line,
which was one hundred paces in front of the column.
The right and left flanks were covered by Indians at one
hundred paces, forming likewise lines of communica-
tion with the main body. The king's regiment moved
from the left by Indian file, while the 34th moved in
' See Mrs. Grant's delightful book — Memoirs of an American Lady,
chapters xliv to xlvit Inclusive, Munsell's edition, 1876.
14
1 54 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
the same order from the right. The rear guard was
formed of regular troops, while the advance guard,
composed of sixty marksmen, detached from Sir John
Johnson's regiment of Royal Greens, was led by Sir
John's brother-in-law. Captain Watts. Each corps
was likewise directed to have ten chosen marksmen in
different parts of its line, in case of attack, to be pushed
forward to any given point as circumstances might
require.'
From these extraordinary precautions, it may well be
inferred that Lt. Col. St. Leger, who probably acted
much under the advice of Sir John Johnson and the
refugee Provincials, who must have been best ac-
quainted with the country and the character of the enemy
they were going to encounter, was not a little appre-
hensive of an attack by surprise while on his march.
In addition to the arrangements already indicated, a
detachment from the 8th regiment, with a few Indians,
was sent a day or more in advance, under the com-
mand of Lieutenant Bird. This officer pushed for-
ward with spirit, but was somewhat annoyed by the in-
subordination and independent action of his allies. The
following extracts from his private diary ^ will not only
disclose his own embarrassments, but illustrate the
character of Indian warriors acting in concert with regu-
lar troops :
^ MS. directions found among the captured papers of St. Leger.
= MS. Diary of Lt. Henry Bird, captured from Lt. Col. St. Leger by CoL
Gansevoort.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 155
" Tuesday^ zSth July, 1777.^ After going two miles,
and no savages coming up, waited two hours for them.
Sixteen Senecas arriving, proceeded to the Three riv-
ers ' — -waited there two hours — seventy or eighty Mes-
sesaugues coming up, I proposed moving forward.
They had stolen two oxen From the drove of the army,
and would not advance, but stayed to feast. I advanced
without Indians seven miles farther — in all nineteen
miles. Posted four sentinels all night from a sergeant's
guard of twelve men — relieved every hour — visited
every half hour. All fires put out at nine o'clock.
" Wednesday. — Set off next morning at six, having
wailed for the savages till that time, though none ar-
rived. Ordered the boats to keep seventy rods behind
each other — half the men keeping their arms in their
hands, while the other half rowed. Ordered, on any
of the boats being fired upon, that the men should jump
ashore. The rest to support them with all expedition.
Rowed all night. Encamped at Nine-mile point.
" Thursday., y^/y 30. — With twenty-seven Senecas
and nine Messesaugues joined Mr. Hair's party. ^ Many
savages being with us, proceeded to Wood creek, a
march of fifteen miles. *****
" Friday. — The savages hinted an intention to send
parties to Fort Stanwix, but to proceed in a body no
farther. I called a council of the chiefs — told them I
had orders to approach near the fort — that if they
■ The junction of the Oneida, Seneca and Oswego rivers.
" Lieut. Hair — afterward killed.
156 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
would accompany me, I should be content ; but if they
would not go, I should take the white people under my
command, and proceed myself. The Messesaugues
said they would go with me. The Senecas said I had
promised to be advised by their chiefs — that it was their
way to proceed with caution. I answered, that I
meant only as to fighting in the bush, but that I had
communicated my intentions to them in the former
camp, of preventing them (the Americans meaning)
from stopping the creek,' and investing their fort. But
since I had promised to be advised by them, I would
take it so far as to wait till next morning — and would
then certainly march by daybreak. After some coun-
selling, they seemed pleased with what I had said, and
said they would send out large scouts to prepare the
way. Accordingly eighteen or twenty set off this eve-
ning."
On the 2d of August, however. Bird wrote back to
his general that no savages would advance with him
except Henriques, a Mohawk, and one other of the Six
Nations, an old acquaintance of his. The letter con-
tinues : " Those two, sir, I hope to have the honor to
present to you. A savage, who goes by the name of
Commodore Bradley, was the chief cause of their not
advancing to-day. Twelve Messesaugues came up two
or three hours after my departure. Those, with the
scout of fifteen I had the honor to mention to you in
^ General Schuyler had directed the commanding officer of Fort Stan-
'ix to obstruct the navigation of Wood creelc by felling trees therein.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 157
my last, are sufficient to invest Fort Stanwix, if you
favor me so far as not to order to the contrary." '
St. Leger received this letter on the same day, at
Nine-mile point, whence he immediately despatched
the following reply :
General St. Leger to Lieut. Bird.
'■'■Nine Mile Point., Jug. 2, 1777.
"Sir: "I this instant received your letter containing the
account of your operations since you were detached,
which I with great pleasure tell you have been sensible
and spirited ; your resolution of investing Fort Stanwix
is perfectly right ; and to enable you to do it with
greater effect, I have detached Joseph (Thayendanegea)
and his corps of Indians to reinforce you. You will
observe that I will have nothing but an investiture
made ; and in case the enemy, observing the discretion
and judgment with which it is made, should offer to
capitulate, you are to tell them that you are sure I am
well disposed to listen to them ; this is not to take any
honor out of a young soldier's hands, but by the pre-
sence of the troops to prevent the barbarity and carnage
which will ever obtain where Indians make so superior
a part of a detachment ; I shall move from hence at
eleven o'clock, and be early in the afternoon at the en-
trance of the creek.
" I am, sir, your most obt. and humble ser't,
" Lieut. Bird., Sth reg't." = " Barry St. Leger.
' MS. of the original letter, among the Gansevoort papers.
= MS. of the original letter, among the Gansevoort papers —Vide, also,
Campbell's Annals.
158 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
The investment of the fort was made by Lieut. Bird
forthwith — Brant arriving to his assistance at the same
time. But the result of the siege that followed proved
that the British commander had grievously miscal-
culated the spirit of the garrison of Fort Stanwix, in his
anticipations of a speedy capitulation. Still, his pruden-
tial order, the object of which was to prevent an un-
necessary sacrifice of life at the hands of his Indian
allies, calculating, of course, upon an easy victory, was
not the less commendable on that account.
The situation of Fort Stanwix itself — or rather Fort
Schuyler, as it must now be called — next demands at-
tention. At the beginning of the year, as we have al-
ready seen, the post was commanded by Colonel
Elmore of the state service. The term of that officer
expiring in April, Colonel Peter Ganesvoort, also of
the state troops, was designated as Colonel Elmore's
successor, by an order from General Gates, dated the
26th of that month. Notwithstanding the labors of
Colonel Drayton, in repairing the works, the preceding
year. Colonel Gansevoort found them in such a state of
dilapidation, that they were not only indefensible, but un-
tenable. A brisk correspondence ensued between that
officer and General Schuyler upon the subject, fr. m
which it is manifest that, to say nothing of the miserable
condition of his defences, with the prospect of an inva-
sion from the West before him, his situation was in
other respects sufficiently deplorable. He had but a
small number of men, and many of those were sick by
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 159
reason of destitution.' Added to all which was the re-
sponsibility of the Indian relations confided to him by
special order of General Schuyler on the gth of June.^
Colonel Marinus Willett was soon afterward directed
to join the garrison at Fort Schuyler with his regiment,
and most fortunate was the selection of such an officer
as Willett to cooperate with such another as Ganse-
voort ; since all the skill, and energy, and courage of
both were necessary for the situation. The work itself
was originally a square fort, with four bastions, sur-
rounded by a ditch of considerable width and depth,
with a covert way and glacis around three of its angles ;
the other being sufficiently secured bv low, marshy
ground. In front of the gate there had been a draw-
bridge, covered by a salient angle raised in front on the
glacis. In the centre of the ditch a row of perpendicu-
lar pickets had been erected, with rows of horizontal
pickets fixed around the ramparts under the embrasures.
But since the conclusion of the French war, the fort
had fallen into decay ; the ditch was filled up, and the
^ Letters among the Gansevoort papers.
= " You will keep up a friendly intercourse with the Indians, and suffer
no speeches to be made to them by any person not employed in the Indian
department j and when you have occasion to speak to them, let your
speech be written, and a copy transmitted to me, that the commissioners
may be informed of every transaction with those people."' — Schuyler's
Utter to Colonel Gansevoort. Colonel G. lost no time in holding a council
with such of the chiefs and warriors as yet remained friendly, and he
seems to have fully acquired their confidence. He delivered a sensible
speech on the occasion, but it contains nothing requiring farther note.
1 60 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
pickets had rotted and fallen down ;' nor had any suita-
ble progress been made in its reparation. Immediate
exertions, energetic and unremitting, were necessary to
repair, or rather to renew and reconstruct, the works,
and place them in a posture of defence, should the long
anticipated invasion ensue from that quarter. A more
correct idea of the wretched condition of the post, even
down to the beginning of July, may be found from the
annexed letter :°
Col. Gansevoort to Gen. Schuyler.
" Fort Schuyler^ July ^th^ ^777-
Sir :
Having taken an accurate review of the state of the
garrison, I think it is incumbent on me to inform your
Excellency by express of our present circumstances.
Every possible assistance is given to Captain Mar-
quizee, to enable him to carry on such works as are
deemed absolutely necessary for the defence of the gar-
rison. The soldiers are constantly at work — even such
of them as come off guard are immediately turned out
to fatigue. But I cannot conceal from your Excellency
the impossibility of attending fully to all the great ob-
jects pointed out in the orders issued to the command-
ing officer on the station, without farther assistance.
Sending out sufficient parties of observation, felling the
timber into Wood creek, clearing the road from Fort
' ^illett's Narrative,
^ MS. copy preserved among General Gansevoort's papers.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. i6i
Dayton, which is so embarrassed, in many parts, as to
be impassable, and prosecuting, at the same time, the
internal business of the garrison, are objects of the
greatest importance, which should, if possible, be im-
mediateh considered. But while no exertions compati-
ble with the circumstances we are in, and necessary to
give your Excellency satisfaction with respect to all
these interesting matters, shall be omitted, I am very
sensible it is not in our power to get over some capital
obstructions without a reinforcement. The enclosed
return, and the difficulties arising from the increasing
number of hostile Indians, will show to your Excellency
the grounds of my opinion. One hundred and fifty
men would he needed speedily and effectually to ob-
struct Wood creek ; an equal number will be necessary
to guard the men at work in felling and hauling of tim-
ber. Such a deduction from our number, together
with smaller deductions for scouting parties, would
scarcely leave a man in the garrison, which might, there-
fore, be easily surprised by a contemptible party of the
enemy. The number of inimical Indians increases.
On the affair of last week only two made their appear-
ance. Yesterday a party of at least forty, supposed to
be Butler's emissaries, attacked Ensign Sporr with six-
teen privates, who were out on fatigue, cutting turf
about three quarters of a mile from the fort. One_ sol-
dier was brought in dead and inhumanly mangled ; two
were brought in wounded — one of them slightly and
the other mortally. Six privates and Mr. Sporr are
missing. Two parties were immediately sent to pursue
1 62 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
the enemy, but they returned without being able to
come up with them. This success will, no doubt, en-
courage them to send out a greater number ; and the
intelligence they may possibly acquire, will probably
hasten the main body destined to act against us in these
parts. Our provision is greatly diminished by reason
of the spoiling of the beef, and the quantities that must
be given from time to time to the Indians. It will not
hold out above six weeks. Your Excellency will per-
ceive, in looking over Captain Savage's return of the
state of the artillery, that some essential articles are
very scarce. As a great number of the gun-bullets do
not suit the fire-locks, some bullet-moulds of different
sizes for casting others, would be of great advantage to
us. Our stock of powder is absolutely too little ; a ton,
in addition to what we have, is wanted as the lowest
proportion for the shot we have on hand. We will,
notwithstanding every difficulty, exert ourselves to the
utmost of our power ; and if your Excellency will be
pleased to order a speedy reinforcement, with a suffi-
cient supply of provision and ammunition to enable us
to hold out a siege, we will, I hope, by the blessing of
God, be able to give a good account of any force that
will probably come against us."
The picture is gloomy enough ; and was rendered the
more so from the mistakes of the engineer, a Frenchman,
who had been employed by General Schuyler, and whom
it was ultimately found necessary to arrest and send back
to head-quarters. ' Colonel Willett had from the first
' fyHletfs Narrati-ve.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 163
doubted the capacity of Marquizee, and after his dis-
missal the work proceeded for the most part under his
own immediate direction.
The garrison had likewise other difficulties to en-
counter. With the gathering of St. Leger's motley
forces at Oswego, preparatory to his descent upon the
Mohawk, the Indians, as has already been seen by Ganse-
voort's letter, began to appear in scouting parties in the
circumjaceru forests. The utmost caution was therefore
necessary on leaving the fort, even for a short distance.
It was during this critical period that the familiar incident
of Captain Gregg and his faithful dog occurred, of which
the following brief account was given by Colonel Ganse-
voort :
Col. Gansevoort to Gen. Schuyler (Extract).
'■'■Fort Schuyler, June 26, 1 777.
" I am sorry tp inform your Honor that Captain Gregg
and Corporal Madison, of my regiment, went out a gun-
ning yesterday morning, contrary to orders. It seems
they went out just after breakfast, and at about ten o'clock
Corporal Madison was killed and scalped. Captain
Gregg was shot through his back, tomahawked and
scalped, and is still alive. He informs me that the mis-
fortune happened about ten o'clock in the morning. He
looked at his watch after he was scalped. He saw but
two Indians. He was about one mile and a half from
the fort, and was not discovered until two o'clock in the
afternoon. I immediately sent out a party and had him
brought into the fort, just after three o'clock ; also the
164 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
corpse of Madison. Gregg is perfectly in his senses, and
speaks strong and hearty, notwithstanding that his re-
covery is doubtful." '
There was little of romance in Colonel Gansevoort
and he related the incident with military brevity. The
story, however, has often been told, with a variety of
amplifications, particularly in regard to the wounded sol-
dier's faithful dog, to whose affectionate sagacity he is
said to have been indebted for his discovery, if not his
life. According to the narrative of President Dwight,
it appears that Gregg and his companion had been seduced
into a fatal disobedience of orders, by the clouds of
pigeons appearing in the adjoining woods. Immediately
upon their fall, the Indians rushed upon them for their
scalps, which they took — giving each a simultaneous
cut upon the head with their tomahawks. The corporal
had been killed by the shot, but Captain Gregg was only
wounded.^ Feigning death, however, he had the presence
ot mind, and the fortitude, to submit to the subsequent
torture without betraying himself by a groan or the
quivering of a muscle. The Indians departing imme-
diately. Captain Gregg crawled to his lifeless compan-
ion, and pillowed his head upon his body ; while his
^ MS. of the original draught, among Col. Gansevoort's papers.
^ It has been asserted in history, that St. Leger encouraged these isolated
murders by large bounties for scalps. Twenty dollars is said to have been
the price he paid j but his despatch to Lieut. Bird, before cited, does not
corroborate the charge of such inhumanity. That despatch was a private
document, moreover, not written for the light, or for effect, and must
therefore be received as true. It was found among Col. Gansevoort's papers.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 165
faithful dog ran to a place at no great distance thence,
where two men were engaged in fishing, and by his im-
ploring looks and significant actions, induced them to
follow him to the spot where lay his wounded master.
Hastening to the fort, the fishermen reported what they
had seen, and a party of soldiers being forthwith de
spatched to the place, the bodies of the wounded and the
dead were speedily brought into the garrison, as we have
seen from the colonel's official account. Captain Gregg
was severely wounded, independently of the scalping ;
and his case was for a long time critical.
The friendly Indians, then chiefly, if not exclusively,
Oneidas, though still actin_; and speaking in the name
of the Six Nations, presented an address of condolence
to Colonel Gansevoort on this occasion, to which the
latter made a suitable reply, which alone has been pre-
served, and reads as follows :
" Brother Warriors of the Six Nations : I
thank you for your good talk.
" Brothers : You tell us you are sorry for the cruel
usage of Captain Gregg, and the murder of one of our
warriors ; that you would have immediately pursued the
murderers, had not General Schuyler, General Gates,
and the French general, desired you not to take any part
in this war ; and that you have obeyed their orders, and
are resolved to do so. I commend your good inclina-
tion and intention.
" Brothers : You pay you have sent a runner to the
Six Nations, to inform them of what has happened, and
that you expect some of your chiefs will look into the
'5
1 66 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
afFair, and try to find out the murderers. You have done
well. I shall be glad to smoke a pipe with your chiefs,
and hope they will do as they speak.
" Brothers : I hope the mischief" has been done, not
by any of our good friends of the Oneida nation, but by
the tories, who are enemies to you as well as to us, and
who are ready to murder yourselves, your wives, and
children, if you will not be as wicked as themselves.
Brothers : When your chiefs shall convince me that
Indians of the Six Nations have had no hand in this
wicked thing, and shall use means to find out the mur-
derers and bring them to justice, you may be assured
that we will strengthen the chain of friendship, and em-
brace you as our good brothers. I will not suffer any
of our warriors to hurt you."
The address contained two or three additional para-
graphs in reference to other subjects. Captain Gregg
recovered, and resumed his duties; and having served to
the end of the war, lived many years afterward.
Another tragic incident occurred at nearly the same
time. About noon, on the 3d of July, the day being
perfectly clear. Colonel Willett was startled from his
siesta by the report of musketry. Hastening to the para-
pet of the glacis, he saw a little girl running with a
basket in her hand, while the blood was trickling down
her bosom. On investigating the facts, it appeared that
the girl, with two others,^ was picking berries, not two
^ One of the girls was Caty Steese, a servant of Capt. Johannis Roff
(Roof) which was the cause of his attempt to do violence to Cornplanter
when, in 1797, he confessed to having killed her [Brartt, vol. 11, p. 411,
note). — Letter from CoL Ganse-voort to Col. Van Schaickj July z^tb, 1777-
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 167
hundred yards from the fort, when they were fired upon
by a party of Indians, and two of the number killed.
Happily, she who only was left to tell the tale, was but
slightly wounded. One of the girls killed, was the
daughter of an invalid, who had served many years in
the British artillery. He was entitled to a situation in
Chelsea hospital, but had preferred rather to remain in
the cultivation of a small piece of ground at Fort Stan-
wix, than again to cross the ocean.'
By the middle of July, the Indians hovering about the
fort became so numerous, and so bold, as to occasion
great annoyance. Large parties of soldiers could only
venture abroad on the most pressing emergencies ; and
even one of these was attacked, several of its numbers
killed and wounded, and the officer in command taken
prisoner. The force of the garrison, at this time, con-
sisted of about five hundred and fifty men — ill-supplied,
as we have already seen, both with provisions and muni-
tionsof war. Fortunately, however, on the 2d of August,
the very day of the investiture of the fort by the advance
of St. Leger's army, under Thayendanegea and Bird,
Lieutenant Colonel Mellon, of Colonel Weston's regi-
ment, arrived with two hundred men, and two bateaux
of provisions and military stores. Not a moment was
lost in conveying these opportune supplies into the fort.
Delay would, indeed, have been dangerous ; for at the
instant the last loads arrived at the fort, the enemy ap-
peared on the skirt of the forest, so near to the boatsj
' fVilkti't Narrative.
1 68 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
that the captain who commanded them became their
prisoner.'
The command of Colonel Gansevoort now consisted
of seven hundred and fifty men, all told ; and upon ex-
amination it was ascertained that they had provisions for
six weeks — ■ with fixed ammunition enough for the small
arms. But for the cannon they were lamentably defi-
cient — having barely enough for nine rounds per diem
during the period specified. A besieging army was before
the fort, and its garrison was without a flag ! But as
necessity is the mother of invention, they were not long
thus destitute. Stripes of white were cut from ammuni-
tion shirts ; blue from a camblet cloak captured from
the enemy ; while the red was supplied from such odds
and ends of clothes of that hue as were at hand.^ And,
thus furnished, commenced the celebrated defence of
Fort Schuyler.
Such was the condition of Fort Schuyler at the com-
mencement of the memorable siege of 1777 — -an event,
with its attending circumstances, forming an important
feature in the northern border warfare of the Revolution.
Colonel St. Leger^ himself arrived before the fort on the
' Wilktt\ Narrative.
^ Idem.
3 It is difficult, from the booics, to determine what was at that time the
precise rank of St. Leger. He has usually been called a brigadier gene-
ral. By some contemporary writers he was called Colonel St. Leger. But
in General Burgoyne's despatches to Lord George Germaine, of August 20,
1777, he is repeatedly denominated Lieutenant Colonel St. Leger. He is
also called Colonel St. Leger by Bissett. But he, nevertheless, signed his
name as a brigadier general in a letter to Col. Gansevoort, on the 9th
of August.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 169
3d of August, with his whole force — a motley col-
lection of British regulars, Hessian auxiliaries, New
York loyalists, usually denominated Johnson's Greens,
together with numbers of the Canadians, and the Indians
under Thayendanegea. Sir John Johnson, and Colonels
SIR JOHN JOHNSON.
Claus and Butler,' were also engaged with him in the
expedition. A flag was sent into the fort on the morning
of that day, with a copy of a rather pompous proclama-
tion from St. Leger, which, it was probably supposed,
from its vaunting threats and lavish promises, might pro-
' At the breaking out of the war, John Butler was lieutenant colonel of
a regiment of the Tryon county militia, of which Guy Johnson was the
colonel and Jelles Fonda the major. Sir John had been commissioned a
general after the decease of his fatheh
1 70 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
duce a strong impression upon the garrison. " The
forces intrusted to my command are designed to act in
concert, and upon a common principle, with the nu-
merous armies and fleets which aheady display, in every
quarter of America, the power, the justice, and, when
properly sought, the mercy of the king." So commenced
the proclamation. After denouncing " the unnatural
rebellion" as having already been made the " foundation
for the completest system of tyranny that ever God in
his displeasure suffered for a time to be exercised over a
froward and stubborn generation," and charging that
" arbitrary imprisonment, confiscation of property, per-
secution and torture, unprecedented in the inquisitions of
the Roman church, were among the palpable enormities
tha verified the affirmation" — and after denouncing
" the profanation of religion," and other "shocking pro-
ceedings" of the civil authorities and committees in re-
bellion, the proclamation proceeded — " animated by
these considerations ; at the head of troops in the full
powers of health, discipline, and valor ; determined to
strike where necessary, and anxious to spare when pos-
sible, I, by these presents, invite and exhort all persons
in all places where the progress of this army may pointy
and by the blessing of God I will extend it far, to
maintain such a conduct as may justify me in protecting
their lands, habitations, and families." The object of
his address was to hold forth security, and not depreda-
tion ; he offered employment to those who would join
his standard ; security to the infirm and industrious ;
and payment in coin for all the supplies the people would
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 1 7 1
bring to his camp. In conclusion, he said — " If, not-
withstanding these endeavors and sincere inclinations to
effect them, the frenzy of hostility should remain, I
trust I shall stand acquitted in the eyes of God and men,
in denouncing and executing the vengeance of the state
against the wilful outcasts. The messengers of justice
and of wrath await them in the field ; and devastation,
famine, and every concomitant horror that a reluctant,
but indispensable prosecution of military duty must oc-
casion, will bar the way to their return."
This manifesto, however, produced no effect, then or
afterward. The siege had been anticipated, and the
brave garrison, officers and men, had counted the cost
and determined to defend the fortress to the last. Ac-
cordingly, hostilities commenced actively on the morning
of the following day. The Indians, concealing them-
selves behind clumps of shrubbery and stumps of trees,
annoyed the men who were employed in raising the
parapets not a little with their rifles. Several were
wounded ; and it was found necessary immediately to
station sharp-shooters at suitable points, to watch op-
portunities, and fire in return. The 5th was spent in
much the same manner, with the addition of the throw-
ing of a few shells by the enemy — several of which fell
within the fort, and some in the barracks. " On the
evening of this day, soon after it was dark, the Indians,
who were at least one thousand in number, spread them-
selves through the woods, completely encircling the fort,
and commenced a terrible yelling, which was continued
at intervals the greater part of the night."
172 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Having thus commenced his operations,' Colonel St.
Leger found means of conveying the intelligence to
General Burgoyne — not for a moment anticipating the
distressing circumstances in which the northern com
mander-in-chief already found himself involved, though
but mid-way in the career of victory. Harassed in-
cessantly by the foes he had vanquished ; unable to
obtain supplies, except by sending back for them to Fort
George, in which service his troops were already greatly
fatigued ; not one-third of his horses arrived from Canada ;
the roads excessively bad, and rendered all but impassable
by a deluge of rain ; with only four days of provisions
on hand ; the vaunting general, who had boasted in the
British capital that, with ten thousand men, he could
march through the whole rebel country at pleasure,
already found himself in an unenviable situation. But
on learning the advance of Lt. Col. St. Leger, he instantly
and justly considered that a rapid movement forward, at
this critical juncture, would be of the utmost importance.
If the retreating Americans should proceed up the
Mohawk with a view of relieving Fort Schuyler, in the
event of St. Leger's success against that place they would
place themselves between two fires ; or perhaps Bur-
goyne supposed that were such a movement to be made
on the part of the Americans, he might yet throw his
army between them and Albany, and thus compel them
either to stand a general engagement or to strike oft' to
the right, and by recrossing the Hudson higher up, secure
• Willett's Narra
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 173
a retreat into New England. If, on the other hand, the
Americans should abandon Fort Schuyler to its fate, and
themselves fall back upon Albany, he argued that the
Mohawk country would of course be entirely laid open
to him ; his junction with St. Leger establislied, and the
combir.ed army be at liberty to select its future line of
operation. But his supplies were inadequate to such an
extensive operation, and his army was too weak to allow
him to keep up such a chain of posts as would enable
him to bring them up daily from the depot at Lake
George. With a view, therefore, of obtaining imme-
diate relief, and of opening a new source of supply, espe-
cially of cattle, from the upper settlements of New
England, the expedition to Bennington, the place of de-
posit of provisions for the provincial forces, was planned,
and committed to a detachment of the Brunswicker
troops, under Colonel Baum, for execution. The signal
failure of this expedition was calculated still farther both
to embarrass and depress the invaders ; while the brilliant
success of the militia under General Stark on that oc-
casion, proving, as it had done, that neither English nor
German troops were invincible, revived the drooping
spirits of the disheartened ; reinspired the people with
confidence of ultimate success ; and was the source of
universal exultation.
The progress of events brings us back to the lower
valley of the Mohawk. No sooner was the advance of
St. Leger upon Fort Schuyler known to the committee
and officers of Tryon county, than General Herkimer,
in conformity with the proclamation heretofore cited,
1 74 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
summoned the militia of his command to the field, for
the purpose of marching to the succor of the garrison.
Notwithstanding the despondency that had prevailed in
the early part of the summer, the call was nobly re-
sponded to, not only by the militia, but by the gentlemen
of the county, and most of the members of the com-
mittee, who entered the field either as officers or private
volunteers. The fears so generally and so recently in-
dulged seemed all to have vanished with the arrival of
the invader, and the general soon found himself at the
head of between eight hundred and a thousand men, all
eager for action and impatient of delay. Their place of
rendezvous was at Fort Dayton (German Flats), in the
upper section of the Mohawk valley — and the most
beautiful. The regiments were those of Colonels Klock,
Visscher, Cox, and one or two others, augmented by
volunteers and volunteer officers, who were pushing for-
ward as though determined at all hazards to redeem the
character of the county. Indeed, their proceedings were
by far too impetuous, since they hurried forward in their
march without order or precaution, without adequate
flanking parties, and without reconnoitering the ground
over which they were to pass. They moved from Fort
Dayton on the 4th, and on the 5th reached the neighbor-
hood of Oriskany,^ where they encamped. From this
point, an express'^ was sent forward by General Herkimer
■ Probably the site of Whitestown. One of the MS. narratives in the
author's possession says they crossed the river at old Fort Schuyler (now
Utica).
=^ Adam Helmer accompanied by two other men.
E'upedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 175
to apprise Colonel Gansevoort of his approach, and to
concert measures of cooperation. The arrival of the
express at the fort was to be announced by three suc-
cessive discharges of cannon, the report of which, it
was supposed, would be distinctly heard at Oriskany —
only eight miles distant. Delays, however, intervened,
so that the messengers did not reach the fort until ten or
eleven o'clock on the following morning; previous to
which the camp of the enemy being uncommonly silent,
a portion of their troops had been observed by the garri-
son to be moving along the edge of the woods down the
river, in the direction of the Oriskany creek.' The
concerted signals were immediately fired ;- and as the pro-
position of Herkimer was to force a passage to the fort,
arrangements were immediately made by Colonel Ganse
voort to effect a diversion of the enemy's attention, by
making a sally from the fort upon the hostile camp, tor
which purpose two hundred men were detailed, consist-
ing one-half of Gansevoort's, and one-half of the Mas-
sachusetts troops, and one field-piece — an iron three
pounder. The execution of the enterprise was entrusted
to Colonel Willett.3
It appears that on the morning of that day, which was
' Letter of Colonel WiUett to Governor Trumbull of Cannecticut.
" MS. of Captain Henry Seeber, in the author's possession. See, also,
M^illett^s Narrati've.
3 WiUett's letter to Governor Trumbull. The officers serving in this
detachment were Captain Van Benschoten and Lieutenant Stockwell, who
led the advance guard j Captain Allen (of Massachusetts), Bleecker, Johnson,
and Swartwoutj Lieutenant Diefendorf, Conyne, Bogardus, M'Clenner,
and Ball j Ensign Chase, Bailey, Lewis, Dennison, Magee, and Arnent.
The rear guard was commanded by Major Badlam.
176 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
the 6th of August, General Herkimer had misgivings as
to the propriety of advancing any farther without first
receiving reinforcements. His officers, however, were
eager to press forward. A consultation was held, in
which some of the officers manifested much impatience
at any delay, while the general still urged them to remain
where they were until reinforcements could come up, or
at least until the signal of a sortie should be received
from the fort. High words ensued, during which
Colonels Cox and Paris, and many others, denounced
their commander as a tory and coward. The brave old
man calmly replied that he considered himself placed
over them as a father, and that it was not his wish to
lead them into sny difficulty from which he could not
extricate them. Burning, as they now seemed, to meet
the enemy, he told them roundly that they would run
at his first appearance.' But his remonstrances were
unavailing. Their clamor increased, and their reproaches
were repeated, until, stung by imputations of cowardice
and a want of fidelit3^ to the cause,^ and somewhat
irritated withal, the general immediately gave the order —
" March on ! " 3 The words were no sooner heard than
the troops gave a shout, and moved, or rather rushed
forward. They marched in files of two deep, preceded
by an advanced guard and keeping flanks upon each side.''
^ TraueU of President Dwight, vol. Ill, p 192.
= MS. statement of George Walter, in possession of the author; also of
Henry Seeber.
3 Statement of Adam Miller, in possession of the author.
4 It has been charged by most writers that even these ordinary precau-
tions were not observed. Miller and Walter, however, both assert the fact.
/ihL/J^ //rY^ ^^ 9-^ '<
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 177
Having, by ten o'clock, proceeded rapidly forward to
the distance of only two or three miles,' the guards, both
front and flanks, were suddenly shot down, the forest
rang with the war whoops of a savage foe, and in an in-
stant the greater part of the division found itself in the
midst of a formidable ambuscade. Colonel St. Leger,
it appeared, having heard of the advance of General
Herkimer, in order to prevent an attack in his entrench-
ments, had detached a division of Sir John Johnson's
regiment of Greens, under Sir John's brother-in-law.
Major Watts, Colonel Butler with his rangers, and
Joseph Brant with a strong body of Indians, to intercept
his approach.'^ With true Indian sagacity, Thayenda-
negea had selected a position admirably fitted for his pur-
pose, which was, to draw the Americans, whom he well
knew to be approaching in no very good military array,
into an ambuscade. The locality favored his design. 3
^ The battle ground is about two miles west of OrisUany, and six from
Whitesborough.
2 In every account of this battle which has fallen under the author^s ob-
servation, excepting that of Colonel WiUett, Sir John Johnson is made the
British commander at this battle. He was not in it at all, as will appear
a few pages forward. Even the cautious and inquisitive President Dwight
falls into error, and carries it through his whole account.
3 **The country presented ample opportunities for such a stratagem ; and
its advantages were not neglected. The ambush was set about two miles
from Fort Stanwix, where a primitive corduroy road was the sole method
of traversing a swampy hollow or ravine, drained by a little affluent of that
stream. This road was completely commanded by heights on either hand,
covered with dense woods, in which Sir John Johnson stationed his marks-
men, both whites and savages. It was as handsome a trap as that which
Hermann or Arminius set for the Legions of Verus in the Teutoberger
16
ijS Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
There was a deep ravine crossing the path which Herki-
mer with his undisciplined array was traversing, " sweep-
ing toward the east in a semi-circular form, and bearing
a northern and southern direction. The bottom of this
ravine was marshy, and the road crossed it by means of
a causeway. The ground, thus partly enclosed by the
ravine, was elevated and level. The ambuscade was
laid upon the high ground west of the ravine."'
The enemy had disposed himself adroitly, in a circle,
leaving only a narrow segment open for the admission
of the ill starred Provincials on their approach. The
stratagem was successful. Unconscious of the presence
of the foe, Herkimer, with his whole army excepting the
rear-guard, composed of Colonel Visscher's regiment,
found himself encompassed at the first fire — the enemy
closing up the gap at the instant of making himself known.
By thus early completing the circle, the baggage and
ammunition wagons, which had just descended into the
ravine, were cut off and separated from the main body,
as also was the regiment of Colonel Visscher, yet on the
eastern side of the ravine ; which, as their general had
predicted, instantly and ingloriously fled, leaving their
companions to their fate. They were pursued, however,
by a portion of the Indians, and suffered more severely.
forest, eighteen centuries previous — an ambush which determined the fate
of Roman progress into the free German land, just as the issue of Oriskany,
reversing the case, checked the progress of the British into the free German
flatlands of the Mohawk." — Gen. J. IVatti De Peysier, in His. Mag , New
Series J vol. v, No. i.
^ CampbelTs Annals.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 179
probably, than they would have done, had they stood by
their fellows in the hour of need, either to conquer or
to fall.'
Being thrown into irretrievable disorder b\ the sudden-
ness of the surprise and the destructiveness of the fire,
which was close and brisk from every side, the divi-
sion was for a time threatened with annihilation. At
every opportunity the savages, concealed behind the
trunks of trees, darted forward with knife and tomahawk
to ensure the destruction of those who fell ; and many
and fierce were the conflicts that ensued hand to hand.
The veteran Herkimer fell, wounded, in the early part
of the action — a musket ball having passed through and
killed his horse, and shattered his own leg just below the
knee.^ The general was placed upon his saddle, how-
* Believing, as stated in a preceding note, that my tattler's account of tliis
battle is the most reliable of any extant, I have preferred to keep the text
as much as possible intact. I cannot, however, refrain from saying, in this
connection, that I thinly the imputation of cowardice in regard to Col.
Visscher's regiment is hardly justified in view of all the circumstances.
Perhaps no body of men were as ready and anxious to perform their duty
as were the patriotic members of Col. Visscher's regiment. It must be re-
membered that it was composed of farmers who had never seen service j
and it is scarcely to be wondered at that when they saw tliemselves cut off,
flanked, fired upon by an unseen foe accompanied b-' most hideous yells,
they were panic-stricken, and did not wheel into line in the dense woods
and fire upon enemies immediately in range of friends. Neither could the
voice of their brave commander have been heard under the circumstances
any more than as if they had been in the cave of the winds. It is strange,
too, that Col. Visscher's regiment should have suffered as they did, had it
given danger such a.wide berth; for the fact is undisputed that a very large
proportion of the regiment was either killed or wounded.
= Walton's MS. account.
i8o Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
ever, against the trunk of a tree for his support, and thus
continued to order the battle. Colonel Cox, and Cap-
tains Davis and Van Sluyck, were severally killed near
the commencement of the engagement; and the slaughter
of their broken ranks, from the rifles of the tories and
the spears and tomahawks of the Indians, was dreadful.
But even in this deplorable situation the wounded general,
his men dropping like leaves around him, and the forest
resounding with the horrid yells of the savages, ringing
high and wild over the din of- battle, behaved with the
most perfect firmness and composure. The action had
lasted about forty-fi^e minutes in great disorder, before
the Provincials formed themselves into circles in order to
repel the attacks of the enemy, who were concentrating,
and closing in upon them from all sides.' From this
moment the resistance of the Provincials was more effect-
ive, and the enemy attempted to charge with the bayonet.
The firing ceased for a time, excepting the scattering
discharges of musketry from the Indians ; and as the
bayonets crossed, the contest became a death struggle,
hand to hand and foot to foot. Never, however, did
brave men stand a charge with more dauntless courage,
and the enemy for the moment seemed to recoil — ^just
at the instant when the work of death was arrested by a
heavy shower of rain, which suddenly broke upon the
combatants with great fury. The storm raged for up-
ward of an hour, during which time the enemy sought such
' The first movement of this kind was made by Jacob Seeber, without
orders, according to the narrative of Henry Seeber.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. i8i
shelter as might be found among the trees at a respectful
distance ; for they had already suffered severely, not-
withstanding the ad\antages in their favor.'
During this suspension of the battle, both parties had
time to look about, and make such new dispositions as
they pleased tor attack and defence, on renewing the
murderous conflict. The Provincials, under the direc-
tion ot their general, were so fortunate as to take pos-
session of an advantageous piece of ground, upon which
his men formed themselves into a circle, and as the
shower broke away, awaited the movements of the enemy.
In the early part of the battle, the Indians, whenever
they saw a gun fired by a militia-man from behind a
tree, rushed upon and tomahawked him before he could
reload. Li order to counteract this mode of warfare,
two men were stationed behind a single tree, one only
to fire at a time — the other reserving his fire until the
Indians ran up as before.^ The fight was presently re-
newed, and by the new arrangement, and the cool exe-
cution done by the fire of the militia forming the main
circle, the Indians were made to suffer severely ; so much
^ " Ac this crisis of the day, when a dropping or drizzling rain of death
was covering the narrow field with dead and wounded, the crash and horror
of the battle were suspended by the fierce tumult of a thunder-storm of
tropical violence — as fierce as that which broke upon the battle-field of
Chantilly, on the first of September, 1862, converting the afternoon into
night, amidst whose charm another republican hero, Kearny, passed like
Herkimer from earthly fame to eternal glory, offering up his great life for
the rights of man and for freedom."— Gen. J. Watts De Peyuer.
^ CampbelTs Annah.
1 8 2 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
so that they began to give way, when Major Watts '
came up with a reinforcement, consisting of another de-
tachment of Johnson's Greens." These men were mostly
loyalists who had fled from Tryon county, now returned
in arms against their former neighbors. As no quarrels
are so bitter as those ot families, so no wars are so cruel
and passionate as those called civil. Many of the Pro-
vincials and Greens were known to each other ; and as
they advanced so near as to afford opportunities of mutual
recognition, the contest became, if possible, more of a
death struggle than before. Mutual resentments, and
feelings of hate and revenge, raged in their bosoms.
The Provincials fired upon them as they advanced, and
then, springing like chafed tigers from their covers, at-
tacked them with their bayonets and the butts of their
muskets, or both parties in closer contact throttled each
other and drew their knives ; stabbing, and sometimes
literally dying in one another's embrace.
At length a firing was heard in the distance from the
fort, a sound as welcome to the Provincials as it was
astounding to the enemy. Availing themselves of the
hint, however, a ruse de- guerre was attempted by Colonel
Butler, which had well-nigh proved fatal. It was the
sending, suddenly, from the direction of the fort, a de-
tachment of the Greens disguised as American troops,
^ Brother of the late venerable John Watts, of New York.
- Campbell. The enemy, as on the march from Oswego, had posted a
line of sentinels at short distances from each other, extending from St.
Leger's intrenchments to the scene of action ; so that communications
could be interchanged rapidly and at pleasure.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 183
in the expectation that they might be received as a timely
reinforcement from the garrison. Lieutenant Jacob
Saminons was the first to descry their approach, in the
direction ot a body of men commanded by Captain Jacob
Gardenier — an officer who, during that memorable day,
performed prodigies of valor. Perceiving that their hats
were American, Sammons informed Captain Gardenier
that succors from the tort were coming up. The quick
eve of the captain detected the ruse.^ and he replied —
'' Not so ; they are enemies ; don't you see their green
coats ! " ' They continued to advance until hailed by
Gardenier, at which moment one of his own soldiers,
observing an acquaintance, and supposing him a friend,
-ran to meet him, and presented his hand. It was grasped,
but with no friendly gripe, as the credulous fellow was
dragged into the opposing line informed that he was a
prisoner. He did not yield without a struggle ; during
which Gardenier, watching the action and the result,
sprang forward, and with a blow from his spear levelled
the captor to the dust and liberated his man.'' Others
of the foe instantly set upon him, of whom he slew the
second and wounded a third. Three of the disguised
Greens now sprang upon him, and one of his spurs be-
coming entangled in their clothes, he was thrown to the
ground. Still contending, however, with almost super-
• Manuscript narrative of William Gardenier, in tlie possession of tlie
author.
'' Idem.
1 8 4 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
human strength, both of his thighs were transfixed to the
earth by the bayonets of two of his assailants, while the
third presented a bayonet to his breast, as if to thrust
him through. Seizing this bayonet with his left h-jnd,
by a sudden wrench he brought its owner down upon
himself, where he held him as a shield against the arms
of the others, until one of his own men, Adam Miller,
observing the struggle, flew to his rescue. As the as-
sailants turiied upon their new adversary, Gardenier rose
upon his seat ; and although his hand was severely lace-
rated by grasping the bayonet which had been drawn
through it, he seized his spear lying by his side, and
quick as lightning planted it to the barb in the side of
the assailant with whom he had been clenched. The
man fell and expired — proving to be Lieutenant Mc-
Donald, one of the loyalist officers from Tryon county.
All this transpired in far less time than is necessarily oc-
cupied by the relation. While engaged in the struggle,
some of his own men called out to Gardenier — "for
God's sake, captain, you are killing your own men ! "
He replied — " they are not our men — they are the
enemy — fire away!" A deadly fire from the Pro-
vincials ensued, during which about thirty of the Greens
fell slain, and many Indian warriors. The parties once
more rushed upon each other with bayonet and spear,
grappling and fighting with terrible fury ; while the
shattering of shafts and the clashing of steel mingled
with every dread sound of war and death, and the savage
yells, more hideous than all, presented a scene which
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 185
can be more easily imagined than described.' The un-
paralleled fortitude and bravery of Captain Gardenier in-
fused fresh spirits into his men, some jf whom enacted
wonders of valor likewise. It happened during the
melee^ in which the contending parties were mingled in
great contusion that three oi Johnson's Greens rushed
within the circle of the Provincials, and attempted to
make prisoner of a Captain Dillenback. Tiiis officer
had declared he would never be taken alive, and he was
not. One of his three assailants seized his gun, but he
suddenly wrenched it from him, and felled him with the
butt. He shot the second dead, and thrust the third
through with his bayonet.^ But in the moment of his
triumph at an exploit of which even the mighty Hector,
or either of the sons of Zeruiah might have been proud,
a ball laid this brave man low in the dust.
Such a conflict as this could not be continued long;
and the Indians, perceiving with what ardor the Provin-
cials maintained the fight, and finding their own numbers
sadly diminished, now raised the retreating cry of
" Oonah ! " and f^ed in every direction, under the shouts
^ MS. of William Gardenier. It was in reference to these individual
deeds of prowess, that the eloquent Gouverneur Morris thus spoke in his
address before the New York Historical Society: — "Let me recall,
gentlemen, to your recollection, that bloody field in which Herkimer fell.
There was found the Indian and the white man born on the banks of the
Mohawk, their left hand clenched in each other's hair, the right grasping
in a grasp of death, the knife plunged in each other's bosom ; thus they
lay frowning.''
^ George Walter relates this incident, in his narrative, in the possession
of the author. Walter was himself a witness of the fact, while lying
wounded with two balls, by the side of General Herkimer.
I 86 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
and hurrahs of the surviving Provincials and a shower
of bullets. Finding, moreover, from the firing at the
fort, that, their presence was necessary elsewhere, the
Greens and Rangers now retreated precipitately, leaving
the victorious militia of Tryon county masters of the
field.'
Thus ended one of the severest, and, for the numbers
engaged, one of the most bloody battles of the Revolu-
tionary war. Though victorious, the loss of the Pro-
vincials was very heavy ; and Tryon county long had
reason to mourn that day. Colonel Paris was taken
prisoner by the enemy, and afterward murdered by the
Indians. Several other prisoners were also killed by the
savages, after they had been brought into Colonel But-
ler's" quarters ; and, as it was said, by the colonel's own
tacii consent, if not permission in terms. But the gene-
ral character of that officer forbids the imputation.^
^ It is an exCiaordinary fact, that every historian who has written of the
battle of Oriskany, has recorded it as a defeat of the Provincials, from
IVIarshall and Ramsay down, to say nothing of the British chroniclers.
Such was also the author's impression until he undertook the present in-
vestigation. Captain Brant himself, in conversation with Samuel Wood-
ruff, Esq., admitted that they were the victors j and all the written
statements which the author has been able to procure from the survivors of
the battle, bear the same testimony.
=^The late Doctor Moses Younglove of Hudson, Columbia county, was
the surgeon of General Herkimer's brigade. He was taken prisoner in this
battle by a sergeant of Sir John Johnson's regiment. After his release he
made a deposition setting forth many grievou? barbarities committed, both
by the Indians and tories, upon the prisoners who fell into their hands that
day. They were cruelly tortured, several of them murdered j and, as the
doctor had reason to believe, some of them were subsequently taken to an
island in Lake Ontario, and eaten. This is scarcely to be believed.
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 187
Major John Frev, of Colonel Klock's regiment, was
likewise wounded and takon ; and to show the more than
saxage fury burning in the bosoms of the men brought
into conflict on this occasion, the disgraceful fact may be
added, that his own brother, who was in the British
service, attempted to take his life after he had arrived
in Butler's camp. The major saw his brother approach-
ing in a menacing manner, and called out — "Brother,
do not kill me! Do you not know me?" But the
infuriated brother rushed forward, and the major was
only saved by the interposition of others.' The whole
number of the Provincial militia killed was two hundred,
exclusive of wounded and lost as prisoners. Such, at
least, was the American report. The British statements
claimeo that four hundred of the Americans were killed,
and two hundred taken prisoners.^
Retaining possession of the field, the survivors imme-
diately set themselves at work in constructing rude litters,
upon which to bear off the wounded. Between forty
and fifty of these, among whom was the commanding
general, were removed in this manner. The brave old
'MS. statement of Jacob Timmerman, in the author's possession.
^" On the 5th I learned, from discovering parties on the Mohawk river,
that a body of one thousand m^lhia were on their march to raise the siege.
On the confirmation of this news, I moved « large body of Indians, with
some troops, the same night, to lay in ambuscade for them on their march.
They fell into it. The completest victory was obtained. Above four hun-
dred lay dead on the field, amongst the number of whom were almost all
the principal movers of rebellion in that country.'' — Letter of Colonel St.
Leger to General Burgoyne, .^ug. II, 1777.
i88 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
man, notwithstanding the imprudence of the morning —
imprudence in allowing a premature movemen.t at the
dictation of his subordinates — had nobly vindicated his
chaiacter for courage during the day. Though wounded,
as we have seen, in the onset, he had borne himself
during the six hours of conflict, under the most trying
circumstances, with a degree of fortitude and composure
worthy of all admiration. Nor was his example without
effect in sustaining his troops amid the perils by which
they were environed. At one time during the battle,
while sitting upon his saddle raised upon a little hillock,
being advised to select a less exposed situation, he re-
plied — "I will face the enemy." Thus, " surrounded
by a few men, he continued to issue his orders with firm-
ness. In this situation, and in the heat of the onslaught,
he deliberately took his tinder-box from his pocket, lit
his pipe, and smoked with great composure." ' At the
moment the soldiers were placing him on the litter, while
adjusting blankets to the poles, three Indians approached,
and were instantly shot down by the unerring rifles of
three of the militia. These were the last shots fired in
that battle.''
^ Campbell. An officer, who was in the general staff at the battle of
Leipzig, has related to the author a very similar incident in the conduct of
old Blucher. He was not wounded j but he sat upon a hillock, issuing his
orders and smoking his pipe, while the cannon balls were ploughing up the
earth about him,
=^ Narrative of Jacob Sammons, MS. The officers of the Tryon county
militia killed or wounded in this battle were as follows: — In Colonel
Frederick Visscher's regiment, Captains John Davis and Samuel Pettingill,
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 189
The loss of the enemy in this engagement was equally,
it not more severe, than that of the Americans. Th
Greens and Rangers of Sir John Johnson and Colonel
Butler must have suffered badly, although no returns
were given in the contemporaneous accounts. Major
Watts was severely wounded and left on the field, as
was supposed, among the slain. His death was reported
by Colonel Willett, in his letter to Governor Trumbull,
and by other authorities. But such was not the fact.
Reviving from faintness produced by loss of blood, some
hours after the action, he succeeded in crawling to a
brook, where, by slaking- his thirst, he was preserved
from speedy death, and in the course of two or three
days was found by some Indian scouts, and brought into
lZ^ ^-^^^^^-7^ :^ />:^-iC>-r7-t^/-)
Expedition of Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger. 221
presented him with an affectionate letter of congratula-
tion on his promotion, mingled with an expression of
their regret at the loss to the regiment of " so worthy a
patron." To which the colonel returned an appropriate
letter of thanks.' The people of Tryon county were of
colonel commander of Fort Schuyler. I should esteem it as a favor if you
would inform me whether I am to receive any pay for that commission,
other than as colonel of the third regiment of New Yorkers ; and if not,
I should be glad if you would endeavor to get something allowed me, as
my present pay will not reimburse my table liquors, which you may well
conceive to be something considerable as commanding officer. I am not
solicitous to make money by my commission j but I could wish not to sink
by it, as I am obliged to do now. The commission which congress has
sent me as commandant of Fort Schuyler, subjects me as much to the com-
mand of my superior officers, as any former one. If that was the intention
of congress, the appointment is nugatory, if not, I wish congress to
alter the commission.*'
^ The following is a copy of the address referred to in the text .,
** Honored Sir : From a just sense of that conduct which has hitherto been
so conspicuously shown to advance the third New York regiment to honor
and public notice, we congratulate you that those characteristics which so
eminently point out the gentleman and soldier, have by your personal
bravery been deservedly noticed by our bleeding country. Although we
rejoice at your promotion, yet we cannot but regret the loss of so worthy a
patron. That the prosperity which has crowned your conduct with victory
may still be continued, is the sincere wish and prayer of, honored sir, your
most obedient and very humble servants." It was signed by twenty-six
officers. Colonel Gansevoort replied as follows : — " Gentlemen : Your
polite address on my promotion merits my sincere thanks. Gratitude, I
hope, shall never be wanting in me to the third N. Y. regiment, who have,
by their firmness and discipline, been the chief authors of my promotion.
Therefore, gentlemen, please accept my warmest wishes for the prosperity
of the corps, that all their virtuous endeavors in the defence of their bleed-
ing country may be crowned with honor and success, which will always be
the earnest prayer of, gentlemen, your most obliged, humble servant."
222 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
course rejoiced, that the blow, directed, as the enemy
supposed, with unerring certaintv against them, had been
averted. They had suffered severely in the campaign ;
but there were enough of her sons yet left to swell the
ranks of General Gates not a little ; and they pressed
ardently to join his standard, although circumstances did
not then require them long to remain in the field.
In October following, when Sir Henry Clinton was
ascending the Hudson for the purpose either of succoring,
or of cooperating with, Burgoyne, Colonel Gansevoort
was ordered to Albany by General Gates, to take com-
mand of the large force then concentrating at that place.
Happily, there was no occasion to test his prowess in his
new and temporary command.
APPENDIX
APPENDIX.
No. I.
Anecdotes of Burgoyne's Campaign — Personal
Reminiscences, etc., by the late Chas. Neilson.
\JN the near approach of Burgoyne with so powerful,
and as yet successful an army, with his horde of unre-
strained savages, who were continually in advance and
on his flanks, prowling about the country, plundering,
murdering, and scalping all who refused loyalty to the
British king ; the inhabitants on both sides of the river,
in the wildest consternation and alarm, fled in every di-
rection. The horrors of war, however mitigated by
the laws and usages of civilization, are at all times suffi-
ciently terrific ; but when to these the fierce cruelties
of a cloud of savages are superadded, those only who are
familiar with an American border warfare, can form an
adequate opinion of its atrocities. In one place a long
cavalcade of ox carts occasionally intermixed with
wagons, filled with all kinds of furniture hurriedly
thrown in, and not often selected by the owners with
reference to their use or value, on occasions of such
alarm, were stretched for some distance along the road ;
while in another might be seen a number on horseback,
and here and there two mounted at once on a steed
226 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
panting under the weight of a double load, closely fol-
lowed by a crowd of pedestrians, and some perhaps
weeping mothers, with a child or two screaming in their
arms or on their backs, trudging along with fearful and
hurried step. These found great difficulty in keeping
up with the rapid flight of their mounted friends. Here
and there would be seen some humane person assist-
ing the more unfortunate, by relieving them of their
burdens with which they were encumbered ; but gene-
rally a principle of selfishness prevented, much inter-
change of friendly offices — every one for himself was
the common cry. ,
To those who now sit quietly under their own shady
bowers, or by the fireside long endeared by tranquility
and happiness, it is left to imagine, with what feelings
they hastened to abandon their homes and their all, as it
were, and fly for safety, they knew not whither. The
men of this generation can never know what were the
sorrows of those fathers that saw their children exposed
to dangers and death, and what the agonies of those
kind mothers, of whom my own respected mother was
one, who pressed their offspring to their bosom in the
constant apprehension of seeing them torn from their em-
braces, to become the victims of savage cruelty, and it
is impossible with sufficient force to describe the appall-
ing distress that many families experienced at that
moment of peril and alarm.
* * * *
Often, when a boy, have I sat long and silent, in the
lamily group, b/ the side of my much respected, now
appendix. 227
sainted mother, listening to her tales of alarm, suffering
and distress, that pervaded this part of the country, in
those troublous times ; and the dangers to which
she herself had frequently been exposed. And often
while reciting the tragic fate of her friend and acquaint-
ance. Miss Jane M'Crea, and other equally savage
cruelties, have I seen the big tear roll from her glisten-
ing eye and trickle down her cheek, glowing with
the emotions of her heart. And even to this day, when
I reflect on those scenes of savage cruelty, and with
what emotion they were then recited, a sympathetic
tear will insensibly steal from my eye, and I am in-
voluntarily led to exclaim O ! my mother ! my much
loved mother ! could I have been present to have wit-
nessed those scenes of danger and alarm to which thou
hast been exposed, and from which thou barely escaped
with thy life, with one arm would I have encircled that
brow, around which the Indian's tomahawk thrice was
brandished, preparatory to the fatal stroke ; and with the
other would I have dashed to the earth, that ferocious
savage, whose scalping- knife, reeking with the blood of
thy friends, was already drawn to execute on thee its
threatened deed ! But a mightier arm was interposed
for thy protection. He in whom thou trusted was
there — for at the critical moment, when there seemed
no possible escape, a file of men approached, as if spe-
cially and providentially directed — the sharp crack of
rifles was heard in the distance — the fatal balls were
sped — two cruel savages fell dead at thy feet, and thou
alone, the joy of thy friends, wast saved, to relate the
sad story of thy three murdered companions !
22 8 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
It may be supposed, from my relation of so many of
tlie numerous scenes, and some of them heart-rending,
through which my own friends have passed, that they
were the only persons who suffered in those trying times.
My intention is not to be so understood, nor do I suppose
that the many trials through which they passed, were
greater than those of many others ; yet the relation of
them, by being often repeated, have become more
familiar, and consequently better enables me to give a
correct account of them.
The subsequent tragic scene, though I do not now re-
collect all the particulars, I will recount in substance, as
follows :
My step-grandfather, had been very active among the
Indians and tories, and understood their manner of war-
fare so well that he was often selected to head volunteer
parties, who went in pursuit of them, in their marauding
expeditions, and was generally very successful ; for which
they owed him a grudge, and tried many ways to decoy
and take him ; but he had always eluded them.
It happened on a time when it was supposed there
were no Indians in the vicinity, and the inhabitants all
felt secure, that my father was gone from home on busi-
ness with the committee of safety, leaving my grand-
father, grandmother, and mother, at home alone — they
all occupying the same house at the time. Soon after
dark, a little dog, which they had, and which was then
in the house, for some moments seemed to express con-
siderable uneasiness, and at last ran to the door, and with
a kind of howl, or unusual expression, immediately
Appendix. i2g
turned and looked up, with much seeming concern, to
my grandfather, whose keen perception in a moment led
him to exclaim, " Indians !" He immediately caught his
rifle, which lay horizontally on hooks attached to a beam
overhead, and opening the door stepped out. But he
had no sooner passed the threshold, than the sharp crack
of three rifles were heard in rapid succession, and he
staggered back, exclaiming, " run for your lives 1" and
fell into the room. My mother and grandmother, al-
ready horror-stricken, gave a sudden scream and imme-
diately sprang out of an opposite window, and ran to a
neighboring house, about eighty rods distant, to give the
alarm. It so happened that two distant neighbors, who
had been out that day on a hunting excursion, called at
the same house some ten or fifteen minutes before, and
hearing the firing, were, in company with the occupant,
listening to ascertain its direction, if repeated. At the
same time a horse was heard at a distance rapidly ap-
proaching, which soon proved to be my father's on which,
having heard the firing, and suspecting mischief, he was
riding at the top of his speed, and arrived at the moment
the alarm was given. Springing from his horse, and
being furnished with a rifle, the four men immediately
hurried on, regardless of any danger they might be rush-
ing into. On approaching the house, it being then quite
dark, they caught the glimpse of persons running in the
direction of a piece of woods near by ; upon whom they,
in their hurry, fired at random.
Having pursued on to the skirt of the wood, and see-
ing no more of the enemy, they returned to the house,
230 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
where a mournful spectacle presented itself. There lay
the mangled and lifeless corpse of my grandfather,
drenched in his own blood ; and tomahawked and
scalped ; and on examinaiion it was found that three
balls had passed through his body. In searching, the
next morning, at the place where the Indians, for such
were they supposed to be, were fired upon, they found
blood in several places leading into the woods, evincing
that some one of them, at least, had been wounded. It
was supposed that the hostile party consisted of four
tories, and five Indians, as that number was seen next
day, near Fort Edward, traveling north with a hurried
step ; one of which limped considerably and lagged
behind.
A short time previous to the foregoing tragedy, my
grandfather, at the head of fifty men, had a desperate
encounter with about eighty Indians and tories at Sab-
bathday point,' in which the enemy were defeated, with
the loss of forty killed and wounded. It was supposed
that, in consequence of so signal a defeat, which was
effected by means of an ambuscade, the Indians and tories
were determined, at all hazards, to destroy the man, who
in this, as in many other instances, had been so great a
' Sabbathday point is a low neck of land stretching into Lake George
from the western shore, three miles from the little village of Hague. On
Sabbathday point, Lord Amherst with his army stopped for refreshment
upon the morning of the Sabbath, and gave this beautiful spot the name
by which it is now known. It is a charming spot, and susceptible of great
embelishment. In the summer of 1756, a small body of Provincials who
had retreated to this point, defeated a superior force of French and Indians,
who had attacked them in gun-boats.
Appendix. 23 1
scourge to them, and which they finally accomplished,
in the manner already related.
At the time the American army under General Schuy-
ler was retreating down the Hudson from Fort Edward,
small parties of tories and Indians kept pace with them
along the opposite bank, and when an opportunity pre-
sented, where the road was on or near the margin of
that stream, along which the army passed, they would
secrete themselves near the bank and fire across at the
officers and men ; and in this manner they pursued them
as far down as Stillwater, wounding many on the way.
When the army was thus passing near E. Vandenburgh's,
and opposite a shoal place in the river, an Indian waded
out some distance and fired, hitting a soldier and badly
wounding him in the hand. Another soldier, by the
name of Dirk Van Vechten, who was marching in the
same platoon, was so vexed at it that he was determined
to avenge the injury. Accordingly he kept a sharp look
out, and watching his opportunity, as soon as he saw an
Indian approach the river, he crept along on the ground,
and laid himself down on the margin of the bank, behind
some open bushes ; and as an Indian arrived at a spot
in the river, from which he raised his piece to fire. Van
Vechten let drive at him, when the Indian bounded,
with a horrid screech, three feet out of water, and fell,
and he saw no more of him. After that, the Indians
were very careful how and where they showed themselves.
* * * *
Several anecdotes in connection with the battle of
Bennington have been recorded, of which the following
is one.
232 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Among the reinforcements from Berkshire county
came a clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Allen, of Pittsfield,
with a portion of his flock, resolved to make bare the
arm of flesh against the enemies of the country. Before
daylight on the morning of the i6th, he addressed the
commander as follows: "We the people of Berkshire
have been frequently called upon to fight, but have
never been led against the enemy. We have now re-
solved, if you will not let us fight, never to turn out
again." General Stark asked him if he wished to march
then, when it was dark and rainy. " No," was the
answer. "Then," continued Stark, " if the Lord should
once more give us sunshine, and I do not give you
fighting enough, I will never ask you to come again."
The weather cleared up in the course of the day, and
the men of Berkshire followed their spiritual guide into
action.
Another — On General Stark's approach to the Hes-
sian camp, and pointing out the enemy to his soldiers,
he declared to them that " he would gain the victory
over them in the approaching battle, or Molly Stark
should be a widow that night."
Some two or three days previous to the time that
Colonel Baum was detached to Bennington, a party of
Indians and tories were sent on for the purpose of
scouring the country between that place and Fort Ed-
ward. On their way they captured and took with them
Mrs. Hannah Coon (now Mrs. Grandy), wife of Mr.
Elisha Coon, a captain in the American militia, and
who was then absent on duty. Mrs. Coon was then
Appendix. 233
in a very delicate situation, and such as required mo-
mentary attention ; but" notwithstanding, she was com-
pelled, as incapacitated as she was, to travel on foot
with these ferocious savages and more brutal tories.
The second day after her capture her accouchement took
place, where they halted for the night. In the morn-
ing after her confinement, she, with two other women
who had also been captured, was again compelled to
walk and carry her child, to the place where the troops
under Colonel Baum encamped, previous to the action
with the Americans under General Stark. Before the
battle, she says, the troops were in high spirits, and boasted
much of their ability to subdue the "rebel Yankees,"
as they called the Americans, and vainly endeavored to
persuade a number, whom they had taken prisoners on
the way, to join in the cause of the British king. But
during the action, and while the soldiers were repeatedly
bringing the wounded into camp, she would laugh at,
and ridicule them. Soon after the action commenced,
she saw the Indians, she says, flying in all directions,
and skulking behind trees, rocks, and other places of
concealment. On the retreat of the Indians, after the
defeat of Colonel Baum, she was taken with them,
and soon met the reinforcments under Colonel Brey-
mann ; when she returned to camp and remained
during the second battle, and was again compelled to
travel on foot with them on their retreat to the place
where they encamped during the night. Here, owing
to her recent confinement and constant fatigue, she was
taken sick, and whether it was on that account, or on
234 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
account of the hurry and bustle the troops were in at the
time, being in momentary expectation of pursuit by the
Americans, she does not know, but she was left without
a guard, and managed to conceal herself and child until
they had departed, when she made her escape.
During those days of extreme suffering, distress, and
alarm that she experienced, while in her delicate state of
health, she was often threatened with instant death, if
she refused to proceed or complained of inability ; and
once, in particular, an Indian chief approached her with
much ferocity, at a time when she was tantalizing them
on their defeat, and actually clenched up her child,
which was lying on her lap, and drew his scalping knife
around its head, and brandished his tomahawk over her, in
token of what he would do if she did not desist ; and she
thinks would have carried his threats into execution, had
it not been for the interference of a humane officer.
After her escape, and having undergone all the horrors
of a cruel death, she with much difficulty returned home,
where she remained alone (excepting her infant child),
and in the midst of the wilderness, about three weeks,
with nothing to subsist upon but a little salt pork,
which had been concealed, and some old or seed cucum-
bers, that were left undisturbed in the garden, all of
their other provisions and even her cooking and other
furniture having been taken away by the Indians and
tories. The cucumbers she scraped the seeds from
and peeled, then roasted them in the embers, and
though she was fearful they might kill her, yet, she
says, she thought she might as well die by eating them
Appendix. aj5
as to starve to death — as the salt pork she could not
eat alone.
At the expiration of three weeks she was again taken
by the Indians and tories, who, she thinks, vented
their malice particularly upon her, on account of her
husband having taken sides with the Americans, as they
would often speak of it. At this time she was compelled
tc) cross the river with them, in advance of the British
army, and was taken as far as Stillwater, but managed
to make her escape during the action of the 19th of
September, having suffered much during the time.
But little do the junior matrons of these times of
luxury and ease, know or feel of the suffering and depri-
vations of those who inhabited this part of the country
in those days of peril and alarm ; and there are but few,
who sufficiently realize the price at which the dear
bought liberties of our now happy country were pur-
chased.
Mrs. Coon (Grandy), now (1844) lives on the same
farm that her husband owned and occupied when she
was taken prisoner — about two miles from Union
Village, in Washington county. New York. She is,
at the time of writing this narrative, ninety-three years
of age, quite active, and her step uncommonly firm for
a person of her advanced age ; and she bids fair to live
yet a number of years. On the recital of her sufferings,
a glow of resentment suffused her matronly cheek, and
the fire of indignation would sparkle in her keen black
eye ; but in a moment she sprang upon her feet, with
the seeming activity of youth, and broke out in raptures
236 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
of joy, as though no sacrifice for her country had been
too great, and exclaimed with much energy of feeling :
" But they got well paid for it! the first army," as she
called it, " were most all taken prisoners, and the second
got defeated and had to run for their lives; " and " Oh,"
she said, " how I rejoiced to see it, though I knew my
own sufferings would be increased." And who is there
so lost to his country's weal as not to exclaim with the
patriot poet ?
"Amor (patriae) vincit omnia, et nos cedamus amori."
The following incident took place while Colonel
Warner had the command of the garrison at Fort Ed-
ward :
While the Americans held undisputed possession of
the posts at the north, it was a very common thing for
the different commanders to exchange visits. Colonel
Warner occasionally visited the commander at Fort
George. On one of these occasions, he was returning
with two officers, all of them on horseback. As they
were passing the Bloody pond, where some hostile In-
dians had hid themselves behind an old tree, they re-
ceived a volley of musketry from their concealed
enemies. The two officers fell lifeless to the ground,
and Colonel Warner was wounded, as was also the
horse he rode. He put spurs to the bleeding animal
and endeavored to escape. One of the officer's horses
accompanied him, and the Indians pursued. As he
rode on, his own occasionally seemed ready to fall under
him, and at other times would revive and appear to re-
Appendix. 237
new his strength. The other horse kept up with them,
alternately increasing and relaxing his speed, to keep
pace with his wounded companion. The colonel in
vain tried to seize the bridle which hung over his neck,
an expedient which promised to save him if his own
steed should fail. In this manner, and with all the
horrid anticipation of a cruel death before him, he
managed to outstrip his pursuers until he reached Glen's
Falls. There, as the uninjured horse came along side,
he made another attempt to seize his bridle, and suc-
ceeded. He instantly dismounted, unslung his own
saddle, threw it over the fence, mounted the other horse
and rode off at full speed. He saw no more of his pur-
suers from this moment, but reached Fort Edward in
safety. Not however, without being really overcome
by his exertion, fatigue, and loss of blood. What was
also singular, was the arrival of his wounded horse,
which lived to do good service in the field.
'T- ^ 'T^ 'I-
During the time (nearly a month ') that Burgoyne,
with his army, lay at and near the Batten kil, an inci-
dent took place, which I think worthy of notice, as
showing the spirit and ardor of the whigs in those
troublous times, and their determination to cut off all
supplies from the invading army.
The tories, or cow boys as they were then called,
were in the constant habit of plundering the inhabitants
■ An error, unless Fort Miller, ten miles above, is considered as a por-
tion of the encampment at the Batten kil. — W. L. Stone.
21
aj 8 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
on both sides of the river, of their grain, poultry, and
other kinds of eatables, and driving off their cattle, hogs,
and sheep, whenever they could find them, for the pur-
pose of supplying the British army with provisions, for
which no doubt they were well paid. Though often
pursued, and sometimes roughly handled by the whigs,
they still persisted. At one time in particular, they had
collected and secreted in a deep dark ravine, branching
ofF from Mill creek, a large quantity of provisions, such
as beef, pork, flour, and other articles of consumption,
with the intention of transporting them, at some favor-
able opportunity, to the British camp. By accident it
was found out, and the place of concealment discovered ;
upon which my father, at the head of about twenty
resolute fellows, which he had collected together and
well armed, went on in the night, for the purpose of
taking or destroying their plunder. On their arrival
within a short distance of the depot, one of them crept
slily along, when he discovered the tories, about thirty
in number ; five of whom appeared to be armed and
keeping guard, while the others were in the act of
loading four wagons which stood a short distance from
the depot, and which they had brought for the purpose
of conveying away their stores. The assailing party
then held a secret council of war, .to consult whether,
the enemy being so much superior in number, it was
advisable to proceed ; whereupon it was unanimously
agreed that they should go ahead, and made their
arrangements accordingly.
The place where the stores were concealed, was be-
Appendix. 239
hind a point projecting fronn the opposite side, around
which the ravine curved, forming the bank on the side
of the assailants into a semicircle, around which, it was
preconcerted, they should extend themselves in couples,
and silently approach the bank or brow of the hill, and
at the word of command, " Come on., boys /" they were
all to give a whoop, and rush on, though not to fire un-
less the tories made resistance ; but in that case, to
fight their way through in the best way they could. All
preliminaries being arranged, they formed themselves in
order of battle, and silently moved on to the brow of
the hill forming the ravine ; and when my father, who
was at the head, and as previously agreed, gave the
word, "Come on boys!" they gave such horrid, con-
tinued, and frightful yells, and at the same time rushing
down the hill like a mighty torrent, that by the time
they had got to the bottom of the ravine, the enemy had
all decamped, leaving their arms and baggage a prey to
the victors. The assailants not yet satisfied, pursued on
a considerable distance, shouting, whooping, and making
the woods ring with their horrid yells, as though a thou-
sand Indians had been let loose upon the frightened fugi-
tives. Having found no enemy in their pursuit, the
assailants returned to the deserted camp, to examine
their booty ; but as the tories had not yet brought, or had
concealed their horses, and having no means of bringing
off the wagons, they went to work and broke them in
pieces, as much as they could. Having stove in the
barrels, and scattered and otherwise destroyed the flour
and other provisions, they all returned home safe and
240 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
sound, and much to the joy and gratification of their
families and friends ; bringing with them twenty-five
stand of arms, with which Burgoyne had furnished the
tories, and which the victors considered lawful prize.
Thus ended this hazardous and praiseworthy exploit,
and for which my father was honored with the title of
captain, a title, as is now well known to many, by which
for a number of years, he was addressed, until he was
appointed a civil magistrate, when the title was exchanged
for esquire.
About the same time, small parties of Indians were
seen prowling about the vicinity, of whom my father and
a few resolute fellows had been in pursuit. On their
return, he had occasion, while the others passed on, to
call at a Mr. Ezekiel Ensign's, who afterwards, and for
a number of years, kept a public house a little north of
Wilbur's basin. While sitting there about nine o'clock
in the evening, in conversation with Mr. Ensign, a fero-
cious looking giant-like Indian, armed and accoutred in
the usual costume of an aboriginal warrior, ushered him-
self into the room, and after eyeing them sharply for a
moment, he with one hand drew from his belt a huge
tomahawk, which he flourished about his head in true
Indian style, and with the other a long scalping-knife,
whose glittering steel became more brilliant in the daz-
zling glare of a bright torch-light, and with which he
exhibited, in pantomime, his dextrous manner of taking
scalps. At the same time, with eyes flashing fire, and
turning alternately from one to the other, as they sat in
opposite directions, he accornpanied his daring acts in
Appendix. 24 1
broken English, with threats of instant death, if they
attempted to move or speak. Ensign being a cripple in
one arm, having at some former time accidentally re-
ceived a charge of shot through his shoulder, and feeling
his own weakness, should resistance become necessarj',
and being in momentary expectation of receiving the
fatal blow, became fixed and immovable in his chair,
with a countenance of ashy paleness,
Obstupuit, steteruntque comEe, et vox faucibus hasit.
On the other hand, my father, being a man of great
muscular strength, and of uncommon agility, and having
had many encounters with the Indians, for which they
owed him a grudge, prepared himself, with much presence
of mind, for a desperate event. To this effect, while
the Indian, in his threatening manner, would momentarily
'direct his attention to Ensign, he would imperceptibly
and by degrees, turn himself in his chair, and in this
manner would from time to time, keep silently moving
by little and little, until he succeeded in placing himself
in a position in which he could grasp with both hands,
the back posts of his chair. Thus situated, and knowing
the lives of both of them depended altogether on his own
exertions, he watched his opportunity, and the moment
the Indian turned his eye from him, he grasped the chair,
and with almost the rapidity of lightning, sprang upon
his feet, whirled the chair over his head, and aimed at
him a desperate blow : but the chair taking the ceiling
above, and the Indian at the same time, and almost as
quick as thought, dodging the blow, he missed his aim.
The Indian, having recovered his position, immediately
242 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
sprang with a hideous yell, and with^his tomahawk up-
lifted, ready to strike the fatal blow ; but before he could
effect his direful purpose, the chair was brought around
the second time, and with redoubled force, athwart his
head and shoulders, which brought him to the floor.
No sooner had he fallen, than his assailant, dropping
his chair, sprang upon him, and wrenched from his firm
grasp, the dreadful weapons of death ; and would have
disabled him on the spot, but Ensign, who by this time
had recovered the power of speech, and supposing he
intended to take the Indian's life, begged of him not to
kill him in the house. He then, holding him in his firm
grasp, called for a rope, which was soon procured, and
with the assistance of Ensign, he succeeded, though not
without a dreadful struggle, in binding the savage monster.
By this time, two of the neighbors who had been alarmed,
by some female of the family, came in, when he was shut
up in an out-house, with the doors barred, and left in
their keeping during the remainder of the night ; to be
disposed of in the morning as circumstances might re-
quire. In the night, the guard believing him secure,
and allowing themselves to fall asleep, he made his es-
cape, by removing some portion of the floor and under
wall, on the opposite side of the prison to which his
guard was posted, much to the regret, not only of his
victor, but to many of the neighbors, who had flocked
together to obtain a sight of the conquered savage.
At another time seven of those maurauding tories,
who had distinguished themselves by a series of desperate
acts not to be patiently endured by the community, were
Appendix. 243
taken prisoners, conveyed to Albany, and confined in the
city prison, which also served for the court house and
the meetings of the common council, and from which
they once made their eseape, but only to enjoy their
liberty a i^-w hours, for they were soon retaken and con-
demned to the gallows. The public indignation was
much excited by their conduct in prison, and the cir-
cumstances attending their being brought to suffer the
sentence of the law. They were confined in the right
hand room of the lower story of the prison. The door
ot their apartment swung in a place cut out lower than
the level of the floor. Wlien the sheriff came to take
them out he found the door barricaded. He procured a
heavy piece of timber with which he in vain endeavored
to batter down the door, although he was assisted in the
operation by some very athletic and willing individuals.
During the attempt, the voices of the prisoners were
heard threatening death to those wiio persevered in the
attempt, with the assertion that they had a train of pow-
der to blow up themselves and their assailants. Indeed
it was well ascertained, that a quantity of powder had
passed into their possession, but how, could not be
known. It was afterwards found placed under the floor,
and arranged to produce the threatened result. The
sheriff could not effect his entrance, while a crowd of
gazers looked on to see the end of this singular con-
test. Some one suggested the idea of getting to them
through the ceiling, and immediately went to work
to effect a passage by cutting a hole through. While
this was going on, the prisoners renewed their threats.
244 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
with vows of vengeance speedy, awful and certain. The
assailants, however, persevered, and having procured a
fire-engine, placed it so as to introduce the hose sud-
denly to the hole in the ceiling, and at a given signal
inundated the room beneath. This was dextrously per-
formed. The powder and its train were in an instant
rendered useless. Still, however, to descend was the
difficulty, as but one person could do so at a time. The
disproportion of physical strength that apparently awaited
the first intruder, prevented, for some time, any further
attempt. At last an Irishman, by the name of McDole,
who was a merchant, exclaimed, " give me an Irishman's
gun, and I will go first !" He was instantly provided
with a formidable cudgel, and with this in his hand he
descended', and at the same moment in which he struck
the floor, he levelled the prisoner near him, and con-
tinued to lay about him violently until the room was
filled with a strong party of citizens, who came to his
assistance through the hole in the ceiling. After a hard
struggle they were secured, and the door, which had been
barricaded by brick taken from the fireplace, was opened.
They were almost immediately taken out for execu-
tion, and the mob was sufficiently exasperated to have
instantly taken their punishment into their own hands.
The prisoners while moving up the hill to the place of
execution, wore an air of great gloom and illnature. No
one appeared to pity them, and their own hopes of being
released by some fortunate circumstance, as by the in-
tervention of the enemy, had now vanished forever.
Having arrived at the summit of the hill, near, or at
Appendix. 245
the very place now covered with elegant and substantial
edifices, near the present academy, they there, upon one
gallows of rude construction, ended their miserable lives
together, and were buried in front of it.
The transaction created considerable excitement, and
was considered by the tories as a cruel and unnecessary
waste of life, and a sacrifice to the unnatural feelings
which had dictated the unhappy rebellion. By the
whigs, it was considered as a necessary example, de-
manded by the nature of the times and the enormity of
the oiFences they had committed, and they considered it
not only a justifiable, but an imperious act of necessity,
to inflict upon the offenders the full penalties of the law.'
At one time while the two armies were encamped
near each other (after the battle of Freeman's farm)
about twenty of the most resolute inhabitants in the
vicinity, collected together for the purpose of having a
frolic, as they termed it, of some kind or other. After
their arrival at the place of rendezvous, and a number of
propositions had been logically discussed, they finally
concluded, with more courage than prudence, that, by a
coup-de-main, they would go and bring in one of the
British advance pickets, which was posted on the north
bank of the middle ravine. Having with much formality,
selected their several officers, and furnished themselves
with suitable arms and other equipments, they marched
off in /r-regular military style. The martial costume of
the captain, for by such title he was addressed, exhibited
1 The Sexagenary, by S. D. JV. Bloodgood, p. loo, Munsell's edition.
246 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
the extremes of continental etiquette, personified in on
instance, by a sharp and huge three cocked hat, pro
fusely trimmed with the threadbare fragments of thrown
off gold lace, surmounting a well pomatumed an
powdered head. A long waisted blue coat, turned u
with rather sun-bleached buff, that met and parted at th
same time on his breast ; a black silk neck-kerchie
drawn tightly around his throat, discovering the balanc
of power, or rather the center of gravity, to be lyini
some where in the region of the olfactory organ, com
pleted the upper half of this mischief-bent voluntee
officer. A pair of buckskin small clothes drawn tightl;
over a muscular thigh, were met at the knee by a pai
of straight-sided boots, that, doubtless, by their stifFnes
and want of pliability prevented any thing like an attacl
upon the limb inside. An old white belt thrown ovei
the whole man, and a heavy sabre with a leather scab
bard, completed the brilliant costume of this son o
chivalry, and /r-regular friend of the continental congress
The other com-m\s?,iontA officers, for such by way o
distinguishment, were they called, were fully armed an(
accoutred in a similar manner, but somewhat inferior ii
brilliancy.
Brown tow shirts were the panoply of the farmer
soldiers ; over their broad shoulders hung powder horn
and shot bags, manufactured during the long winte
evenings, and now and then stopped up with a corn cob
which had escaped the researches of the swinish niul
titude. Muskets were rather uncommon among thi
inhabitants in those days of martial exploit, and in thei
stead, long fowling-pieces were substituted.
Appendix. 247
In such a group of combatants just escaped, as it were,
from the tomahawk, hastily equipped for the present emer-
gency, and bearing a grotesque appearance, the name of
Steuben was of no more weight than the feather that
danced in the breeze. Thus armed and accoutred, these
sons of daring intrepidity, marched off about ten o'clock
at night, with more courage than order, fully determined
to coriquer or die in the glorious cause of their beloi'ed
country, then bleeding at every pore.
As they approached within musket-shot distance of
their unsuspecting enemy, they were formed, or rather
formed themselves in order of battle, and advanced in
three grand divisions — one by a circuitous route, to gain
their rear, while the other two posted themselves on
their flanks. After giving time for each party to gain
their several positions, the resolute captain, who was pre-
pared for the purpose, gave the preconcerted signal, by
a deafening blast on an old horse trumpet, whose martial
sound had often cheered the mounted troops to fierce and
bloody combat, when all, with fearless step " rushed
bravely on" with clattering arms, through rustling leaves
and crackling brush, with the usual parade of a hundred
men. As they closed in, the leaders of each division, in
a bold and commanding voice, and before the guard
could say " Who comes there .' " called, or rather bawled
out, "Ground your arms, or you are all dead men!"
Supposing they were surrounded by a much superior
force, and deeming resistance, under such circumstances,
of no avail, the officer of the guard gave the orders, when
their arms were immediately grounded, and thirty British
248 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
soldiers surrendered themselves " prisoners of war" to
only two-thirds of their number, and those undisciplined
American farmers.
* * * *
Accompanying the American army were a great num-
ber of women, principally foreigners, many of whom had
husbands or brothers in the action, and many who fol-
lowed merely for the sake of plunder, as was manifested
during the night after the action of the 7th October.
The next morning after the battle, every man that was
left dead on the field, and even those who were supposed
to be mortally wounded, and not yet dead, but helpless,
were found stripped of their clothing, which rendered it
almost impossible to distinguish between Anrerican and
British. But during the action, a heart-rending, and yet
to some a laughable, scene took place in the American
camp, and probably the same in the British. In the heat
of the battle, and while the cannon were constantly roar-
ing like oft peals of distant thunder, and making the
earth to quake from its very foundation, some of those
women, wringing their hands, apparently in the utmost
distress, and frantically tearing their hair in the agony of
their feelings, were heard to cry out, in the most lament-
able exclamations, " Och, my husband ! my poor hus-
band ! Lord Jesus, spare my poor husband!" which
would be often repeated, and sometimes by fifteen or
twenty voices at once ; while the more hardened ones,
and those rejoicing in the prospects of plunder, would
break out in blasphemous imprecations, exclaiming,
" D — n your poor husband, you can get another ! " And
Appendix. 249
in this manner the scene continued during the action ;
and I have heard it observed by those who were present,
that they could not help smiling, even through their tears,
at the pitiful exhibition.
* * * *
The soldier who shot General Fraser, was Timothy
Murphy, a Virginian, who belonged to Morgan's rifle
corps, in which he distinguished himself as a marksman,
and excited much interest while in camp. After the
capture of Burgoyne, the company to which he belonged
was ordered to Schoharie, where it remained until their
term of service expired. When the company was dis-
banded, Murphy and some others remained, and served
in the militia ; his skill in the desultory war which the
Indians carry on, gave him so high a reputation, that
though not nominally the commander, he usually directed
all the movements of the scouts that were sent out, and
on many important occasions the commanding officers
found it dangerous to neglect his advice ; his double rifle,
his skill as a marksman, and his fleetness either in retreat
or pursuit, made him an object both of dread and of ven-
geance to the Indians : they formed many plans to de-
stroy him, but he always eluded them, and sometimes
made them suffer for their temerity.
He fought the Indians with their own weapons.
When circumstances permitted, he tomahawked and
scalped his fallen enemy ; he boasted after the war that
he had slain forty of the enemy with his own hand ; more
than half of whom he had scalped ; he took delight in
perilous adventures, and seemed to love danger for dan-
250 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
ger's sake. Tradition has preserved the account of many
of his exploits ; but there are so many versions of the
same story, and so much evident fiction mixed with the
truth, that the author will give but a single instance as
proof of the dread with which he was regarded by the
Indians.
They were unable to conjecture how he could dis-
charge his rifle twice without having time to reload ; and
his singular good fortune in escaping unhurt, led them to
suppose that he was attended by some invisible being,
who warded off their bullets, and sped his with unerring
certainty to the mark. When they had learned the
mystery of his doubled-barrelled rifle, they were careful
not to expose themselves too much until he had fired
twice, knowing that he must have time to reload his
piece before he could do them further injury.
One day having separated from his party, he was pur-
sued by a number of Indians, all of whom he outran ex-
cepting one ; Murphy turned round, fired upon this
Indian, and killed him. Supposing that the others had
given up the pursuit he stopped to strip the dead, when
the rest of his pursuers came in sight. He snatched the
rifle of his fallen foe, and with it killed one of his pur-
suers ; the rest, now sure of their prey, with a yell of
joy heedlessly rushed on, hoping to make him their pri-
soner ; he was ready to drop down with fatigue, and was
likely to be overtaken, when turning round, he discharged
the remaining barrel of his rifle, and killed the foremost
of the Indians ; the rest, astonished at his firing three
times in succession, fled, crying out that he could shoot
all day without loading.
Appendix. 251
In stature, Murphy was about five feet six inches, and
very well proportioned, with dark complexion, and an
e\e that would kindle and flash like the very lightning
when excited. He was exceedingly quick in all his
motions, and possessed an iron frame that nothing ap-
parently could affect : And what is very remarkable, his
body was never wounded or scarred during the whole
war.'
* :}! * :(:
The following facts respecting Col. Cochran, 1 ob-
tained through the politeness of Miss Caroline Ogden,
an interesting maiden lady, and grand-daughter of the
colonel, who now (1844) resides with J. T. M'Cown,
Esq., in the city of Troy.
Colonel Cochran having been sent to Canada as a
spy, his mission was suspected, and a large bounty offered
for his head. While there he was taken sick, and know-
ing that he was suspected, concealed himself, for the
space of a few days, in a brush heap, within about two
miles of the American lines, unable to make his escape, or
even to walk. Having suffered much from his sickness
and want of nourishment, and having discovered a log
cabin at considerable distance from where he was con-
cealed, and the only one in sight, he cr»pt to it on his
' At the close of the war, Murphy became a farmer and settled in Scho-
harie Co., N. Y. He was a capital stump speaker, and was a political
power in the county. He brought William C. Bouck into political life,
which in time, carried him into the gubernatorial chair of the Empire state.
He died in 1818, full of years and honors, of cancer occasioned by the
recoil of his rifle on his cheek. — Ed.
252 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
hands and knees, for the purpose of soliciting assistance.
On his approach to the rear of the cabin, he heard three
men in earnest conversation, and as it happened he was
the subject of their discourse. Having heard of the
heavy bounty that was offered for the colonel, and having
seen a man in the vicinity a few days before, answering
the description of him, they were then forming their plans,
and expressing their determination to find his where-
abouts, and take him for the sake of the bounty. One
of the men was the owner of the cabin, whose wife was
also present, and the others were his brother and brother-
in-law. Soon after this conversation took place, and the
three men having departed in pursuit, he crept into the
cabin, and frankly told the woman, who seemed favor-
ably impressed towards him, on account of his almost help-
less condition, that he had overheard the conversation,
and that he was the man of whom they were in search,
and that he should throw himself entirely upon her mercy,
and trust to her fidelity for protection, which she very
kindly promised him, to the utmost of her ability. Hav-
ing administered some restoratives, which seemed to give
relief, and given him some suitable nourishment, he lay
down on a bed in the room, for the purpose of taking
some repose, which he very much needed. After the
men had been absent some three hours, they again re-
turned, when she concealed him in a closet, or sort of
cupboard, standing by the side of the fire-place, and shut
the door, taking good care while the men were in the
house, to keep near it herself, that if anything should be
wanted from within, she might be ready to get it herself.
Appendix. i (,2
During the time tiie men were in the cabin, they ex-
pressed much confidence in the belief that the colonel
was concealed somewhere in the vicinity, and named
many places in which they intended to search for him ;
all of which he, in his place of concealment, overheard.
Having taken some food, and otherwise prepared them-
selves, the men again departed, in order to renew their
search.
Soon after they retired, and the woman considering
the colonel's present situation not long safe, she proposed
that he should conceal himself at some distance from the
cabin, where she might clandestinely bring him food,
and render him such other assistance as he needed, and
accordingly directed him to take post on a certain hill
about half a mile off, where he might be able to discover
any person on their approach, and to flee, if he was
able, and it became necessary. On his manifesting an
inclination to resume his former position in the brush
heap, which was in the midst of quite a patch of ground
that had been cut over for a fallow, she told him that
her husband intended to burn it over the next day, and
in that case he would certainly be discovered, or perish
in the conflagration ; upon which he submitted entirely
to her proposition and directions, and crept along to the
hill in the best way he could. He remained sometime
in this place of concealment, undiscovered by any one
except this faithful Rahab of the forest, who rendered
him suitable and timely assistance, and like a good
Samaritan poured in the " oil and the wine," until his
strength was in a measure restored, and he was again
enabled to return to his country and his home.
2 54 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Some years, after the close of the war, and while the
colonel lived at Ticonderoga, he accidentally came across
this kind hearted woman, whose name, I much regret,
I have not been able to ascertain, and rewarded her
handsomely for her fidelity.
Colonel Cochran died 1822, near Sandy Hill, Wash-
ington county, New York, much lamented by a large
circle of friends and acquaintances, and was buried in the
family burying-ground at Fort Edward.
H^ * * .^
The Germans were found almost totally unfit for the
business they were engaged in. They were unable to
march through the woods and encounter the difficulties
incident to our then almost unsettled country. Many
of them deserted to our army before and after the con-
vention at Saratoga.
Among those of the German troops who surrendered,
were the Hesse-Hanau regiment, Riedesel's dragoons
and Specht's regiment, the most remarkable of the whole.
The Hessians were extremely dirty in their persons, and
had a collection of wild animals in their train — the only
thing American they had captured. Here could be seen
an artillery-man leading a black grizzly bear, who every
now and then would rear upon his hind legs as if he
were tired of going upon all fours, or occasionally growl
his disapprobation at being pulled along by his chain.
In the same manner a tamed deer would be seen tripping
lightly after a grenadier. Young foxes were also ob-
served looking sagaciously at the spectators from the top
of a baggage wagon, or a young racoon securely clutched
Appendix. 255
under the arm of a sharp shooter. There were a great
many women accompanying the Germans, and a misera-
able looking set of oddly dressed, gypsey featured females
they were.
It is said that no insults were offered to the prisoners
as they marched oft', and they felt grateful for it.
However, after they got out of the camp, many of the
British soldiers were extremely abusive, cursing the
rebels and their own hard fate. The troops were
escorted by some of the New England militia, and
crossed the river at Stillwater, on a bridge of rafts,
which had been constructed by the Americans while the
army was encamped on Bemis's heights.
On the night of the surrender, a number of Indians
and squaws, the relics of Burgoyne's aboriginal force,
were quartered under a strong guard for safe keeping.
Without this precaution their lives would not have been
safe from the exasperated militia.
* ^ ^ ^
Among these savages were three, that were between
six and seven feet in height, perfect giants in form, and
possessing the most ferocious countenances. And
among them, was recognized the same Indian with whom
my father had the encounter at Ensign's.
Blood and carnage were now succeeded by success
and plunder. The clouds of battle rolled away, and
discovered hundreds of searchers after the relics of the
tented field.
* * * *
While the British army lay on the north bank of
256 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Fish creek, the east side of the river, in addition to the
regular troops, was lined with American militia. One
of them, an expert swimmer, discovered a number of the
enemy's horses feeding in a meadow of General Schuy-
ler's, opposite, and asked permission of his captain to go
over and get one of them. It was given, and the man
instantly stripped, and swam across the river. He as-
cended the bank and selecting a fine bay horse for his
prize, approached the animal, seized, and mounted him
instantly. This last was the work of a moment. He
forced the horse into a gallop, plunged down the bank
and brought him safely over to the American camp,
although a volley of musketry was fired at him from a
party of British soldiers posted at a distance beyond.
His success was hailed with enthusiasm, and it had a
corresponding effect on his own adventurous spirit.
After he had rested himself, he went to his officer and
remarked, that it was not proper that a private should
ride, whilst his commander went on foot. " So, sir,"
added he, " if you have no objections, I will go and
catch another for you, and next winter when we are
home, we will have our own fun in driving a pair of
Burgoyne's horses." The captain seemed to think it
would be rather a pleasant thing, and gave a ready con-
sent. The fellow actually went across the second time,
and with equal success, and brought over a horse that
matched exceedingly well with the other. The men
enjoyed this prank very much, and it was a circum-
stance familiar to almost every one in the army at that
time.
Appendix. 257
Another circumstance happened about the same time,
and shows that families were not only divided in feeling
on the subject of the war, but that the natural ties which
bind the same kith and kin together, were not al-
ways proof against the political animosities of the times.
When Burgoyne found his boats were not safe, and in
fact much nearer the main body of the American army
than his own, it became necessary to land his provisions,
ot which he had already been short for many weeks, in
order to prevent his army being actually starved into
submission. This was done under a heavy fire from
the American troops, who were posted on the opposite
side of the river. On one of these occasions, a person
by the name of Mr. , at Salem, and a foreigner by
birth, and who had at the very time a son in the British
army, crossed the river at De Ridder's with a person by
the name of M'Neil ; they went in a canoe, and arriving
opposite to the place intended, crossed over to the
western bank, on which a redoubt called Fort Lawrence
had been erected. They crawled up the bank with
their arms in their hands, and peeping over the upper
edge, they saw a man in a blanket coat, loading a cart.
They instantly raised their guns to fire, an action more
savage than commendable. At the moment the man
turned so as to be more plainly seen, old Mr. said
to his companion, now that's my own son Hughy, but
I'll d — 'd for a' that if I sill not gi' him a shot. He then
actually fired at his own son, as the person really proved
to be, but happily without effect. Having heard the
noise made by their conversation, and the cocking of
258 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
their pieces, which the nearness of his position rendered
perfectly practicable, he ran round the cart, and the
balls lodged in the felloe of the wheel. The report
drew the attention of the neighboring guards, and
the two marauders were driven from their lurking
place. While retreating with all possible speed M'Niel
was wounded in tlie shoulder and while alive carried the
wound about him unhealed to his last day. Had the ball
struck the old Scotchman, it is questionable whether any
one would have considered it more than even-handed
justice, commending the chalice to his own lips.
At the time Governor George Clinton, to whose in-
defatigable exertions the state of New York owes more
than she could repay, ordered out the militia of the dif-
ferent counties, and at their head proceeding northward
in hopes of cutting off the retreat of Sir John Johnson,
he advanced as far as Crown point without meeting the
enemy. On his arrival at that post, and hearing nothing
of Sir John, my father and John Benson, known and
distinguished as bare foot Benson, who were volun-
teers at the time, were selected by Governor Clinton, as
scouts, to proceed from that post through a dense howl-
ing wilderness, as far as Schroon lake, for the purpose
■of ascertaining by the trail of the Indians whether Sir
John had passed between the two lakes. With only
one ration for each, and nothing for their guide but a
small pocket compass, they set out with their usual
firmness and intrepidity. After traveling over steep
and rugged mountains, and through deep, dark, and
dismal ravines, they at length reached Schroon lake,
Appendix. 259
without making any discovery, in time to return as far
back as the Beaver meadows, about two miles west
of the head of Brant lake, the first night. During the
night, by way of precaution, they deemed it advisable to
separate, that, in case they should be discovered by In-
dians, who were constantly lurking about the country,
there might be a better chance, for one of them at least,
to make his escape and give the alarm. Accordingly
they lay down in the tall grass about fifteen or twenty
rods apart, for their repose, during the night. About
three o'clock in the morning,^s near as they could judge,
they heard a rustling in the grass, about equi-distant
from them both, and soon after heard a stepping, like
some person cautiously approaching, which they sup-
posed at the time to be the step of some Indian who
might have discovered them at the time they concealed
themselves in the grass. On the approach of the object
within the circle of their faint vision, they both, as if by
concert, though ignorant of each others intentions, being
determined to sell their lives as dear as possible, raised
themselves on one knee, levelled their pieces, and fired
at the same instant. As soon as they fired, they heard
a groan and momentary struggle in the grass, when all
again was still as the abodes of death. They then re-
loaded, and resumed their former positions, but there was
no more sleep for them during the remainder of that
night. Soon after day break, and when there was light
sufficient to discern objects at a distance, they took an
observation, and seeing no enemy near, they advanced
to ascertain the result of their encounter in the night,
26o Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
when behold, to their surprise, they found they had
killed a famous great — deer!
After having their own sport for a while, they started
on their return for the camp, by a different route from
the one they came, and which they supposed would be
nearer, but they had not gone far among the mountains,
before the needle to their compass refused to perform its
duty, owing no doubt to some neighboring mineral-,
which operated more powerfully than the pole. After
wandering about for some time, in a dark and dismal
forest, it being a dark and_ cloudy day, they became be-
wildered and finally got lost. Thus they continued to
travel through the day, and found themselves at night
near the place where they started from in the morning.
By this time, having fasted twenty-four hours, their ap-
petites became so sharp they thought they would make
a meal out of the deer they had fortuitously killed the
night before ; but on their arrival at the spot they found
that the wolves or some other animals had devoured it,
and left not even a bone. They then laid themselves
down for repose, on the same bed of grass they had oc-
cupied the night of the encounter. The next morning
they again started for the camp, by the same route they
came the first day, though somewhat faint for the want
of food. About ten o'clock they came across a knap-
sack, which had been lost or left in the woods, by some
person to them unknown, containing a lot of boiled pork,
bread and cheese promiscuously thrown in together, and
out of which Benson made a hearty meal ; but my
father, having so strong an aversion even to the smell of
Appendix. 261
cheese that he refused to taste a mouthful of any of the
contents of the knapsack ; and accordingly stood it out
until he arrived at camp, about three o'clock in the
afternoon of the third day, where they were received,
with much joy, by the governor and his staff, who had
given them up for lost. It was thus ascertained that Sir
John, with his horde of Indians, had not retreated in that
direction, and the governor gave up all hopes of intercept-
ing them on this occasion, and returned home.
As I have pledged myself, in my introduction, to give
all the principal facts connected with Burgoyne's cam-
paign, as far as they have come to my knowledge, and
as I am not writing to please any particular individual or
class of readers, I will relate the following incident,
which is often spoken of even to this day.
The inhabitants throughout this part of the country,
having been much harassed by the Indians and tories,
and in constant danger of their lives, were consequently
under the necessity, for their own safety, of building, at
different stations, what they termed block-houses.
These buildings were constructed of logs flattened on
two sides and locked or halved together at the angles or
corners, which rendered them strong and proof against
rifle or musket balls. On each side, about six feet from
the bottom, was an interstice or narrow space between
the logs, for the purpose, in case of a siege or an attack,
of thrusting their guns through to fire on the besiegers,
below this open space a platform was erected about two
feet from the floor, to stand upon while firing. The
buildings were constructed without windows, and with
23
0.62 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
but one door, which was made strong, and when occu-
pied, this was strongly barricaded. To these buildings,
when it was known or suspected there were Indians or
tories in the vicinity, a number of families would resort
during the night, leaving their own dwellings much ex-
posed, and many of which were plundered and con-
sumed.
The block-houses were often attacked, and some-
times with considerable force, but as near as I have
been able to learn, without much success, though with
some loss to the assailants.
It happened during a considerable interval of time, in
which no Indians had been seen in the neighborhood,
that the inhabitants ceased resorting to their block-
houses. At this time a man by the name of Joseph
Seely, whose vicious habits generally led him more to
the gratification of his own evil propensities, than the
public weal, and who had been out one day on a hunt-
ing excursion, for which he was very famous, and not
fastidious about the kind of game he bagged, even if it
was a turkey or a fowl that might accidentally come in
his way, returned from the woods, saying he had come
across a party of Indians and tories, at whom he had
fired, and as he thought, killed one. The alarm was
immediately spread throughout the neighborhood, and
the men all armed themselves, and flocked together, for
the purpose of going in pursuit. On being led by Seely
to the place where he said he had shot at the Indians,
they found a trail of blood extending some distance
through the woods, which led them on the course they
Appendix. 263
concluded it best to pursue, not doubting, from the cir-
cumstances of the blood, that he had severely wounded,
if not killed, one of the Indians or tories.
After traveling some miles and finding no enemy,
they concluded they might have secreted themselves in
the neighborhood, with the intention of committing
their savage deeds during the following night. Accord-
ingly they all returned home, it being near night, and
for safety, after secreting as much of their effects as
they conveniently could, they and their families resorted
to their block-houses, and by turns kept watch for the
enemy during the night ; but none appeared to molest
them.
The next morning they very cautiously returned to
their several homes, and many of them with the ex-
pectation of finding their property destroyed, and their
dwellings in ashes. About ten o'clock, this mischief-
bent hero of the forest, after having his own sport at
the expense of his neighbors, and feeling conscious he
had carried the joke too far, finally disclosed the whole
secret. Having spent the whole forenoon of the pre-
vious day, and finding no game, on his return came
across a flock of sheep, and from his natural propensity
to mischief, he fired among them, and badly wounded
one, when they all ran into the woods. On pursuing
them some distance to see if the wounded sheep died,
he observed the blood trickled along on the leaves ;
upon which he thought he would raise a "hue and
cry," and alarm the neighborhood, by the horrible story
he told of having seen and shot an Indian.
264 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
The following daring feat was performed by the au-
thor's great-uncle, Captain Hezekiah Dunham, who
commanded a militia company in the vicinity of Bemis's
heights, a staunch whig, and a firm friend to the
American cause.
One evening as he was at a public entertainment, a
boy was seen emerging from the woods in the neigh-
borhood on horseback, and presently approaching the
place where the people were collected, asked if he
could purchase a little rum. When he was answered
no, he immediately mounted, returned a considerable
distance, and then was seen galloping down the main
road by the river. On seeing this Dunham exclaimed,
" This means something, I am sure of it." He then
watched for the boy's return, and in a few minutes he
repassed at full speed. He then reentered the wood,
and was gone from their sight in an instant. Dun-
ham's penetration induced him to say, " The enemy is
near us ; the tories are in our neighborhood, and not
far ofF." He separated from his company, with a de-
termination to act immediately.
Dunham, when he reached home, immediately went
to a person by the name of Green, who was a son of
Vulcan and of Mars, and an able-bodied, bold, and
persevering fellow. He was the pride of his settle-
ment, and the safe-guard of the people around him —
always ready for action, never desponding, and fearless
to an extent that was remarkable. He was always re-
lied upon in trying emergencies by the leading men in
the vicinity, and what completed his merits, he was
Appendix. 26^
never backward. Dunham related the circumstance to
him, and declared his belief that there was a party of
tories in the neighborhood.
Three other persons were called upon the same
night for assistance, and when the rest of their neigh-
bors were asleep, these hardy men commenced thetr
reconnaissance. Every suspected spot was carefully ap-
proached in hopes of finding the objects of their search.
Every hollow that could contain a hiding place was
looked into ; but in a more particular manner the out-
houses and barns of those persons who were suspected
for their attachment to the enemy, were examined by
them. It seemed all in vain. No traces of a con-
cealed foe were discovered, when toward day-break it
was proposed to separate and make one final search for
that time. Dunham took two men with him, and
Green but one. The former as a last eiFort returned
to the house of one , who it was probable would
be in communication with an enemy if near him. As
he approached the house he had to pass a meadow ad-
joining, and observed a path leading from the house to a
small thicket of about three acres in extent. Dunham
immediately suspected it led to his enemy. He pur-
sued it, and found it passed around the thicket, and
when it almost met the place where it turned off, the
path entered the wood. Dunham paused, and turning
to his companions said, " Here they are, will you fol-
low me ?" They instantly agreed to accompany him,
and the party moved on in single file, with light and
cautious steps. As they got nearly to the centre.
i66 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Dunham in advance, a log stopped up the path, and
seemed to prevent any farther approach. With a mo-
tion that indicated the necessity of their remaining still,
he mounted the log, and looking over, discovered, sure
enough, at once a desired and yet imposing sight.
Around the remains of a watch-fire, which day-break
rendered less necessary, sat a group of five fierce look-
ing men, with countenances relaxed from their usual
fixedness ; but yet betokening boldness, if not savage-
ness of purpose. They were dressing themselves, and
putting on their shoes and stockings, which stood beside
their rude couches. Their clothes were much worn,
but had a military cut, which making their stout and
muscular forms more apparent, gave them a peculiar
snug fit, and distinguished them from the loose, slovenly,
scarecow figures which the homely character of our
country seamstresses imposed upon everything rural or
rusticated among our people. Their hats or- caps were
set carelessly on their heads, with the air of regulars ;
and what made them still more observed was, that
every man of them had his musket at his side on the
ground, ready to be used at an instant's notice. Dun-
ham surveyed this scene a few moments, and then drew
back cautiously to his companions. In a tone not
above a whisper, he said, " Shall we take 'em ?" A nod
from his companions decided him — each now examined
his musket, and reprimed it. The captain took the
right of the little band, and they moved forward to the
log. They mounted it at the same instant, and as they
did so, Dunham cried out, " surrender or you are all
yfppendix. 267
dead men !" The group that thus found themselves
almost under the " muzzles of their enemies' guns,"
were indeed astonished. All but their leader, Thomas
Lovelass, seemed petrified and motionless. This reso-
lute man seemed disposed to make an effort for their
lives. Tvirice amid the silence and stillness of the
perilous moment, he stretched out his hand to seize his
gun. Each time he was prevented by the near ap-
proach of the muzzle that pointed at his head, and be-
yond which he saw an unflinching eye steadfastly jSxed
upon him ; at the same instant he was told, that if he
touched it he was a dead man.
At this critical period of the rencontre, Dunham pe-
remptorily ordered the party to come out, one by one,
which they reluctantly did, fearing perhaps that they
were surrounded by and in contact with a superior force.
As fast as one came over the log he was secured by the
most powerful man of the three, while the other two kept
their pieces steadily pointed at the prisoners. Some
young women who proved to be sisters of some of the
party, gave way to the most violent grief. Well aware
of the danger they were in, and the speedy vengeance
inflicted upon tories and spies, they anticipated the most
dreadful consequences to their unhappy brothers, and no
words can express the frantic sorrow to which they aban-
doned themselves. The young men themselves assumed
an air of firmness, but it was easily penetrated. They
confessed that their intention was to capture and take off
some of the most active whigs in the neighborhood. One
of the prisoners, upon promise of quarter, informed that
he belonged to a party of fifteen, who had come down
268 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
from Canada on the same business — who were then, in
various disguises, scattered through the country to ascer-
tain the state of affairs for the benefit of the British
general in Canada, who was planning an inroad, and
that they had left their boats concealed on the shores of
Lake George. The country was at that time overrun
with spies and traitors. Robberies were frequent, and
the inhabitants (non-combatants), carried prisoners to
Canada. General Schuyler's house was robbed and two
of his servants or life-guards carried there. The general
saved himself by retiring to his chamber, barricading the
door, and firing upon the marauders.
Lovelass and his companions, were taken to the bar-
racks at Saratoga, where they were tried and condemned
at a court-martial, of which the celebrated General
Stark was president. Lovelass alone suffered death.
He was considered too dangerous a man to be permitted
to escape. He complained that being found with arms in
his hands he was only a prisoner, and many thought that
such being the fact he was scarcely punishable as a spy.
Indeed he even bewailed his hard fate, and the injustice
done him, but found he had nothing to expect from the
judges. In two or three days he was brought out of
his place of confinement, and suffered death upon the
gallows, during a tremendous storm of rain and wind,
accompanied with heavy and often repeated claps of
thunder, and the most vivid flashes of lightning.'
' The skull of Lovelass is now (1877) '" ^^^ possession of GeorgeStrover
Esq., wlio lives in the old Schuyler mansion at SchuylerviUe. The spy
was hung a few rods south of his, Mr. Strover's, house.
Appendix. 269
The following incident, which took place near Oris-
kany, may be interesting to the reader, as showing the
unlimited confidence which might, in those days, be
placed in the Indians, when pledged to perform any cer-
tain act within their power.
An old Indian named Han-Yerry, who during the war
had acted with the royal party, and now resided at
Oriskany in a log wigwam which stood on the bank of
the creek, just back of the house until recently occupied
by Mr. Charles Green, one day called at Judge White's
with his wife and a mulatto woman who belonged to
him, and who acted as his interpreter. After conversing
with him a little while, the Indian asked him,
" Are you my friend ? "
" Yes," said he.
" Well, then," said the Indian, " do you believe I am
your friend .'' "
" Yes, Han-Yerry," replied he, " I believe you are."
The Indian then rejoined, " well, if you are my friend,
and you believe I am your friend, I will tell you what I
want, and then I shall know whether you speak true
words."
" And what is it that you want } " said Mr. White.
The Indian pointed to a little grandchild, the daughter
of one of his sons, then between two and three years
old, and said,
" My squaw wants to take this pappoose home with
us to stay to-night, and bring her home to-morrow : if
you are my friend, you will now show me."
The feelings of the grandfather at once uprose in his
270 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
bosom, and the child's mother started with horror and
alarm at the thought of entrusting her darling prattler
with the rude tenants of the forest. The question was
full of interest. On the one hand, the necessity of
placing unlimited confidence in the savage, and entrust-
ing the welfare and the life of his grandchild with him ;
on the other the certain enmity of a man of influence
and consequence in his nation, and one who had been
the open enemy of his countrymen in theirrecent struggle.
But he made the decision with a sagacity which showed
that he properly estimated the character of the person
he was dealing with. He believed that by placing im-
plicit confidence in him, he should command the sense
of honor which seems peculiar to the uncontaminated
Indian. He told him to take the child ; and then as
the mother, scarcely suffering it to be parted from her,
relinquished it into the hands of the old man's wife, he
soothed her fears with his assurances of confidence in
their promises. That night, however, was a long one ;
and during the whole of the next morning, many and
often were the anxious glances cast upon the pathway
leading from Oriskany, if possible to discover the In-
dians and their little charge, upon their return to its
home. But no Indians came in sight. It at length be-
came high noon ; all a mother's fears were aroused ; she
could scarcely be restrained from rushing in pursuit of
her loved one. But her father represented to her the
gross indignity which a suspicion of their intentions
would arouse in the breast of the chief; and half frantic
though she was, she was restrained. The afternoon
Appendix. 271
slowly wore away, and still nothing was seen of her child.
The sun had nearly reached the western horizon, and
the mother's heart had swollen beyond further endurance,
when the forms of the Indian chief and his wife, bearing
upon her shoulders their little visitor, greeted its mother's
vision. The dress which the child had worn from home
had been removed, and in its place its Indian friends had
substituted a complete suit of Indian garments, so as
completely to metamorphose it into a little squaw. The
sequel of this adventure was the establishment of a most
ardent attachment and regard on the part of the Indian
and his friends for the white settlers. The child, now
Mrs. Eells of Missouri, the widow of the late Nathaniel
Eells of Whitesboro, still remembers some incidents oc-
curring on the night of her stay at the wigwam, and the
kindness of her Indian hostess.
Another — which occurred in relation to the siege of
Fort Stanwix, and which evinced the fortitude and
prowess of General Schuyler, in moments of difficulty.
When Colonel Willett and his companion Lieutenant
Stockwell left the fort and got beyond the investing party,
which was not done without passing through sleeping
groups of savages, who lay with their arms at their side,
they crossed the river, and found some horses running
wild in the woods. They were soon mounted, and with
the aid of their bark bridles, stripped from the young
trees, they made considerable progress on their journey.
It is well known that they reached Stillwater village, and
begged a reinforcement. General Schuyler, who then
quartered in the house of Dirck Swart, Esq., now stand-
272 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
ing at the foot of the hill, and occupied by Mrs. Williams,
called a council of his officers, and asked their advice.
It is perhaps not generally known that he was opposed
by them. As he walked about in the greatest anxiety,
urging them to come to his opinion, he overheard some
of them saying, " he means to weaken the army." The
emotions of the veteran were always violent at the re-
collection of this charge. At the instant when he heard
the remark, he found that he had bitten a pipe, which
he had been smoking, into several pieces, without being
conscious of what he had done. Indignantly he ex-
claimed, " Gentlemen, I shall takethe responsibility upon
myself; where is the brigadier that will take command
of the relief? I shall beat up for volunteers to-morrow."
The brave, the gallant, the ill fated Arnold started up
with his characteristic quickness, and offered to take
command of the expedition. In the morning the drum
beat for volunteers, and two hundred hardy fellows
capable of standing great fatigue, offered their services
and were accepted. The result of his efforts is well
known. To General Schuyler's promptness and fear-
lessness, therefore, due credit should be given.
* * * :}i
Another' — -in relation to the same siege may be in-
teresting to the reader.
A man by the name of Baxter, who resided in the
vicinity of the fort, being a disaffected man, had been
sent to Albany, to be watched by the committee of
safety. Two sons of his remained behind, and were ex
tremely industrious, taking every opportunity to keep
Appendix. 273
their farm in order, notwithstanding its being in the
vicinity of the hostile parties. They were so success-
ful, and so little disturbed by the British, that the Ameri-
cans began to suspect that they were on too good terms
with the enemy. Their father's character kept up the
suspicion. One day, as it subsequently appeared, one of
the sons, who was working with a wheel plough, in cut-
ting his furrows, would every few minutes approach a
fence which was between him and the enemy. After
several turns, as he was making his last cut across the
field, he felt his iiands suddenly grasped with violence.
Impelled by a natural desire to escape, he jumped for-
ward, and seizing his plough cleaver, he turned on his
antagonist, who was an Indian, and felled him to the
ground. But a second approached, and with equal dex-
terity and nerve he dealt a second blow, which levelled
the savage. Both were stunned, their heads being too
obvious to escape the terrible blow of the plough cleaver.
As they lay on the ground, he alternately struck them
over their heads with all his might, and then setting his
horses clear from the plough, he came to the fort and
told them what had happened. His tale was not believed,
and when he offered to lead them to the spot, they sus-
pected further treachery. They detained him to abide
the event, and sent out a detachment to ascertain how
the fact was ; and these found two savages lying dead
at the place he mentioned. This brave feat procured
the release of the father, and indeed rescued the whole
family from the imputation of toryism forever.
Another — respecting Abraham D. Quackenboss, as
24
274 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
being connected with the battle of Oriskany, may also
be interesting.
Abraham D. Quackenboss, resided in the Mohawk
country on the sputh side of the river, at the breaking
out of the war. Living as it were among the Indians,
he spoke their language as well as he did his own.
Among them he had a friend, named Bronkahorse —
who, though an Indian, had been his playmate, and they
had served in the French war together under Sir William
Johnson. When the revolutionary troubles came on,
Bronkahorse called upon Quackenboss, and endeavored
to persuade him to espouse the cause of the king — - assur-
ing him that their Great Father could never be con-
quered. Quackenboss refused, and they parted. The
Indian, however, assuring him that they parted as friends,
although, since they had fought in one war together he
had hoped they might do so in the other. Mr. Quack-
enboss saw no more of his friend until the battle of
Oriskany. During the thickest of the fight he heard his
name called in the well known voice of Bronkahorse,
from behind a large tree near by. He was himself shel-
tered by a tree ; but in looking out for the warriors he
saw his Indian friend. The latter now importuned
Quackenboss to surrender, assuring him of kind treat-
ment and protection, but also assuring him unless he
did so, he would inevitably be killed. Quackenboss
refused, and the Indian thereupon attempted to kill him.
For a moment they watched each other endeavoring to
obtain the first and best chance of a shot. The Indian
at length fired, and his ball struck the tree, but had
Appendix. 275
nearly been fatal. Springing from his covert upon the
Indian, Quackenboss fired, and his friend Broiikahorse
fell dead on the spot. It was the belief of Mr. ^uack-
enb.^ss that the loss of the enemy during that battle
equalled that of Herkimer's command. The latter suf-
fered the most severely in the early part of the engage-
ment — the enemy in the latter part.
No. II.
Force employed under Lieutenant General Bur-
goyne in the campaign of i 777.
The army which took the field in July, 1777, con-
sisted of seven battalions of British infantry ; viz. : gth,
20th, 2ist, 24th, 47th, 53d, and 62d regiments, of each
of which (as also of three regiments left in Canada) the
flank companies were detached to form a corps of grena-
diers and light infantry, under Majors Ackland and the
Earl of Balcarras. The German troops consisted of a
few Hessian rifles (the regiment of Hesse-Hanau), a
corps of dismounted dragoons, and a mixed force of
Brunswickers. The artillery was composed of 5 1 1 rank
and file, including 100 Germans, with a large number of
guns, the greater part of which, however, were employed
only on the lakes. The ordnance which accompanied
the force on their line of march, consisted of thirty-eight
pieces of light artillery attached to columns, and a pair
of six twenty-four pounders, six twelve pounders, and
four howitzers.
The royal army was divided into three brigades under
276 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Major General Phillips,' of the royal artillery, and
Brigadier Generals Fraser and Hamiltqn. The German
troops were distributed among the three brigades, with
one corps of reserve under Colonel (Brigadier General)
Breymann, and were immediately commanded by Major
General Riedesel, Colonel Kingston, and Captain Money
acted as adjutant and quarter-master general, and Sir
James Clerke (killed at Saratoga in the action of Oct.
7th), and Lord Petersham (afterward Earl of Harrington),
were aides-de-camp to General Burgoyne.
The total force was — rank and file :
British, 4,135
German, 35I16
Canadian militia, 148
Indians, 503
Total, 7i902
Of these numbers General Burgoyne was obliged to
detach nearly 1,000 men to garrison Ticonderoga before
he crossed the Hudson. — Fonblanque' s Burgoyne.
^ The employment of artillery officers in command of infantry brigades
was at that time contrary to regulation, and General Burgoyne, in a letter
to General Hervey of 1 1 July, '77, excuses himself for having made this
arrangement by the statement that " the service must suffer in the most
material degree if the talents of General Phillips were not suffered to extend
beyond the artillery ; and I hold myself fully justified in continuing this
great use."
Appendix. 277
Remarks on the Employment of German Troops
BY THE English Government.
A great deal has been written in condemnation of tiie
English government employing Germans in the war for
the subjugation of her revolted American colonies. But
dots any soldier work for pure patriotism and not for
iiire ? Besides, at that time, the German soldier belonged
body and soul to him to whom he had sold himself: he
had no country ; he was severed from every tie — in fact,
he was, in every sense of the word, the property of his
military lord, who could do with him as he saw fit.
Again, it may well be asked, wherein did this action of
the British government differ from that of the United
States, employing in our late civil war recruiting agents
in the different German ports for the express purpose of
filling up her depleted armies, and also purchasing sub-
stitutes in Canada.
No. III.
Instructions for Lieutenant Colonel Baum, on a
Secret Expedition to the Connecticut River.
r The erasures were made by Amendments made by General
General Burgoyne.^~\ Burgoyne.
The object of your ex-
pedition is to try the affec-
tions of the country, to
' The erasures are printed in italics, and the amendments in the opposite
column.
278 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
disconcert the councils ot
the enemy, to mount the
Riedesel's dragoons, to
complete Peters's coips,
and to obtain large supplies
of cattle, horses and car-
riages.
The several corps, ot
which the inclosed is a list,
are to be under your com-
mand.
The troops must take no
tents, and what little bag-
gage is carried by officers
must be on their own bat
horses.
You are to proceed by
the route from Batten kil
to Arlington, and take post
there, so as to secure the pass
from Manchester. You are
to remain at Arlington till
the detachment of the Pro-
vincials, under the com-
mand of Captain Sherwood,
shall join you from the
southward.
You are then to proceed
to Manchester, where you
take post so as to secure the
appendix.
279
pass of the mountains on
the road from Manchester
to Rockingham ; hence you
will detach the Indians and
light troops to the north-
ward, toward Otter creek.
On their return, and also
receiving intelligence that
no enemy is in force in the
neighborhood of Rockingham^
(i) you will proceed by the
road over the mountains to
Rockingham, where you
will take post. This will
be the most distant part on
the expedition. (2)
You are to remain there
as long as necessary to fulfill
the intention of the expedition
from thence^ (3) and you are
afterwards to descend by
the Connecticut nver to Brat-
tlebury, and from that place,
by the quickest march, you
are to return by the great
road to Albany.
During your whole pro-
gress, your detachments
are to have orders to bring
in to vou all horses fit to
(1) upon the Connec-
ticut river.
(2) And must be pro-
ceeded upon with caution,
as you will have the defile
of the mountains behind
you, which might make a
retreat difficult ; you must
therefore endeavor to be
well informed of the force
of the enemy's militia in
the neighboring country.
Should you find it may
with prudence be effected.
(3) while the Indians and
light troops are detached
up the river.
2 8o Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
mount the dragoons under
your command, or to serve
as bat horses to the troops,
they are likewise to bring in
(4) saddles and bridles as (4) together with as many,
can be found. (5) (5) The number of horses
Your parties are likewise requisite, besides those ne-
to bring in wagons and cessary for mounting the
other convenient carriages, regiments of dragoons,
with as many draft oxen as ought to be 1300. If you
will be necessary to draw can bring more for the use
them, and all cattle fit for of the army, it will be so
slaughter (milch cows ex- much the better,
cepted), which are to be
left for the use of the in-
habitants. Regular receipts,
in the form hereto sub-
joined, are to be given, in
all places where any of the
above mentioned articles
are taken, to such persons
as have remained in their
habitations, and otherwise
complied with the terms of
General Buryoyne's mani-
festo ; but no receipts to
be given to siich as are
known to be acting in the
service of the rebels. (6) (6) As you will have with
you persons perfectly ac-
Appendix. 281
quaintedwiththeabilities of
the country, it may perhaps
be advisable to tax the seve-
ral districts, with the por-
tions of the several articles,
and limit the hours for their
delivery ; and, should you
find it necessary to move
before such delivery can be
made, hostages of the most
respectable people should
be taken, to secure their
following you the ensuing
day. All possible means
are to be used to prevent
plundering.
As it is probable that
Captain Sherwood, who is
already detached to the
southward and will join you
at Arlington, will drive in
a considerable quantity of
cattle and horses to you,
you will therefore send in
this cattle to the army, with
a proper detachment from
Peters's corps to cover them,
in order to disincumber
yourself; but you must al-
ways keep the regiments of
dragoons compact.
282 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Thedragoonsthemselves
must ride, and take care of
the horses of the regiment.
Those horses which are de-
stined for the use of the army
must be tied together by
strings of ten each, in
order that one man may
lead ten horses. You will
give the unarmed men of
Peters's corps to conduct
them, and inhabitants whom
you can trust. You must
always take your camps in
good position ; but at the
same time where there is
pastur'^ ; and you must have
a chain of sentinels round
your cattle and horses when
grazing.
Colonel Skeene will be
with you as much as pos-
sible, in order to assist you
with his advice, to help you
to distinguish the good sub-
jects from the bad, to pro-
cure you the best intelli-
gence of the enemy, and to
choose those people who
are to bring me the accounts
Appendix.
283
You will use all possible
means to make the country
believe that the troops under
your command are the ad-
vanced corps of the army,
and that it is intended to
pass the Connecticut on the
road to Boston. You will
likewise have it insinuated.,
of your progress and suc-
cess.
When you find it neces-
sary to halt for a day or
two, you must always en-
trench the camp of the
regiment of dragoons, in
order never to risk an at-
tack or affront from the
^nemy.
As you will return with
the regiment of dragoons
mounted, you must always
have a detachment of Cap-
tain Eraser's or Peters's
corps in front of the col-
umn, and the same in the
rear, in order to prevent
your falling into an ambus-
cade when you march
through the woods.
284 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
(7) that the main army from (7) insinuate,
Albany is to be joined at
Springfield by a corps of
troops from Rhode island.
Tou will send off occa-
sionally cattle or carriages^ to
prevent being too much in-
cumbered ; and will give me
as frequent intelligence of
your situation as possible.
It is highly probable that
the corps under Mr. War-
ner, now supposed to be at
Manchester, will retreat
before you ; but, should
they, contrary to expecta-
tion, be able to collect in
great force, and post them-
selves advantageously, it is
left to your discretion to
attack them or not ; always
bearing in mind, that your
corps is too valuable to let
any considerable loss be
hazarded on this occasion.
Should any corps- be
moved from Mr. Arnold's
main army, in order to in-
tercept your retreat, you
are to take as strong a post
Appendix. 285
as the country will afford,
and send the quickest in-
telligence to me ; and you
may depend on my making
such a movement as shall
put the enemy between two
fires, or otherwise effect-
ually sustain you.
It is imagined the pro-
gress of ihe whole of this
expedition may be effected
in about a fortnight ; but
every movement of it must
depend upon your success ^
in obtaining such supply of
provisions as will enable
you to subsist till your re-
turn to the army, in case
you can get no more. (8) (8) And, should not the
All persons acting in army be able to reach
committees, or any officers Albany before your expe-
acting under the directions dition should be completed,
of congress, either civil or I will find means to send you
military, are to be made notice of it, and give your
prisoners. route another direction.
25
i86 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
Narrative of a Participitator in the Battle of
Bennington.
Brooklyn, September 27, 1866.
Wm. L. Stone, Esq^,
My Dear Sir : The following narrative was com-
municated to me in 1828, by Mr. Stafford of Albany,
the son of an American captain, who was in the battle
of Bennington. I send you herewith my original notes
of the conversation, taken down at the time from the
lips of the narrator, which you may cheerfully make use
of (if you so desire), in your forthcoming translation.
Respectfully yo'jrs,
Theodore Dwight.
" My father lived in the western part of Massachusetts,
and when Colonel Warner called upon the militia to
come out and defend the public stores at Bennington, he
set off at once with many of his neighbors, and hurried
his march. He was well known to his townsmen ; and
so much esteemed, that the best men were ready to go
with him ; many of them pious people, long members
of the church, and among them young and old, and of
different conditions.
" When they reached the ground, thev found the Hes-
sians posted in a line ; and on a spot of high ground, a
small redoubt was seen formed of earth just thrown up,
where they understood a body of loyalists or Provincial
troops, that is, tories, was stationed. Colonel Warner
hac' command under General Stark ; and it is generally
Appendix. 287
thought that he had more to do than his superior in the
business ot the day. He was held in high regard by the
iMassachusetts people ; and my father soon reported him-
self to him, and told him he awaited his orders. He was
soon assigned a place in the line, and the tory fort was
pointed out as his particular object of attack.
"When making arrangements to march out his men,
my father turned to a tall, athletic man, one of the most
vigorous of the band, and remarkable for size and strength
among his neighbors. "■ I am glad,' said he, "■ to see
you among us. You did not march with the company ;
but, I suppose, you are anxious for the business of the
day to begin.' This was said in the hearing of the rest,
and attracted their attention My father was surprised
and mortified, on observing the man's face turn pale, and
his limbs tremble. With a faltering voice, he replied :
' Oh no, sir, I didn't come to fight, I only came to drive
back the horses !' ' I am glud,' said my father, ' to
find out we have a coward among us, before we go into
battle. Stand back, and do not show yourself here any
longer.'
" This occurrejice gave my father great regret, and he
repented having spoken to the man in the presence of
his company. The country you know, was at that time
in a very critical state. General Burgoyne had come
down from Canada with an army, which had driven all
the American troops before it ; Crown point and Ticon-
deroga, the fortresses of Lake Champlain, in which the
northern people placed such confidence, had been deserted
at his approach ; and the army had disgraced itself by a
288 Campaign of General John Burgoyne.
panic retreat, without fighting a battle, while Burgoyne
was publishing boastful and threatening proclamations,
which frightened many, and induced some to declare for
the king. Just at such a time, when so many bad exam-
ples were set, and there were so many dangers to drive
others to follow, it was a sad thing to see a hale, hearty,
tall man shal