aass__^: 
 
 .^'"'^ 
 
 Book 
 
 ^z^V hM 
 
SARATOGA 
 
 THE BATTLE-RATTLE GROUiND-VISITORS' GUIDE 
 
 WITH MAPS 
 
 BY 
 
 ELLEN HARDIN WALWORTH 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY 
 
 NEW YORK CITY 
 
 ^-^ 
 
 PRICE .AsVlM II 1 I 'l' D CENTS. 
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
 
 While consulting authorities and obtaining material for the historical 
 part of this little work, I found myself under many pleasant obligations 
 for various kindnesses. I am indebted to Mrs. Allen for the use of 
 papers, maps and books of her husband, the late R. L. Allen, M. D-., of 
 Saratoga Springs; to N. B. Sylvester, Esq., for suggestions and quota- 
 tions taken from his book, " Northern New York and the Adirondack 
 Wilderness;" to Mr. John Austin Stevens, for valuable advice and assist- 
 ance, and to l^r. E. B. O'Callaghan; to Mr. Arthur Bott, of Albany, for 
 the use of his unpublished paper, " The Hessians in America;" to Mr. W. 
 L. Stone, for his translation of Madame Reidesel's memoirs; and to my 
 daughter, Ellen H. Walworth, for the skill and accuracy with whicli she 
 has perfected my crude designs for the military map of the Third Period 
 of Burgoyne's campaign, and the map of Drives in the vicinity of Sara- 
 toga Springs. 
 
 E. H. W. 
 
 b 
 
_>' 
 
SARATOGA 
 
 THE BATTLE-BATTLE GROUND-VISITORS' GUIDE 
 
 WITH MAPS 
 
 BY 
 
 ELLEN HARDIN WALWORTH 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY 
 
 NEW YORK CITY 
 

 67650 
 
 Copyright^ 1S77, by Elle:i Hardin M'alworth. 
 
THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 BURGOYNE AND THE NORTHERN CAMPAIGN, 177/ 
 
 BY 
 ELLEN HARDIN WALWORTH 
 
 Reprinted from the Magazine of American History for May 
 
 THE Campaign of Burgoyne, with its attendant circumstances, has 
 had so much light thrown upon it by skillful writers that its 
 review at the present time may seem unnecessary — even pre- 
 sumptuous. Yet, as artists of greater or less capacity are encouraged 
 to repeat a theme, made familiar by the works of great masters, so, per- 
 haps, may be justified this attempt to portray again the great historical 
 drama that opened so exultingly in June, 1777, near the banks of the St. 
 Lawrence river, and terminated amid so many tragic elements in Octo- 
 ber of the same year, on the banks of the Hudson. 
 
 Few important events have occurred in the history of the world, 
 which, in unity of purpose and culminating interest, are more intensely 
 dramatic ; and few have occupied so vast a theatre. For its northern 
 boundary we must enter Canada at the Three Rivers, where the British 
 and German winter encampment was deserted ; on the west we find the 
 famous carrying place of the Indians between the head waters of the 
 Oswego and the Mohawk, where stood Fort Stanwix, an important 
 point in the action; on the east were the Hampshire Grants, just mould- 
 ing themselves into an organized government, where the British met 
 their first repulse ; and toward the south, in the Jerseys, those momentous 
 manoeuvres took place that formed a huge side-play to the stirring 
 events further northward ; the main armies there were but holding each 
 other in check, while the over-confident English forces from Canada 
 poured through that unhinged gateway of the north, Ticonderoga, and 
 swept on southward to meet their final fate in the picturesque region of 
 Old Saratoga. 
 
 We, of the present time, can easily picture to ourselves the magnifi- 
 cent stage on which these events took place ; we, who so often traverse 
 this region by land and water ; passing through the lovely valley of the 
 
4 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 Mohawk from Albany to Lake Ontario ; thence skirting the great north- 
 ern wilderness, as we sweep around it by water into the borders of Can- 
 ada, and from there returning through the grand river-like Lake Cham- 
 plain to Whitehall, the old Skenesborough. Again we pass over fair 
 hills, and by the historic Wood Creek to Fort Edward, and thence by 
 romantic carriage rides, or on the lazy canal, to the mouths of the Mo- 
 hawk, and to Albany again. Hence, resting on the tranquil waters of the 
 broad Hudson, our sumptuous boat is soon borne onward past the High- 
 lands, past the fire-ravaged town of Kingston ; and lower down, where 
 we look for the sites of Forts Montgomery and Clinton, and where Put- 
 nam stood guard at Peekskill. We are stirred by memories of the anxie- 
 ties, the hopes, the fluctuations of despair and joy that swayed our 
 countrymen of that time ; and we are not unmindful of the agony of 
 longing with which the ambitious Burgoyne listened for one sound of 
 victory, or of hearty cooperation from this region, while he clung to his 
 last foothold before the victorious army of the Patriots. Landing at 
 New York, our imagination still filled with these visions of the past, we 
 naturally turn to the western shores of the bay ; there the names that 
 float so vaguely in our mmds — Morristown, Middlebrook, Quibbletown, 
 and Brunswick— seem suddenly vivified, and resolve themselves into a 
 hieroglyphic that reads: " Remember Washington ! " It was his grasp 
 of large events, his steadfastness of purpose, and his firm directing rein, 
 that brought mto harmony and effect the conflicting and seemingly 
 inefficient forces that made the closing scene of this spectacle a triumph 
 that astonished the world. 
 
 The importance of this triumph upon the fortunes of the American 
 struggle for Independence is undisputed. The Battle of Saratoga is 
 declared upon high authority to be one of the fifteen decisive battles of 
 the world. The reactionary feeling it called forth in the Colonies, after 
 the disasters and anxieties of the campaign of the previous year in Can- 
 ada, strengthened public sentiment in favor of the patriotic cause, and 
 filled the depleted ranks of the army. It led directly to the indispensa- 
 ble assistance received from France, and thus to the later recognition of 
 other foreign Governments. As in the last French and English war, 
 the campaign of 1759, which embraced the rocky heights of Quebec, 
 the great water line of New York, and the western posts on the great 
 lakes, was the decisive campaign ; so by this one of 1777, similar in 
 construction, it was proposed by the English King and his American 
 Minister, Lord Germaine, to divide and crush the Colonies, and ter- 
 minate the war. 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA 5 
 
 General Burgoyne, who had witnessed the battle of Bunker Hill, 
 and had watched with critical judgment the cautious movements of Sir 
 Guy Carleton during the year 1776, had in the latter part of that year 
 returned to England and held long consultations with the King and 
 Germaine. Burgoyne brought his military knowledge and experience, 
 and his brilliant intellectual powers into play in depicting to them the 
 wisdom and efficiency of Amherst's campaign of 1759. May he not also 
 have held in his fervid imagination some picture of himself in the near 
 future receiving such honors as had been awarded to Amherst ? We 
 know the result of those consultations ; how a definite and explicit plan 
 was formed in England by which every particular in regard to the move- 
 ment of troops in Canada was specified, even to the number that should 
 garrison each successive post; how Sir Guy Carleton was ignored, and 
 ordered to hand over the army of invasion to General Burgoyne ; and 
 how, upon leaving the Canadian boundaries, that army was to be wholly 
 independent of Carleton. Orders were also forwarded to Sir William 
 Howe, at New York, to cooperate with this enterprise by proceeding 
 up the Hudson river to join Burgoyne at Albany. These orders do not 
 appear to have been so peremptory as those which were to control the 
 northern division of the army ; at least Lord Howe interpreted them 
 very freely. He not only sailed south, toward Philadelphia, with the 
 main army, while Burgoyne was pushing toward him from the north, but 
 he left Sir Henry Clinton at New York with purely discretionary pow- 
 ers in regard to such cooperation. 
 
 It was also arranged by Lord Germaine that an expedition should be 
 sent to Fort Stanwix by way of Lake Ontario, which should make its 
 way thence through the Mohawk valley to Albany ; and St. Leger was 
 designated as the proper person for its command. The New England 
 Colonies were also to be threatened with invasion ; upon this order Gen- 
 eral Burgoyne based very strongly his defense, before the Parliamentary 
 Committee, of his disastrous movement upon Bennington. 
 
 It is thus seen that the culmmation of this grand scheme was directed 
 against the very heart — the vital existence of the great province of New 
 York, even then the most important, the most vigorous of those thirteen 
 young giants who stood so sullenly, defiantly, and yet reluctantly at bay 
 to receive the blow that would decide whether they should submit to 
 the unreasonable demands of a tyrannical parent, or remain free for the 
 development of a full manhood. 
 
 When Burgoyne arrived at Quebec, in May, he found Carleton ready 
 to aid him with alacrity, and in a very short time the troops that had 
 
6 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 been in winter quarters and the newly arrived reinforcements — the Ca- 
 nadian Provincials and the Indian allies — were in readiness for a forward 
 movement. Burgoyne ordered the sick and the baggage to be left at 
 Three Rivers, and the whole army to concentrate at St. Johns. This 
 was accomplished by the 12th of June, and here, on that day, around a* 
 sumptuous dinner, sat Sir Guy Carleton, Generals Burg03^ne, Riedesel, 
 Phillips, Frazer and other officers of rank. While still at the table a 
 message was brought informing General Riedesel of the long anticipated 
 arrival of his wife, the Baroness, at Quebec, and announcing to General 
 Carleton the approach of reinforcements for the army in Canada. Hearty 
 congratulations were exchanged, the wine flowed freely, and amid great 
 hilarity and exultation General Carleton took leave of the army of inva- 
 sion. A brilliant scene was presented by this trained and disciplined 
 army of two nations, equipped with all that power, wealth and genius 
 could devise and procure, and accompanied by artillery unparalleled at 
 that time for efficiency and splendor. As the guns roared out their 
 farewell salute, and the different corps moved back and forth in their 
 preparations to embark, the earth shook as though she would hasten 
 their departure ; and as they floated towards the great Lake its waters 
 quivered under the light of a hazy mystery that seemed to entice them on 
 to unimagined glories. What wonder if the poet-soul of Burgoyne 
 reveled in enchanting fancies that clothed the end in brightness. We 
 have been accustomed to think of him in disgrace, as he yielded his 
 sword to his victorious enemy — or to dwell on his pompous proclama- 
 tions, his grandiose follies. Another view may be taken of this hero of 
 misfortunes. He made undoubted and serious sacrifices in an attempt to 
 control and humanize his savage allies ; his high sense of honor cannot 
 be questioned ; his calmness and discretion under unjust public oppro- 
 brium and censure are worthy of admiration and imitation. The bril- 
 liancy of his hope, the persistency of his efforts to accomplish the de- 
 sired end, his unflinching assumption of entire responsibility, and the 
 quiet dignity with which final disaster was faced and borne, render him 
 one of the most picturesque and pathetic objects that fill for a moment 
 the kaleidoscope of our revolutionary epoch. 
 
 We have a graphic description of Burgoyne's army on Lake Cham- 
 plain, given by Anburey, a young officer who accompanied the expedi- 
 tion, in one of his delightful letters to a friend. " Let me just relate," 
 writes he, " in what manner the army passed up the lake, which was by 
 brigades, generally advancing from seventeen to twenty miles a day, and 
 regulated in such a manner that the second Brigade should take the 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA 7 
 
 place of the first, and so on successively, for each Brigade to fill the 
 ground the other quitted ; the time of departure was always day- 
 break." 
 
 In another letter he writes : " I cannot forbear portraying to your 
 imagination one of the most pleasing spectacles I ever beheld. When 
 we were in the widest part of the lake, whose beauty and extent I have 
 already described, it was remarkably fine and clear, not a breeze was 
 stirring, when the whole army appeared at one view in such perfect 
 regularity as to form the most complete and splendid regatta you can 
 possibly conceive. In the front the Indians went with their birch-bark 
 canoes, containing twenty or thirty each ; then the advanced corps in 
 regular line with the gun-boats, then followed the Royal George and 
 Inflexible, towing large booms — which are to be thrown across two points 
 of land — with the two brigs and sloops following ; after them Generals 
 Burgoyne, Phillips and Riedesel in their pinnaces ; next to them the 
 second Battalion, followed by the German Battalion ; and the rear was 
 brought up with the sutlers and followers of the army. Upon the ap- 
 pearance of so formidable a fleet you may imagine they were not a little 
 dismayed at Ticonderoga, for they were apprised of our advance, as 
 we every day could see their watch-boats." 
 
 While the main army from Canada was thus advancing towards 
 Crown Point and Ticonderoga, St. Leger, with nearly a thousand men, 
 regulars and Canadians, and Sir John Johnson with the Royal Greens, 
 whose homes all lay in the beautiful valley they now wished to ravish 
 and conquer, moved up the St. Lawrence and through Lakes Ontario 
 and Oneida into Wood Creek, by which to approach Fort Stan- 
 Avix or Schuyler. This fort was garrisoned by seven hundred and fifty 
 Continental troops, and was under the command of the brave Colonel 
 Gansevoort. 
 
 Early in the year 1777 General Philip Schuyler, commanding the 
 northern division of the Continental Army, had been actively engaged 
 in preparations for the summer campaign m his Department. At that 
 time he had informed General Washington that it would be necessary lor 
 him to have ten thousand additional troops to garrison Fort Ticondero- 
 ga and its adjacent defences, and two thousand for important points on 
 the Mohawk. He was making arrangements, under the direction and 
 with the assistance of Washington, to collect and provide for as large a 
 portion of this force as possible, when, earl}^ in April, it became neces- 
 sary for him to go to Philadelphia. This was in consequence of the in- 
 trigues of his enemies, who had determined that he should relinquish the 
 
8 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 command of the Northern Department. Congress had just before this 
 sent General Gates to resume the command at Ticonderoga, and while 
 General Schuyler was absent the control of the Department devolved 
 upon Gates. 
 
 General Schuyler, as second ofhcer in rank in the Continental Army, 
 commanded the defences of Philadelphia while in that city, and was 
 energetically engaged in that capacity ; he was also a delegate to Con- 
 gress from New York. About the last of May resolutions were passed 
 in Congress affording him an entire vindication from all charges brought 
 against him, and he was given " absolute command over every part of the 
 Northern Department." 
 
 On the 3d of June he arrived in Albany and resumed his command. 
 During his absence little had been done to carry forward his plans of 
 defence, or to increase the little army that garrisoned the widely 
 separated posts of the command. The Mohawk valley, always an 
 object of especial care and solicitude to Schuyler, had been wholly 
 neglected. 
 
 Upon his arrival in Albany he immediately wrote to General Herki- 
 mer to hold the militia of Tryon county in readiness to repel any attack 
 from the west ; and he renewed his efforts to quiet and conciliate the 
 Indians of the Six Nations, with whom he had great influence. 
 
 He was soon informed of the movements of Burgoyne. His first 
 impression was that Burgoyne would only make a feint upon Ticonde- 
 roga, while his main army would march from St. Johns toward the 
 Connecticut river, and make an attempt upon the New England States, 
 who might receive a simultaneous attack on the sea coast from Lord 
 Howe. He gave no time to idle surmises, however, but hurried to 
 Ticonderoga to inspect its defenses. The additional works, projected at 
 Mount Independence, opposite Ticonderoga, were incomplete for want 
 of troops and artizans. Schuyler, therefore, went to Lake George, 
 whence he forwarded workmen and provisions to Fort Independence. 
 and then returned to Albany, to hurry forward reinforcements that were 
 hourly expected from Peekskill. 
 
 Hearing at this time of Burgoyne's certain and speedy approach 
 toward Ticonderoga, he wrote most urgently to the Governor of Con- 
 necticut, the President of the Council of Massachusetts, and the various 
 Committees of Safety, and to Washington, informing them of the im- 
 pending danger, and asking for assistance. He also used every exertion 
 possible to collect the militia of New York, with which he might 
 advance at once to aid St. Clair, whom he had placed in command of 
 
BATTLE or SARATOGA 
 
 Fort Ticonderoga. General Gates had refused to remain in the Depart- 
 ment after Schuyler's return, and had obtained a leave to return to 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Schuyler's appeal for reinforcements met with a languid response. 
 Washington alone seemed to understand the urgency of his need, and 
 he could do little to augment Schuyler's insignificant army. He, how- 
 ever, appealed also to the New England States, urging upon them the 
 danger to their own boundaries if Burgoyne should gain any foothold 
 in the Northern Department. He also ordered Putnam at Peekskill to 
 reinforce Schuyler with four Massachusetts regiments. 
 
 At this time the main army under Washington consisted of but 
 seven thousand five hundred men, many of them militia, whose terms of 
 service would soon expire. With this small force, Washington, from 
 the heights at Middlebrook, watched and baffled the movements of Lord 
 Howe,''whose army, assembled at Brunswick, " had not its equal in the 
 
 world." 
 
 Howe's main object was to entice Washington into a general engage- 
 ment, in which the British would have greatly the advantage. Such a 
 victory would not only insure possession of Philadelphia, the principal 
 aim of Howe's campaign, but would enable him to cooperate with Bur- 
 goyne, which he was willing to do, if such a movement could be made 
 conformable to his own plans. 
 
 Washington was greatly perplexed, and in much anxiety from his 
 inability to solve the designs of Howe. Yet, with undisturbed self-pos- 
 session, he continued to hold the shifting army of the enemy in check 
 It had advanced and retreated ; advanced again, and had endeavored to 
 outflank him ; but finally, by his untiring vigilance, his inflexible adhe- 
 rence to his original purpose of maintaining his strong position on the 
 heights, and by the harrassments to which he subjected the ease-loving 
 Lord Howe, he compelled that commander on the 30th of June to evac- 
 ate the Jerseys with his whole army. 
 
 Washington had written to Schuyler : " If I can keep General Howe 
 below the Highlands, I think their schemes will be entirely baffled." 
 Even when Howe was known to have sailed southward, Washington 
 surmised that it might be a feint to draw him toward Philadelphia, when 
 Howe would return and ascend the Hudson. 
 
 It is evident that the situation of the Northern Department con- 
 stantly occupied the attention of the Commander-in-Chief. When he 
 was assured that Howe was in the capes of the Delaware, and there was 
 no further doubt that Philadelphia was the point of attack, although 
 
lO BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 himself in great need of troops and efficient officers, he parted with 
 Morgan's Corps of five hundred picked men, and sent Arnold, of whose 
 abilities as a General he entertained a high opinion, to assist the Army 
 of the North. He also directed General Lincoln, then in New England, 
 to repair to Schuyler's command, and advised that he should attempt a 
 ffank movement upon Burgoyne toward the east. He also addressed 
 circulars to the Brigadier-Generals of INIilitia in Western Massachusetts 
 and Connecticut, urging them to march with a large part of their com- 
 mand to Saratoga, or other rendezvous designated by General Schuy- 
 ler. To the latter he wrote, warning him against collecting large quan- 
 tities of ammunition and other stores in forts and lines of defense. " I 
 begin to consider lines," he writes, " a kind of trap, unless they are in 
 passes which cannot be avoided by the enemy." 
 
 We will see how the imperfect lines of defense at Ticbnderoga came 
 near being "a trap," in which St. Clair and his little army of thi^ee 
 thousand men would have been captured but for the prompt and well- 
 considered plan of retreat adopted by St. Clair. If this retreat was in 
 some particulars disastrous, this misfortune should not reflect upon the 
 commander, but on the subordinates, who, through negligence and 
 ofBciousness, marred his plan, and upon the ill fortune that sometimes 
 attends the best laid schemes. 
 
 The importance attached to the occupation of Ticonderoga appears 
 to have been traditionar)% and without sufficient foundation. Being 
 considered of such importance, there seems to have been strange neglect 
 and want of foresight in the various officers who succeeded each other 
 in its command. The scattering and imperfect defenses were extended 
 over more than two miles. Sugar Hill, " the key of the position," was 
 not occupied. There had been repeated discussions among the officers 
 as to the feasibility of fortifying this commanding point. Colonel Trum- 
 bull, and Generals Wayne and Arnold had climbed the hill, which was 
 difficult of ascent, to satisfy themselves that a battery could be placed 
 upon it. Major Stevens, the energetic officer who commanded the 
 artillery at Ticonderoga, and later all the artillery in the northern de- 
 partment, had proved by a practical experiment with one of his guns 
 that it should be occupied. 
 
 Washington, upon a report of the defenses in the Northern Depart- 
 ment, had condemned Fort Independence, on the opposite shore of the 
 Lake, as entirely useless for the purpose of checking an enemy's pro- 
 gress toward the south, as it did not command the road to Lake George. 
 Yet Wayne, Gates, Schuyler, and St. Clair were equally agreed in con- 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA II 
 
 sidering it necessary to hold Ticonderoga and strengthen Mount Inde- 
 pendence, and were equally negligent in leaving Sugar Hill exposed to 
 the adversary. The scantiness of the garrison, the contentions among 
 its commanders, and the final unexpected rapidity of Burgoyne's ad- 
 vance, may partly explain the apparent want of sound militar}^ judg- 
 ment that caused this fortress to fall like ripe fruit into the hands of the 
 invader. 
 
 An old entrenchment on the road to Lake Georare was also neerlected 
 by the Americans ; and when Burgoyne made his appearance before 
 Ticonderoga on the 4th of July, this position was immediately seized 
 upon by General Frazer, and named Mount Hope, as significant of 
 future success. 
 
 Burgoyne had lingered a few days at Crown Point, and there on the 
 30th of June he issued the famous order, containing these words: 
 " This army must not retreat^ On the following morning he moved for- 
 ward in battle array. ' Tbe German battalions formed the left wing, and 
 advanced on the east side of the lake until they camped in front of Mount 
 Independence. General Frazer led the right wing on the west side, and 
 the floating batteries moved in unison between. On the 4th of July, 
 when Frazer had occupied Mount Hope, General Phillips took posses- 
 sion of the mills at the outlet of Lake George, and on the same day sent 
 Lieutenant Twiss to reconnoitre Sugar Hill. Satisfied from his report 
 that a battery could be placed upon it, he only waited for darkness to 
 carry out his design. The guns were then hoisted from tree to tree 
 with heavy ropes, and, writes Anburey, " General Phillips urged the 
 work forward with the same vehemence with which he drove his artil- 
 lery at the battle of Minden, when he is said to have broken fifteen canes 
 over the horses." 
 
 On the morning of July 5th St. Clair awoke to see, in the early dawn, 
 the red-coats busy on the summit of Sugar Hill, planting a battery seven 
 hundred feet above him, from which point they could observe every 
 movement within the fort. He recognized the danger, and immediately 
 called a council of officers. They unanimously agreed that the evacua- 
 tion of Forts Ticonderoga and Independence was imperative, or a sur- 
 render would soon be inevitable. 
 
 St. Clair, quietly and expeditiously, made arrangements to begin the 
 retreat on the same night. The troops were permitted to believe that a 
 sortie was intended, and firing was continued through the day to deceive 
 the enemy. Above the floating bridge that connected the forts a boom 
 had been placed to obstruct the navigation of the lake. It was sup- 
 
12 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 posed that this would delay the British gunboats, so that the American 
 batteaux might reach Skenesborough in safety. As soon as darkness 
 rendered it discreet, the wounded and women, together with the stores 
 and ammunition, were embarked on two hundred of these batteau* 
 They were escorted by five armed galleys and six hundred men, under 
 the command of Colonel Long. It was a bright moonlight night, but 
 they got under way in safety ; as they proceeded leisurely up the lake, 
 they indulged in much merriment and exultation over their quiet and 
 expeditious escape. 
 
 St. Clair, with the main body of the troops, also passed safely and 
 undiscovered over the floating bridge, where they were joined by the 
 garrison from Mount Independence. All were under full retreat, when, 
 most unfortunately, the house that had been occupied as head-quarters 
 by General de Fertnois, who commanded Independence, was fired, and the 
 brilliant flames lighted up the entire columns of the retreating forces. 
 The British sentinels immediately gave the alarm. By day-break the 
 British flag floated over both forts, and in a few hours General Frazer 
 Avas in close pursuit of the Americans. 
 
 On the morning of the 7th Frazer's Indian scouts came upon the rear 
 guard of St. Clair's army, under Colonels Warner and Francis, at Hub- 
 bardton. General Frazer made an mipetuous attack, which Warner 
 resisted with great spirit. He was nobly seconded by Colonel Francis, 
 who three times charged the enemy at the head of his regiment. On 
 one of these occasions his men came into action singing the hymns 
 familiar to them in their village churches. This induced the British to 
 believe that reinforcements had arrived ; they were yielding ground 
 when General Riedesel, who had been awaiting the arrival of his grena- 
 diers for two hours with great impatience, now brought them forward 
 with colors flying, while they sang the resonant battle hymns of the 
 Germans. Under the first onslaught with their bayonets. Colonel 
 Francis fell, fatally wounded, and the exhausted Americans were com- 
 pelled to leave the field. They had crippled the enemy sufficiently to check 
 further pursuit, and had caused them heavy losses of men and officers. 
 Among the wounded was Major Ackland, whose painful walk after- 
 wards down the steep, wooded hill, upon which the battle was fought, 
 is touchingly related by the officer who assisted him. It was in conse- 
 quence of this wound that Lady Ackland shortly afterward joined him 
 at Skenesborough. 
 
 While the contest was in progress at Hubbardton, St. Clair ordered 
 Colonel Hale with his regiment to reinforce Warner and Francis. Hale 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA I3 
 
 disobeyed orders, and with his men was soon afterwards captured by the 
 enemy. St. Clair, hearing now that Burgoyne had possession of Skenes- 
 borough, pushed into the woods eastward, and made a circuitous route 
 to Fort Edward, where he arrived on the 12th. 
 
 The batteau of the American flotilla from Ticonderoga, had just 
 touched at Skenesborough, when heavy firing was heard in their rear. 
 The British had speedily disposed of the obstructing boom and follow- 
 ed the flotilla up the lake. The Americans, confused and panic-stricken, 
 abandoned all the stores they had brought with so much care, and fled 
 towards Fort Anne. Before leaving they set fire to the houses, mills and 
 other buildings at Skenesborough ; the flames spread into the pine for- 
 ests, on the surrounding hills, which, as the British approached, present- 
 ed a scene of unsurpassed grandeur and desolation. 
 
 The retreating force separated, one party making its way through 
 Wood Creek, and the remainder, under Colonel Long, pushing through 
 the woods to Fort Anne, where he determined to make a stand. When 
 the British approached he returned to meet them, and posted his reg- 
 iment on a narrow pathway near Wood Creek. As the British advanced 
 he opened fire upon them, and shifting his troops from side to side of the 
 creek, so harassed and confused them that they were forced to take refuge 
 on a hill to the right. Here they were closely besieged for two hours. 
 Several of their officers were wounded and carried into a log house 
 whose walls were frequently penetrated by the American rifle balls; 
 while lying there these officers commented with surprise upon the dar- 
 ing and endurance of the rebels, whose courageous spirit they here en- 
 countered for the first time. When Colonel Long's little band was upon 
 the very verge of victory, there suddenly sounded through the forest, 
 on every side, the terrible war-whoop of the savages as they advanced 
 by hundreds to reinforce the British. The Americans hurriedly secured 
 their prisoners, and taking their wounded, left the hill and continued 
 their retreat to Fort Edward. 
 
 During the first days of July, General Schuyler had waited in Albany, 
 with great impatience, the arrival of reinforcements from the Highlands. 
 On the 7th they had not arrived, and leaving orders for them to follow, 
 he started north with the small force he had collected, about fifteen hun- 
 dred men. At Stillwater he Avas met with the astounding intelligence 
 that St. Clair had abandoned Forts Ticonderoga and Independence 
 without striking a blow in their defense, and hurrying on to Fort Ed- 
 ward he met Long-, who could cfive him no account of St. Clair and his 
 
 111 
 
 army. Fears were entertained that he had been overtaken and compelled 
 
14 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 to surrender. After a mysterious disappearance of seven days, St. 
 Clair joined Schuyler at Fort Edward, his men haggard and worn with 
 their exhausting march, but safe and resolute for further service. 
 
 These misfortunes in the beginning of the campaign involved a heavy 
 loss of artillery, small arms, and stores of all kinds ; the consternation of 
 the people who fled before Burgoyne seemed still more disastrous, and 
 Schuyler's fortitude and composure were most severely tried. He was 
 sustained and encouraged by constant despatches from Washington, who 
 writes at one time, " We should never despair. If new difficulties arise 
 we must only put forth new exertions," and again he expresses an earnest 
 sympathy for Schuyler amid these thickening difficulties, and manifests 
 his unwavering confidence in his ability to overcome them. With un- 
 flagging energy Schuyler exerted himself to delay the enemy while en- 
 deavoring to collect a sufficient force to meet him with some reasonable 
 })rospect of success. 
 
 Burgoyne now had his headquarters at the house of a noted loyalist, 
 Colonel Skene ; the victories he anticipated appeared to fall into his 
 hands as the natural result of his well laid schemes. The frightened 
 patriots trembled at his approach, and Colonel Skene assured him that 
 hundreds of loyalists were waiting for an opportunity to join his advanc- 
 ing army. Skene was an old resident, a large land owner, and was sup- 
 posed to exert an extended influence ; much weight was therefore attach- 
 ed to his opinion. 
 
 Burgoyne was greatly elated, and on the tenth of July ordered a 
 Thanksgiving service to be read " at the head of the line, and at the 
 head of the Advanced Corps, and at sun-set on the same day, a feu de 
 joye to be fired with cannon and small arms at Ticonderoga, Crown 
 Point, Skenesborough and Castleton." 
 
 He had now reached the close of the " first period of this campaign," 
 as he divided it in his " State of the Expedition," written after his return 
 to England. These three divisions we may appropriately consider, from 
 an artistic point of view, as the three acts in this great drama. The sec- 
 ond one extended from this time to Burgoyne's passage across the Hud- 
 son river, near the Batten Kill, on the thirteenth of September. 
 
 General Schuyler remained at Fort Edward until he had effectually 
 obstructed the pathway from Skenesborough, where Burgoyne now ling- 
 ered. Huge stones were rolled into Wood Creek, and trees felled across 
 it; bridges were destroyed, and the forests leveled aross the roads. The 
 surrounding country was stripped of forage and the cattle driven off, so 
 that the enemy would be compelled to rely upon his base of operations for 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA 1 5 
 
 provisions ; this proved a serious obstacle to Burgoyne's advance. Hav- 
 ing accomplished these purposes, Schuyler fell back to Fort Miller, on the 
 east side of the river, and again paused to destroy the road over which 
 he had just passed. He then retreated to Stillwater, and reinforcements 
 coming in but slowly, he finally encamped his little army near the mouths 
 of the- Mohawk, but maintained his headquarters at Stillwater. 
 
 At Skenesborough Burgoyne first faced the difficulties of his position. 
 His force was reduced in order to garrison the forts already taken, Carle- 
 ton having refused to send troops for that purpose. In preparing to 
 march through an unfamiliar wilderness, he found that the necessity of 
 carrying provisions and dragging artillery, while engaged in cuttmg a 
 passage and constructing roads, would seriously retard his progress. 
 He was not discouraged, but pushed on vigorously. The troops suffer- 
 ed greatly during their severe labors from the excessive heat and innum- 
 erable insects. It was, therefore, with a feeling of intense relief that 
 they arrived at Fort Edward on the thirteenth of July. Both officers 
 and men were inspired with enthusiasm upon thus obtaining their first 
 sight of the Hudson River, so long the object of their desires and 
 hopes. 
 
 Burgoyne remained here, and at Duer's House, not far distant, until 
 September loth, his difficulties and perplexities constantly increasing. 
 His requisition for horses and wagons, upon which his army was so de- 
 pendent, had been imperfectly filled. It seemed impossible to accumu- 
 late sufficient provisions for a long and rapid march. Instead of the 
 friendly and helpful inhabitants who he imagined would flock to his 
 quarters, there was absolute coldness on the part of the inhabitants, or the 
 desolation of deserted homes. His Indian allies were insurbordinate and 
 troublesome, and soon the murder of Jane McCrea by a party of these 
 savages aroused and intensified the hostile feeling of the Colonists. His 
 own humane and honorable sentiments were shocked and disgusted by 
 this incident. It was impossible for him to dispense with the services of 
 these wild creatures, from whom so much was expected by the Home 
 Government. He satisfied himself by imposing stringent orders upon 
 their movements. This created a general discontent, and they soon be- 
 gan to desert him by hundreds. In the midst of these anxieties he re- 
 ceived intelligence of the arrival of St. Leger before Fort Stanwix. 
 
 According to his original plan, he must now move immediately down 
 the river to cooperate with St. Leger, or at least make a diversion in his 
 favor. An expedition was therefore proposed that, it was thought, 
 would answer many important purposes. Burgoyne was informed by 
 
l6 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 Colonel Skene that at Bennington the Americans had collected man}- 
 horses, and large stores of every kind for the use of the northern army. 
 Skene also reiterated his assurances concerning the loyalists, who 
 would, by such a movement, secure the opportunity for which they 
 waited to join the British army. So confident were the officers of the 
 truth of these statements of Skene, that when the Americans of Stark's 
 command came creeping around the flanks of the British at Benning- 
 ton for their first attack, they were allowed to advance under the 
 impression that they were loyalists, who thus sought access to the Brit- 
 ish camp. This expedition was also intended to mislead Schuyler into 
 the belief that New England was the object of Burgoyne's efforts. 
 
 Colonel Baum was sent with a body of German grenadiers, English 
 marksmen, Canadians and Indians, to make an attack upon Bennington, 
 and secure the much needed horses and provisions. He set out on 
 the 13th of August, and so eager was General Burgoyne in regard to 
 the success of this enterprise that he rode after Baum to impress his 
 orders upon him verbally. '' 
 
 The people of Bennington were apprised of Baum's approach. It 
 happened, fortunately, that General Stark had refused to leave his 
 neighborhood and join General Schuyler at Stillwater, having recently 
 received a slight from Congress, which seems indeed to have had a 
 disposition to ignore or wound the most active officers of the Conti- 
 nental Army. Stark immediately called out the militia, and rallied his 
 brigade ; he also dispatched a message to General Lincoln, at Manches- 
 ter, to forward reinforcements. On the morning of the 14th he marched 
 out of Bennington. When about six miles on the road, he encountered 
 the British, and a sharp skirmish took place, in which several of the 
 enemy were killed and wounded. Baum now posted himself on a hill, 
 and began to entrench his camp, while he sent a messenger to Burgoyne 
 for reinforcements. A heavy rain prevented an engagement on the fif- 
 teenth, but there was constant skirmishing. The New Englanders, now 
 thoroughly aroused to the danger of invasion, flocked hurriedly and in 
 large numbers to the American camp. 
 
 On the morning of the i6th a bright sun dispersed all threatening 
 clouds, and Stark, although without artillery or bayonets, prepared to 
 attack Baum in his entrenchments. He sent a detachment to the rear 
 of the enemy's left, and another to the rear of his right. Simulta- 
 neously with the attack from these divisions. Stark, at the head of his 
 column, exclaimed : " There are the red-coats ; before night they must 
 be ours, or Molly Stark 's a widow," and rushed upon the entrenchments 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA \J 
 
 with impetuous fury. The Germans defended their works steadily and 
 bravely, but the Canadians and Indians were soon driven in upon them ; 
 and the Americans, pressing- up to the ver}^ mouth of the cannon, con- 
 tinued the contest with a frenzied determination. They captured the 
 guns, and forced the Provincials and Indians to retreat precipitously. 
 The Germans had now exhausted their ammunition ; they resorted to 
 their bayonets and broad-swords, and attempted a retreat through the 
 woods. The Americans pursued hotly ; many of the enemy were killed 
 and wounded, among the former Colonel Baum. All who survived were 
 taken prisoners. 
 
 At this critical moment Colonel Breyman came upon the ground 
 with his Germans, and renewed the attack upon Stai*k's exhausted 
 forces. Colonel Warner now arrived from Bennington with his regi- 
 ment, fresh and vigorous. It was late in the afternoon when this sec- 
 ond action began ; it was continued until dark, the enemy retreating 
 slowly, and making a stand from place to place. Stark followed up 
 his victory as long as there was a ray of light to expose the enemy. 
 " Another hour of daylight, and he would have captured the whole 
 body." Breyman continued his retreat under cover of the night, leaving 
 his baggage and artillery in the hands of the Americans. 
 
 This victory, so complete and inspiriting to the Americans, was 
 equally disastrous and disheartening to the British. Like the glori- 
 ous sunshine of that summer day, it ripened the growing fruit of pa- 
 triotism in the hearts of the colonists ; and like the dreary night that 
 followed it, shadowed the despondency of the English, and made 
 darker the forebodings that began to cluster around the anxious heart 
 of Burgoyne. Its practical results were an acquisition of one thousand 
 stand of arms, and many field-pieces. Nearly six hundred privates and 
 thirty-two officers were made prisoners of war. 
 
 In the meantime, on the 3d of August, St. Leger had appeared before 
 Fort Stanwix and demanded its surrender. Colonel Gansevoort pay- 
 ing no attention to this summons, St. Leger began to fortify his 
 camp, and bring forward his artillery through Wood Creek, preparatory 
 to a regular siege. He also sent detachments in various directions to 
 cut off the garrison from the surrounding country. 
 
 General Herkimer, acting under Schuyler's orders, was advancing to 
 the relief of Colonel Gansevoort ; he sent messengers to apprise that 
 commander of his approach, and directed that signal guns should be fired 
 upon the arrival of the men in the fort ; a sortie was to be made at the 
 same time, and under this diversion he would hasten forward. The mes- 
 
l3 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 sengers were delayed many hours on the road, and the officers under 
 Herkimer became impatient for an advance, Herkimer urged the neces- 
 sity of waiting for the preconcerted signal, but in vain ; the officers 
 continued their unreasonable appeals, and finally taunting him with cow- 
 ardise or disloyalty, impelled him to a movement that his judgment did 
 not approve. 
 
 Brant, who led the Indians under St. Leger, was informed by his sis- 
 ter of Herkimer's approach. An ambuscade was planned. While 
 Herkimer's van-guard was crossing a ravine on a narrow causway, 
 near Oriskany, the concealed Indians suddenly assailed them on 
 either side, and a desperate contest ensued. It lasted several hours, the 
 Americans defending themselves with resolute bravery, and the Indians 
 killing the wounded and prisoners like veritable demons of the forest. 
 Herkimer was seriously wounded, but had himself propped against a 
 tree and continued to give his orders and urge on his troops. British 
 regulars were brought on the field, who repeatedly charged with the bay- 
 onet, but were steadily repulsed. 
 
 A heavy rain checked the contest, but it was soon renewed more des- 
 perately than ever, and became one of the most terrific hand to hand 
 fights of the war. Johnson's Royal Greens found opportunity to gratify 
 many long-cherished animosities, as their opponents were their old neigh- 
 bors of the Valley, and the Indians were excited to unusual ferocity. 
 These last were finally driven back, and fled, and their supporters hearing 
 firing in their rear returned to their camp. 
 
 While this contest was in progress, the messengers had reached Gan- 
 sevoort, who ordered a sortie upon the enemy's camp. This was suc- 
 cessful, and the whole camp equipage and stores of the Loyalists were 
 secured and brought into the fort. 
 
 Congress had just adopted the Stars and Stripes as the National 
 ensign. 
 
 One of the officers at Fort Stanwix now made an American flag of a 
 white shirt and some bits of red cloth ; the blue field was made of an over- 
 coat belonging to Captain Swartout of Dutchess County. This uncouth 
 emblem was the first American flag that waved over a British standard ; 
 the colors just captured at the British camp being placed in this ignoble 
 position. 
 
 St. Leger now caused exaggerated accounts of the American losses 
 at Oriskany to be sent into the fort, and again demanded a surrender. 
 Gansevoort again treated the summons with contempt, when St. Leger 
 pressed the seige and advanced his lines. 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA 1 9 
 
 On the tenth two officers were dispatched by Gansevoort to make 
 their way through the hnes, and obtain assistance from Schuyler. At 
 great risk, and after enduring many hardships, they reached Stillwater. 
 Schuyler wished to respond immediately to this demand, but many of 
 his officers objected ; they urged the imprudence of lessening the force 
 with which Burgoyne's army must be met. Schuyler felt justly indig- 
 nant with this selfish disregard of the critical situation of the heroic 
 Gansevoort. He assumed the entire responsibility of forwarding a de- 
 tachment, and Arnold volunteered his services for its command. Hs 
 was soon in the valley of the Mohawk with eight hundred men ; his 
 progress was not rapid enough to satisfy his impatient spirit, which reach- 
 ed forward in eager devices to foil the enemy, and encourage the be- 
 sieged. He dispatched messengers to Gansevoort, assuring him of 
 relief, and with great adroitness caused rumors of the advance of a 
 large force to be circulated in St. Leger's camp. These rumors were 
 repeated and exaggerated, until the Indian allies became alarmed and 
 ungovernable. They seized upon the blankets and other effects of the 
 British officers, and commenced a hasty retreat. St. Leger, believing 
 the Arhericans were close upon him, left his camp, and followed his 
 retreating allies, abandoning his guns and baggage to the exultant patri- 
 ots, who were now relieved of all apprehension. Arnold was forty miles 
 from Stanwix at this tmie, and upon hearing of the ignominious flight 
 of the British, retraced his steps to join the army under Schuyler. 
 
 This army was rapidly increasing; the long expected regiments 
 from the Highlands had arrived ; the New York Militia had rallied 
 nobly ; and the New Englanders, excited by the victory at Bennington, 
 were on their way to the camp with their jubilant brigades; Arnold, 
 with an aumented division, was approaching. The country was buoy- 
 ant with hope, an exaggerated reaction after the depression of the early 
 summer. Schuyler was at last in a position to begin offensive operations ; 
 he might now see the development of his well laid schemes ; he would 
 soon be able to point exultantly to the result of his toil, his patience, to the 
 unappreciated difficulties now conquered. Such we may imagine General 
 Schuyler's thoughts, as he sprang on his horse one bright morning in 
 August, at the door of his stately mansion in Albany, when about to 
 meet his officers for a consultation in regard to an advance movement 
 of his army. As his charger moved restlessly under the rein, an officer 
 approached with an official document. Schuyler, ever on the alert, 
 checked his horse to examine the dispatch. It contained the resolutions 
 of Congress that deprived him of his command. This, in the face of the 
 enemy, and at the turning point of his fortunes ! 
 
20 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 A momentary movement of the lip, and a lifting of the eyebrows — 
 then a deepening of the firm lines about the mouth, were the only signs 
 of suppressed emotion. With a graceful bow to the waiting officer, the 
 deeply injured Commander rode quietly on to his head-quarters. When 
 surrounded by his officers he explained the dispatch, and simply said : 
 " Until the country is in safety, I shall stifle my resentment." He kept 
 his word, and with unremitting energy continued to perform the ardu- 
 ous duties of his command, until his successor arrived. In a few days 
 this successor, General Gates, appeared at head-quarters, where he was 
 received and entertained by General Schuyler with unexampled mag- 
 nanimity and dignity. 
 
 Kosciusko, the Polish engineer, was sent by General Gates to recon- 
 noitre and select a position for the proposed advance camp of the Amer- 
 icans. He decided that Bemis Heights, four miles above Stillwater, 
 was the most favorable point. The army was soon afterward encamped 
 at that place, and a line of entrenchments constructed for its 
 defense. 
 
 The defeat of Baum, and the failure of St. Leger, by successive 
 strokes, had paralyzed the right and the left arms of Burgoyne's force, 
 and he now struggled forward with the maimed body of his army, amid 
 ever thickening danger. Yet undismayed, he assiduously endeavored 
 to carry out his original design, and obey the orders of Germaine and the 
 King. Having collected provisions for a thirty days' march, he dispatched 
 a messenger to New York with entreaties for a movement to be made 
 from that direction. He then left Duer's House, and moved his army 
 steadily forward to the Batten Kill, where he encamped on the night of 
 the twelfth of September. Finding that his officers were reluctant to 
 cross the river, he assumed the entire responsibility himself, and on the 
 13th and 14th passed the whole army over the Hudson on a bridge of 
 boats, enforcing his order, " This army must not retreat." They con- 
 tinued their march down the river, and encamped on the north side of Fish 
 Creek. Here, in sight of Old Saratoga, which lay on the south side of the 
 stream, closed the " second period of the campaign," and with dramatic 
 propriety the curtain falls upon another act, which in its progress has 
 already indicated the direction of coming events. 
 
 Here also, on the night of the 14th of September, Burgoyne's 
 encampment rested on the very spot where, a few weeks later, his sur- 
 render took place. This place was several miles above the battle-field of 
 Bemis Heights. From a hill on the east side of the Hudson, Colonel 
 Colburn, of the Continental Army, reconnoitred this camp. Perched in 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA 21 
 
 the forks of a tall tree, he counted through his field-glass eight hundred 
 tents ; watched the army prepare for and start on its forward march, and 
 then hastened to Stillwater to make his report to Gates. 
 
 Burgoyne's orders at this time prove the intensity of his anxiety, his 
 constant anticipation of an attack, and his determination to press on at 
 all hazards. On the fourteenth of September, they read, " During the 
 next marches of the army, the corps are to move in such a state as to be 
 fit for instant action. It is a standing order for the rest of the campaign, 
 that all pickets and guards are under arms an hour before daylight, and 
 remain so until it is completely light." 
 
 On the fifteenth he says, " The army are to ma];ch in three columns, 
 after having passed Schuyler's house — The provisions to be floated down 
 under the care of Captain Brown — The hospitals to move as quick as 
 carts can be provided for them — The bridge to be broke up and floated 
 down immediately after the army is marched." And later in the day, at 
 Dovogat, "■ The whole line to lie accoutred to-night." 
 
 Here, at Dovogat, he remained two days, while his working parties 
 repaired bridges and otherwise cleared the way for his artillery and 
 baggage. Quietness and gloom hung about the heavy columns of his 
 army. No drums were beat, or trumpets sounded ; mysteriously, labori- 
 ously and persistently this strictly disciplined army was held to its course 
 by the dogged determination and the impelling will of its commander. 
 Orders were rigid and imperious. " The first soldier caught beyond 
 the advance sentries of the army will be instantly hung. -The baggage 
 will remain loaded, as the army will march as soon as the bridges are 
 repaired," and at Sword's house on the seventeenth, his orders read, 
 '' The whole army to lie accoutred, and be under arms before daybreak, 
 and continue so until it clears up." 
 
 The position chosen for the American camp, where Gates had 
 determined to await an attack, was on a spur of hills that approached the 
 river bank. At their base, on the river, stood Bemis' house, used by 
 Gates as head-quarters for a few days ; he afterwards moved on the hill. 
 Earthworks were thrown across the narrow meadow between the hill 
 and the river ; they covered the old road, and the bridge of boats com- 
 municating with the east side of the Hudson. The heights were to the 
 north and west. Breastworks were projected toward the north, in a 
 semi-circle, for three-quarters of a mile. Redoubts were established at 
 intervals. A barn built of heavy logs, belonging to the Neilson farm, 
 which lay within the works, was converted into a rude but strong forti- 
 fication. A thickly wooded ravine formed a natural defense along the 
 
22 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 front of the camp, and Mill Creek swept through a deeper ravine, a little 
 to the north. Gates occupied, with the right wing, the river hills and 
 the defile between these and the river; Morgan, of Arnold's division, the 
 left wing, camped on the heights nearly a mile back from the river, and 
 Learned occupied the elevated plain as centre. 
 
 Arnold, with fifteen hundred men, was now constantly skirmishing 
 with the enemy, and doubtless gave occasion for many of the sharp, con- 
 cise orders issued by Burgoyne, who was constantly harassed, and often 
 compelled to use a whole regiment to protect a small working party. 
 On the seventeenth he was at Sword's house, where he encamped, 
 and prepared for battle. 
 
 At eleven o'clock on the morning of the nineteenth of September, 
 General Burgoyne advanced towards the American camp with his army 
 in three columns. The left commanded by Riedesel, and composed of 
 the German regiments, with Phillips and his artillery, moved on the river 
 road. 
 
 Frazer, with his own and Breyman's corps, made a detour far to the 
 west, and Burgoyne, with the English regiments, took the centre and 
 marched toward the heights on the right. 
 
 The main object of Burgoyne was a union of his own and Frazer's 
 divisions in the rear of the left wing of the American camp. The Cana- 
 dians and Indians were to engage the attention of the Americans in front, 
 while Frazer would get in the rear of the American left by his circuitous 
 route through the woods ; at a preconcerted signal, Burgoyne would 
 make a simultaneous attack in the front ; Riedesel and Phillips would 
 occupy Gates on the American right ; thus it was hoped they would cut 
 off and destroy the American left wing, and at- the same time gain an ad- 
 vanced position. 
 
 Gates was told of the near approach of the enemy, but gave no orders 
 to meet or prepare for them. Finally yielding to the urgent importuni, 
 ties of Arnold and others, he consented to allow the hovering Indians to 
 be driven back. But for this permission, which led to the repulse of the 
 British, Burgoyne's plan might have been successful. 
 
 The American regiments behind their works were restless and eager 
 for the contest, and no sooner were they permitted to move than they 
 assailed the enemy with resistless impetuosity. Morgan led the way 
 with his riflemen, who drove the advancing forces with such rapidity, 
 that, for a moment, their commander lost sight of them. His shrill whis, 
 tie soon recalled them to calmer work. Now following Arnold with 
 Learned's brigade, they attempted to cut off the detachment of Frazer 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA 23 
 
 from the main army ; Frazer at the same time was endeavoring to reach 
 the American rear. Both striving for the same object, and their move- 
 ments screened by the heavy forest, they met unexpectedly near Mill 
 Creek, a few yards west of Freeman's cottage. A furious contest followed. 
 Arnold led with his usual spirit, while Morgan seemed endowed with 
 the strength and ubiquity of a forest demi-god ; with his active, intelli- 
 gent corps, he struck blow after blow, his men scattering like leaves of 
 the autumn before a gust of the British bayonets, only to close again and 
 follow up their advantage. Assailing Breyman's guns, they captured 
 a cannon, and were carrying it from the field when Morgan's horse was 
 shot under him ; heavy reinforcements came to relieve Frazer ; Gates 
 still withheld assistance, and they were scattered once more. Arnold 
 and Morgan now made a rapid counter march against Frazer's left, and 
 in this movement encountered the whole English line under Burgoyne. 
 
 They were now reinforced with four regiments, and made so vigor- 
 ous and resolute an attack that they were on the point of severing the 
 wings of the British arm}', when Phillips came forward with his artill- 
 ery, and the Americans were forced back within their lines. It was 
 now three o'clock, and a lull occurred in the contest. The two armies 
 lay each upon a hillside, that sloped toward a ravine, which separated 
 them. With the reinforcements conceded to Arnold, his force did not 
 exceed three thousand men ; yet, with this number, for four hours, he 
 sustained an unequal conflict with the choicest English regiments, in- 
 spired by every sentiment that ambition or desperation could awaken, 
 and commanded by many of the most accomplished and brave officers 
 of the English Army. 
 
 Steadily the Patriots received charge after charge of the dreaded 
 English bayonets ; then, emboldened by their own endurance, they 
 pushed upon the enemy in a fierce attack, to be driven again toward 
 their own lines. While victory seemed thus to sway back and forth 
 over the little stream, which hid its crystal waters under the crimson flood 
 that now crept over it, and while the Americans held the ascendancy, 
 Riedesel came over the field at double-quick with his heavy Germans, 
 and pressed the exhausted Americans back once more. It was now 
 dark; they gathered up their wounded 'and prisoners, and retired to 
 their camp. 
 
 The American loss in killed and wounded was about three hundred, 
 and the British nearly double that number. The latter held the field, 
 and claimed a victory ; it was worse than barren to them. Foiled in 
 their main object, they were now burdened with many wounded ; they 
 
24 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 had tested the strength of the Americans, and were convinced that 
 their own advantages of discipline and bayonets were perfectly coun- 
 terpoised by the enthusiasm and courage of the Patriots. The British, 
 who bivouaced on the field, were harassed until midnight by large 
 skirmishing parties of the Americans, and were under arms in expecta- 
 tion of an attack in force. 
 
 Arnold urged the importance of this attack with such vehemence 
 that Gates took serious offense, although he failed to tell Arnold that he 
 was short of ammunition — the reason afterwards given for his refusal 
 to follow up the advantage of the previous day. In his report of the 
 battle to Congress, he refrained from mentioning Arnold's name. This 
 led to a further quarrel, and Arnold was deprived of his command. 
 Gates continued to strengthen the defenses of his camp, while his army 
 daily increased in numbers. 
 
 Burgoyne encamped his whole army on the ground he had gained on 
 the nineteenth, and protected it with strong entrenchments. Four re- 
 doubts were constructed on the river hills, at the place now called Wil- 
 bur's Basin. This was the northern extremity of a narrow alluvial fiat 
 that extended to Bemis House, two miles below ; it widened in the cen- 
 tre, and narrowed again at this point, where the hills lay very near the 
 river. On its banks were the hospitals ; they and the batteaux were 
 covered by a battery and earthworks ; similar defenses were extended 
 toward the west for nearly a mile to Frazer's camp, which was posted 
 on the heights near Freeman's farm. North ot that again a strong 
 semi-circular redoubt was occupied by Breyman's artiller}^ ; this pro- 
 tected the right flank of the entire camp ; the north branch of Mill 
 Creek formed a ravine along the left front of the camp, which thus, as 
 in other particulars, resembled the entrenched camp of the Americans. 
 
 Strongly and skillfully posted, the two armies lay face to face from 
 the twentieth of September until the seventh of October. 
 
 " The hum of either army stilly sounds, 
 That the fixed sentinels almost receive 
 The secret whispers of each other's watch. 
 Fire answers fire; and throvigh their paly flames •■ 
 Each battle sees the other's umbered face. 
 Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs 
 Piercing the night's dull ear; and from the tents, 
 Rise dreadful note of preparation." 
 
 Our army was exultant, hopeful ; scarcely to be checked in its rest- 
 less desire to drive the invader from the fruitful fields and deserted 
 homes he desecrated and destroyed. Rushing out from their entrench- 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA 25 
 
 ments under every plausible excuse to skirmish with the outposts of the 
 enemy, or capture his pickets, the eager militia could with difficulty be 
 restrained by the cautious Gates from bringing on the general engage- 
 ment that he seemed quite willing to avoid. 
 
 The other camp seemed oppressed by the overhanging cloud of its 
 impending fate. The British officers, perpetually on the alert, were un- 
 able to secure a single night of undisturbed repose ; the men bore with 
 quiet but sullen fortitude the privations and hardships of short rations, 
 hurried snatches of sleep under full accoutrements, and constant calls to 
 arms. More and more vivid to all grew the vision of that impassable 
 wall of difficulties that enclosed them on all sides, leaving but one nar- 
 row pathway to the north ; and even that was being closed by an active 
 detachment of Americans from Lincoln's command. They had sur- 
 prised the British garrisons at Lake George and Ticonderoga, and had 
 regained all the outer defences of the latter place ; had captured gun- 
 boats and batteaux, and taken three hundred prisoners. 
 
 News of this calamity soon reached Burgoyne, yet he had some 
 compensation in a gleam of hope that reached him from the South at the 
 same time. A letter from Sir Henry Clinton was received, informing 
 him that on the twentieth he would attack the forts below the High- 
 lands, and attempt a further ascent of the river. Two officers in dis- 
 guise were immediately dispatched in return to inform Clinton of the 
 critical position of Burgoyne's army, and urge him to hasten to its 
 assistance. Clinton was also assured that Burgoyne would endeavor to 
 hold his present position until the twelfth of October. 
 
 Lincoln, who, with a large body of militia, now joined the army at Bemis 
 Heights, was placed in command of the right wing. Gates took command 
 of the left, of which Arnold had been dispossessed. The latter had remain- 
 ed in camp, waiting patiently for a collision between the hostile armies. 
 
 As Burgoyne's situation became day by day more critical, and he 
 received no news from Clinton, on the fourth of October he called Gen- 
 erals Riedesel, Phillips and Frazer together in council. Riedesel was 
 strongly in favor of a retreat to Fort Edward, and Frazer conceded the 
 wisdom of such a movement ; Phillips declined to express an opinion, 
 and Burgoyne finally declared that on the seventh he would make a recon- 
 noissance, and if he then found the enemy too strong to be attacked, he 
 would immediately retreat to Fort Edward, and await the cooperation 
 of the army below. 
 
 On the sixth he had five days' rations distributed, and arranged for 
 iv reconnoissance in force on the following day. As he could not leave 
 
26 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 his camp unprotected, he only took fifteen hundred men. They 
 were selected from the corps of Riedesel, Frazer and Phillips. Led by 
 these officers in person, and Burgoyne as Commander-in-Chief, they 
 marched out of camp at eleven o'clock on the morning- of the seventh, 
 and entered a field within three-quarters of a mile of the American 
 left. Here, in double ranks, they formed in line of battle. 
 
 On the left Williams' artillery and Ackland's grenadiers were posted, 
 on a gentle hill in the edge of a wood that fronted on Mill Creek. Bal- 
 carras' light infantry and other English regiments formed the right: 
 the Hessians held the centre. Frazer, with five hundred picked men, 
 was posted to the right and front of Balcarras, where a hill skirted the 
 meadow ; he was ready to fall upon the rear of the American left at the 
 first attack in front. 
 
 Foragers were at work in a wheat field, while the English officers 
 reconnoitred the American left with their glasses from the top of a 
 cabin near the field. An aid-de-camp conveyed this information to 
 Gates, who said : " Order out Morgan to begin the game." 
 
 Morgan had already discovered Frazer's position, had divined his 
 design, and formed his own plan. Ordering an attack to be made on 
 Balcarras in front, he made a circuit in the- woods to fall upon Frazer 
 from the heights above. It was also arranged that General Poor should 
 assail the grenadiers on the British left simultaneously with Morgan's 
 attack. Learned was to check the Germans in the centre. 
 
 As the great Hudson, when suddenly loosened from his winter 
 chains of ice, rushes with resistless force over all obstructions, so from 
 their restraining earthworks the impetuous Americans poured furiously 
 upon their adversaries in the front, while Morgan, like a mountain torrent, 
 swept down the height upon Frazer's heroic band. So terrible was the 
 onslaught that in less than twenty minutes the British were thrown into 
 confusion. Frazer, in his brilliant uniform, on a splendid war horse, 
 rode from side to side of the right wing, encouraging and rallying the 
 bewildered troops, and protecting every point with his flexible five 
 hundred. 
 
 Burgoyne, seeing the right wing in danger of being surrounded, now 
 ordered Frazer to form a second line to cover a retreat. In attempting 
 this manoeuvre Frazer fell mortally wounded, and was carried from the 
 field. 
 
 The division under Poor, with the same impulsive vigor, dashed up 
 the hill upon the artillery and grenadiers of the British left, and drove 
 them from their guns. Ackland brought them back, and recapture.! the 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 27 
 
 guns, which again fell into the hands of the Americans, who rapidly 
 turned them upon the enemy, and drove them flying from the field. 
 Ackland was wounded in both legs. He was a large, heavy man, but 
 an officer took him on his back, and ran some distance with him. The 
 pursuit was close, and the officer, fearing he would be captured, drop- 
 ped his friend, and hurried on. Ackland now called out to the flying 
 men that he would give fifty guineas to any man who would carry him 
 into camp. A tall grenadier took him on his shoulders, but had not 
 proceeded many steps when he and his helpless burden were taken 
 prisoners. 
 
 The Hessians still held their ground in the centre. At this moment 
 Arnold, maddened by his injuries, and excited into frenzy by the clash 
 and roar of the battle, dashed like a meteor on the field, followed in the 
 distance by Armstrong, Gates' aid-de-camp, carrying orders to compel 
 his return. Stop the bison on his native plain ? the swallow on its 
 flight? More easy this than Armstrong's task. The genius of war 
 thrilled Arnold's soul, as epic metres stir the poet, as rugged landscapes, 
 shadowed under sunset lights, influence the artist's brain. Genius ever 
 lives and conquers ! It may be desecrated and destroyed, as Arnold 
 buried his in ignominy ; but while it lives and inspires its own peculiar 
 work, it rules and is supreme. Men bow before it, or lie crushed be- 
 neath its power. Thus, when Arnold waved his sword, and shouted his 
 brief commands, the genius within him rung through the tones of his 
 voice, glanced from the quivering flash of his sabre, and the regiments 
 followed where he led — one strong will, one palpitating force. 
 
 With two brigades he rushed upon the Hessian centre, who stood 
 the shock bravely for a time, but as he dashed upon them again and 
 again with a fury they had never witnessed, they turned and fled in dis- 
 may. 
 
 Burgoyne now took command in person, and the conflict became 
 general along the whole line. Arnold and Morgan, uniting to break a strong 
 point in the British ranks, would again separate to dash from one place 
 to another, where orders or encouragement were necessary. Burgoyne 
 succeeded Frazer as the conspicuous figure on the opposing side, and was 
 seen in the thickest of the melee, under the heaviest fire. Several shots 
 tore his clothing, and his aids implored him not to expose himself, but 
 resolute and daring, he endeavored skillfully, but vainly, to rally his 
 army, and hold his ground. He could more easily have checked a hur- 
 ricane on the great prairies ; his whole force was driven before the 
 storm, and swept into their entrenched camp. Here they made a deter- 
 
28 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 mined stand. Arnold now took Patterson's brigade, and assailed Fra- 
 zer's camp, where Balcarras and his light infantry had taken refuge. 
 Charging with renewed vigor again and again up the embankment, he 
 led the way over a strong abattis ; driven back from this, he attacked 
 the entrenchments connecting this redoubt with Breyman's flank defence. 
 Here he succeeded, and leaving the Massachusetts regiments to follow 
 up the advantage at that point, he encountered a part of Learned's brig- 
 ade, and dashed upon the strong works of the Hessian camp. Here, 
 too, he drove everything before him. Capturing the cannon, the artill- 
 erists fled in consternation, and Breyman was killed on the spot. Ar- 
 nold's horse was shot under him ; it fell on him, and his leg was severely 
 wounded. He was carried from the field. 
 
 The whole British camp now lay exposed to the pursuing Americans. 
 Night and silence fell upon the scene. The groans of the wounded, the 
 muffled words of command given for the burial of the dead, and the 
 dirge-like wailing of the autumn wind in the tall pines, were the only 
 sounds that followed the roar of artillery and the shouts of the victors. 
 
 " A thousand glorious actions, that might claim 
 Triumphant laurels, and immortal fame, 
 Confused in clouds of glorious actions lie, 
 And troops of heroes undistinguished die." 
 
 Ah, yes! the field of Saratoga is rich with the blood of heroes. 
 What are the few names we have recorded compared with the unnum- 
 bered hosts who lie under the placid hills of the Hudson — or who per- 
 formed upon this field unnoticed deeds of valor, and passed through life 
 unregarded and unnamed. 
 
 While the battle raged on the heights, confusion and sorrow reigned 
 in and around the British camp near the river. The Baroness Riedesel, 
 who, with her little children, had joined her husband at Fort Edward, 
 and remained with the army, was living at Taylor's house, above Wil- 
 bur's Basin. She had breakfasted with her husband at his camp on the 
 heights, and having returned home, was awaiting his arrival with Gen- 
 eral Frazer and other officers, who were to dine with her. These pleas- 
 ant anticipations were supplanted by grief and terror, when, at about 
 two o'clock, General Frazer was brought in on a litter, desperately 
 wounded. The table, which had been spread for dinner, was hastily 
 put aside, and a bed prepared for him. He asked the surgeon to in- 
 form him truly of his condition, and when told he could live but a few 
 hours, he exclaimed : " O, fatal ambition ! Poor General Burgoyne I 
 My poor wife ! " These brief words express forcibly the desires, the 
 thoughts, and the affections of this brave man. 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA 29 
 
 The Baroness, with her children and servants, and the wives of Ma- 
 jor Harnage and Lieutenant Reynell, clustered despairingly together in 
 one corner of the room where the dying General lay. The whole house 
 Avas now filled with the wounded, and Madame Riedesel soon recov- 
 ering her composure, was actively engaged in relieving their suffer- 
 ings and comforting her afflicted companions. Information had been 
 brought that Major Harnage was wounded, and that Lieutenant Rey- 
 nell had been killed. Lady Ackland occupied a tent near by, and was 
 soon informed that her husband was mortally wounded and a prisoner. 
 Frequently during the succeeding night the Baroness left her sleeping 
 children, and went to the tent of her friend, to tell her of more encourag- 
 ing rumors ; and she finally advised her to obtain permission to join her 
 husband in the American camp. 
 
 At daybreak Madame Riedesel was informed that General Frazer 
 was in his death agony ; she wrapped her children in the bedclothes, and 
 carried them in the hall, until the last sad scene should close. Then, re- 
 turning to the room, she and her companions were all day long in the 
 presence of the sheeted dead. 
 
 After midnight General Lincoln from the American camp marched 
 on the battle field with a large body of fresh troops, to replace the ex- 
 hausted victors of the previous day. Burgoyne, aware of his danger if 
 attacked in his exposed position, now moved his whole army hurriedly, 
 but in good order, to the river bank. Here, in gloomy desperation, they 
 were crowded together under the redoubts, on the morning of the eighth. 
 
 The whole of this day was spent in heavy skirmishing between the 
 hostile armies, and General Lincoln, who had not been on the field dur- 
 ing the seventh, was now slightly wounded. At six o'clock in the 
 evening. General Burgoyne, with Generals Riedesel and Phillips and 
 Mr. Brudenell, the chaplain, accompanied the remains of General Frazer 
 to a large redoubt on one of the river hills, where they buried him, ac- 
 cording to his dying request. The ladies at Taylor's house witnessed 
 the funeral, and saw the cannon balls thrown by the Americans tear 
 up the earth around the grave, while the funeral service was being read. 
 In a few moments the balls ceased their flight, and the cannon only 
 bellowed forth the melancholy roar of the minute guns. Gates had 
 been informed of the sad office in progress ; a graceful token of a sol- 
 dier's sympathy. 
 
 Soon after this sad scene, Lady Ackland, with the Chaplain, her maid 
 and her husband's valet were placed in a small boat and rowed down the 
 river to the American camp, where she was soon united with her hus- 
 band, whose wounds, though serious, were not fatal. 
 
30 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 Bjirgojnie now gave orders for a full retreat of his army, to begin at 
 nine o'clock that same night, the wounded and all heavy baggage to be 
 left behind. General Riedesel was ordered to lead the van-guard, and 
 push on until he crossed the Hudson at the Saratoga ford, and there take 
 a position behind the hills at the Batten kill. A drenching rain poured 
 upon the weary, plodding army the whole night. At Dovogat a halt 
 was made. Burgoyne wavered and countermanded his orders. His last 
 chance of retreat escaped him. 
 
 " In helpless indecisions lie, 
 The rocks on which we strike and die." 
 
 The imperious commander, who had led the forward march with un- 
 flinching resolution, pushing to his end without fear or hesitation, when 
 foiled and sent back, for a moment shuddered, and refused to accept his 
 fate. He still held his panic-striken army under his will, and he deter- 
 mined once more to wait for the coming of the army from below ; it might 
 yet bring him relief. Starting from Dovogat at daybreak, the British 
 moved again, bvit only to encamp during the day on the heights north of 
 the Fish kill. The handsome residence of General Schuyler was burned 
 on the way. During this time Colonel Fellows, with the American 
 artillery, had planted his guns on the hills on the east side of the Hudson, 
 opposite the British camp. General Stark had also taken possession of 
 Fort Edward above. On the tenth General Gates, having waited for fine 
 weather, followed Burgoyne to Saratoga and encamped on the south 
 side of the Fish kill. His delay greatly endangered the detachment of 
 Colonel Fellows, who could easily have been surrounded and captured ; 
 in fact, some of Burgoyne's officers were anxious to make the attempt, 
 but failed to obtain permission. On the morning of the eleventh, while 
 the autumn mist hung heavily over Fish kill and the adjacent grounds, 
 Gates, believing that Burgoyne had continued his retreat, ordered his 
 whole army to advance and cross the stream in pursuit. Without a 
 reconnoissance or van-guard, the army was set in motion. The vigilant 
 Burgoyne, having now staked his chances on delay, was waiting eagerly 
 for any mistake on the part of his adversary. Aware of the proximity 
 of Gates, and of his intention, he drew up his army, under cover of the 
 dense fog in battle array, on the north side of the stream, to receive him. 
 The American regiments under Nixon passed over and were instantly 
 attacked ; a severe contest followed, and Nixon soon discovered the British 
 in force ; using his own judgment, and disobeying orders, he retreated, 
 and checked the further progress of the army until communication could 
 be had with Gates. 
 
BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 31 
 
 Morgan had crossed the creek towards Saratoga Lake and, screened 
 by the woods, posted his riflemen on the heights in the rear and 
 flank of the British camp. This was strongly intrenched on the hill near 
 the river, but was now entirely surrounded by the Patriots, and all com- 
 munication destroyed either with the north or south ; and it was soon 
 found by the British that their camp was exposed in every part to the 
 fire of cannon or riflemen ; no approach to the river was permitted, and 
 there was much suffering for want of water. The sick, wounded and 
 women were huddled together in a house where cannon balls tore through 
 the walls, and roMed across the floor, often wounding the helpless 
 men who lay within. Madame Riedesel, with her children, and the other 
 ladies took refuge in a cellar, where hours of horror were endured 
 with uncomplaining misery. 
 
 Sir Henry Clinton, having obtained reinforcements from England, at 
 last came storming up the Hudson as though he would annihilate all ob- 
 stacles between himself and Burgoyne. He obtained possession of Forts 
 Montgomery and Clinton, although they were most courageously defend- 
 ed by Gov. George Clinton and his brother James, who very skillfull}^ 
 saved their garrisons. The British easily destroyed the obstructing 
 boom across the river, and Putnam, deceived and alarmed by their 
 manoeuvres, left the enemy to sail unmolested to Albany. Satisfied with 
 the destruction of the American vessels, and having burned Kingston, 
 the seat of the Government, and ravaged the stately manor houses of 
 Livingston and other aristocratic republicans, the Englishman returned 
 to New York, and left Burgoyne unassisted in his perilous position. 
 
 He had now only five days rations for his army, and not a spot where 
 he could hold a council of officers in safety. On the 13th he called them 
 together to consider their desperate condition, and there " General Bur- 
 goyne solemnly declared, that no one but himself should ansAver for the 
 situation in which the army found itself." Three questions were then 
 submitted for their consideration. " ist. Whether military history fur- 
 nished any example of an army having capitulated under similar circum- 
 stances. 2d. Whether the capitulation of an army placed in such a situa- 
 tion would be disgraceful. 3d. Whether the army was actually in such a 
 situation as to be obliged to capitulate." These were answered in the 
 affirmative, and there was an unanimous declaration in favor of capitu- 
 lation. The terms of surrender were then discussed. A messenger Avas 
 sent to Gen. Gates, who agreed to an immediate armistice. A meeting 
 of officers to represent the commanders of the respective armies, was ar- 
 ranged to take place on the spot where Gen. Schuyler's house had stood. 
 
-2 BATTLE OF SARATOGA 
 
 There seemed a poetic justice in this, considering the magnanimous spirit 
 of Schuyler, the relentless destruction of Burgoyne, and the humilia- 
 tion of the destroyer on the site of the ruin he had wrought. 
 
 The terms proposed by Burgoyne required that his army, upon its 
 surrender, should be marched to Boston, and from there be shipped to 
 England. Gates refused this proposition, and demanded an unconditional 
 surrender as prisoners of war, Burgoyne rejected these terms indig- 
 nantly. 
 
 The armistice ceased. Burgoyne prepared for the worst. 
 
 Gates now heard of Sir Henry Clinton at the Highlands. His fears 
 were aroused ; he despatched a message to Burgoyne, in which he agreed 
 to almost ever}^ article of the first proposition. Burgoyne gave his as- 
 sent to these terms. Some further negotiations were in progress in re- 
 gard to points of minor importance. News of Sir Henry Clinton's expe- 
 dition now reached Burgoyne. Again delusive hopes awoke in his heart. 
 He hurriedly called his officers together to consider whether they could 
 honorably withdraw from the agreement to surrender. It was decided 
 that honor held them fast, although the papers were not signed. On the 
 17th of October the capitulation, or convention, as Burgoyne stipulated 
 it should be called, received the signatures of the two commanders, 
 Gates and Burgoyne. 
 
 The British army were now marched out of their camps, under their 
 own officers, to a plain near old Fort Hardy, where the Fish kill empties 
 into the Hudson. Here, in the presence of only one American, an aid- 
 de-camp of Gates, they laid down their arms. Generals Burgoyne, 
 Riedesel and Phillips now passed over the Fish kill to the head-quarters 
 of Gates, who rode out to meet them, accompanied by his aids. When 
 they met, Burgoyne said, " The fortunes of war, General, have made me 
 your prisoner," to which Gates replied, "I shall ever be ready to bear 
 testimony that it has not been through any fault of your excellency." 
 
 The American army were drawn up in ranks on either side of the 
 road. The whole army of British prisoners, preceded by a guard bear- 
 ing the stars and stripes, and a band playing Yankee Doodle, were 
 marched between the files of their victors. 
 
 Gates and Burgoyne stood contemplating the scene. In the presence 
 of both armies, General Burgoyne stepped out, and drawing his sword 
 from its scabbard, presented it to General Gates ; he received it, and 
 silently returned it to the vanquished General. 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 "America is the Old rather than the 
 New World, being the first-born among 
 the continents; " when 
 
 " Earth was young and keeping holiday — 
 Monster fishes swam the silent main, 
 Stately forests waved their giant branches, 
 Mountains hurled their snowy avalanches. 
 Mammoth creatures stalked across the plain." 
 
 It is a pleasant morning late in June. 
 One of those ineffable days that belong 
 to this month in the region of country 
 lying along the south-eastern foot of the 
 Adirondacks; that " angle between the 
 great northern and western war-paths " 
 of the past that followed " the encircling 
 chain of almost a thousand miles of liv- 
 ing waters that surround Northern New 
 York." In this atmosphere are combined 
 the freshness of the mountains, the mel- 
 lowness of the plains, the healthfulness 
 of the pines. In the heart of this region, 
 on the edge of the Laurentian rocks of 
 the world's first continent, sits the village 
 of Saratoga Springs, drawing to herself, 
 magnet-like, the men and women of many 
 nations; attracting them by various prop- 
 erties, yet pouring forth to all alike the 
 treasures of her wonderful chemical lab- 
 oratory, and clothing all in new vigor 
 with her mountain-freighted atmosphere. 
 
 On the western piazza of one of her 
 famous hotels, the United States, are 
 numerous groups of visitors. Miss Kate 
 Van Eyck, a blooming blonde of twenty; 
 Miss Pelham, her young friend, graceful 
 
 and fashionable, recently returned from 
 Europe; and Mrs. Harris, a middle- 
 aged, youthful looking widow, sit loung- 
 ingly near the piazza railing, their books 
 and fancy-work lying neglected in their 
 laps. Mr. Winship, a young lawyer 
 from Boston, enjoying his short vacation, 
 leans against a column, gazing absently 
 at Miss Van Eyck; Judge Van Eyck, 
 her father, " a true Knickerbocker in the 
 fullest sense of the word," approaches 
 with a firm, even tread, suggestive of dig- 
 nity, self-reliance, and exactness of char- 
 acter. 
 
 Judge Van Eyck, as he draws up a 
 chair and sits down: "Well, ladies, do 
 we go the battle-field to-day? it is a glo- 
 rious morning, and I am already inspired 
 with some patriotic emotions. I find 
 there is nothing like a little leisure to 
 allow the sentiments to expand — with 
 the help of an entertaining book. I 
 must thank you, Mrs. Harris, for my re- 
 awakened interest in the glories of my 
 country." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "How is that. Judge; 
 was it the shabbv little volume I loaned 
 you yesterday ? " 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "Yes; I always find 
 these impromptu journals of army offi- 
 cers the most delightful kind of history. 
 They photograph the scene on the spot, 
 quite a different process from your ela- 
 borate painting, such as the historian of 
 the future gives, filled with imaginary 
 figures, and diffused with an atmosphere 
 of his own ideas and opinions. It is re- 
 
36 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROT^XD 
 
 freshingly real to find these young Eng- 
 lish lords of '76, Captains and Lieuten- 
 ants, calling us rebels, and predicting 
 our speedy annihilation." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " Some of them were un- 
 consciously elegant writers; but have 
 you read any of the journals and travels 
 written by Hessian officers who were with 
 the British army ? They are charming; 
 the simplicity, quaintness and truth with 
 which they describe the country and the 
 people are incomparable." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: "O, Mrs. Harris! do 
 tell father that delightful story about the 
 German poet." 
 
 Mr. Winship, drawing near: "What 
 do I hear about a poet, Miss Van Eyck?" 
 
 Miss Pelham: "Of course Kate has 
 found a poetic element in the subject 
 under discussion; she is so romantic." 
 
 Mr. Winship: " I am glad to hear Miss 
 Van Eyck is romantic. I thought her 
 eminently practical." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: "I protest against 
 being discussed before my face, and if 
 we are going to the battle field, we had 
 better start; but I don't want to go to 
 day. I thought I knew all about the 
 battle of Saratoga, and I have just dis- 
 covered that I know nothing. Mrs. 
 Harris is a perfect encyclopedia, and I 
 know she will tell me all about it, if we 
 wait a few days; won't you, Mrs. Harris ? 
 Why should we hurry, father } " 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " I am in no 
 hurry, Kate ; you know I promised that 
 while here I would obey your orders, 
 but the other ladies may prefer to go 
 now ; decide it among yourselves." 
 
 Miss Pelham : " Dear me, Kate ; you 
 do not expect to know all the history 
 and details concerning places you visit, 
 
 do you ? I tried the guide-books in 
 Europe, and found them detestable. I 
 think if you have a general idea that 
 something wonderful has happened at a 
 place, that is sufficient to excite an agree- 
 able interest. It's an awful drag to try 
 to remember the names of kings and 
 generals who were on this side, and who 
 on that — it interferes with the sentiment ; 
 now you like sentiment, why bother 
 about facts." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck : " Which means, I 
 suppose, that you do not wish our trip 
 deferred." 
 
 Miss Pelham : " O no, not at all ; one 
 day will suit me as well as another, but I 
 am thinking how I will dispose of the 
 time while you and Mrs. Harris are talk- 
 ing history. I must go in search of a 
 new novel." 
 
 Mrs. Harris : " You forget. Miss Fan- 
 ny, that I have made no promise yet, 
 and Kate's jest about my knowledge is 
 no guarantee that I have the information 
 necessary to bore you. I do not half 
 believe in your avowed preference for 
 ignorance, however, and I have no doubt 
 but you will assist in recalling the men 
 and events that give historic interest to 
 the old battle ground." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck : "What was the name 
 of that German officer you were telling 
 me about ? " 
 
 Mrs. Harris : " His name was Seume, 
 and he was not an officer, which gives 
 additional interest to his trials and hard- 
 ships ; he bore them with philosophical 
 endurance, or rather an easy indiffer- 
 ence. His comrades, the German com- 
 mon soldiers, employed by the British, 
 were ignorant, coarse and degraded, 
 mere slaves of the petty despots wlio 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 37 
 
 ruled them ; yet there must undoubt- 
 edly have been an occasional individual 
 like Seume himself, who possessed edu- 
 cation and refinement. " The officers 
 were entirely of this class, and more than 
 that, they all belonged to the nobility, 
 and were among the most accomplished 
 gentlemen of Europe." 
 
 Mr. Winship: "Why, Mrs. Harris! 
 you astonish me ; are you not mistaken ? 
 Surely the Hessians employed against 
 us were universally a gross, thieving, de- 
 graded set of wretches. I did not sup- 
 pose a word could be said in their favor. 
 Even their own countryman, Frederick 
 the Great, taxed them like so many head 
 of cattle for the privilege of passing over 
 his territory. Certainly, he intended by 
 this to show his disgust for the enter- 
 prise in which they were engaged, and 
 his contempt for their rulers." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : "I fear we can- 
 not give Frederick credit for these 
 noble sentiments. He was the last 
 man likely to sympathize with the cause 
 for which the Americans contended. 
 He was simply angry and jealous that 
 the troops he had been in the habit of 
 hiring for his own purposes, for a trifling 
 sum of money, were now let out at a 
 high price, thus raising their market 
 value, and he determined to appropriate 
 a part of the profit to himself." 
 
 Mr. Winship : " Really, one is tempted 
 to throw all histories into the fire, when 
 discovering the false impressions receiv- 
 ed from tliem. I begin to think that it 
 is not worth while to read history at all. 
 I believe I have never felt my sympa- 
 thies and opinions fully in accord with 
 people or events in the past, that I have 
 
 not afterward had my whole theory 
 about them upset, and my facts ques- 
 tioned." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " Yes, sir ; you will 
 generally find this to be the case, which 
 only proves that we have no right to 
 theories or feelings in regard to histori- 
 cal persons and events. We must sift 
 out the facts as well as we can, and look 
 upon them as abstract facts alone." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck : " Indeed, father, you 
 know that cannot be done — and that you 
 certainly do not do it; you have the 
 strongest kind of likes and dislikes. You 
 must remember how you defend Gen, 
 Schuyler ; and as to Gen. Gates, I think 
 you talk dreadfully about him, consider- 
 ing he was one of the Revolutionary 
 heroes." 
 
 Mrs. Harris : " You are all wandering 
 very far away from my young German 
 student, although I find I have really 
 very little to tell you about him. He 
 was a youth of brilliant poetic talent, 
 and an eager student ; was on his way 
 from the university at Leipsic, to Paris, 
 where he would soon complete his 
 course of study, when he was suddenly 
 seized by a recruiting officer, and driven 
 like a slave to the nearest military 
 post. Yet so little idea had the men 
 of that time of their individual rights, 
 that it does not seem to have occur- 
 red to him to make even a protest 
 against such an outrage. Imagine an 
 ardent, refined young man forced from 
 place to place, and finally plunged into 
 the depths of one of those horrible 
 ships that transported the German troops 
 from England to Canada. Their Land- 
 grave sent them to England, almost des- 
 
38 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 titute of clothing ; contracts were made 
 with Englishmen to supply them, and the 
 boxes of clothing were not opened until 
 the ships had sailed, when it was discov- 
 ered that much of it was utterly worth- 
 less — some of the cases contained ladies' 
 shoes, and other things equally appropri- 
 ate." 
 
 Miss Pelham: " O, let us suppose that 
 the dainty young poet could wear a pair 
 of the ladies' shoes — who knows but he 
 may have had a mantilla and jDarasol, 
 too ! " 
 
 Mr. Vi/inship: " Why, yes; what an al- 
 leviation of his sufferings. If he could 
 not wear them, he could hang them up, 
 and apostrophize them in melodious 
 lines." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: "I think you are 
 most unfeeling to ridicule a man in such 
 a position. I suppose the poor fellow 
 had not even a book to distract his mind 
 from his miseries." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " He seemed to look upon 
 his misfortune as an inevitable fate, and 
 to adopt it as a sort of Bohemianism. 
 Upon his return to Germany, he wrote 
 an autobiography." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: "Was it there you 
 found that curious description of the 
 uniform of the American soldiers and 
 officers? " 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "No; that was in the 
 ' Briefwechsel, ' where the letter of a 
 German officer says that some of the 
 American officers, quite in contrast to 
 their simple dress, wore large, powdered 
 wigs, for which the soldiers felt the 
 most profound reverence. But many of 
 these German accounts are full of serious 
 matter, that will probably be an efficient 
 guide through some of the intricacies of 
 
 the Saratoga campaign, as the German 
 view of it is quite different from either 
 the British or American." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " I suppose we have 
 that in the Memoirs of Madame Riede- 
 selj and the journals of her husband, 
 translated some years ago by Mr. Stone." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "Yes; that is one of the 
 most entertaining accounts of Burgoyne's 
 Campaign that can be found. I have 
 written a sketch of the Baroness, drawn 
 from that book and other sources, which 
 I have promised to lend Kate." 
 
 Miss Pelham, rising: " It is time for 
 me to go the Clarendon Spring for my 
 tonic water, and I shall stop at the book- 
 store for a novel. Won't you go, Kate ?" 
 
 Mr. Winship: "Will you all go to the 
 bowling alley, and have a game of ten- 
 pins ? " 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: " O, yes ! I want to 
 retaliate on father and Mrs. Harris; they 
 shall not beat us so badly again." 
 
 They saunter through the broad hall 
 and down the front steps of the hotel, 
 the ladies raise their sunshades, and 
 without further preparation continue 
 their walk to the spring. Miss Pelham, 
 Miss Van Eyck and Mr. Winship in ad- 
 vance, talking with animation upon some 
 subject not historical. Mrs. Harris 
 and the Judge stray slowly on behind 
 them, still interested in the subject 
 that has occupied them during the 
 morning. 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "I have read the 
 memoir of Madame Riedesel. I was 
 charmed with the Baroness; her intelli- 
 gence and refinement, as well as her de- 
 votion to her husband and children, are 
 remarkable. With what vividness and 
 skill she pictures the events passing 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 39 
 
 around her, and with what naivete she 
 relates the most trifling incidents of her 
 own experience ! " 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "Yes; that is the very 
 thing that gives such reality to her ac- 
 count of the campaign, and the long 
 captivity that followed. By the way. 
 Judge, do you not think it was rather 
 disgraceful in our Congress to refuse to 
 ratify the terms of the convention signed 
 at Saratoga? Certainly Burgoyne and 
 his officers had reason to feel aggrieved, 
 although the English Government bore 
 it very quietly. I believe that Washing- 
 ton urged upon Congress their obligation 
 to confirm the terms of the convention." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " Yes, he did; and 
 however it might be regretted that Gates' 
 weakness, and Burgoyne's firmness had 
 fixed the terms as they were, it has seemed 
 to me there was no honorable course for 
 Congress to pursue but to confirm them. 
 Yet we must remember that there were 
 many minor points which may have 
 weighed with them, and are not appar- 
 ent to us. It is said that La Fayette's 
 influence prevailed in the matter. He was 
 interested for the French Government, 
 wishing to prevent the use of Burgoyne's 
 army against France, as war was impend- 
 ing between that country and England." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "I remember now hav- 
 ing read somewhere that he urged, as a 
 precedent for disregarding the articles 
 of the convention, the surrender of the 
 Duke of Cumberland at Kloster Seven, 
 on which occasion the terms of capitu- 
 lation were ignored by the English." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "Burgoyne himself 
 did obtain leave to go back to England, 
 although he was unsuccessful in secur- 
 ing the return of the army." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " I always feel a pro- 
 found sympathy for him on that return 
 trip. Although we cannot say, as the 
 poet does of one of the kings of Eng- 
 land, that 'he never smiled again,' it is 
 known that, even after he was excul- 
 pated from censure by Parliament, when 
 he enjoyed great social distinction, and 
 was flattered and applauded in conse- 
 quence of the success of his drama, "The 
 Heiress," that ' the shadow of Saratoga 
 always rested on his brow.' The buoy- 
 ancy and zest of his aspirations were 
 destroyed by a stroke of the pen that 
 signed his humiliation and General Gates' 
 triumph. One thing has occurred to me, 
 Judge, as rather remarkable since I have 
 read something of the private lives of 
 these officers of the invading army. They 
 all seem to have been model husbands; 
 even Burgoyne, who was considered a 
 gay, pleasure-loving dilettante^ treated 
 his wife with tender devotion and 
 an unlimited confidence and defer- 
 ence." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "Did he not elope 
 with her? I think she was an Earl's 
 daughter." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " Which proves there was 
 a romantic attachment to begin with; 
 this ripened into a life-long affection, 
 and her family became not only recon- 
 ciled to Burgoyne, but were devoted to 
 his interests ever afterwards. You will 
 remember that Gen. Frazer spoke pa- 
 thetically of his wife in his dying mo- 
 ments; Major Ackland reciprocated the 
 devotion of Lady Ackland, and Gen. 
 Riedesel was a veritable lover to the 
 Baroness. The young people are wait- 
 ing for us; we must win another victory 
 over them." 
 
40 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 II. 
 
 It is afternoon. Judge Van Eyck and 
 Mr. Winship are enjoying their cigars 
 and the New York papers in the gentle- 
 men's reading room. The ladies of their 
 party have retired to their cottage, in 
 the south wing of the great hotel, and 
 disposed themselves for an afternoon rest. 
 Miss Pelham lies on the bed, turning 
 over lazily the pages of her new novel. 
 Mrs. Harris, on the sofa in the parlor, is 
 lost in one of those short, profound naps 
 that assist in preserving the freshness of 
 ladies on the shady side of forty. Miss 
 Van Eyck has drawn a large easy chair 
 to the window; she opens the manuscript 
 which Mrs. Harris has given her, and 
 reads a sketch of 
 
 THE BARONESS RIEDESEL IN AMERICA 
 
 On the nth of June, 1777, in the har- 
 bor of Quebec, a ship, just arrived from 
 England, cast anchor. On its deck 
 stood the Baroness Riedesel with her 
 three young children, Gustava, Fred- 
 erika and Caroline ; her faithful maid, 
 Lena, who had followed her from Ger- 
 many, and another she had hired in 
 England. There the Baroness had been 
 obliged to remain nearly a year, waiting 
 for a suitable transport to Canada; that 
 new land, where her thoughts and desires 
 were constantly drawing her towards the 
 gallant husband who had parted from 
 her in grief, and now, she was sure, 
 awaited her arrival with anxiety and joy. 
 Gazing wistfully towards the shore she 
 thought, '* scarcely one short hour, and 
 his arms will encircle me." 
 
 At this moment the booming of guns 
 from all the ships in the harbor, firing a 
 salute in honor of her arrival, increased 
 
 her excitement; tears of hope and joy 
 streamed from her beautiful blue eyes, 
 she clasped the little Caroline more 
 closely to her breast, while Gustava and 
 Frederika danced about her, wild with 
 delight, in anticipation of a release from 
 the long confinement of eight weeks on 
 board ship. Their demonstrations of 
 joy increased, when they saw a boat, 
 "containing twelve sailors, dressed in 
 white, with silver helmets and green 
 sashes," approaching the ship to carry 
 them ashore. With it came letters from 
 Gen. Riedesel, informing his wife that he 
 had been unable to await her arrival at 
 Quebec, and had started on the summer 
 campaign with General Burgoyne. Here 
 was a bitter disappointment, but this 
 gentle, resolute woman gave little time 
 to unavailing regrets. Only remaining 
 in Quebec long enough to dine with the 
 wife of General Carleton, and without 
 resting from the fatigues of the long 
 sea voyage, on the evening of the same 
 day the Baroness, with her family, em- 
 barked in a small boat and proceeded 
 up the St. Lawrence, hoping to overtake 
 her husband, and spend at least a few 
 hours with him. It was a beautiful 
 moonlight night; they were accompanied 
 by a splendid band of music. Mingled 
 emotions of disappointment and antici- 
 pation stirred the sensitive heart of the 
 wife and mother as they glided on so 
 weirdly over the waters of the broad, 
 strange river. The children, wearied with 
 the excitement and novelty of the day, 
 soon feel asleep. At midnight they were 
 awakened, and prepared for a long ride 
 across the country. Three light calashes 
 were provided for them. 
 
 " I could not," says the Baroness, 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 41 
 
 "bring my heart to trust a single one of 
 my children to my women servants; and 
 as our calashes were open and very small, 
 I bound my second daughter, Frederika, 
 fast in one corner; took the youngest, 
 little Caroline, on my lap; while my old- 
 est, Gustava, as the most discreet, sat 
 between my feet on my purse. As I had 
 no time to lose, if I would overtake my 
 husband, I promised a reward to the 
 servants if they would drive very fast, 
 and consequently we went as quickly as 
 vehicles and horses would allow." She 
 rode in this way until the following 
 afternoon, when she made the pas- 
 sage of the Three Rivers in a light ca- 
 noe, made of bark. At one end of this 
 frail boat the Baroness sat with her three 
 children in her lap, while her servants 
 balanced it at the other end. The boat- 
 men told, her that the slightest movement 
 would overturn the canoe. This fright- 
 ened little Frederika, who screamed, and 
 tried to jump up. The Baroness, there- 
 fore, had to hold her firmly while she con- 
 tinued to scream with great terror. They 
 proceeded in this painful manner until 
 they reached the village of Three Rivers. 
 At this place the Hessian troops had 
 been in winter quarters, and General 
 Riedesel had left a house prepared for 
 the reception of his family. The distress 
 of the Baroness was increased by the 
 surrounding manifestations of the affec- 
 tionate care and forethought of her ab- 
 sent husband, in providing for her com- 
 fort. The enthusiastic affection and re- 
 spect with which he was spoken of by 
 the friends he had left here, at once con- 
 soled and afflicted her, since she was told 
 that he had been quite sick, and was not 
 yet recovered, and that his illness had 
 
 been increased by his solicitude for her 
 during the long voyage — rumors having 
 reached him of disasters at sea, that he 
 feared might have robbed him of his lit- 
 tle family. The Grand Vicar of the vil- 
 lage, sympathizing with her anxiety to 
 join her husband, loaned her a covered 
 calash in which she immediately resum- 
 ed her journey in pursuit of the advanc- 
 ing army. The weather was exceedingly 
 stormy, and the road difficult and rug- 
 ged, but she still pushed forward with 
 impatient eagerness. She says, "this 
 vehicle went so rapidly that I could 
 scarcely recover my breath, in addition 
 to which I was so jostled about (as I was 
 constantly obliged to hold my children) 
 that I was completely beaten to pieces. 
 I was obliged at every post station to 
 stretch out my arms and walk around a 
 little to render my joints more limber." 
 How touching a picture is this ! A deli- 
 cate, refined woman, accustomed only to 
 the comfort, luxury and shelter of an old 
 civilization, in a circle of devoted rela- 
 tions and friends, encountering the hard- 
 ships of the wilderness — self-reliant, cour- 
 ageous, persevering — not for one moment 
 forgetting or neglecting the babes who 
 are dependent on her tenderness, even 
 while her whole soul is absorbed in that 
 intensity of wifely love and devotion that 
 renders her regardless of fatigue, pain, 
 and repeated disappointment. If we are 
 moved with enthusiasm in recalling the 
 valor and self-forgetfulness of the soldier 
 in the service of his country — on the 
 wearying march, and amid the carnage of 
 the field — may we not be equally stirred 
 at a manifestation of heroic endurance 
 and self-abnegation in an exercise of the 
 most sublime of human emotions ? The 
 
42 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 love that out-strips time, space, obsta- 
 cles — that endures, waits, yearns, la- 
 bors for the beloved one, and never 
 wearies, never flags, but grows, strength- 
 ens and expands until lost in the immor- 
 tal love of the hereafter ! Is this mere 
 high-flown sentiment — are these words 
 for romancers and poets ? We need no 
 other answer than a glance at the tired, 
 eager face of this woman, who only typi- 
 fies a class upon whom the world gazes 
 with blind eyes. 
 
 A messenger had been dispatched in 
 advance to inform General Riedesel of 
 the approach of his wife ; he started im- 
 mediately to meet her; unfortunately as 
 he advanced upon one road, he passed 
 her upon another, and thus by one of 
 those unpropitious chances that often set 
 united efforts at cross purposes, was the 
 union of these anxious hearts still fur- 
 ther delayed. Arrived at Chambly, the 
 place from which he had started, the 
 Baroness was advised to await his re- 
 turn. She says, "my children and my 
 faithful Rachel kept a constant watch on 
 the high road, that they might bring me 
 news of my husband's arrival. Finally 
 a calash was descried, having a Cana- 
 dian in it. I saw from a distance the 
 calash stop still ; the Canadian got out, 
 came nearer, and folded the children in 
 his arms. It was my husband ! As he still 
 had the fever, he was clothed (though it 
 was summer) in a sort of cassock of 
 woolen cloth, bordered with ribbons, and 
 to which was attached a variegated fringe 
 of blue and red, after the Canadian 
 fashion of the country. My joy was be- 
 yond all description, but the sick and 
 feeble appearance of my husband terri- 
 fied me, and a little disheartened me. I 
 
 found both my elder daughters in tears. 
 Gustava for joy at again seeing her father, 
 and little Frederika because she saw him 
 in this plight. For this reason she would 
 not go to him at all, but said, " No, no, 
 this is not my papa ; my papa is pretty." 
 " The very moment, however, • that he 
 threw off his Canadian coat, she tenderly 
 embraced him." How graphically the 
 wife describes the emotions of her chil- 
 dren — how little she says for herself. " It 
 was my husband ! My joy was beyond 
 all description," and again : " We re- 
 mained with each other two happy days." 
 How inadequate to depict the emotions 
 of the heart are all outward expressions ! 
 Months, years of deferred hope may find 
 their culmination in a few hours of joy ; 
 a lifetime of unselfish motives, of persist- 
 ent effort, its reward in a few days of 
 rest, a few moments of delight. Yet how 
 may we give utterance to the fullness of 
 joy, the beatitude of culminated hopes ! 
 
 General Riedesel informed his wife 
 that she could not acompany the army 
 at that time, and that it would be neces- 
 sary for her to return to Three Rivers, 
 and await the development of events. 
 The confidence of an assured love, the 
 satisfaction of a mutual appreciation 
 may alleviate the hours of separation, 
 but the heart rebels, and we grieve with 
 the loving wife, who says : " I was forced, 
 to my great sorrow, to go back to Three 
 Rivers. I suffered yet more upon wit- 
 nessing the departure of the troops 
 against the enemy, while I, with my 
 children, was obliged, alone and desert- 
 ed, to return and live in a strange land, 
 among unknown people. Sorrowful, and 
 very much cast down, I travelled back. 
 What a difference between this journey 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 43 
 
 and that which I had made a little while 
 before ! This time I did not move so 
 quickly ; for at every post station, which 
 removed me further from him I loved, 
 my heart was torn open afresh." 
 
 A few weeks were passed by Madame 
 Riedesel at the little village of Three 
 Rivers, where with discretion and amia- 
 bility she adapted herself to the people 
 around her, and found the contentment 
 that ever follows such efforts. In the 
 meantime the British and German forces 
 had swept on victoriously past Ticonder- 
 oga, Fort Independence, and Skenes- 
 borough. Major Ackland had been 
 wounded at Hubbardton, and his wife 
 was allowed to join him. As soon as 
 this permission was granted, General 
 Burgoyne, bearing in remembrance his 
 own tender solicitude for his lamented 
 wife, thoughtfully turned to General 
 Riedesel, and said : " Your wife shall 
 come too, General ; despatch Captain 
 Willoe to escort her at once." 
 
 Captain Willoe soon arrived at Three 
 Rivers, when the Baroness and her fam- 
 ily once more joyfully embarked in a 
 small boat, accompanied by another one 
 containing the soldiers, baggage and pro- 
 visions. The first night they were obliged 
 to land on a small island — the second 
 boat, being heavily laden, had fallen far 
 behind. The little family were without 
 supper and candles or other comforts. 
 A deserted hut was found, containing 
 some bushes, upon which shawls were 
 spread, and the little ones were induced 
 to lie down to rest. During the night 
 they were frequently disturbed by strange 
 sounds and sudden lights, which could 
 be seen through the chinks of the cabin. 
 At breakfast, which was spread upon a 
 
 stone for a table, Madame Riedesel ask- 
 ed the Captain what had caused the 
 alarming sights and sounds. He admit- 
 ted that he had discovered, when too 
 late to make a change, that this was 
 Rattlesnake Island, so called because 
 a very great number of these reptiles 
 infested the place. He had tried by the 
 unusual sights and sounds to keep them 
 at a distance. 
 
 Upon hearing this, the breakfast was 
 hurried, and they left the island as 
 quickly as possible, arriving at St. John's 
 soon after. Here they took passage in 
 larger boats, and had a prosperous and 
 beautiful trip through Lake Champlain 
 and the transparent waters of Lake 
 George. The magnificent scenery was 
 a constant source of delight to the culti- 
 vated taste and pure mind of the Baron- 
 ess, whose happy anticipations were in 
 harmony with the joyous spirit of sum- 
 mer, that seemed to vivify this lovely re- 
 gion with the breath of a living beauty. 
 As the boat drifted near the shores of 
 the picture-like islands, the delicate 
 colors of the varied wild flowers, and the 
 full-throated carol of the fearless birds, 
 entranced her; and again, in the midst 
 of the broad lake, the grandeur of the 
 primitive forests, the largeness of vision 
 granted by the rarified atmosphere, the 
 rounded, verdant mountains, and the 
 shadowed valleys inspired a depth of 
 thought and gratitude that subdued the 
 impatient eagerness of all purely human 
 affections. 
 
 The little family traveled on pleas- 
 antly, the children reflecting the happi- 
 ness of the mother; they soon reached 
 Fort Edward, where Burgoyne's army 
 was then encamped. They were re- 
 
44 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 ceived with unbounded delight by (ien- 
 eral Riedesel, and warmly welcomed by 
 the commanding officers. Immediately 
 after this, communication was cut off 
 with Canada, and the Baroness congrat- 
 ulated herself greatly on having been 
 able to join her husband, as otherwise 
 she would have been separated from him 
 during all the years of his captivity. 
 Upon her arrival, a room was assigned 
 her at headquarters in the Red House; 
 "and here," says the Baroness, "I had 
 the joy of spending three happy weeks 
 in the greatest tranquility. We had a 
 very pleasant life. The surrounding 
 country was magnificent; and we were 
 encircled by the encampments of the 
 English and German troops. The weath- 
 er was beautiful, and we often took our 
 meals under the trees." She and her 
 children endeared themselves greatly to 
 all the military household. This inter- 
 est continued through the hardships of 
 the following weeks; and many brave 
 men felt their hearts stirred with sympa- 
 thy and tenderness towards these gentle 
 beings, who seemed like lovely flowers 
 tossed hither and thither on the tempest- 
 uous waves of war. 
 
 On the nth of September, the army 
 moved slowly forward over an obstructed 
 pathway, and. thus were the little family 
 often weary and hungry with waiting 
 during the day, and exhausted and sleepy 
 long before they could stop at night. 
 Madame Riedesel says: "We made only 
 small day's marches, and were very often 
 sick; yet always contented at being al- 
 lowed to follow. I had still the satisfac- 
 tion of daily seeing my husband. In the 
 beginning all went well. We cherished 
 the sweet hope of a sure victory, and of 
 
 coming into the 'promised land;' and 
 when we passed the Hudson river, and 
 General Burgoyne said, ' The P^nglish 
 never lose ground,' our spirits were 
 greatly exhilarated." 
 
 After the battle of the 19th of Sep- 
 tember, and while the British were en- 
 camped near Freeman's Farm, Madame 
 Riedesel, with her family, occupied Tay- 
 lor's house, a mile or two north of the 
 encampment. General Riedesel's head- 
 quarters were a long ride from Taylor's. 
 Madame Riedesel daily visited the camp, 
 and sometimes took breakfast or dinner 
 with her husband, but more frequently 
 he came, accompanied by other officers, 
 to dine with her. Colonel Williams of 
 the artillery, noticing the fatigue to which 
 these visits subjected General Riedesel 
 and his wife, offered to build a block- 
 house for her near the camp. She gladly 
 accepted his offer. It was built of heavy 
 logs, and would form a comfortable shel- 
 ter from the autumn chilliness. General 
 Riedesel was still suffering from the ef- 
 fects of fever, and the Baroness says: *' I 
 was to remove into it the following day 
 and was the more rejoiced at it as the 
 nights were already damp and cold, and 
 my husband could live in it with me, as 
 he then would be near the camp. Sud- 
 denly, however, on the 7th of October, 
 my husband, with the whole general staff, 
 decamped. Our misfortunes may be said 
 to date from this moment. I had just 
 sat down with my husband at his quar- 
 ters to breakfast. General Frazer, and 
 I believe Generals Burgoyne and Phil- 
 lips, were to have dined with me on the 
 same day. I observed considerable move- 
 ment among the troops. On my way 
 homeward, I met many savages in their 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 45 
 
 war dress, armed with guns — they cried 
 out 'War! war! ' This completely over- 
 whelmed me, and I had scarcely got back 
 to my quarters, when I heard skirmish- 
 ing and firing, which by degrees became 
 constantly heavier, until finally the noises 
 were frightful. It was a terrible cannon- 
 ade, and I was more dead than alive. 
 About three o'clock in the afternoon, in 
 place of the guests who were to have 
 dined with me, they brought to me, upon 
 a litter, poor General Frazer (one of my 
 expected guests), mortally wounded. Our 
 dining table, which was already spread, 
 was taken away, and in its place they 
 fixed up a bed for the General. I sat in 
 a corner of the room, trembling and 
 quaking, lest my husband should be 
 brought to me in the same manner. 
 Prayers were read to General Frazer, af- 
 ter which he sent a message to General 
 Burgoyne, begging that he would have 
 him buried in the great redoubt on the 
 hill. 
 
 " I knew not which way to turn, the 
 whole entry and other rooms were filled 
 with sick. Finally, towards evening, I 
 saw my husband coming, upon which I 
 forgot all my sufferings, and thanked 
 God that he had been spared to me. He 
 ate in great haste with me and his adju- 
 tant, behind the house. We had been 
 told we had gained an advantage over 
 the enemy, but the sorrowful and down- 
 cast faces which I beheld bore witness 
 to the contrary; and before my husband 
 went away again, he drew me to one side, 
 and said that things might go very badly, 
 and I must keep myself in constant read- 
 iness for departure, but to give no one 
 the least inkling of what I was doing. 
 I, therefore, pretended that I wanted to 
 
 move into my new house the next morn- 
 ing, and had everything packed up. 
 
 " My Lady Ackland occupied a tent 
 not far from our house. In this she 
 slept, but during the day was in the 
 camp. Suddenly one came to tell her 
 that her husband was mortally wounded, 
 and had been taken prisoner. At this 
 she became very wretched, for she loved 
 him very much. She was the loveliest 
 of women. I spent the night in this 
 manner ; at one time comforting her 
 and at another looking after my children, 
 whom I had put to bed. General Frazer 
 and all the other gentlemen were in my 
 room, and I was constantly afraid that 
 my children would wake up and cry, and 
 thus disturb the poor dying man, who 
 often sent to beg my pardon for making 
 me so much trouble. At eight o'clock 
 in the morning he expired. * * About 
 four o'clock in the afternoon, I saw the 
 new house which had been built for me in 
 flames; the enemy, therefore, were not 
 far from us." 
 
 When describing General Frazer's fu- 
 neral, she says: " Many cannon balls also 
 flew not far from me, but I had my eyes 
 fixed upon the hill, where I distinctly 
 saw my husband in the midst of the en- 
 emy's fire, and, therefore, I could not 
 think of my own danger." 
 
 Burgoyne, after describing the sol- 
 emnity of this scene, and the steadiness 
 of the officiating elergyman who was 
 " frequently covered with dust which the 
 shot threw up on all sides of him," thus 
 apostrophises his friend : " To the can- 
 vas, and to the faithful page of a more 
 important historian, gallant friend, I 
 consign thy memory ! There may thy 
 talents, thy manly virtues, their progress, 
 
46 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 and their period, find due distinction ; 
 and long may they survive, long after the 
 frail record of my pen shall be forgot- 
 ten ! " 
 
 Immediately after the funeral a retreat 
 was ordered. Madame Riedesel entered 
 her calash with her children and maids, 
 and traveled the whole night in a pour- 
 ing rain. The strictest silence was en- 
 joined lest the enemy should discover the 
 retreat. Little Frederika had became so 
 nervous and frightened by the painful 
 events of the day, that her tears and 
 screams could not be restrained, and her 
 mother was obliged to hold a pocket 
 handkerchief over her mouth to prevent 
 her cries from being heard. At six 
 o'clock in the morning a halt was made. 
 General Riedesel came up, and being 
 greatly exhausted, dismounted from his 
 horse, and sat in the calash, soon falling 
 asleep with his head on his wife's shoul- 
 der. His little daughter now became 
 very docile and quiet, reassured by the 
 presence of her father, whom she loved 
 dearly ; she could easily understand how 
 he would be disturbed, though rebellious 
 against the military order for silence. 
 The drenching rain continued through 
 this whole day, which was spent without 
 shelter. Several officers brought Mad- 
 ame Riedesel their watches, rings and 
 purses, requesting her to take care of 
 them. She promised to do so, and after- 
 wards found them a source of much 
 anxiety to her. The Baroness says that 
 during this halt, one of her maids 
 " did nothing, cursed her situation, and 
 tore out her hair. I entreated her," she 
 continues, " to compose herself, or else 
 she would be taken for a savage. Upon 
 this she became still more frantic, and 
 
 tore her bonnet off her head, letting her 
 hair hang down over her face, and said: 
 "You talk well! You have your hus- 
 band ! But we having nothing to look 
 forward to, but dying miserably on the 
 one hand, or losing all we possess on the 
 other!" To quiet her, I promised to 
 make good all her losses. My good 
 Lena, though much frightened, said 
 nothing." 
 
 At night they moved on about half an 
 hour's march, and camped at old Sara- 
 toga. Here a good fire was built, the 
 children were warmed, wrapped in dry 
 clothing, and laid upon some straw near 
 the fire to sleep. While sitting near 
 them, distressed and exhausted, General 
 Phillips came up, and she asked him why 
 the retreat was not continued. " Poor 
 woman," answered he, " I am amazed at 
 you ; completely wet through, have you 
 still the courage to wish to go further in 
 this weather!" On the next morning 
 the Baroness says : " The greatest mis- 
 ery and utmost disorder prevailed in the 
 army. The commissaries had forgotten, 
 to distribute provisions. More than 
 thirty officers came to me who could en- 
 dure the pangs of hunger no longer. I 
 had coffee and tea made for them, and 
 divided among them all the provisions 
 with which my carriage was filled. We 
 had a cook, who, although an arrant 
 knave, was fruitful in expedients, and 
 often in the night would steal from the 
 country people, sheep, poultry, and pigs, 
 which he afterwards sold to us for a high 
 price — a circumstance that we only learn- 
 ed a long time afterward." 
 
 In the afternoon cannonading was 
 heard, and everything was in confusion. 
 The Baroness with her family hurried 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 47 
 
 into the calash, and drove to a house 
 near by. As she arrived at the door she 
 saw some men at a distance leveling 
 their guns towards this spot ; she threw 
 her children into the bottom of the cal- 
 ash, and herself over them ; at the same 
 moment a soldier just behind her had 
 his arm shattered by one of these balls. 
 She hurriedly entered the house which 
 the Americans supposed to be occupied 
 by the Generals ; a heavy fire was di- 
 rected towards it. Madame Riedesel 
 and her family took refuge in the cellar. 
 Here, during the whole night, she sat 
 upon the floor, while the terrified child- 
 ren hid their heads in her lap. The 
 sound of cannon balls crashing through 
 the walls of the house above, the cries 
 of the children, the stench of the sick 
 and wounded who had crowded in, and 
 above all, the uncertainty of her hus- 
 band's fate, contributed to the suffering 
 and anguish of this horrible night, 
 " Yet in this terrible den of affliction, 
 this extraordinary woman preserved her 
 courage and compassion." When the 
 morning came, she prevailed upon all to 
 leave the cellar, until she could have it 
 cleaned and fumigated ; in the meantime 
 she placed the little girls under the cel- 
 lar stairs, as she feared to trust them a 
 moment from her presence. 
 
 When the cellar was cleaned, and the 
 door opened for the women and the 
 wounded to enter, a great rush forward 
 was made by a crowd of frightened and 
 desperate soldiers who had fled from the 
 camp, and now sought a place of safety. 
 The Baroness and her children were in 
 danger of being crushed and overwhelm- 
 ed ; she, however, with great resolution 
 
 and calmness, stood in the doorway, and 
 spreading out her arms, firmly com- 
 manded the men to stand back. They 
 shrank away ashamed. The helpless 
 ones were then brought in. 
 
 Major Harnage, who was wounded, 
 with his wife, and Mrs. Reynell, whose 
 husband had been killed the day before, 
 curtained off a corner of the cellar, and 
 wished to arrange another corner for the 
 Baroness. She preferred to stay near the 
 door, where she thought she could more 
 readily save her children in case of fire, 
 and where she could the more easily slip 
 out during the night to see if the camp 
 fires were still burning. She was in con- 
 stant fear that the army would make a 
 hasty retreat, and leave her behind ; she 
 had a great dread of falling into the hands 
 of the Americans. She lived in this 
 dreadful way for six days, and during 
 this time " acted the part of an angel of 
 comfort and help to the sufferers around 
 her. She was ready to perform every 
 friendly service, even those from which 
 the tender mind of woman will recoil. 
 By her energy she restored order from 
 chaos, and the soldiers obeyed her more 
 readily than their commanding officers." 
 
 General Riedesel's horse was kept con- 
 stantly saddled for her to mount in case 
 of a sudden retreat. Three of the 
 wounded officers, who were resolved not 
 to be left as prisoners, swore to the Bar- 
 oness that in case of a retreat, they each 
 would take one of her children before 
 him on his horse, and assist her in her 
 flight. They were very fond of the little 
 girls, and often endeavored to quiet their 
 fears. One of the officers could bleat 
 like a calf, and bellow like a cow. When 
 
48 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 Freclerika would wake up in the night 
 and cry, he often mimicked these ani- 
 mals, when she would laugh heartily, and 
 thus reassured, fall asleep again. 
 
 They suffered greatly for water, as the 
 Americans would not allow the British to 
 approach the river, but picked off with 
 their well aimed rifles every man who at- 
 tempted it. A soldier's wife was found, 
 however, who undertook this service, 
 and the Baroness was much impressed 
 by the conduct of the Americans in leav- 
 ing her unmolested on account of her 
 sex. 
 
 On the 17 th of October the army capit- 
 ulated. 
 
 After the generals of the conquered 
 army had been received by General 
 Gates, a message was sent to the Baron- 
 ess, asking her to join her husband in the 
 American camp. Once more she entered 
 the calash that had carried her so many 
 weary miles. Trembling and anxious at 
 the thought of going among strange peo- 
 ple in so trying a position, she drove up 
 to the headquarters of the American 
 General. " Here," says she, " a noble 
 looking man approached us and took the 
 children out of the wagon, embraced and 
 kissed them, and then with tears in his 
 eyes, helped me also to alight. ' You 
 tremble,' said he; 'fear nothing.' 'No,' 
 replied I, ' for you are so kind, and have 
 been so tender toward my children, that 
 it has inspired me with courage.' " He 
 was General Philip Schuyler. " He then 
 led her to the tent of General Gates, 
 where they found Generals Phillips and 
 Burgoyne, and the latter said to her: 
 '' You may now dismiss all your appre- 
 hensions, for your sufferings are at an 
 end," General Schuyler then took her 
 
 and her children to his own tent, where 
 he entertained them with considerate 
 hospitality. In the evening he sent an 
 officer to accompany her to Albany. 
 She was kindly received at his house by 
 Mrs. Schuyler and her daughters, where 
 she remained three days. Upon leaving 
 this hospitable mansion, the Baroness 
 Riedesel, with her husband and children, 
 entered upon the vicissitudes and trials 
 of their long captivity. They traveled 
 with the captured army by land to Cam- 
 bridge, Massachusetts, where they re- 
 mained several months, expecting from 
 time to time to embark for England ; 
 when Congress finally refused to ratify 
 the convention of Saratoga, they jour- 
 neyed again by land to the interior of 
 Virginia, where they put up temporary 
 houses, made gardens, and domesticated 
 themselves as they could in their trying 
 position. Before starting for Virginia, 
 Madame Riedesel gives the following ac- 
 count of the preservation of the German 
 flags : " Now I was forced to consider 
 how I should safely carry the colors of 
 our German regiments still further, as 
 we had made the Americans at Saratoga 
 belive that they were burnt up — a cir- 
 cumstance which they at first took in bad 
 part, though afterwards they'tacitly over- 
 looked it. But it was only the staves 
 that had been burned, the colors having 
 been thus far concealed. Now my hus- 
 band confided to me this secret, and en- 
 trusted me with their still further con- 
 cealment. I, therefore, shut myself in 
 with a right honorable tailor, who helped 
 me make a mattress in which we sewed 
 every one of them. Captain O'Connell, 
 under pretence of some errand, was sent 
 to New York, and passed the mattress 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 49 
 
 off as his bed. He sent it to Halifax, 
 where we again found it on our passage 
 from New York to Canada, and where — 
 in order to ward off all suspicion in case 
 our ship should be taken — I transferred 
 it into my cabin, and slept during the 
 whole of the remaining voyage to Can- 
 ada upon these honorable badges." 
 
 Upon Madame Riedesel's return to 
 Europe, and to Brunswick, she says: " I 
 found our entire family mansion in the 
 same order as I had left it on my depart- 
 ure to America. * * About a week af- 
 terwards, I had the great satisfaction of 
 seeing my husband, with his own troops, 
 pass through the city. Yes, those very 
 streets in which, eight and a half years 
 before, I had lost my joy and happiness, 
 were the ones where I now saw this beau- 
 tiful and soul-stirring spectacle. It is 
 beyond my power to describe my emo- 
 tions on beholding my beloved, my up- 
 right husband, who the whole time had 
 lived solely for his duty, and who had 
 been so unwearied in helping and assist- 
 ing, as far as possible, those who had 
 been entrusted to him, standing, with 
 tears of joy in his eyes, in the midst of 
 his soldiers." 
 
 Thus we find this loving, this devoted 
 wife, bearing the test of time and change, 
 yet preserving the fervor, the freshness, 
 and the enthusiasm of her love — an en- 
 during crown of youth and beauty to 
 ennoble and adorn the completeness of 
 her womanhood. 
 
 Her daughter, the impetuous little 
 Frederika, became one of the celebrated 
 women of her day. She married the 
 Count Reden, and was also on warm 
 terms of friendship with Humboldt, Ba- 
 ron Stein, and many distinguished men. 
 
 for whom her house was a favorite resort. 
 After her death, Frederick William, King 
 of Prussia, caused a beautiful monument 
 to be erected to her memory. 
 
 Kate Van Eyck drops the manuscript 
 in her lap, her hands lie listlessly on the 
 arms of the large chair, and she gazes 
 dreamily out of the window. 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " Well, Kate, how do you 
 like my heroine? " 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: " She is unreal. Do 
 you think there is such devotion as her's 
 in real life? I never saw it." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "You must believe with- 
 out seeing, Kate. Romance is simply 
 real life at a distance." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: " What do you mean?" 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "That we are living a 
 romance, as the people of every age and 
 every time have been. One hundred 
 years hence, we will be seen through a 
 misty atmosphere of sentiment and ex- 
 aggeration that will idealize us and our 
 time to the people of that day." 
 
 Miss Pelham, coming from the back 
 room : " Do lay history aside now, 
 and let us discuss the dinner we are to 
 have at the lake to-morrow. Did you 
 hear, Mrs. Harris, that Colonel Shelby is 
 expected from West Point this evening? " 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "Yes. He will be an 
 agreeable addition to our party." 
 
 The ladies are now busy with the af- 
 fairs of the toilet, and soon pass out to 
 the piazzas, fresh, composed and ele- 
 gant, as cultivated women of ample 
 means and honorable connections should 
 be, near the close of a pleasant day, whose 
 remaining hours will be devoted to ra- 
 tional pleasures. 
 
 Colonel Shelby arrives, and during the 
 
50 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 evening it is arranged that they will all 
 enjoy a trout dinner at the Lake House 
 on the following afternoon. Judge Van 
 Eyck gives orders to his coachman to go 
 early in the morning, and order the din- 
 ner, to insure a good supply of the deli- 
 cacies peculiar to the place. 
 
 III. 
 
 At three o'clock in the afternoon, the 
 landau, buggy and saddle horses carry 
 our pleasure seekers from the " United 
 States" past Congress Hall and the 
 Grand Union. They sweep around the 
 curve, guarded by the bronze sentinel of 
 the " 77th Volunteers," who stands ever 
 watchful on his tall granite pedestal, and 
 on past the great spring and the race- 
 course, over the smooth, broad road that 
 has been gradually widened and leveled, 
 and lifted from the rugged, marshy path 
 of the wilderness to the well-watered, 
 evenly graded avenue, with its continu- 
 ous sidewalk and tempting resting places. 
 Colonel Shelby, a tall Virginian, rides 
 with the easy grace of a Southerner and 
 the precision of a West Point graduate, 
 while Miss Van Eyck manages her rest- 
 less horse Guido with equal confidence 
 and skill. Ascending the last hill, they 
 catch a glimpse of the romantic little 
 Lake Lonely, once called Owl Ditch — a 
 name equally significant, though less me- 
 lodious. Quickening their speed as they 
 reach the summit, they suddenly rein in 
 their horses among the cluster of bril- 
 liant equipages at the Lake House. The 
 whole party now alight, and stand on the 
 lawn of the hill side, enjoying the beau- 
 tiful view of Saratoga Lake, which lies 
 stretched at their feet. 
 
 Miss Pelham: "How plaqid the lake 
 is, and what a beautiful feature Snake 
 Hill is in this view. I wonder it should 
 have received such a name! " 
 
 Judge Van Eyck; "It was probably 
 suggested by the number of rattlesnakes 
 found there; they were once exceedingly 
 numerous in all this region. I like such 
 names — anything that indicates a fact or 
 idea, absolutely connected with the place 
 itself, is preferable to an affectation that 
 applies classical or historical names to 
 our new places." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "There is an interesting 
 Indian legend associated with Snake Hill. 
 I will write it out for you some time, 
 Kate." 
 
 ' While Mrs. Harris is speaking the dark- 
 faced, white-aproned waiter announces 
 dinner. They all repair to the shaded 
 dining room, where, over a luxurious re- 
 past, they discuss trout and bass; the 
 Adirondacks and the Thousand Islands, 
 with the comparative pleasures and pen- 
 alties of each — hunting, fishing and camp- 
 ing. 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: "Father, did you not 
 tell me that General Schuyler of the Rev- 
 olution was a famous hunter? " 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " Yes; that was, per- 
 haps, one reason why he had such influ- 
 ence with the Indians; there was not 
 another in the province, except the John- 
 sons of " Johnson Hall," who could man- 
 age them so well. General Schuyler was 
 appointed Indian Commissioner in 1775, 
 and held that position until long after the 
 Revolution. He was constantly called 
 upon by both Congress and the State 
 Government to conciliate or control the 
 restless and influential tribes of the Six 
 Nations. He was a capital shot and a 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 51 
 
 fine horseman, which seem to me to be 
 incontestable proofs of his personal cour- 
 age, which some prejudiced persons have 
 called in question. Do you think, Col- 
 onel Shelby, that a man can handle a gun 
 Avith ease and accuracy during a long life, 
 and be always at home on a horse 
 of high metal, and yet lack physical 
 courage, especially if he has the princi- 
 ples and instincts of a gentleman, as all 
 admit that General Schuyler had?' 
 
 Colonel Shelby, laughingly "Well, 
 Judge, I believe General Gates was a 
 high-toned gentleman in a certain sense, 
 yet he is said to have been an arrant 
 coward. He continually shirked danger, 
 and at Camden ran like a fox when the 
 hounds are in pursuit. I think, too, he 
 was a good horseman." 
 
 Mr Winship, warmly: " You are not 
 justified in making such sweeping asser- 
 tions in regard to General Gates. Un- 
 fortunately, by the force of circumstances, 
 he became the rival of General Schuyler, 
 who always showed a partizan spirit, and, 
 like all narrow minded men, could only 
 lead a clique. General Gates saved the 
 campaign of '77 at the North, and he 
 cannot be stripped of his laurels. If he 
 met with disasters at the South after- 
 ward, it is no more than other command- 
 ers have suffered, whose characters have 
 ■not been questioned. He had no op- 
 portunity to retrieve himself after that 
 defeat at Camden, but was immediately 
 stripped of his command, which, you 
 will remember, was given to General 
 Greene." 
 
 Colonel Shelby: " I beg your pardon, 
 sir; I really have no feeling in this mat- 
 ter, and have expressed a stronger 
 opinion than I entertain. I was but 
 
 quoting the statements of a leading New 
 Yorker, who is familiar with these dis- 
 puted points, and should know more 
 about it than I do." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " You were quite right, 
 Colonel, It requires little mvestigation to 
 learn that General Gates deserved all the 
 censure he has received, and more. He 
 was an infamous intriguer against Gen- 
 eral Washington, as well as against Gen- 
 eral Schuyler. His success at Saratoga 
 brought into full blossom the seeds of 
 his presumptuous aspirations. He made 
 no report of the surrender there to the 
 Commander-in-Chief. He sent it di- 
 rectly, and only, to Congress by Wilkin- 
 son, who was so long in delivering it that 
 when Congress, overflowing with grati- 
 tude for his good tidings, voted him a 
 sword, a shrewd Scotchman observed: 
 ' I think ye'll better gie the lad a pair of 
 spurs.' You know General Gates' con- 
 nection with the ' Conway Cabal," do 
 you not? If he was not its master spirit, 
 he at least labored to gain the greatest 
 possible advantage from its success. He 
 had succeeded in supplanting Schuyler; 
 he had robbed him of his ripening fame; 
 had calumniated and degraded him, yet 
 he considered this but a stepping stone 
 to the main object of his ambition — the 
 chief command of the whole army. The 
 extent of his efforts and the support he 
 received in Congress has never been made 
 known, and never will be. The sessions 
 of Congress were held with closed doors; 
 the after success and continued popular- 
 ity of Washington induced the members, 
 who had opposed him and favored Gates 
 to be very close-mouthed, while their 
 colleagues of the other side were gener- 
 ous, and said nothing. It is well known 
 
52 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 that Gates was constantly hanging about 
 the doors of Congress; and you know, 
 Colonel, that to this day the choice places 
 are often secured by the officers who fre- 
 quent the capitol, keep a sharp lookout 
 for their own interests, and stimulate the 
 ardor of their friends — human nature is 
 ever the same. 
 
 " It was in the restless desire to elevate 
 Gates that John Adams ridiculed the 
 
 * Fabian ' policy of Washington ; the 
 promptings of Gates, then in consulta- 
 tion with Congressional friends, pushed 
 on the bitter invectives against the un- 
 fortunate but faithful Generals of the 
 North, when it was said in Congress: 
 ' We must shoot a General before we can 
 win a victory.' In one of the most try- 
 ing hours of Washington's life, when he 
 was giving orders for the famous passage 
 of the Delaware, Gates failed him as 
 usual, and made off to Baltimore, where 
 Congress was then in session; and, ac- 
 cording to Wilkinson, he spent the time 
 on his journey criticizing Washington's 
 plan for the winter campaign, and con- 
 structing one of his own, that, he said, 
 it was his intention to propose to Con- 
 gress. What sort of conduct was this 
 for a military man, to leave the fighting 
 behind him, and run after politicians; to 
 criticize where he should have obeyed? 
 Upon my word, I think it was a worse 
 
 * run ' than the one at Camden, inas- 
 much as fear is a more inspiriting mo- 
 tive than deliberate selfishness." 
 
 Mr. Winship : " You have brought a 
 miscellaneous set of charges against 
 General Gates, Judge, each of which 
 would require a long explanation, but 
 you must admit that he had some just 
 
 cause of complaint to Congress, and I 
 suppose he had a right to present his 
 grievances and try to obtain their re- 
 dress. If Schuyler was superseded by 
 him, was he not also superseded time and 
 again. If he did not consider General 
 Washington infallible, according to your 
 own account, there were many who 
 agreed with him, and surely some undue 
 elation might be pardoned after such a 
 triumph as that of Saratoga. The flat- 
 tery and adulation he received in conse- 
 quence of that might naturally have sug- 
 gested the ambition you attribute to him, 
 if there was already dissatisfaction with 
 the chief of the army. 
 
 " After the Conway difficulty had been 
 settled, all accounts agree in declaring 
 that General Gates conducted himself 
 with great dignity and propriety — as he 
 did, in fact, on many trying occasions. 
 Always in his intercourse with the Brit- 
 ish, and with the people of the country 
 where his army was located, from time 
 to time, he displayed wisdom and moder- 
 ation. He was uncompromising in his 
 adherence to the great principles of the 
 revolution, and the respect accorded him 
 by foreigners, who judged dispassionately 
 of the men of those times, should save 
 him from the petty attacks of partizan 
 feeling." 
 
 Mrs. Harris : " Mr. Winship, how do 
 you account for the singular conduct of 
 General Gates in delaying, after the sur- 
 render of Saratoga, to reinforce Wash- 
 ington with the recruits that had been 
 detached from the main army ? Gene- 
 ral Morgan obtained permission from 
 Gates to return in advance of the other 
 division." 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 53 
 
 Mr. Winship : "General Gates had 
 good reason for believing that a most 
 advantageous movement could be made 
 in this State " 
 
 Miss Pelham, interrupting : " Was 
 not Morgan one of the picturesque 
 heroes — a sort of bandit ? Bryant has 
 written some verses about him, 'Our 
 band is few, but true and tried.'" 
 
 Mrs, Harris, smiling : " The verses 
 relate to Marion and his men. Morgan 
 urged upon Gates the serious need of the 
 commander-in-chief for the services of 
 his corps, knowing as he did, that Wash- 
 ington had organized it for special pur- 
 poses connected with his immediate com- 
 mand, and a reluctant consent was ob- 
 tained from Gates to allow its departure 
 in advance of the other regiments. 
 Washington had written that the want 
 of these troops from the North, embar- 
 rassed all his measures. He finally sent 
 Colonel Hamilton to hasten them, and 
 after great delay and hesitation on the 
 part of Gates, Hamilton wrote to Wash- 
 ington that he doubted whether he would 
 have had a man from the northern army 
 if they could have been kept with any 
 decency, yet Governor Clinton had urged 
 Gates to forward the troops to Washing- 
 ton's army, telling him that ' upon its 
 success every thing worth regarding de- 
 pended.' This, you will remember, 
 Judge, was just before the terrible winter 
 at Valley Forge, and Washington must 
 have felt that his misfortunes during the 
 fall were owing in a large measure to the 
 sacrifice he had made in sending the con- 
 tinental regiments to assist Gates, who 
 delayed them so unreasonably. Yet, 
 Washington declared at that time that, 
 
 if the cause were advanced, he cared not 
 in what quarter it happened.' " 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " The delay of 
 Gates is similar to that of Lee, just after 
 the fall of Fort Washington ; he was then 
 the hero of the hour, as Gates was at this 
 time. The requests, entreaties and com- 
 mands of Washington were alike disre- 
 garded by Lee, who held on to the troops, 
 thinking he could seize upon a favorable 
 opportunity to strike a blow at the British 
 in New York City, and thus raise himself 
 over his superior. The same desires 
 and the same schemes instigated Gates ; 
 he cherished a hope that he and Put- 
 nam could drive Sir Henry Clinton out 
 of New York City — thus a brilliant dash, 
 that would bring personal eclat^ filled the 
 minds of these two men who had little 
 conception of the larger schemes and 
 more elaborate end toward which Wash- 
 ington was patiently toiling. The head 
 of each had grown light with a tempo- 
 rary triumph ; it requires the exercise of 
 greater qualities for a man to preserve 
 his equilibrium upon the summit of a 
 great success, than to rise above the 
 depression of a disastrous failure." 
 
 Mrs. Harris : " I thought General 
 Gates was planning a winter campaign 
 into Canada about that time." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " That was later, 
 during the winter, when he was head of 
 the board of war. Do you remember 
 how they had La Fayette, not then twenty- 
 one years old, appointed commander of 
 this expedition, which was a mere shadow, 
 for they never collected either troops or 
 stores for it, but sent La Fayette and De 
 Kalb with a retinue of officers to Albany. 
 The poor young marquis wrote most pa- 
 
54 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 thetically to Washington, complaining of 
 the hidicrous position in which he was 
 placed, and which he declared would 
 make him the laughing stock of Europe. 
 The scheme was found to be impracti- 
 cable, and as usual, Congress had to re- 
 turn to the quiet, far-sighted methods 
 advised by Washington." 
 
 Mr. Winship : " Judge, you travel 
 over a great deal of ground in making 
 out your case against General Gates, but 
 some how you have not touched the im- 
 portant jjoint as between Gates and 
 Schuyler. Was it not a wise decision 
 that gave Gates the command of the 
 northern army before the battle of Sara- 
 toga ? Why, Burgoyne had already run 
 Schuyler nearly into Albany. He was at 
 Van Shaick's Island, where he could not 
 possibly have maintained himself ; the 
 British could have crossed the Mohawk 
 above him. In fact, I think it was by 
 the route crossing those ferries that Gene- 
 ral Phillips advised Burgoyne to ad- 
 vance from Lake George. Some persons 
 contend that Burgoyne's failure to follow 
 this advance was the cause of his dis- 
 asters." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " You are mis- 
 taken, Mr. Winship, about the strength 
 of the position at the mouth of the Mo- 
 hawk, and you forget that General Schuy- 
 ler retained his headc[uarters at Still- 
 water, and evidently intended to advance 
 his whole army as soon as it was in a 
 condition to meet the enemy. It would 
 have been sheer madness to encounter 
 such an army as Burgoyne's with the 
 handful of militia Schuyler then had, 
 and with his scarcity of arms and ammu- 
 nition. Gates is excused six weeks later 
 for not following up the battle of the iQtli 
 
 of September, because he was short of 
 ammunition. Schuyler, while still at 
 Fort Edward, had ordered the window 
 leads to be taken from all the houses in 
 Albany, and melted into balls, but it re- 
 quired time to carry out this order. 
 Gates reaped the benefit of it, and many 
 others. When Schuyler was at Van 
 Schaick's Island, it may be said that he 
 had neither men, guns, or lead. The 
 very desperation of his condition, and 
 the efforts he made to remedy it reacted 
 in lifting Gates over his shoulders." 
 
 Mr. Winship : " But Schuyler was 
 responsible for the bad condition of 
 things ; why had he not collected the 
 militia, prepared proper equipments, and 
 placed himself in a secure position before 
 this?" 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " Gates was the man. 
 who should have done that, if it could 
 have been done, which I doubt. He was 
 in command of the Northern Depart- 
 ment during the spring, when arrange- 
 ments should have been perfected for the 
 summer campaign. The lesson of years, 
 the experience of every war in this coun- 
 try, proved that the defenses of the Hud- 
 son, with those of Lakes Champlain and 
 George, would be the first objects of at- 
 tack. During the previous winter, Gen- 
 eral Schuyler's orders to his officers show 
 the activity of his preparations for the 
 coming campaign; and just as these orders 
 might have become effective by the com- 
 bination and direction they would receive 
 from the controlling mind that had con- 
 ceived them, their force was dissipated 
 and destroyed by a change of command- 
 ers, caused by the restless ambition of 
 Gates, then at Ticonderoga. Thus were 
 the affairs of the department in great 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 55 
 
 confusion at the most important moment, 
 for when Schuyler returned to the com- 
 mand in June, Burgoyne was already 
 prepared for his advance, which was 
 made with great rapidity in the begin- 
 ning." 
 
 Colonel Shelby: " 1 think there is too 
 much importance attached to the capa- 
 bilities and actions of the commanders 
 of the American army in this campaign. 
 We are apt to forget the real condition of 
 affairs that no immediate skill could 
 remedy. The militia every where were 
 reluctant to turn out, unless their own 
 neighborhood was in danger, especially 
 at a season when their crops were to be 
 planted. The Continental army was not 
 only small, but undisciplined; it could 
 scarcely be said to have an organization 
 until some months later, when Steuben 
 began his system of training. The con- 
 ception of a Nation to be established or 
 defended had but a vague hold on the 
 minds of the people. It was only the 
 strong stimulus of fear, indignation or 
 success, such as it was the good luck of 
 General Gates to strike upon — caused 
 then by the absolute invasion of peace- 
 ful homes, the cruel murder of Jane 
 McCrea, and the victory of Bennington 
 — that could inspire the enthusiasm nec- 
 essary to draw an army together, and 
 push it to victory. And when such an 
 array was collected, it became neces- 
 sary to put it into immediate action, or it 
 soon fell to pieces. It was this propen- 
 sity to dissolve, perceptible to the quick 
 eye of Arnold, that led him to write to 
 Gates, even when he sat sullenly in camp 
 without a command, saying that he felt 
 in honor bound to disclose to him the 
 restless impatience of his troops, who 
 
 were threatening to leave the camp in large 
 numbers, if they were not soon led into 
 some active service." 
 
 Mr. Winship: "Gates was only using 
 a necessary precaution at that time, for 
 he found great difficulty in obtaining in- 
 formation of Burgoyne's movements, and 
 he had but just begun the fortifications 
 at Bemis' Heights." 
 
 Colonel Shelby: " Yes; I remember 
 that this uncertainty about Burgoyne's 
 whereabouts is mentioned by Wilkinson 
 in his memoirs. In his usual style, Wil- 
 kinson makes himself the hero of a 
 reconnoissance made by a detachment of 
 Morgan's corps. The truth is that Bur- 
 goyne's Indians had been too numerous 
 and too shrewd for all the scouts sent 
 out by Gates, who were either captured 
 or deceived. It was finally determined 
 that Morgan should select one of the 
 most courageous and adroit of his offi- 
 cers, who would advance as near as pos- 
 sible to Burgoyne's camp, and obtain 
 the necessary information, The duty 
 was assigned to Lieutenant Hardin, who 
 conducted it with skill and success. In 
 Wilkinson's narration of this expedition, 
 he pays a fine tribute to Hardin's ser- 
 vices later in the war, while complacently 
 putting him in the background on this 
 occasion." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: " Father, is he ths Wil- 
 kinson who says that Arnold was not on 
 the battle field at Saratoga on the day 
 of the first fight, and will give him no 
 credit for the second battle? " 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " Well, Kate, I be- 
 lieve the ladies — all ladies — are pleased, 
 as you seem to be, with Arnold's crazy 
 capers. He may have done some good 
 service at Saratoga, but after all he was 
 
56 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 a reckless, headstrong scoundrel. I 
 don't like like to find young people cher- 
 ishing any sentimental regard for him." 
 
 Mr. Winship: " It is a question, I think, 
 when a man yields to a great temptation 
 and commits an ignominious act, whether 
 this should throw discredit on his former 
 conduct." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " I do not think it 
 should. And I am sure that Arnold, in urg- 
 ing upon Gates the necessity of meeting 
 Burgoyne on the 19th of September, was 
 actuated by the most honorable motives, 
 and that liis judgment was correct; it is 
 probable, too, that if Burgoyne had not 
 been attacked as he was, that he would 
 have driven Gates back to Albany, or 
 further." 
 
 The ladies ot the party now excused 
 themselves, and wandered down to the 
 lake shore. The gentlemen disposing 
 themselves comfortably, and lighting 
 their cigars, continued the conversation. 
 
 Colonel Shelby: " Do you know it is 
 frequently said now that neither of the 
 battles of Saratoga were necessary? I do 
 not know, Judge, whether you belong to 
 the party that claims General Schuyler 
 had ' bagged the game ' before General 
 Gates arrived in camp. They say that 
 Burgoyne's fate was inevitable from the 
 time that Stark annihilated the German 
 regiments at Bennington, Schuyler hav- 
 ing previously stripped the country of 
 provisions so completely as to paralyze 
 Burgoyne's movements. You know it 
 has been said that ' an army moves on 
 its belly,' whicli is true; the strictest dis- 
 cipline, the staunchest courage and best 
 equipments are useless, if soldiers are 
 poorly fed. In modern warfare, the 
 commissariat is justly considered the 
 heart of the army." 
 
 Mr. Winship: "Confirming the adage, 
 'that a man's heart lies in his stomach.' 
 I can easily believe that his courage does; 
 we are all liable to grow faint-hearted 
 waiting for a long delayed meal." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "It is certain that Bur- 
 goyne's precarious position was owing in a 
 large measure to this difficulty. * Every 
 pound of pork he distributed was brought 
 from Ireland; ' and among the three causes 
 of failure specified by Burgoyne's latest 
 biographer, one is a ' want of administra- 
 tive arrangement and preparedness in 
 the essentials of army supply.' Yet I 
 am far from thinking that this scarcity of 
 provisions would have led to Burgoyne's 
 capture." 
 
 Colonel Shelby: " Have you noticed 
 some statements lately that assert it was 
 St. Clair, instead of Sohuyler, who im- 
 peded Wood Creek, and felled trees on 
 the road between Skenesborough and 
 Fort Edward? " 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " I have a sincere 
 respect for General St. Clair, who suf- 
 fered undeservedly so many misfortunes, 
 but I am sure he would have indulged in 
 a dry, incredulous smile at that sugges- 
 tion. He was plodding his way through 
 the wilderness from Castleton, and quite 
 to the east, while Schuyler was destroy- 
 ing the road between Skenesborough and 
 Fort Edward, where St. Clair joined him 
 after his mysterious disappearance of 
 several days. It is true Colonel Long, 
 of St. Clair's division, after his gallant 
 fight of Fort Anne, had rocks rolled into 
 the creek as he retreated, but this was a 
 small matter compared with the work 
 that was done. Schuyler's orders to 
 Generals Fellows and Nixon, and many 
 others, dated at Fort Edward, before St. 
 Clair arrived, show what active measures 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 57 
 
 he was taking to impede the roads, and 
 to strip the country of provisions and 
 wagons that might aid the enemy. He 
 also gave the most careful orders in re- 
 gard to the intimidation of tories, and 
 encouragement of patriots, and for secur- 
 ing the guns and stores at Fort George, 
 and at the same time he was using the 
 utmost vigilance to protect the western 
 frontier. I tell you, sir ; the energy, the 
 extraordinary business capacity and the 
 unflinching courage of Schuyler, exer- 
 cised at that time, when all was dark 
 and threatening, saved the campaign of 
 '77. It was at the very moment when 
 Burgoyne considered himself invincible, 
 and was prepared to push rapidly for- 
 ward, that Schuyler, with a shattered, 
 despairing, empty-handed squad of men, 
 put shovels and axes in their hands, and 
 urging, scolding, and imploring, pushed 
 them right and left to turn the very trees 
 and rocks into frowning defences and 
 sheltering walls, that would conceal the 
 weakness of his force." 
 
 Mr. Winship : " I do not deny that, 
 Judge, but why had Schuyler so weak a 
 force ? Because he had not the qualities 
 necessary to collect or keep an army, or 
 keep it together at that time. His aris- 
 tocratic, overbearing manners made him 
 repulsive to the militia; he had no influ- 
 ence over them, and his partizan feelings 
 separated him from many of the officers. 
 He could not stand even behind the de- 
 fences he had made, but was compelled 
 to retreat again and again. When Gates 
 took the command, he immediately ad- 
 vanced, posted himself in a strong po- 
 sition, and then set about surrounding 
 Burgoyne on every side. He succeeded 
 in doing this, and thus he obviated the 
 
 necessity for an open fight. I believe 
 General Gates was right in wishing to 
 avoid such a risk. Was it not a neces- 
 sary precaution, Colonel ? " 
 
 Colonel Shelby : "O, no, sir! You 
 are mistaken. The Americans were 
 much better at a dash or a skirmish in 
 the woods than behind entrenchments. 
 The plan of Burgoyne for the 19th of 
 September, was a skillful one, and he had 
 the means for success, while his chances 
 were very fair. Gates had not com- 
 pleted the entrenchments at Bemis' 
 Heights. When he was informed of 
 Burgoyne's advance, he had the baggage 
 wagons packed, and they stood in long 
 lines behind the camp the v/hole day, in 
 readiness for a retreat, which he evi- 
 dently thought would be necessary. If 
 the army had remained quietly behind 
 their works, as Gates intended they 
 should do, it is highly probable that 
 Burgoyne would have accomplished his 
 design. In that event the American 
 camp would have been laid open to him 
 in the identical way in which the British 
 camp was exposed to our troops after 
 the capture of Breyman's redoubt, in 
 the battle of the 7th. If Burgoyne had 
 been permitted to advance but little 
 further than he really did, when his 
 forces encountered Morgan, he would 
 have gained possession of the heights 
 from which Morgan, in the last battle, 
 hurled himself upon Frazer's five hun- 
 dred. These heights commanded the 
 left of the American camp, and Phillips' 
 artillery would soon have bristled among 
 those trees, and swept Gates from Bemis' 
 Heights, as Burgoyne was swept from 
 his camp on the night of the 7th of Oc- 
 tober. No, sir ; it was not mere im[)a- 
 
58 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 tience that instigated Arnold ; he had 
 the eye and the spirit of a soldier, wretch 
 as he afterwards proved himself. His 
 entreaties to be allowed to meet Bur- 
 goyne's advance saved the American 
 camp on the 19th of September, and the 
 check received then was after all the 
 first insurmountable obstacle that Bur- 
 goyne had encountered. It was Arnold's 
 desperate valor in the next contest that 
 drove Burgoyne back upon his retreat, 
 and into the terrible circle where the 
 cautious Gates finally came up and se- 
 cured him, and there is no doubt but the 
 roar of Sir Henry Clinton's artillery on 
 the lower Hudson caused him to let his 
 game out on easy terms." 
 
 Mr. Winship: " Well, really, Colonel, I 
 thought you were going to take an im- 
 partial view of these matters, but you 
 are as prejudiced as the Judge. You 
 must admit, however, that if Clinton 
 had followed up the advantage he gained 
 on the Hudson, as it was reasonable to 
 suppose he would, there could have been 
 no question about the importance of 
 Gates' securing the surrender with all 
 possible despatch." 
 
 Colonel Shelby: " That is a strong 
 point for General Gates; under the cir- 
 cumstances, it was wise for him to hurry, 
 but he had Burgoyne so completely in 
 his power that he might easily have dic- 
 tated his own terms. Did you ever no- 
 tice, Judge, in the accounts of these 
 battles how vaguely the American artill- 
 ery is mentioned, and yet it evidently 
 contributed largely to the successful re- 
 sult? We are told the story of the can- 
 non ball that struck the table around 
 which Burgoyne and his officers sat while 
 considering the necessity for capitula- 
 
 tion, and we can realize how powerful 
 an argument it was in hastening the de- 
 cision. We hear poetic allusions to the 
 cannon balls that fell among the officers 
 who stood around Frazer's grave, and of 
 other balls tearing through the house 
 where Madame Riedesel and many 
 wounded had taken refuge. She repeat- 
 edly refers to the terrific cannonading, 
 especially on the afternoon of the loth 
 of October, when a halt was made at 
 old Saratoga, and the British were thrown 
 into 'great confusion and disorder; ' but 
 all these hints are vague; there is no ac- 
 count of the position in which the guns 
 were placed, either during the battles or 
 afterwards, but some of these positions 
 are found on British military maps; and 
 little mention of the officers who com- 
 manded them." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " You know, I sup- 
 pose, that Major Stevens had command 
 of the artillery of the Northern Depart- 
 ment at that time. In the retreat from 
 Ticonderoga, he took a number of his 
 guns on the batteaux, but they were lost, 
 of course, at Skenesborough. In Au- 
 gust, he wrote from Stillwater to General 
 Knox that he was actively engaged in 
 preparations for an attack from the en- 
 emy. He undoubtedly handled the ar- 
 tillery very skillfully, not only in the 
 battles of Saratoga, but in the intervals 
 of waiting he gave Burgoyne continual 
 reminders of the precarious position he 
 occupied, and during the last days be- 
 fore the armistice that preceded the 
 surrender, the artillery harrassed the 
 British incessantly. Major Stevens' con- 
 duct was appreciated at the time, for 
 he received a resolution of thanks from 
 Congress for his efficient services, and 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 59 
 
 strict attention to duty, while command- 
 ing ofificer of artillery of the Northern 
 Department." 
 
 Colonel Shelby: " I am glad to know 
 that. In fact, our best histories are 
 very deficient in many particulars that 
 are full of interest, and are of importance 
 in any effort to understand the events of 
 the revolutionary period. It is perhaps 
 because the records of public men, their 
 letters and official papers, are still in pos- 
 session of private families, many of 
 which do not know the value of the pa- 
 pers they hold." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " It is a subject 
 on which the people need instruction, 
 and in which their interest should be 
 aroused. There is scarcely an event, 
 or a single individual even remotely con- 
 nected with the revolution that has not 
 an historic interest. This was peculi- 
 arly so in regard to private soldiers and 
 subordinate officers, who were so often 
 persons of influence outside of the army, 
 and whose opinions and actions were of 
 more consequence than their rank would 
 indicate." 
 
 Mr. Winship : That is true, Judge, 
 and is the reason why the New England 
 men were so often misunderstood and 
 berated by Schuyler and other aristo- 
 cratic New Yorkers. Every man from 
 New England knew he was a power in 
 himself." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " Yes, they had 
 conceit enough. That might have been 
 overlooked if their actions had corres- 
 ponded with their opinion of themselves, 
 but unfortunately, when the fighting or 
 hard service was at hand, they too often 
 made off for home. They were an in- 
 subordinate, hard-headed set." 
 
 Mr. Winship : " Perhaps so, when 
 under the direction of purse-proud Dutch 
 New Yorkers. When officered by men 
 in whom they had confidence, the New 
 England militia were invincible. Re- 
 member what they did at Bennington, at 
 Saratoga, and in the detachments sent 
 out by Lincoln." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " Well, Mr. Win- 
 ship, you and I will have to compromise. 
 When you come down to my country 
 house, you must read the letters and or- 
 ders of General Schuyler, which furnish 
 an authentic history of what he did, and 
 endeavored to do during the Saratoga 
 campaign. They are a complete vindi- 
 cation of every charge that has been 
 brought against him." 
 
 Mr. Winship : " I will be glad to ob- 
 tain any new information on this subject, 
 but I am confident that although General 
 Schuyler may be thoroughly vindicated, 
 that General Gates cannot be justly the 
 subject of censure. He must be ac- 
 knowledged at all times as a skillful, hu- 
 mane, and dignified commander, and 
 the hero of Saratoga " 
 
 Colonel Shelby : " I think, gentlemen, 
 we had better go and find the ladies." 
 It grows dark in-doors, and the gentlemen 
 walk down the hill to the lake shore. 
 They join the ladies who sit on the 
 benches, or walk about enjoying the 
 moonlight. A sail boat lies at anchor 
 near the pier, and Mr. Winship proposes 
 a sail. The boat is immediately se- 
 cured ; he steps on board and adjusts 
 the sails. Colonel Shelby follows, and 
 takes the rudder. Miss Van Eyck seats 
 herself near Mr. Winship, and Miss Pel- 
 ham is beside the Colonel, who disposes 
 his long limbs recliningly, and lingers over 
 
6o 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 his appointed work with a genuine spirit 
 of relaxation. Mr. Winship \n\ts the lit- 
 tle vessel under full sail, and they soon 
 glide out toward Snake Hill. They chat 
 merrily for a few minutes, but soon the 
 silence of the night, the darkness of the 
 water near them and its shimmering 
 brightness in the distance; the undu- 
 lating, wooded shores of the lake, ac- 
 cented by its legend-haunted, strongly 
 marked promontory, Snake Hill, the dis- 
 tant sky that here seems lifted to such 
 incomprehensible heights — all contribute 
 to subdue gaiety and arouse deeper emo- 
 tions. As they drift on the artificial 
 world seems left behind. The conven- 
 tionalisms of society disappear — Parisian 
 elegancies, military restraint, Boston pos- 
 itiveness, and shy dignity are forgotten; 
 the simplicity and earnestness of na- 
 ture asserts itself in the human soul, in 
 harmony with the spirit that pervades 
 the surrounding scene. Colonel Shelby 
 in low tones and picturesque language 
 tells a wild, tragic story of life in Neva- 
 da; he speaks of the towering mountains 
 and tumbling cataracts amid which the 
 scene took place. 
 
 Miss Pelham, in an awed voice: " Col- 
 onel, your story oppresses me; T do not 
 like to hear of those savage people, and 
 the thought of their immense moun- 
 tains is terrible; how much more pleas- 
 ing are these sloping hills and this quiet 
 lake; one could not imagine a tragedy 
 taking place here." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck, speaking gently: "It 
 was not far from here that the awful 
 tragedy of war was played. Perhaps 
 you will all think that I am battle-struck, 
 but my mind is full of this expedition to 
 Bemis Heights, and I feel as if we might 
 
 be going there now as we glide over this 
 lake; it takes us so much nearer. Some 
 of the people who fled before Burgoyne's 
 army came on canoes through Fish 
 Creek and into this lake. How anxious 
 and yet indignant they must have been; 
 how different from the peacefulness that 
 we feel now ! — and yet the lake is as it 
 was; how insignificant it makes one feel 
 to think of this — that we come and go 
 as time flows on and are never the same, 
 and yet the hills, the waters and the sky 
 remain fixed, immovable." 
 
 Mr. Winship: "Not immovable, Miss 
 Kate; they change, but under fixed laws, 
 and so do we; no doubt we feel the same 
 fears, anxieties and hopes that the peo- 
 ple of those revolutionary times did, 
 only our sensations are directed into 
 other channels. Indignation and terror, 
 despair and love, hold the same sway 
 over us now as then." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck, to Mr. Winship: 
 " Don't you think Lady Ackland dis- 
 played a more heroic love than any that 
 can be found at the present day ? — and 
 by the way, you said you could tell me 
 something more about her than I yet 
 know. Her adventures are an appropri- 
 ate subject for such a place as this. How 
 strangely she must have felt while in that 
 little boat that carried her from the Brit- 
 ish camp to the Americans; it was not a 
 night like this, it was dark and stormy. 
 But tell me, Mr. Winship, what you know 
 of her." 
 
 Mr. Winship: "I will. Miss Kate, 
 most gladly, if you will first sing me a 
 song." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck, evidently in a yield- 
 ing mood: "I will sing a song of the 
 Hudson in a storm." 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 6l 
 
 SONG. 
 
 On thy bosom angry river, 
 
 Still I safely rest and dream, 
 Knowing thee a faithful lover, 
 Though dark passions I discover 
 
 Mid the lightnings fitful gleam. 
 
 Oft when thou wert calmly smiling, 
 Stormy griefs I whispered thee, 
 
 And forgot them while reclining 
 
 On thy bosom— thou beguiling 
 Me to dreams of ecstasy. 
 
 Now I love thee for thy raging. 
 
 Like my soul's unrestful ways. 
 Storms or sunshine thee engaging, 
 Still my woes thou art assuaging, 
 Lover thou who ne'er betrays. 
 
 Soft and clear the rich tones of Kate 
 Van Eyck's voice float out on the moon- 
 lighted air. As she finishes, a deep 
 quiet prevails. 
 
 Mr. Winship in low, distinct tones: 
 
 " 'To gallant Gates, in war serenely brave, 
 The tide of fortune turns its refluent wave; 
 Forced by his arms, the bold invaders yield 
 The prize and glory of the well-fought field: 
 Bleeding and lost the captured Ackland lies — .' 
 
 He is in the hands of the enemy, quite 
 helpless, wounded in both legs. His 
 valet, who is warmly attached to him, 
 is groping about in the darkness among 
 the wounded on the open field, in the 
 chill, autumn night, peering into dead 
 and suffering faces, examining the cloth- 
 ing of the killed and mangled, patiently 
 passing from group to group of prostrate 
 officers and men in his sad search. He 
 forgets that he is approaching the ene- 
 my, but is suddenly reminded of their 
 proximity by a sudden shock and fall; 
 in struggling to rise he finds himself 
 wounded in the shoulder. Bleeding 
 profusely, it is with difficulty he gets back 
 to the camp." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck : " Was he the same 
 man who saved his master's life when the 
 tent was burning ?" 
 
 Mr. Winship : " I don't think he was. 
 Major Ackland seems to have inspired 
 an ardent affection in all who surrounded 
 him. The man who twice in the same 
 night risked his life to save the Major's, 
 was a sergeant. The tent occupied by 
 Major Ackland and his wife took fire 
 from a candle upset by a favorite dog. 
 Lady Ackland was soon aroused, and 
 crept out under the side of the tent, at 
 the same time the sergeant entered it. 
 He found the Major in a profound sleep 
 and carried him out in his arms. As 
 soon as contact with the air had aroused 
 the sleeper, he saw the condition of af- 
 fairs, and not knowing that his wife had 
 escaped, he immediately rushed into the 
 flames to rescue her. He was overcome 
 with the fire and smoke, and would prob- 
 ably have been smothered had not the 
 sergeant followed him and again dragged 
 him from the flames." 
 
 Miss Pelham : " Wasn't it strange 
 they should have a pet dog on such an 
 expedition ?" 
 
 Mr. Winship : " Many of the officers 
 had dogs. They were probably hunting 
 dogs, and no doubt they expected to 
 have much pleasure hunting in the wild 
 forests of New York. They tell of a dog 
 belonging to Lord Balcarras, that had a 
 curious escape from death when the 
 army encamped at Crown Point, on its 
 way down the lake." 
 
 Colonel Shelby : " Did you know the 
 Earl Balcarras was a very young man, 
 and ' fleshed his maiden sword ' at Hub- 
 bardton ? " 
 
 Mr. Winship: "An interesting fact, 
 
62 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 Colonel, but to continue my story : 
 large trees were being cut down. One 
 of them fell directly on the dog, and by 
 its weight seemed to bury him in the 
 earth. The dog was unusually intelli- 
 gent and quick ; he had became a favor- 
 ite in the camp — there was a general 
 rush for his rescue by the soldiers 
 around. Some of them said it was no 
 use trying to get him out of his hole; of 
 course he was dead, but others chopped 
 dihgently at the great tree, and soon 
 lifted the heavy log from his back, when 
 to the astonishment of all, the dog trot- 
 ted off in apparently good condition and 
 spirits." 
 
 Colonel Shelby : " He must have been 
 imbedded in soft, alluvial soil in such a 
 way as to relieve him of the weight of 
 the tree and the force of its fall." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck : " Do you know 
 whether Lady Ackland was as beautiful 
 as she was lovely in character ?" 
 
 Mr. Winship : I have seen a print 
 of her from a portrait by Rivers — one of 
 the most interesting faces I ever saw ; 
 the features are classical and the express- 
 ion spiritual; the dress, too, is pictur- 
 esque. You can easily believe her to 
 have been one of those women who give 
 and inspire an extraordinary affection, 
 one that would stimulate a man to great 
 deeds, that would keep active the higher 
 sentiments of his nature," 
 
 Colonel Shelby : " Ton my word, 
 Winship, I don't like to spoil your pretty 
 romance, but I have no doubt but Ack- 
 land was just such a wine-bibbing, fox- 
 hunting fellow as the rest of those British 
 officers." 
 
 Mr. Vv'inship : " But we know, Colo- 
 nel, that Ackland not only performed 
 
 heroic deeds on every field, and was 
 repeatedly wounded, but that he was 
 actuated by high and honorable senti- 
 ments. The very fact that these traits 
 were not swallowed up in the indulgence 
 of coarser tastes shows that there was 
 some strong influence at work to coun- 
 teract sensuality, and keep active his 
 higher nature. The conduct of Lady 
 Ackland, as well as her appearance, indi- 
 cate that hers was the purifying spirit 
 that guided and influenced him. When 
 she joined her husband in the American 
 camp, she was received by General Gates 
 with the greatest tenderness and respect. 
 Indeed, I think it is hard to suppose 
 that a man who showed as manly and 
 noble traits in his treatment of women 
 as Gates always did, should have been a 
 coward. Surely, Colonel, we can draw 
 as just a conclusion from this, as the 
 Judge did from General Schuyler's horse- 
 manship." 
 
 Colonel Shelby : " Perhaps so. But 
 he must indeed have been a miserable 
 poltroon who would have done less for 
 Lady Ackland, arriving in camp under 
 such circumstances." 
 
 Mr. Winship : " Her husband soon 
 recovered, Miss Kate; but after their 
 return to England he was shot in a duel 
 caused by his defence of the valor of the 
 American troops. The sudden shock of 
 his death affected Lady Ackland's mind ; 
 she was insane two years, but was finally 
 restored and found consolation in the 
 affection of Mr. Brudenell, whom she 
 afterwards married. He was the chap- 
 lain who performed the ceremony at 
 Frazer's funeral, and he had also accom- 
 panied Lady Ackland on that perilous 
 boat-ride between the two camps; her 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 63 
 
 husband's faithful valet, although wound- 
 ed, also went with her. A sister of Lady 
 Ackland, Lady Susan O'Brien (they 
 were both daughters of Lord Holland) 
 was visiting, at the beginning of the revo- 
 lution, Sir William Johnson, in the Mo- 
 hawk valley. No doubt the sisters were 
 together in Canada, before Lady Harriet 
 joined her husband at Skenesborough. 
 I believe she wrote a narrative of the 
 campaigns in which she followed the 
 army in America. 
 
 IV. 
 
 *' After the thunder-storm our heaven is blue : 
 Far off, along the borders of the sky, 
 In silver folds the clouds of battle lie, 
 With soft consoling sunlight shining through; 
 And round the sweeping circle o( yon hills 
 The crashing cannon-thrills 
 Have faded from the memory of the air. 
 
 And Summer pours from unexhausted fountains 
 Her bliss on yonder mountains : 
 The camps are tenantless ; the breastworks 
 
 bare : 
 Earth keeps no stain where hero-blood was 
 poured : 
 The hornets humming on their wings of lead, 
 Have ceased to sting, their angry swarms are 
 dead, 
 And, harmless in its scabbard, rusts the sword !" 
 
 The day is shadowy. A brilliant sun 
 rides high in the heavens above a pale 
 blue, far-reaching sky. Great drifting 
 silvery clouds float slowly from the east, 
 throwing dark shadows on the distant 
 hills and fields — and one, a van-guard, 
 casts its gloom so long over the broad 
 street facing the great hotels, that the 
 day seems dark. Under its softened 
 light, Kate Van Eyck strolls quietly, pen- 
 sively across the lawn from the cottage 
 
 piazza, Mr. Winship following her silent- 
 ly. They join the other members of 
 their party who are starting for their ride 
 to the battle ground. Mrs. Harris is al- 
 ready seated in the landau, Miss Van 
 Eyck, Mr. Winship and Judge A^an Eyck 
 take their places with her, and they are 
 driven off toward the lake on Union 
 Avenue. 
 
 Colonel Shelby and Miss Pelham have 
 decided to visit Schuylerville instead of 
 Bemis Height, and the Colonel turns the 
 heads of the horses that draw their light 
 buggy towards the Town Hall, where 
 they turn into Lake Avenue, and thence 
 follow the Schuylerville road. 
 
 Miss Pelham : " Colonel, I do not 
 intend to forget Kate's admonition to 
 ask you for information about Schuyler- 
 ville." 
 
 Colonel Shelby: "It is the place, Miss 
 Pelham, where the surrender of Bur- 
 goyne took place, and near where the vil- 
 lage of old Saratoga stood, and also 
 where Schuyler's handsome country res- 
 idence was burned by Burgoyne on his 
 retreat." 
 
 Miss Pelham: " I once saw a picture 
 of Mrs. Schuyler setting fire to a field; 
 had that anything to do with it ? " 
 
 Colonel Shelby, smiling: "Well, no; 
 not with Burgoyne's fire. She had taken 
 her furniture out of the house and re- 
 turned to Albany some time before he 
 arrived, but when she was leaving she 
 set fire to the grain to prevent it from 
 falling into his hands." 
 
 Miss Pelham: "Did you say there 
 was a monument at Schuylerville ?" 
 
 Colonel Shelby, evidently amused at 
 Miss Pelham's eagerness to obtain in- 
 formation at the dictation of Miss Kate: 
 
64 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 "Not yet, but it is proposed to put one 
 tliere in commemoration of the battles 
 of Saratoga." 
 
 Miss Pelham, perplexedly: "But I 
 thought the battles were not fought there. 
 You see, Colonel, I am hopelessly mixed 
 when it comes to military matters. But 
 do enlighten me about this monument." 
 Colonel Shelby: " It is claimed that 
 the place of surrender is a proper loca- 
 tion for the monument, as being the cul- 
 minating point of a long series of stra- 
 tegic movements and conflicts. My 
 preference would be for the field where 
 the battles took place, some miles below. 
 Tlie two principal contests were upon the 
 same ground, and there, where the blood 
 was shed and the retreat began which 
 led to the surrender, seems a more suita- 
 ble place." 
 
 Miss Pelham: "I think it is a pity to 
 put anything worth seeing in either of 
 these out-of-the-way places. Who will 
 ever go to look at them; " adding play- 
 fully: " I am sure we never would hav- 
 thought of such a thing if Kate had 
 not taken a freak in her head about some 
 romantic incidents in the battles that 
 pleased her. She has not let any of us rest 
 since; we had to come in self-defence." 
 Colonel Shelby: " I do not consider 
 the seclusion of either of these places an 
 objection. The battle-field, where the 
 rest of the party are going, would be, in 
 its retirement, the very place where a 
 person like Miss Van Eyck, for instance, 
 who has a genuine sentiment about such 
 things, might feel most strongly the as- 
 sociations of the place and recall most 
 vividly the events which were commem- 
 orated. It is also but a continuation of 
 th.' favorite drive to Saratoga lake. 
 
 Miss Pelham: "What else am I to 
 remember at Schuylerville; was there no 
 fighting at all there ? 
 
 Colonel Shelby: "Yes, there was a 
 skirmish that came near being an un- 
 lucky affair for the Americans, but they 
 retreated in time to save themselves ; it 
 was not an event in which we can feel 
 much pride. There was some skillful 
 cannonading there by the Americans for 
 a few days before the surrender, and it is 
 where Madame Riedesel spent those 
 dreadful nights in a cellar." 
 
 Miss Pelham: "Don't tell me anything 
 about that. Battles are quite grand in 
 the abstract, but I don't like the particu- 
 lars." 
 
 In the meantime the remainder of the 
 party on the other road, in the landau, 
 are passing the gate of the race course. 
 
 Miss Van Eyck, addressing Mrs. Har- 
 ris: " You have not told me that second 
 version of the story of Jane McCrea, 
 who was murdered by the Indian allies 
 of Burgoyne; we will soon get to the lake 
 and I would like to hear it before I leave 
 you." 
 
 Mrs. Harris : " I suppose you know 
 the most generally accepted account of 
 it?" 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: "The school histories 
 tell us that Lieutenant Jones, a tory, in 
 Burgoyne's army, was betrothed to Jane 
 McCrea; that he sent a party of Indians 
 to bring her from Fort Edward to the 
 British camp near there, and promised 
 them a barrel of whiskey as a reward if 
 they would bring her in safety. I think he 
 was a very inconsiderate lover; well, you 
 know the Indians quarreled about the 
 whiskey they were to get and tomahawk- 
 ed Jane McCrea on the road " 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 65 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " But the lover did not 
 offer the whiskey as a reward, and he did 
 not send for her either. I think those 
 facts are well established, although there 
 are several different versions of the trag- 
 edy. All agree that Jenny lived with her 
 brother, near Fort Edward, and that he 
 was a whig, who wished to leave his home 
 as the British advanced and take refuge 
 in Albany. At this time Jenny was at 
 Fort. Edward, visiting her tory friend 
 Mrs. McNeil, who was a relative of Gen- 
 eral Frazer. Jenny's brother sent repeat- 
 ed messages for her to join him. She 
 delayed, probably quite willing for the 
 British to arrive, as her lover was with 
 them. Finally yielding to the entreaties 
 of her brother, she prepared to leave in 
 a batteau on a certain evening. On the 
 morning of that very day a marauding 
 party of Indians burst into the house of 
 Mrs. McNeil and dragged her and Jenny 
 out of a cellar, where they had concealed 
 themselves, and carried them off as pris- 
 oners. Jenny, in her fright, promised 
 them a large reward if they would spare 
 her life and take her in safety to the 
 British camp. This was the reward they 
 quarreled over, as stated by a niece of 
 Jenny. She was carried away on horse- 
 back, but Mrs. McNeil was so large and 
 heavy that the Indians could not get her 
 on a horse, and they pulled her along by 
 both arms, and frequently compelled her 
 to fall on her face, as they did them- 
 selves, to avoid the bullets of the Ameri- 
 cans, who were pursuing them. A grand- 
 daughter of Mrs. McNeil has said that 
 the Indians told her grand-mother that 
 Jane McCrea was shot by the Americans 
 who were pursuing them; that they only 
 scalped her after she was dead- Mrs. 
 
 McNeil believed this, because her own 
 life had been endangered in the same 
 way, and because a larger reward was of- 
 fered for prisoners brought into the camp 
 alive than for scalps. This theory of the 
 tragedy has been adopted by several of 
 the later riarrators." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " I think if any 
 such representation had been made by 
 the Indians at the time of the murder, 
 Burgoyne would gladly have availed him- 
 self of it, and have made it known; but, 
 on the contrary, he was anxious to punish 
 the murderer, and was only deterred 
 from doing so by the representations and 
 solicitations of de Luc. I have no doubt 
 but the Indians tomahawked her. It was 
 not an unusual occurrence, but the ex- 
 citement of the time gave it great impor- 
 tance. Inhuman cruelty was attributed 
 to the whole British army, who sheltered 
 the savages, and it waked up the militia 
 and sent them to the American camp." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " I had supposed, Judge, 
 that the family of Jenny were all whigs, 
 but I see in Burgoyne's biography there 
 is reference to a letter, written by one of 
 her brothers to General Burgoyne, some 
 years after the war, soliciting his influ- 
 ence for an appointment in the army. It 
 seems General Burgoyne endorsed this 
 letter with a few lines, in which he ex- 
 pressed his gratification at having this 
 proof that the family of Miss McCrea 
 believed that he had acted with humanity 
 and honor at the time of her murder; and 
 he also says that he was able to obtain 
 the appointment desired." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: '' What became of the 
 lover, Mrs. Harris? " 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "As soon as he was 
 charged with having sent for Jenny, he 
 
66 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 offered his resignation as Lieutenant in 
 the army. It was not accepted. One 
 account says he fought desperately in the 
 battles at Saratoga, and was killed; but 
 the more authentic one states that he de- 
 serted immediately after the death of 
 Jenny, and went to Canada. He bought 
 her scalp from the Indian who had taken 
 it; her hair had been beautiful, dark 
 brown, and over a yard long. Lieuten- 
 ant Jones preserved this sad memento as 
 long as he lived, and I think he was an 
 old man when he died. Every July, as 
 the anniversary of the sad event ap- 
 proached, he would seclude himself en- 
 tirely from his friends, and they never 
 at any time referred to the Revolution 
 in his presence." 
 
 Mr. Winship: "I have seen Jane Mc- 
 Crea's grave at Fort Edward. Do you 
 know how they recovered her body? " 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " It was found by the pur- 
 suing Americans near the spot where she 
 was killed, and they sent it to her brother 
 on the very batteau in which she ex- 
 pected to have gone down the river to 
 meet him. She was buried on the banks 
 of the Hudson, and many years after- 
 wards her remains were removed to the 
 cemetery at Fort Edward." 
 
 They arrive at the Lake House, and 
 alight for a short time. Miss Van Eyck's 
 horse Guido is awaiting her there. She 
 mounts him, and followed by her groom, 
 turns to the right, and goes slowly down 
 the long hill, past the Brigg's House, and 
 over the bridge that crosses the " nar- 
 rows." The steady clamp, clamp of 
 Guido's feet on the bridge seems to make 
 more palpable the quietness of the placid 
 scene of beauty before her. The lake 
 lies motionless, and in Kate's mind it 
 
 harmonizes with her calm expectancy of 
 pleasure in the final object of her ride. 
 Following along the road, she passes 
 through a cool, shady marsh, where the 
 varied stems of the willows and the ten- 
 der ferns and grasses underneath give 
 variety and interest even to this tame 
 spot. The road now follows close to the 
 lake shore, and Guido, seemingly tired of 
 his dull paces, voluntarily starts off at a 
 brisk canter, and brings her quickly to 
 the Cedar Bluff Hotel, which she passes, 
 and then turns to the left, moving more 
 slowly up the long hill. When near the 
 top, she glances suddenly off to the 
 northwest, and is so strongly impressed 
 with the distant mountain view that she 
 checks her horse entirely, and turns to 
 enjoy it. As the landau approaches, the 
 Judge orders William to stop. 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "I am glad you 
 stopped here, Kate. When going to the 
 White Sulphur Spring, one day last sum- 
 mer, with a gentleman familiar with this 
 region, we took a turn up this hill, and 
 he pointed out the different ranges of 
 mountains that we can see from this 
 place. Do you notice how those two 
 ranges lie, one over the other? " 
 
 Mr. Winship: "Yes; they are quite 
 distinct upon a second look, though at 
 first they seemed to be but one. There 
 is a break in the forward range." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "That is the Pal- 
 mertown range; it divides and surrounds 
 Lake George. Far to the north you see 
 a few high knolls that lie at the head of 
 that lake. Now follow down a short dis- 
 tance to the gap you speak of. That is 
 where the Hudson breaks through this 
 Palmertown range. You see that range 
 dwindles down as it nears the village. 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 67 
 
 They tell me its terminus is at Glen 
 Mitchell, or rather North Broadway in 
 Saratoga Springs. The higher range be- 
 yond is the Kayadrossera, which shows 
 almost an unbroken line as it descends. 
 Now look across the lake." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: " O, see, father, how 
 beautiful ! The whole extent of the lake 
 lies beneath us; " pointing southward. 
 "What mountains are those beyond it? " 
 
 Judge Van Eyck : " Those are the 
 northern peaks of the Catskills." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " How could we have been 
 at Saratoga so often and so long without 
 hearing of this fine view? Judge, I am 
 really disposed to reproach you for not 
 bringing us sooner." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "Well, I had for- 
 gotten it, although I was much impressed 
 with it when I first came here, and I re- 
 member now that Mr. Jones, who was 
 with me, said there was a still more ex- 
 tensive lookout from a hill two or three 
 miles beyond this. I think we go over 
 it to-day. Kate, you had better let us 
 take the lead now." 
 
 Mr. Winship has alighted from the 
 carriage and stands near Kate: " I real- 
 ize now the advantage you have in being 
 on horseback. You can enjoy the beau- 
 tiful landscape at every turn without 
 effort. I did not know that such views 
 were to be seen on this ride." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: " This is an unex- 
 pected pleasure, and I congratulate my- 
 self upon having persevered in my de- 
 sire to go in this way." 
 
 They now ride rapidly on, turning to 
 the left at the top of the hill, and enter- 
 ing a chestnut grove whose dense shade is 
 restful to the eyes after gazing intently 
 over the water and at the distant views. 
 
 To Kate especially is this secluded, wind- 
 ing road in the thick forest a delight; 
 she lets the reins hang loosely on Guido's 
 neck as he walks slowly and daintily on, 
 her mind still filled with thoughts 
 suggested by the distant, misty hills. 
 Coming out of the woods she sees t'.ie 
 carriage, a mere speck, and seemingly sta- 
 tionary before her; hurrying on she finds 
 them waiting for her, as here, at the cross- 
 roads near the red school-house, they 
 fear she may mistake the way. They 
 now all keep on the direct road up 
 another extended hill, and Kate gallop- 
 ing ahead, reaches the summit first, turns 
 abruptly and waves her handkerchief. 
 The carriage comes up. 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: "This must be the 
 hill you were telling us of. Do have the 
 carriage thrown entirely open so you can 
 stand up and see it all. There, father, 
 are the two ranges of mountains you 
 showed us on the other hill, only they 
 look higher and more irregular from this 
 point, and we can see so much further 
 north; are those the Lake George moun- 
 tains? and, oh look! in the opposite di- 
 rection. I do believe there is ' The Old 
 Man of the Mountain; ' see, Mrs. Harris, 
 there are other mountains south ot that, 
 and turn quite around, there is still 
 another range entirely separate. Is not 
 this magnificent? I was never in such 
 an ampitheatre before. Can you see 
 them all ? " 
 
 Mr. Winship: "Indeed, Miss Kate, 
 this is very fine. Those are doubtless 
 the Green Mountains and the Hudson 
 river hills you have pointed out toward 
 the east, and there is the veritable ' Old 
 Man of the Mountains ' in the Catskills, 
 lying on his back as usual." 
 
68 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "Kate, those are 
 the high hills of Lake George to the 
 north, and the Kayadrossera chain breaks 
 up into peaks there to the northwest. 
 We must have a view of one thousand 
 square miles under our eyes here. Sara- 
 toga ought to make more stir about such 
 a ride as this, and have guide-boards 
 with directions to these hills; the last one 
 was Caldwell's — this is Summit; but 
 come, we must be moving on." 
 
 They proceed cautiously down the 
 long, uneven slope and soon leave the 
 pine-crowned hill on the left, where they 
 turn sharply to the right and drive over 
 a smooth road through a lovely circular 
 valley to the Quaker meeting house, 
 where Kate, who is in advance, stops for 
 directions as she comes to a cross road. 
 
 Miss Van Eyck, as they approached: 
 "Which way, father?" 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " To the right again. 
 This is the main road from Quaker 
 Springs to Bemis' Heights. Across the 
 hills where this road now runs was a part 
 of the battle ground. The road follows 
 just about the course that must have been 
 taken by Arnold when he made his first 
 charge against the Hessians in the last 
 battle, but we have quite a drive yet 
 before reaching that part of the road. I 
 think it will be better for us to go to 
 Freeman's Farm first." 
 
 Mrs. Harris : "That will be the most 
 interesting spot, because the heaviest 
 fighting in both battles was there." 
 
 At the next cross road they turn to the 
 left and in a few minutes stop before the 
 house on Freeman's Farm. They alight 
 and enter, and find the hostess very ami- 
 able and glad to tell them all she knows 
 that will interest them. She also shows 
 
 them the relics that have been ploughed 
 up on the farm. There are musket balk, 
 a twenty-four pound cannon ball, buckles 
 and buttons bearing the number of Brit- 
 ish regiments, and the jaw bone of a man 
 with the teeth still preserved. They are 
 told that just beyond a little knoll near 
 the house the blood run a foot deep; a 
 statement they take with a grain of al- 
 lowance; and yet one may believe that 
 it was indeed a sanguinary spot, for just 
 there Balcarras made his heroic defence 
 against Arnold's mad attack and succeed- 
 ed in repulsing him. He held the redoubt 
 upon this place until Burgoyne moved 
 his army during the night after the 
 battle. 
 
 Judge Van Eyck, while they all stand 
 on the site of the old redoubt- "Which 
 is Burgoyne's hill, as it is called?" A 
 high knoll, covered with trees of a light 
 growth, and surrounded by a ravine, is 
 pointed out across the road, but some 
 distance back from it. " That, Kate, is 
 really Breyman's hill; at least it is where 
 the redoubt was located, which he de- 
 fended. There were earthworks between 
 this redoubt and that. In the last bat- 
 tle the Massachusetts regiments broke 
 through these works about the time of 
 Arnold's repulse here by Balcarras. See- 
 ing the advantage they had gained, Ar- 
 nold, with Learned's regiment, dashed 
 around from here to the hill where Brey- 
 man was, and succeeded in getting pos- 
 session of that. Breyman was killed at 
 his guns, and his men all driven away. 
 Arnold was also wounded there; but the 
 Americans held the redoubt, and you 
 can see how it gave them the command 
 of the whole British camp, and made it 
 necessary for Burgoyne to abandon his 
 
A VISIT TO THE 15ATTLE GROUND 
 
 69 
 
 position. We will now go to the sight of 
 Frazer's camp, in the pine woods just 
 across the road." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "I think, Judge, that we 
 have lingered so long on the way that we 
 had better take our lunch at once, and 
 make further investigations afterwards." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck; " A good suggestion, 
 Madame; and if you like a genuine pic- 
 nic, those woods are just the place for it. 
 Robert, have the coffee boiled, and buy 
 some milk here at the farm-house. Bring 
 the feed for your horses to the woods; 
 the ladies will ride over." 
 
 They entered the woodland through 
 an opening in the fence, where the old 
 military road, constructed by Burgoyne 
 for the advance of his army to Free- 
 man's Farm, was plainly visible. Alight- 
 ing from the carriage, and turning a little 
 to the right, they soon found an open yet 
 ■shaded place to spread their lunch on the 
 ground. The wraps and cushions from 
 the carriage were disposed around, and 
 lounging on them in oriental fashion, 
 with sharpened appetites, the whole party 
 enjoyed the informal repast. Light- 
 hearted jests, animated discussions about 
 the next thing to be done, and good- 
 natured disputes, caused a pleasant hour 
 to slip away unheeded upon the very 
 spot where, " all day long the noise of 
 battle rolled." The lunch is over. 
 
 Mrs. Harris, walking to a small stream 
 near the fence: " Judge, what ravine is 
 this? Will you show it to me on the 
 map?" 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "Yes. You see that 
 is a small branch of the north ravine, 
 which is behind us. It ran in front of 
 the British camp down by the river, and 
 then passed through the camp, as you 
 
 find it in this place. Do you see here 
 on the map that the bridge across the 
 north ravine is just above the fork made 
 by this small one? " 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: "Come, father, I am 
 sure we know that map by heart; let 
 us go and look for the bridge." 
 
 Mr. Winship: "Wait a few minutes, 
 Miss Kate; I want to take another look. 
 I see. Judge, it is quite easy to find on 
 the map the exact spot where we have 
 lunched." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "This is in front of 
 the north ravine. Now stand up and 
 look across the fields. You can trace 
 the line of the middle ravine, which lay 
 between the two camps. You can see 
 Bemis' Heights and Neilson's Farm, 
 where the American camp lay. There 
 was also a ravine in front of that, and 
 one behind it." 
 
 Mr. Winship: "The ground seems 
 to have been well chosen by both 
 commanders. We are coming, Miss 
 Kate." 
 
 They follow the military road back 
 through the woods for a few rods. 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "Here is the bridge; a 
 very modern one, by the way, which 
 seems singular, as the road does not 
 seem to have been used, and looks as if 
 it might have remained undisturbed in 
 the forest all these years." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " This road was 
 only discovered or noticed two years 
 ago, and there was then no bridge over 
 the ravine, but distinct marks of the old 
 bridge could be seen; this new bridge 
 covers the same place. This forest has 
 remained untouched since the revolu- 
 tionary time. You can see how these 
 few acres have been left, and how in the 
 
TO 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 clearings all around the old relics of the 
 past, earthworks and roads have been 
 ploughed up, and are quite lost." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: " This is a beautiful 
 glen, with the water tumbling over the 
 rocks. Didn't you tell me, Mrs. Harris, 
 that these ravines would all be dry? " 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " I supposed they would, 
 for I have heard that all the small water 
 courses in this country had become 
 greatly reduced, or were quite dried up." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck and Mrs. Harris linger 
 on the little bridge, Judge Van Eyck and 
 Mr. Winship pass over, ascend the slope 
 on the other side and walk on a few 
 yards. 
 
 Mr. Winship: "Look at this. Judge; 
 here is another road, branching off from 
 the one we have followed." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "This is, indeed, 
 clearly another road of the same kind; 
 let us follow it. You see it is graded in 
 the same way. There were in those times 
 no roads in New York as carefully and 
 skilfully graded as these are. You can 
 easily see the difference between these 
 and the country roads we have been rid- 
 ing over to-day. Take a look now up 
 and down this ravine, and at the sur- 
 rounding country. Do you see that where 
 that little bridge crosses the ravine is the 
 only place that an army could have been 
 taken over without the construction of a 
 very long bridge, and a far greater ex- 
 penditure of time and labor than Bur- 
 goyne used. He had skilfull engineers. 
 This road you have just pointed out must 
 have been made to carry the artillery and 
 stores to Breyman's and Balcarras' re- 
 doubts." 
 
 Mr. Winship: "Do you think, Judge, 
 that these can be the old ruts made by the 
 
 artillery and wagons in Burgoyne's time? 
 Would they not have been filled up lon^ 
 ago by the deposit of leaves and dirt?" 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " It is said that a de- 
 pression of four inches in the earth will 
 be perceptible for a much longer time. 
 This road has been sheltered by the for- 
 rest, and there can really be no doubt 
 about these old roads; it is not only that 
 they show in themselves what they are, 
 but they correspond exactly with the- 
 roads on the military maps, drawn at the 
 time." 
 
 Mr. Winship: " This then is one of the 
 plainest and most interesting land-marks 
 of the revolutionary period that we pos- 
 sess; but the glaring new boards on that 
 bridge make one think that the old will 
 soon be lost in the new." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " I think, Mr. Win- 
 ship, that the most suitable commemora- 
 tion of the battles that could be made 
 would be a purchase of part of Freeman's 
 Farm, including this little woodland. Al- 
 though the battle of the 7th began off on 
 the hills, the British were soon driven 
 back here, where the fighting of the 19th 
 took place. If this place was preserved 
 without change, it would be interesting 
 in itself, and in the course of time a 
 monument could be erected upon it." 
 
 They join the ladies and it is decided 
 that they will ride down to the river, a 
 distance of two miles or more. The pub- 
 lic road passing Freeman's Farm is fol- 
 lowed. They go over a succession of 
 irregular and very steep hills, they make 
 various surmises as to the probable lo- 
 cality of Burgoyne's headquarters, which 
 they know they must pass on the way. 
 The middle ravine is plainly seen as they 
 proceed. It grows wilder and more 
 
A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 71 
 
 rugged and the hills more precipitous. 
 They can understand now why the col- 
 umns of Burgoyne's army were so widely 
 separated on their advance; they must 
 either go on the river road or far to the 
 west. It would be impossible to drag 
 artillery over these hills and glens. It 
 becomes more and more evident that the 
 American position was well chosen. Ap- 
 proaching near the river they cross one of 
 the ravines on a precarious bridge; they 
 see Wilbur's basin on the right and cross 
 the canal bridge, then turn sharply to the 
 left on the river road. 
 
 Miss Van Eyck, coming to the side of 
 the landau: "This is just like the pic- 
 tures with which we are familiar; there 
 are the three hills on which the British 
 tents are always seen in the pictures. 
 The middle one must be where Frazer is 
 buried. See, there are the two trees, 
 the grass covering most of the slope, 
 and even the man with his plough ; he 
 must have come out on purpose to com- 
 plete the view. What a beautiful place 
 this is; no wonder Frazer chose it for his 
 burial." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " It must have been here 
 that Lady Ackland embarked in the little 
 boat that was to take her to the Ameri- 
 can camp. No, that was at Coveville. 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: " It was just here, too, 
 that the British army was huddled to- 
 r;ether on the night after the lost battle. 
 Look behind you at the tlats where the 
 river bends a little and you will see where 
 the Americans posted tliemselves when 
 tliey followed Burgoyne that night; and 
 just on that rise of ground Major Stevens 
 must have planted the cannon that made 
 such sad work at the funeral. You can 
 see how impossible it was for Burgoyne 
 
 to remain here long. Shall we now ride 
 up the river to the house where Frazer 
 died?" 
 
 Mr. Winship: " I think it will be more 
 interesting, as we cannot see all these 
 places to-day, to visit Bemis' Heights, 
 below this; it will probably be a pleasant 
 drive down the river." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: '' Let us follow Mr. Win- 
 ship's suggestion. I do not want to re- 
 turn without seeing the exact position of 
 the American camp." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: " Before we go, let 
 us walk up the hill, and see if there is 
 anything to mark Frazer's grave." 
 
 Mrs. Harris: "You will find nothing 
 there, Kate, more than can be seen from 
 here; yet I am sure it was a false charge 
 made by some of the British, in which 
 they stated that the Americans had 
 opened the grave and scattered the bones 
 of the hero in their search for chests of 
 gold that they believed had been buried 
 with him." 
 
 William:'" But, Judge, they did find big 
 chests of money some where out here, 
 and not very long ago. I heard about 
 a workman on a farm, who found one of 
 these chests. The farmer made him give 
 it up to him, because it was found on 
 his land. Soon afterwards the workman 
 bought himself a farm; so they knew he 
 must have got a good deal of the money." 
 
 Judge Van Eyck: "It is not improb- 
 able that some money may have been 
 found, as the British might very naturally 
 have buried it before the retreat, to pre- 
 vent it from falling into the hands of the 
 Americans. We must go down the river 
 now. Drive on, William." 
 
 They have a beautiful ride of about 
 two miles over the flats and near the 
 
72 
 
 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 river, when they reach the site of the old 
 Bemis House. Here they turn to the 
 right, and begin the long and gradual 
 ascent to the heights. This road they ob- 
 serve, as they examine the map, follows 
 the line of the American camp, and runs 
 along a ridge, with a ravine in front and 
 behind. The remains of an old cellar 
 on the left indicate the place of General 
 Gates headquarters. Finally reaching 
 the height, a turn to the right soon brings 
 them to the Neilson House, where Mor- 
 gan and Poor had their headquarters. 
 Part of the original building is still stand- 
 ing, and in it the room where Lady 
 Ackland was conducted to the bedside 
 of her wounded husband. The house is 
 still owned and occupied by descendants 
 of the family to whom it then belonged. 
 They have many relics that have been 
 found on the farm, arrow points, balls, 
 bayonets, camp spoons, and otiier things 
 suggestive of the great conflicts or the 
 camp life of the contestants. These are 
 examined by the visitors, who also have 
 pointed out to them the remains of the 
 earthworks that may still be seen. Judge 
 Van Eyck now hurries his party home 
 over the road leading to Quaker Springs. 
 Between Neilson's Farm and Freeman's 
 Farm they pass over a part of the battle- 
 field, and with the aid of their map they 
 locate the positions of the different corps 
 of troops, as they are represented there. 
 Kate Van Eyck rides close to the car- 
 riage, and makes inquiries, or points out 
 such places as she believes have an espe- 
 cial interest. 
 
 As they continue their ride home, the 
 gorgeous sunset seems to be repeated 
 again and again, as it is lost under the 
 
 shadow of some great hill, to be found 
 once more as they emerge from its dark- 
 ened side. The lake still lies in a pro- 
 found calm, only repeating with startling 
 distinctness the undulating line of its 
 shores with their fringe of trees. As 
 they near the village, the moon comes 
 out in full splendor. 
 
 Mrs. Harris: " What a glorious day we 
 have had. Judge; the moon seems to 
 appear now to put a climax on its per- 
 fections." 
 
 Mr. Winship: " It has been a most en- 
 joyable day, and I have never visited a 
 battle field with more satisfaction. It is 
 generally difficult to realize the connec- 
 tion between the place and the event; 
 but the locations of the two camps, with 
 the battle ground between, on the Sara- 
 toga field suggests vividnesss of recol- 
 lection that is unusual." 
 
 They reach the hotel, alight and pass 
 into their cottage. Colonel Shelby and 
 Miss Pelham are sitting on the front 
 piazza, waiting for their arrival. Col- 
 onel Shelby assists Miss Van Eyck from 
 her horse. 
 
 Colonel Shelby: " I hope your antici- 
 pations have been fulfilled; that you have 
 had a pleasant day." 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: " It has been more 
 than delightful. Before I went I had a 
 lurking fear that when I actually got upon 
 the battle ground all my imaginations 
 about it would take flight — that it would 
 be only an every day field and common- 
 place hills, but it was not so. As I rode 
 over the ground I did realize that it was 
 sacred to a great cause — that it had been 
 the arena upon which great ideas had 
 displayed their impelling force, and that 
 
SCHUYLERVILLE 
 
 73 
 
 while many of the contestants had 
 ' Builded better than they knew,' they 
 must still have been inspired with some 
 dim vision of the future." 
 
 Colonel Shelby: "You convince me, 
 Miss Van Eyck, that tlie pleasure or 
 profit we may find in any object is with- 
 in ourselves. How many persons would 
 witness the scenes you have looked on 
 to-day and feel no responsive emotion, 
 have no new thoughts awakened. I envy 
 the person whom you will permit at any 
 
 time to be the companion of your 
 thoughts and sentiments. Will you al- 
 low me to hope that I may occasionally 
 have such a happiness? You must be 
 convinced by this time that such occa- 
 sions cannot be too often repeated to 
 please me. Will you allow me to go 
 with you to-morrow on the proposed ex- 
 pedition to Prospect Hill?" 
 
 Miss Van Eyck: " I will tell you in 
 the morning, Colonel, what arrangements 
 we have made." 
 
 SCHUYLERVILLE 
 
 This village, the Saratoga of the past, 
 which forms so important and interest- 
 ing a feature in the Burgoyne Campaign, 
 is beautifully situated on the right bank 
 of the Hudson river, about thirty-five 
 miles above Albany, and twelve miles 
 east of Saratoga Springs. The drive 
 from the latter place is over a regular 
 stage road, that is kept in good condi- 
 tion; a start is made through one of the 
 most delightful streets. Lake Avenue, 
 and when about a mile out, a beautiful 
 view of the village of Saratoga Springs 
 may be seen; after a stretch of plain 
 and hill, as the approach is made to- 
 wards the river in the last half of the 
 ride, fine views are obtained, and a pic- 
 turesque farming country is traversed. 
 Schuylerville lies on the lower slope of 
 the historic heights of Old Saratoga, and 
 every foot of ground as one enters the 
 village limits is rich in interest, is throng- 
 ing with memories of the past. 
 
 Old Saratoga! the great Indian hunt- 
 ing ground of the seventeenth century, 
 the great Indian patent of the eighteenth 
 
 century; the home of the Christian Iro- 
 quois, the outpost of white civilization, 
 the place of forts, the scene of massa- 
 cres, the birthplace of heroism, the hills 
 of triumph! Who could fail to feel a 
 thrill of pride and joy, yet tremulous 
 with rising tears, as he stood on the 
 Heights of Old Saratoga; old, indeed, 
 since it has nearly reached the second 
 century of its existence, for "on the sec- 
 ond day of August, 1690, Saratoga took 
 its place among the long list of our coun- 
 try's geographical names." From that 
 time it constantly appears in the ac- 
 counts of the wars, or the progressive set- 
 tlement of the country. It is, however, 
 pre-eminently important as the place of 
 Burgoyne's surrender, the last spot to 
 which his harrassed, yet sternly disci- 
 plined army was driven; the ground upon 
 which his ambitious spirit succumbed to 
 the inevitable fortune of war, when he 
 reluctantly called his officers together, 
 and gave his vote with theirs for capitu- 
 lation; and where on a terrace-like bluff, 
 before the assembled thousands, friends 
 
74 
 
 SCHUYLERVILLE 
 
 and foes, he yielded his sword to Gen- 
 eral Gates. 
 
 Here is also the plain, now partly filled 
 by canal and basin, and marked by the 
 Elm tree of traditional renown, where 
 the British stacked their arms. Here 
 also is the site of the Schuyler mansion, 
 which was burned by Burgoyne's order, 
 and where the officers representing the 
 commanders of the respective armies 
 first met for the consideration of terms 
 of surrender, and near it is the first place 
 of meeting between Burgoyne and Gates, 
 for an interchange of the courtesies of 
 military life before the final surrender. 
 The Schuyler mansion, as rebuilt and oc- 
 cupied for many years by the General, is 
 still standing. 
 
 On a pine-crested hill, south of the 
 Fish Creek, which overlooks the ceme- 
 tery on the north side, are the remains 
 of earthworks. On this hill Major Ste- 
 vens probably placed the artillery from 
 which were thrown the very balls that 
 tradition says interrupted so rudely the 
 dinner of the British Generals. 
 
 This cemetery hill, stretching towards 
 Victory, was evidently that strongly forti- 
 fied part of the camp indicated on the 
 old military maps as the position of Fra- 
 zer's light rangers, and those now living 
 assisted in the destruction of the earth- 
 works, as declared in the affidavits be- 
 low. A drive from the cemetery along 
 the heights takes one quite through the 
 site of the British camp, and is appro- 
 priately terminated at the Riedesel house, 
 now owned by Mr. Marshall, and shown 
 to visitors with great kindness, and intel- 
 ligent interest. This house was visited 
 by Mr. Lossing nearly thirty years ago, 
 when he sketched the interior and exte- 
 
 rior for his Field Book. Since then the 
 house has been remodeled, but the main 
 timbers, and, in fact, all the rooms re- 
 main as they were in 1777. The rafter and 
 base boards, through which the cannon 
 balls passed, have been removed. They 
 are carefully preserved, and upon inspec- 
 tion, will be found to authenticate Mad- 
 ame Riedesel's thrilling account of the 
 days spent in this house; scenes that are 
 vividly recalled as one stands upon the 
 cellar floor, where her little children 
 crouched in terror. 
 
 From the piazza may be seen the hills 
 on the east side of the river, where the 
 American artillery was posted, from 
 which were thrown the balls that tore 
 through the house. The exact place 
 where Burgoyne crossed the river is 
 also in sight; and upon riding to that 
 spot, the river bank will be found cut 
 away on each side, to facilitate the pas- 
 sage of the army. A little to the south 
 are the hills on which the Americans, 
 under Fellows, were posted. 
 
 Many places of minor interest may be 
 visited at Schuylerville, and the tourist of 
 leisure would be well repaid for a week 
 or more of rambling and driving about 
 this lovely village, where every comfort- 
 able accommodation can be found at the 
 Goldsmith House, which has also the 
 inducement of a good sulphur spring in 
 its grounds. 
 
 The village is quiet and quaint, and is 
 remarkable for the large number of fam- 
 ilies who have lived within its limits or 
 neighborhood for several successive gen- 
 erations. This fact gives an unusual 
 interest and authentication to the tradi- 
 tions of the place. The following affi- 
 davits were made by two of the oldest 
 
SCHUYLERVILLE 
 
 75 
 
 inhabitants for the use of the Senate 
 Committee having the Saratoga Monu- 
 ment under consideration; they are now 
 published for the first time:* 
 
 State of New York, 1 
 County of Saratoga. ) 
 
 Albert Clements, being duly sworn, 
 deposes and says: I reside in the town 
 of Saratoga, in said county, in the vicin- 
 ity of the village of Schuylerville, and 
 have resided there since the year 1789 — 
 am now ninety-five years of age. I came 
 to this town from Dutchess county, 
 Abraham Marshall was residing here then 
 on the farm now occupied by his grand- 
 son, William Marshall, I heard him 
 (Abraham) say that he witnessed the sur- 
 render of Burgoyne's army; that the 
 British army marched down below the 
 gravel hill located on the west side 
 of the river road, south of Fish Creek, 
 and Burgoyne there surrendered his 
 sword. I have frequently heard soldiers 
 who were in Gates' army tell the follow- 
 ing incident: After the retreat of the 
 British army from Stillwater towards 
 Schuylerville, the American army pur- 
 sued them as far as a hill on the south 
 bank of Fish Creek, nearly opposite the 
 village of Victory, and there erected a bat- 
 tery, and fired their guns towards the 
 point on the north side of the creek, 
 where Burgoyne happened to be at the 
 table eating, and a ball came on the table 
 and knocked off a leg of mutton. 
 
 I remember, when I was a boy, of see- 
 ing breastworks extending as much as a 
 quarter of a mile in length along the hill 
 where Prospect Hill Cemetery now is lo- 
 cated, in the direction of the road just 
 west ot the cemetery. I assisted in tear- 
 
 ing them down. They were made of 
 pine logs and earth. I ploughed up a 
 cartridge box containing about sixty 
 musket balls. 
 
 I remember the old Dutch Church, 
 which stood on the south side of the road 
 now running from the river road to Vic- 
 tory; I frequently attended meeting 
 there. It was a wooden structure, heavy 
 timbers and clap-boarded. 
 
 There were no other buildings on the 
 south side of the creek except General 
 Schuyler's mansion, and only two on the 
 north side at that time. 
 
 I visited General Schuyler's mansion 
 when he was there; I saw him signing 
 deeds or leases. Albert Clements. 
 
 Sworn to before me April 13th, 1877. 
 S. Wells, Notary Public. 
 
 ss. 
 
 State of New York, 
 Saratoga County. 
 
 William H. McCreedy, being duly 
 sworn, deposes and says: I am eighty- 
 six years of age; now reside in the vil- 
 lage of Schuylerville, in said county, and 
 have there resided for over sixty years 
 past. I remember of hearing my father 
 and grandfather, who were both in Gates* 
 army, say: that they witnessed Burgoyne's 
 surrender; that the terms of the surren- 
 der were signed under the Elm tree now 
 standing on the east side of Broad street, 
 in Schuylerville, between the feed store 
 of Simon Sheldon and the blacksmith's 
 shop adjoining on the south; and that 
 the British ai^iy marched down the River 
 Road just below Gravel Hill, south of 
 Fish Creek, and surrendered. 
 
 I remember seeing breastworks, ex- 
 tending north and south, on the river 
 flats between the village and the river. 
 
76 
 
 SCHUYLERVILLE 
 
 I dug up five cannon balls there some 
 fifty years ago. I visited old General 
 Schuyler at his mansion several times. 
 I dined there on one occasion; and after 
 finishing my meal, the old General asked 
 me if I had eaten enough. I answered 
 that I had all that I wanted, and he re- 
 plied: "If you have, knock out your 
 teeth." 
 
 My grandfather, Charles McCreedy, 
 and father, James McCreedy, were both 
 in the engagements fought at Bemis' 
 Heights, September 19th and October 
 7th, 1777. They told me that General 
 Gates' headquarters were south of the 
 old Dutch Church, and were present at 
 the surrender; and that the old turnpike 
 road was about where the canal now is. 
 William H. McCreedy. 
 
 Sworn before me, April 13th, 1877. 
 S. Wells, Notary Public. 
 
 * I have had the pleasure of conversing with 
 these old men, and can bear witness to the clear- 
 ness and readiness of their memory. 
 
 Mr. Clements is exceedingly interesting, and a 
 
 man of some attainments. He has been a civil 
 engineer, and told me that he had surveyed the 
 first lots that were laid out in Schuylerville, 
 Philip Schuyler, grandson of the . General, and 
 Mr. Beadle, who afterwards laid out the village 
 of West Troy, carrying the chain. Mr. Clements 
 also said he had made the survey that settled the 
 disputed line between the towns of Northum- 
 berland and Saratoga, and a curious incident en- 
 abled him to verify his work. He found the 
 old survey mark in a log of yellow pine (known 
 to be very durable) under ground, and correspond- 
 ing with his own Imes. 
 
 Mr. McCreedy is one of four generations who 
 have fought in the various wars of the country. 
 His father and grandfather were in the battles of 
 Saratoga; he fought in the battle of Plattsburgh 
 in the war of 181 2, and his son took an active 
 part in the late war. His wife, who is near his 
 own age, and has lived with him sixty years, is a 
 very bright old lady. She gives a vivid account 
 of a fourth of July celebration that took place 
 at Schuylerville fifty-five years ago, when the 
 veterans of the revolution had a banquet spread 
 for them on the plain before Fort Hardy, where 
 the British stacked their arms. She says the old 
 men were very spry on that day, and that there 
 was then assembled the largest crowd of people 
 ever gathered at Schuylerville. E. H. W. 
 
VISITORS' GUIDE 
 
teUZERT^ 
 
 A-^.'l" 
 
 J.n^yL. 
 
 ■y 
 
 iiL tUe "Vicinity of 
 
 SATtATOGA 
 
 SPRINGS GlensFallf^^ 
 
 % 
 
 Scale 3 -rnrlcs tot/it iiwh 
 
 'MulkB.r><L 
 
 'VTessups 
 
 Laiidms: 
 
 SoutkCorintliJt 
 
 M* Pleasant 
 
 Doe' 
 
 J^orthGreenfielc 
 
 For t e r s Cor.<5^'0^ 
 
 fi/ 
 
 
 // 
 
 .Tauvesville /Mv—^uiL 
 
 
 Bacon Hill ^/ 
 
 .1^ 
 
 JUJL 
 
 ^.t^^^fr SARAT< 
 
 
 Coveville . 
 
 Kloodvill^ 
 
 '!^-^^QuaterSp«-'« 
 
 %, 
 
 Cot. Bp#*i . ^r^!#2)>^^^-J^ 
 
 [ 
 
 Louxtd-Lake 
 
 Stillwater 
 
SARATOGA SPRINGS 
 
 IN RELATION TO THE GREAT ROUTES OF TRAVEL 
 
 The village of Saratoga Springs is 
 located directly on the main northern 
 railroad between New York city and 
 Montreal. It is about five hours' ride 
 from New York city, one hour from Troy 
 and one hour and a quarter from Albany, 
 Through trains, with drawing-room cars, 
 arrive from New York and other points 
 several times each day. The Hudson 
 River day and night steamboat lines con- 
 nect with the morning and evening 
 trains. 
 
 From the west, New York Central 
 Railroad trains make immediate connec- 
 tions with Saratoga trains at Schenecta- 
 dy, which is one hour's ride from the 
 Springs. From Boston and the east, 
 many trains of the Boston and .Albany, 
 and also the Hoosick Tunnel road con- 
 nect with Saratoga trains without delay. 
 The Adirondack Railroad has its south- 
 ern terminus at Saratoga Springs. Pas- 
 sengers on that road can go to North 
 Creek, then by stage to Cedar River and 
 to Blue Mountain Lake, the head-waters 
 of the Raquette river. Excursions can 
 be made to Lake George on the Dela- 
 ware and Hudson Canal Co.'s railroad to 
 Glens Falls, and thence by stage ten 
 miles to the south end of the lake, or 
 by railroad to the north end of the lake, 
 which is traversed daily by a pleasant 
 little steamboat. Thus it is seen that 
 tourists passing over any of the great 
 routes north, south, east or west, can 
 reach Saratoga to refresh themselves with 
 
 its health-giving waters, or visit its ob- 
 jects of interest with little loss of time, 
 while those who remain during the sea- 
 son can make frequent excursions to de- 
 lightful places of resort, or reach the 
 cities for business purposes without ef- 
 fort or serious waste of time. 
 
 THE DEPOT 
 The depot is on Division street, near 
 Franklin Square, in the central part of 
 the village, and one block from Broad- 
 way, which is its principal street. Hotel 
 omnibuses convey passengers to the ho- 
 tels free of charge. The best class of 
 livery carriages and horses are also in 
 waiting for the use of travelers, aiatfi the 
 agent of a reliable baggage express com- 
 pany is in attendance on the cars and in 
 the depot. It is but a short walk from 
 the depot to most of the hotels, board- 
 ing houses and springs. 
 
 HOTELS 
 
 The hotels of Saratoga are probably 
 the largest in the world. These immense 
 brick buildings are graceful and impos- 
 ing in appearance. They are richly 
 furnished with taste and elegance, and 
 have all the modern accessories of com- 
 fort and convenience. Elevators are con- 
 stantly in operation; gas, bells and water 
 pipes communicate with each set of 
 apartments. Broad piazzas supplied 
 with easy chairs face the gay panoramic 
 view on Broadway, and also sweep around 
 the inner courts with their beautiful 
 
8o 
 
 VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 lawns, cooling fountains and fine shade 
 trees. A first-class band of music is 
 employed by each hotel, not only to fur- 
 nish dancintf music for the balls, hops, 
 and morning " Germans," but to give 
 each day a piazza or parlor concert of 
 classical music. A programme of these 
 concerts is published d lily in " The Sar- 
 atogian,"and they form one of the most 
 delightful features of Saratoga life. 
 
 The United States Hotel con- 
 tains I, ICO rooms, and capacity for 2,000 
 guests. It offers an especial advantage 
 to visitors in the large number of its 
 cottages and full suites of rooms having 
 a private entrance, numerous connect- 
 ing rooms, large closets and bath-rooms 
 appropriated to each. In these are com- 
 bined the seclusion and repose of family 
 life with the ease and luxury of hotel 
 living. The cottage halls and parlor 
 windows open upon large piazzas, which 
 face the beautiful lawn ; the whole 
 forming a magnificent interior view. 
 The enormous halls, the reading-rooms, 
 and smaller parlors of the house are but 
 introductory to the recherche effect of 
 the grand drawing-room. Far surpass- 
 ing the parlor of the old United States 
 Hotel as this room does, it but suggests 
 to many old time frequenters of the 
 former, the charming days when the elite 
 of the whole country met tliere during 
 each successive " season." They came 
 together with the sure and pleasant ex- 
 pectation each of finding the other in 
 his accustomed place, except when death 
 stepped in and left a theme of regretful 
 sentiment to be dwelt upon by the sur- 
 vivors. 
 
 The traditional flavor of the old aris- 
 tocratic element still lingers about the 
 
 United States, and is constantly strength- 
 ened by its present visitors; that more 
 numerous throng of cultivated and high 
 toned people who gladly leave their city 
 homes to refresh themselves with coun- 
 try pleasures and metropolitan comforts. 
 
 The Grand Union Hotel has a 
 frontage of 1,364 feet on Broadway, and 
 its new central tower commands a mag- 
 nificent view of the surrounding coun- 
 try and distant mountains. The hotel 
 will accommodate 1,800 guests, and is 
 deservedly popular and delightful. 
 
 Congress Hall can receive 1,200 
 guests. It is a first-class hotel in all its 
 appointments. Its picturesque bridge, 
 thrown across Spring street, and connect- 
 ing the hotel with the ball-room, when 
 brilliantly lighted, is one of the most 
 beautiful gaslight views of Saratoga. 
 
 The Clarendon fronts Congress Park, 
 and will accommodate 500 guests, and is 
 a favorite summer home for many of the 
 best families of New York City. 
 
 The Adelphi Hotel. This new brick 
 hotel adjoins the United States. It is a 
 revival of one of the oldest and most 
 popular houses of Saratoga, and the well 
 established reputation of its proprietor 
 as an obliging landlord ensures it a re-es- 
 tablished popularity. It will be kept 
 open all the year. 
 
 Remedial Institute; Sylvester S. 
 Strong, M. D. This is an unique 
 institution, combining in a novel man- 
 ner the pleasant features of the sani- 
 tarium, the hotel and the private board- 
 ing house. Here may be had the best 
 medical attendance and advice. Hither 
 are sent by physicians in the cities 
 many obstinate cases of chronic dis- 
 ease, that the patient may have the 
 
VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 benefit of special appliances, which can 
 only be obtained in a public institution. 
 These appliances are of the most varied, 
 the newest and the best kind. The 
 Turkish and Russian baths are each a 
 bijou. There are also electric baths, 
 health lifts, vibrators, the Swedish move- 
 ment cure, and many other systems of 
 treatment, all of which can be used by 
 persons who do not board in the house. 
 This, however, will accommodate a large 
 number of guests. There is little ap- 
 pearance of invalidism about the estab- 
 lishment, and it is a favorite rendezvous 
 for clergymen and literary people; music, 
 croquet, charades and literary entertain- 
 ments enliven the pleasant summer days 
 and evenings. 
 
 The American, Waverley, Holden 
 House, Windsor, Columbian, Everett, 
 and Heustis House, are excellent hotels 
 on Broadway. The Continental, Ver- 
 mont and many others are pleasantly 
 situated on other streets. 
 
 BOARDING HOUSES 
 
 The Broadway Hall and Washing- 
 ton Hall, on Broadway, are houses long 
 established and favorably known. There 
 are many other good houses on Broad- 
 way and other streets. Pitney's, on 
 Congress street, is also a favorite resort. 
 
 Dr. Hamilton's Medical Institute 
 offers a pleasant and refined home, with 
 many advantages to invalids; it is on 
 Franklin street. MoREY'sis a large and 
 comfortable house on the same street. 
 
 Temple Grove Seminary for young 
 ladies is an excellent institution of learn- 
 ing, and during the season it is a delight- 
 ful boarding house, with its ample 
 
 grounds and pleasant rooms, to which 
 guests are welcomed by its cultured pro- 
 prietors. 
 
 THE MINERAL SPRINGS 
 
 In an irregular valley, several miles in 
 length, lie the Mineral Springs of Sara- 
 toga county. The most noted are within 
 the limits that terminate at the Excelsior 
 and Union Springs towards the north- 
 east, and the Geyser, with other spouting 
 springs, towards the south. The valley 
 winds through the village of Saratoga 
 Springs, between the two principal streets, 
 Broadway and Circular, crossing the lat- 
 ter near the Empire, and the former near 
 the Congress Springs. 
 
 This valley is at the base of the great 
 chains of mountains towards the north- 
 west. Beneath it is a ' fault ' or frac- 
 ture in the earth's crust, which penetrates 
 several geological strata. " The rocks 
 on the west side of the " fault " are hun- 
 dreds of feet above those on the east 
 side." This displacement prevents the 
 free flow of waters past the "fault," the 
 Hudson river slates being here opposed 
 to the Lower Silurian rocks, and thus 
 are thrown towards the earth's surface, 
 not only the mineral springs that surprise 
 and delight us, but vast numbers of 
 sparkling fresh water springs of unri- 
 valled purity and power. 
 
 The High Rock Spring is the historic 
 spring of Saratoga. It was known to the 
 Indians before a white man trod this con- 
 tinent, and their sick were frequently 
 brought to the " Medicine spring of the 
 Great Spirit." The first white man who 
 visited the spring was a sick French offi- 
 cer, who was brought by the Indians from 
 Fort Carillon. The very name of Sara- 
 
82 
 
 VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 toga is proof of the early discovery of this 
 spring by the Indians. It signifies "the 
 place of the miraculous waters in a rock." 
 In 1767, Sir William Johnson was car- 
 ried to the spring on a litter, the Indians 
 having persuaded him that the waters 
 would be a sure remedy for the serious 
 illness he frequently suffered, in conse- 
 quence of an old wound. In 1783, Gen- 
 eral Philip Schuyler opened a road from 
 the Fish Kill, through the forest, to the 
 spring, near which he raised a tent, and 
 lived in it during the summer. The 
 next season he put up the first frame 
 house that was built at the Springs. 
 
 Considered medicinally, the waters of 
 this spring are among the very best of 
 the mineral fountains of Saratoga, and 
 many old residents prefer them to any 
 others. The especial feature of this 
 spring, however, is its wonderful geolog- 
 ical formation; "it is one of the greatest 
 natural curiosities in the world — perhaps 
 the most remarkable specimen of its 
 kind upon the whole face of the earth." 
 It can be reached by descending into the 
 valley from Rock street down a long, 
 but easy flight of steps, or by walking a 
 few rods around the hill by the Empire 
 Spring. The Rock is nearly four feet in 
 height above the surface of the ground, 
 and over twenty-four feet in circum- 
 ference at the base. The spring bub- 
 bles up through an aperture in the centre 
 of the rock, remaining ten inches below 
 the top, where the opening is one foot in 
 diameter. The walls of the rock are of 
 nearly uniform thickness. The spring 
 formerly overflowed this rock, which has 
 been formed from the mineral deposits 
 of the water. " The mineral substances 
 held in solution in the springs with the 
 
 carbonic acid gas are magnesia, lime and 
 iron; these substances, together with oth- 
 ers furnished from materials about the 
 spring, such as leaves, twigs, nuts and 
 shells of snails, compose the High Rock. 
 The phenomenon is not an isolated in- 
 stance of this kind of formation at the 
 springs of Saratoga. A large amount of 
 this deposit was thrown down at the Flat 
 Rock Spring, and at the mouth of the 
 Empire there was a deposit of tufa, about 
 the size of a two quart bowl, with an 
 aperture of two inches." These deposits 
 are always going on, but they seldom re- 
 pose long enough to accumulate and be 
 cemented together. The position of the 
 Congress Spring in the side of a rock, 
 from which it made a rapid descent into 
 the creek just below, prevented any such 
 accumulation. 
 
 The water of the High Rock Spring 
 is of uniform quality, and an excellent 
 tonic; it is also bottled on an extensive 
 scale. 
 
 Congress Spring and Park, corner 
 of Broadway and Congress streets. 
 Let us revert for a moment to Saratoga 
 Springs in the past. It is August 1792. 
 Near the High Rock Spring stand two 
 rude log houses, to which rough addi- 
 tions have been made which convert 
 them into taverns for the accommoda- 
 tion of visitors to the one spring then 
 known in this locality ; in the rear of 
 these houses is a quaint blacksmith's 
 shop, built of heavy stones. Not far 
 distant, embowered by the primitive for- 
 est, is the simple summer house of Gen- 
 eral Philip Schuyler, consisting of two 
 rooms, with a large stone fireplace and 
 chimney between them. A mile to the 
 west is the " clearing" of Gideon Put- 
 
VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 83 
 
 nam. A few visitors are gathered at the 
 little taverns. They come to use the 
 waters of the '' great medicine spring " 
 of traditional renown, the High Rock; 
 some of the gentlemen being attracted 
 simply by the fine hunting and fishing to 
 be enjoyed in the vicinity. The dense 
 forest, the abundance and variety of 
 game, and the repose of the wilderness 
 appealed more strongly to the men of 
 that day than to those of the present 
 time. We can easily imagine the sense 
 of freedom and invigorated life with 
 which the statesman and merchant of 
 '92, already familiar from boyhood with 
 the use of gun, boat and horse, would 
 hasten to the forest " Spring " for a few 
 weeks of rest and refreshment. Among 
 such visitors was Governor John Tay- 
 lor Oilman, of New Hampshire, who had 
 been a delegate to the Continental Con- 
 gress. " On a sunny afternoon he took 
 his gun and wandered from the High 
 Rock up the creek into the deep woods 
 in search of game. Coming to a little 
 waterfall he found at the foot of it a small 
 jet of sparkling water, issuing from the 
 rocky bank of the stream ; stooping down 
 to drink he found this little sparkling jet, 
 no bigger than a pipe stem, to be miner- 
 al water. He hastened back to his 
 boarding place and made known his 
 discovery. Every person in the settle- 
 ment was soon at the foot of that cas- 
 cade in the deep, wild woods, wondering 
 at the curious spectacle. You could al- 
 most count them all on your fingers. 
 There was Risley, proprietor of one of 
 the log houses, and his family, and Bry- 
 ant, the patriot scout of the revoLution, 
 who owned the other one. There were 
 also Oeneral Schuyler, Dr. Blakesley, 
 
 Oideon Putnam, a brother of Governor 
 Oilman, with a few more guests of the 
 log taverns. There, too, was Indian 
 Joe, from his " clearing*' on the hill, 
 where the Clarendon now stands, and 
 some of his swarthy brethren from their 
 huts near the High Rock, wondering at 
 the strange commotion among the pale 
 faces at the little waterfall in the brook. 
 
 They all, gathering around it, each in 
 turn tasted the water of the newly found 
 fountain. They pronounced it of su- 
 perior quality, and they named it then 
 and there the Congress Spring, to com- 
 pliment its distinguished discoverer, and 
 in honor of the old Continental Congress, 
 of which he had been a member." 
 
 Such was the beginning of the reputa- 
 tion of the great spring, which has been 
 and must continue to be a living foun- 
 tain of joy to Saratoga — her treasure 
 and her pride — her Kohinoor ! How 
 pure, how concentrated and how firmly 
 fixed must the elements be that compose 
 this generous fountain of health, nestling 
 as it does in the very midst of a bed of 
 fresh, pure waters. The ampitheatre- 
 like knolls around it are bursting forth 
 and brimming over, by nature, at every 
 crevice with great jets of fresh water. 
 Before improvements were begun these 
 waters permeated the marshy basin be- 
 neath, which, though dense with vege- 
 tation, still held them caressingly, and 
 only reluctlantly allowed them to flow off 
 in a little stream through the valley. 
 
 In 1804 the Spring was found insuffi- 
 cient for the demands made upon it. 
 Gideon Putnam, who then owned it, 
 thought he saw indications of gas in the 
 creek some distance from the spring, 
 which he deemed might indicate its 
 
84 
 
 VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 original source. He turned the bed of 
 the creek and found his supposition cor- 
 rect; a large stream flowed from this 
 place. He immediately sunk a strong 
 wooden tube, which secured it for forty 
 years, and it has seldom needed repair- 
 ing. A similar tube now holds the spring, 
 and has been undisturbed since 1865; 
 but what marvelous changes have taken 
 place around it! Yet with all die digging 
 and filling up, the draining, the garden- 
 ing, and the building that has been in 
 progress about it, the spring has remain- 
 ed unmolested, performing its wonted 
 functions steadily and uninterruptedly. 
 Like a pure and beautiful woman of 
 some untutored race, this lovely spring is 
 a perfect work of nature, and as protect- 
 ing drapery and artistic adornments en- 
 hance the charms of a sylvan beauty, so 
 do the luxurious comforts and ornametal 
 accompaniments that have recently 
 been so lavishly supplied to this gem of 
 nature, increase its attractiveness. 
 
 While we sit under the spreading trees 
 or graceful colonnade of the Park, our 
 eyes are rested by its velvety turf, 
 and our thoughts are made active by 
 suggestions of the virgin wilderness, 
 which are aroused by two lofty, pictur- 
 esque pines, which seem to long to tell 
 us stories of the past, as they sway 
 threateningly over the very towers and 
 steeples of the modern village. The 
 memory- haunted deer in their quaint 
 enclosure bound hopefully, now and 
 then, towards the old trees, but repulsed, 
 turn gently back to their small limits, 
 like ambitious souls, checked by the 
 rounds of daily duty. Our emotions are 
 stirred by the strains of classic music, or 
 rendered joyous by lightly tripping meas- 
 
 ures that incite the crowds of happj^ 
 children to still greater glee, or please 
 the world-worn old gentlemen, whose 
 tastes are best gratified by old-fashioned 
 melodies. And while we sit here idly, it 
 is not amiss to recall the outlay of taste, 
 skill and money that has been required 
 to give such comfort and pleasure to the 
 thousands who frequent this delightful 
 spot. 
 
 The latest improvements have de- 
 manded an outlay of over one hundred 
 thousand dollars. The beautiful build- 
 ings, the lake, the walks, the elegant^ 
 Delmonico-like service at the Spring are 
 palpable facts, that "he who [drinks] 
 may read; " but how few think of the 
 invisible network of pipes, 5,581 feet in 
 extent, that drain this natural basin, with 
 their many hidden wells for constant in- 
 spection; of the 20,000 loads of "filling 
 in," and eight acres of sod that have 
 lifted and formed the firm turf; or how 
 few know, when they drink from the 
 ornamental fountain of fresh water, that 
 its source is in a natural spring a few feet 
 from them, and that aiiother spring, 
 which will throw a jet as large as a 
 man's arm, produces the pleasant gurg- 
 ling sound, that may be heard between 
 the lake and the colonnade; or that many 
 of these springs are skillfully utilized in 
 the Park and the bottling house. 
 
 The improved method of bottling the 
 Congress water has greatly increased its 
 value, as will be readily recognized by 
 those familiar with it in the past, or by 
 any one who will look through the bot- 
 tles at the transparent, sparkling fluid. 
 Although the best known processes were 
 used for bottling, they all involved the 
 loss of some of the gases by pump- 
 
VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 85 
 
 ing or otherwise disturbing the water. 
 The botthng is now done several feet be- 
 low the surface of the ground, where the 
 water runs naturally from the spring. 
 
 Strangers will find the bottling house 
 an exceedingly interesting place to visit. 
 It is on Congress street, opposite the 
 spri»g. 
 
 Columbian Spring. This is a tonic 
 spring, and many patients, who are suffer- 
 ing from general debility, are sent by their 
 physicians to Saratoga to obtain the bene- 
 fit of this water. The spring is located in 
 Congress Spring Park, and is accessible 
 from Broadway, through an ornamental 
 gateway, that merely suggests privacy, 
 Avithout restricting in any degree a free ac- 
 cess to the spring. There is no charge for 
 admission to this spring; neither is there 
 to Congress Spring, as that water may 
 be obtained from the open entrance on 
 Congress street. The small fee required 
 for admission to the Park secures to vis- 
 itors the additional comfort, so long 
 needed, of chairs about the spring and 
 Park; many other luxuries have been 
 added, which more than compensate for 
 this slight fee. 
 
 It was thought for many years that the 
 water of the Columbian Spring was too 
 strongly impregnated with iron to be bot- 
 tled with advantage; but all difficulties 
 have been overcome, and it is now bot- 
 tled in large quantities. 
 
 Excelsior Spring and P.a.rk. This 
 spring, with its surrounding park, is 
 about three-quarters of a mile north- 
 east of the village. The park embraces 
 that beautiful portion of Saratoga Springs 
 which was known for many years as " The 
 Valley of the Ten Springs," with the 
 table land lying on either side of this 
 valley. The high ground commands 
 
 fine views of the mountains of Ver- 
 mont and of those around Lake George. 
 The fine, natural forest of the park 
 affords the most delightful rambles, 
 with some beautiful woodland views. 
 This is pre-eminently " the walk" outside 
 of the village, and can be made long or 
 short according to the path chosen. To 
 the residents of Saratoga Springs the 
 very name " Excelsior Woods" suggests 
 remembrances of a first release from the 
 winter bondage of snow and ice, when 
 they hasten out in search of early spring 
 flowers, or of gorgeous October days, 
 when they wander under the great trees 
 to gather the ruddy-tinted leaves and 
 delicate ferns that may bring a breath of 
 the forest into the winter seclusion of 
 home life. To how many are these ram- 
 bles fraught with memories of tender 
 words and unregretted sighs? their un- 
 expected wildness and seeming remot- 
 ness from the gay village near by, ren- 
 dering them the very home of romance 
 and of hope. The practical pedestrian will 
 perhaps remember better the draught of 
 delicious spring water at the terminus of 
 the walk, the sites for summer villas 
 laid out by the enterprising proprietor, 
 or an inspection of the well-kept ma- 
 chinery of the Holly System at the 
 Water Works near at hand ; or a rest on 
 the shaded lawn of the Mansion House, 
 near the spring. 
 
 The Excelsior Spring is remark- 
 able for its crystaline purity, its min- 
 eral substances being held in such per- 
 fect solution that " seeing is [not] be- 
 lieving," but one must taste the water to 
 receive assurance that the long list of 
 chemicals — sodium, lime, magnesia, iron, 
 &c., are really within its transparency. 
 This, the most important of the " Ten 
 
S6 
 
 VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 Springs," was retubed with great care in 
 1859. The excavation was made to the 
 " Trenton Hme rock, where the mineral 
 water from five different points flowed 
 into the well." 
 
 The Excelsior only needs to be known 
 to be appreciated. The water is spark- 
 ling and delightful to the taste, its me- 
 dicinal effects are active and its surround- 
 ings charming. It is bottled without 
 sediment, and any visitor who enjoys 
 getting at the " bottom facts" of things, 
 and all those who recognize scientific 
 thoroughness and honorable earnestness,'' 
 will do well to inspect the ways and 
 means used in bottling at this spring by 
 the Messrs. Lawrence, Brothers. These 
 gentlemen were the first to devise and 
 put into effect the new method of bot- 
 tling — carrying this work below the 
 surface of the ground, on a level with 
 the spring, and thus leaving its gases 
 undisturbed, instead of forcing the 
 water of the spring up, for the conve- 
 nience of the work. They have also 
 invented a new process of supplying 
 spring water on draught, by which it can 
 be drawn from the fountain of the drug- 
 gist, pure and unadulterated, as it came 
 from the spring. Heretofore, even when 
 the genuine water was supplied by such 
 fountains, it was found necessary to 
 charge it with artificial gases. To avoid 
 this objectionable feature, has been an 
 object of much thought and many ex- 
 periments. Mr. Lawrence has succeeded 
 in obviating this difficulty by means of 
 block-tin-lined reservoirs, filled by hy- 
 drostatic pressure, and perfectly gas- 
 tight. These reservoirs or barrels are 
 made on the premises at the Excelsior, 
 and are shipped to druggists, under spe- 
 
 cial contract that no artificial gas or 
 other substance shall be mixed with the 
 water. A simple mechanism enables the 
 druggist to attach the reservoir to the 
 fountain; and when the water is ex- 
 hausted, the reservoir is returned to the 
 spring, to be refilled. This is an im- 
 provement in the use of mineral Meters 
 that will be highly esteemed by the pub- 
 lic as soon as it is generally under- 
 stood. 
 
 Empire Spring. This is one of the 
 noted springs of the place, and is in the 
 northern part of the village, just in the 
 depth of the valley; behind it is a bold 
 face of limestone formation. The water of 
 this valuable mineral spring had been 
 noted long before any attempt was made 
 to utilize it. About thirty years ago, 
 however, it was provided with a tube, so 
 that the waters that had been trickling 
 away uselessly for ages might be secured 
 Since then it has been used on the spot 
 by thousands, and is bottled in large 
 quantities. It vies with the Congress 
 Spring in its qualities, which it resembles 
 in some respects, but for other properties, 
 its admirers claim a superiority. 
 
 Washington Spring. The peculiar 
 virtue of this spring is its tonic prop- 
 erty. Its waters are largely impregnated 
 with iron and with carbonic acid gas, that 
 render it pleasantly exhilarating. This 
 spring is situated on the west side of 
 Broadway, opposite Congress Park. 
 
 Red Spring. This spring is in close 
 vicinity to the Empire Spring. It has 
 acquired some reputation for beneficial 
 results as an external wash. The water 
 is seldom used as a beverage. Scientific 
 men have not detected by analysis of the 
 water the material agent that would ac- 
 
VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 87 
 
 count for the curative properties claimed 
 for it. Still, either fact or fancy gives it 
 a favor. 
 
 Geyser Spouting Spring. On the 
 way to Ballston, about a mile and a half 
 from the village, one of the most remark- 
 able mineral springs issuing from the lab- 
 oratory of chemical compounds that 
 makes Saratoga's celebrity, may be found. 
 This is the Geyser Spring, which was 
 discovered only at the beginning of the 
 present decade. A shaft of 140 feet deep 
 was sunk below the surface rock, and 
 when the spring was reached, instantan- 
 eously its waters spouted with unrestrain- 
 ed force high up in the air. With una- 
 bated vigor the fountain still plies its 
 action. The water is thrown to the height 
 of twenty-five feet. It has acquired 
 great popularity, and may be found 
 for sale extensively throughout the 
 Union. 
 
 Champion Spring. This is a beauti- 
 ful spouting spring near the Geyser; it is 
 uncovered, and may be easily seen from 
 passing trains on the railroad, throwing 
 its sparkling jets into the air during the 
 summer, or stealing silently over its 
 gorgeous surroundings of ice-bound spray 
 during the winter; at this season it is a 
 rare and beautiful sight, with its tent-like 
 pyramid of frozen waters, colored a rich 
 brown from the mineral deposit. 
 
 Vichy Spring. This is also a spout- 
 ing spring, near the shore of the Geyser 
 Lake, of admirable mineral properties, 
 and is rapidly gaining favor with the pub- 
 lic. It is on draught by all best drug- 
 gists in New York city, and in good de- 
 mand; it is extensively bottled. 
 
 Triton Spring. This is another of 
 
 the spouting springs, and is situated on 
 the opposite side of Geyser Lake from the 
 Vichy; it also has good mineral proper- 
 ties. 
 
 Pavilion Spring and United States 
 Spring. A stranger might inadvertantly 
 pass by the place of these two springs, 
 from the secluded locality in which they 
 are hidden in a valley, a few feet from 
 Broadway, off Spring Avenue, did not a 
 guiding sign direct his steps to the Pavil- 
 ion Spring and Park. Although dwell- 
 ing under a common roof, these two 
 springs give expression to their distinct 
 origins, for they differ very much in their 
 properties. A bottling establishment is 
 connected with these springs. 
 
 Hamilton Spring is on Spring street, 
 at the corner of Putnam street, in the 
 rear of Congress Hall. It has valuable 
 properties common to others. It is cur- 
 iously said that, " persons suffering from 
 ' a cold' should not drink this water." 
 The visitor desirous of learning the fit- 
 ness of things, may find entertaining oc- 
 cupation in seeking a good reason for 
 this caution. 
 
 White Sulphur Spring. Following 
 out Lake Avenue to about a mile east 
 from Broadway, the tourist will discover 
 the White Sulphur Spring. The clear, 
 bright waters emitted from this spring 
 lay claim to all the merits vaunted for 
 sulphur springs anywhere in the land. 
 Stages run hourly between the White 
 Sulphur Spring and the village, furnish- 
 ing comfortable conveyance to all who 
 desire to experience the benefits of the 
 sulphureted water, whether taken in- 
 ternally as a beverage, or used as a bath; 
 for the purposes of the latter a commodi- 
 
88 
 
 Visitors guide 
 
 ous bath house with all convenience of 
 rooms for hot and cold sulphur baths is 
 supplied. The Eureka Spring is near 
 the White Sulphur. 
 
 Hathorn Spring. This spring is 
 situated on Spring street, a few steps 
 from Broadway. It was discovered acci- 
 dentally in 1869, and carefully tubed in 
 1872. It has acquired a sudden popu- 
 larity, and is bottled in large quantities. 
 It is strongly cathartic, and is said to be 
 used with good effect in cases of rheu- 
 matism. It contains valuable properties, 
 and its recent discovery is a proof of the 
 unfailing source of Saratoga's treasure 
 house of mineral waters. 
 
 Star Spring. This spring has been 
 wedded to the interests of different own- 
 ers, who have manifested their favor for 
 it with various names. Within the fifty 
 years that its remedial virtues have been 
 appropriated, it has been called the Pres- 
 ident, the Iodine, and last, the Star Spring. 
 It was tubed in 1835, and during the last 
 ten or twelve years has risen in public esti- 
 mation. 
 
 Putnam Spring. This spring is near 
 Henry street, and has a bathing establish- 
 ment connected with it, for the external 
 use of the waters. 
 
 Seltzer Spring. This spring is near 
 the High Rock Spring, and its proper- 
 ties are similar to the famous German 
 "Seltzer." 
 
 Saratoga A. This spring is above 
 the Empire on Spring street. It is a de- 
 licious beverage, clear and cold, and a 
 valuable mineral spring. 
 
 Magnetic Spring. This is a newly 
 discovered spring near the High Rock, 
 and it has some peculiar properties. 
 
 A FEW PLEASANT WALKS 
 (See map of the village of Saratoga 
 Springs.) 
 L The length of Broadway north and 
 south, as far as the shade trees extend, 
 including a visit to Congress Park, or the 
 Indian Camp, and Pleasure Grove, 
 near South Broadway. 
 
 II. Wood Lawn. From North Broad- 
 way turn into Greenfield Avenue, oppo- 
 site Rock street, and thence into Wood 
 Lawn Avenue, which leads direct to the 
 Wood Lawn estate. From the slope in 
 front of the house there is a fine view of 
 the surrounding mountains and the dis- 
 tant i^eaks of the Catskills. The woods 
 behind the house are full of chestnut 
 trees, ferns and wild flowers. Return by 
 the Bryan Boulevard, which sweeps past 
 the front of Wood Lawn into upper 
 Broadway. 
 
 III. A stroll through Green Ridge 
 Cemetery, along Circular street as far 
 as the Empire Spring, and a short dis- 
 tanceout Spring Avenueto the Red Spring. 
 
 IV. Excelsior Woods. From Cir- 
 cular street, where it begins to wind down 
 the hill, to the Empire Spring, turn up 
 York Avenue, which leads directly to the 
 woods, through which a delightful, shady 
 path winds down to the Excelsior, Union 
 and Minnehaha Springs. 
 
 Another way of reaching Excelsior 
 Woods is to walk out Lake Avenue, and 
 turn to the left at East Avenue. 
 
 V. Each of the mineral springs in 
 the village should be visited in turn, be- 
 sides which there are many quiet, shady 
 streets of residences both east and west 
 of Broadway, which the pedestrian 
 stranger will enjoy hunting up at leisure. 
 
-^w ^^se^\ \\^ 
 
VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 89 
 
 SHORT DRIVES FROM SARATO- 
 SPRINGS. 
 
 (See Map of Drives in the Vicinity of 
 Saratoga Springs.) 
 
 Omnibuses run from Broadway to Sar- 
 atoga Lake, to the White Sulphur Spring 
 at the south end of the lake, to Glen 
 Mitchell, the Geyser and other spouting 
 springs, Excelsior and Ten Springs, Eu- 
 reka and White Sulphur Springs. Omni- 
 buses may be chartered for pleasure par- 
 ties from R. L. Skarrit. See cards at 
 hotel offices. 
 
 Light Vehicles, suitable for country 
 excursions, and luxurious carriages are 
 advantageously obtained at the United 
 States Livery and at the Congress Hall 
 Livery. 
 
 To Saratoga Lake (four miles south- 
 east). This is the fashionable drive from 
 Saratoga Springs. The principal road is 
 Union Avenue, which is an extension of 
 Congress street. It is a broad boulevard 
 with a double row of trees in the center, 
 and is kept sprinkled along its entire ex- 
 tent during the " season." It passes the 
 race course, and leads directly to Moon's 
 Lake House, and the Brigg's House, 
 where the famous " Saratoga Lake po- 
 tatoes " are ordered with ice cream and 
 refreshing drinks. A pleasant feature 
 of the drive is the contrast between the 
 repose and beauty of the distant Green 
 Mountains, and the excitement and in- 
 terest of watching the quick succession 
 of brilliant equipages that dash past. 
 Lake avenue, another road to the lake, 
 leaves Broadway at the Town Hall and 
 forks off at the old Half Way House 
 (now called Freeman's Hotel), the right 
 hand road running into Union Avenue 
 and thence to the Lake House. The 
 
 drive back from the lake may be varied 
 by continuing along the lake shore from 
 Moon's through Frank Leslie's orna- 
 mental grounds, and taking the south 
 road to the village (the first turn to the 
 right). This road winds past romantic 
 little Lake Lonely and crosses its outlet 
 at the Red Bridge. The village is reach- 
 ed either by turning into Nelson street 
 or South Broadway. 
 
 To the Geyser and Spouting 
 Springs. (One mile and a half south- 
 west.) By continuing the last mention- 
 ed drive about a mile further instead of 
 turning into Broadway, Geyser Lake and 
 the Spouting Springs are reached. But 
 the most direct route there and back is 
 by Ballston Avenue, which leaves Broad- 
 way diagonally, one block south of the 
 Clarendon Hotel. It passes near the 
 glass works, which may be visited at the 
 same time. From the Geyser a very 
 pretty road through the woods leads to 
 Fairview, Professor von Below's place, 
 formerly the residence of Professor 
 Youmans. 
 
 Glen Mitchell Hotel and Race 
 Course. (One mile and a half north.) 
 North Broadway leads direct to Glen 
 Mitchell. This is a beautiful as well as 
 fashionable drive. Maple Avenue makes 
 a charming return drive. The High Rock 
 and Empire Springs may be visited before 
 turning again into the great thorough- 
 fares. 
 
 Loughberry Lake Drive (three 
 miles) and the Excelsior (one mile 
 northeast). After driving to Glen Mit- 
 chell those who would enjoy a quiet, pic- 
 turesque drive of a few miles should turn 
 to the right, pass Maple Avenue and drive 
 on round the shore of Loughberry Lake, 
 
90 
 
 VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 turn into Spring Avenue, which passes 
 the water works and gas works, or drive 
 through Excelsior Park, the Ten Spring 
 Valley — stop at the Excelsior for a cool, 
 sparkling drink, and then back by Lake 
 Avenue. 
 
 To THE Poplar Tree on Prospect 
 Ridge. (About five miles northwest.) 
 If not the finest of all this is certainly 
 one of the most beautiful drives within 
 a convenient distance of the village, 
 though it is not so well known as those 
 hitherto described. The moment the 
 open country is reached the scenery is 
 charming. The Kayaderosseras range 
 of mountains is seen to the west, while 
 along the northern horizon runs an un- 
 broken ridge of the Greenfield hills 
 (designated on the map as Prospect 
 Ridge), on the crest of which a solitary 
 poplar tree stands out prominently 
 against the sky. This tree is the object 
 toward which the drive is directed. 
 When the road begins to ascend the 
 ridge, the views constantly increasing in 
 scope and beauty, it is lost sight of and 
 next appears when it is only a short dis- 
 tance in front. The Poplar should be 
 reached, if possible, just at sunset, when 
 the whole scene is enchanting. But to 
 return to more practical directions. 
 From Broadway turn into Van Dam or 
 Church streets, either of which leads 
 into Waring Avenue, a broad, even road. 
 At the first cross road after leaving the 
 village (Granger's Four Corners) turn to 
 the right. In a short distance the road 
 divides, but follow the left hand road, 
 and passing through Locust Grove Cor- 
 ners, do not turn until the Adirondack 
 Railroad is crossed. Here the road rises 
 rapidly over several hills near Darrow's 
 
 farm, from each of which the view is very 
 fine. Saratoga Lake and Snake Hill are 
 plainly discernable. When visitors ask 
 to go to Prospect Hill they are frequent- 
 ly brought here. (The real • Prospect 
 Hill is designated on the map of Drives 
 as Haggerty Hill, which is its local 
 name.) The entire drive to the Poplar, 
 as here given, is over a good, smooth 
 road. After leaving Darrow's take the 
 first turn to the right, and the solitary 
 poplar will soon appear. The view from 
 the carriage is good, but a walk across 
 the field to the tree will give abetter one, 
 A few rods east of the Poplar a road 
 turns to the right, passes near Granite 
 Lake, and leads into the road to Glen 
 Mitchell. It is a little rougher than the 
 other, but makes a beautiful and shorter 
 return drive. Instead of going on to 
 Glen Mitchell, a diagonal turn to the 
 right near Denton's brings one into 
 Greenfield Avenue. 
 
 LONG DRIVES 
 (On these expeditions it would be well 
 to take the MajD of Drives, and by no- 
 ticing the cross roads and the forks .the 
 roads are easily found. To prevent con- 
 fusion, on so small a map only the most 
 important or direct roads are given, the 
 others being indicated merely as branch- 
 ing off from them. Care has been taken 
 to give the local names of places ; most 
 of the hills being named after the farm- 
 ers who lived upon them, so that if neces- 
 sary directions can be asked at farm 
 houses along the road. A field glass 
 should be taken on drives or expeditions 
 to hills from which there are distant 
 views.) 
 
VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 91 
 
 Mount McGregor. (Eight miles 
 north.) Drive out to Glen Mitchell, 
 turn to the right, then take the first road 
 to the left (opposite Maple avenue). 
 From here the road follows the eastern 
 base of the Palmertovvn Range, to which 
 Mount McGregor belongs, and which 
 extends from Glen Mitchell to Lake 
 George ; at the first fork in the road 
 keep to the left, at the second to the 
 right, and drive on to Doe's Corners. 
 Here a winding, well-graded road leads 
 up the Mount to McGregor's Hotel, 
 where a lunch or dinner can be obtain- 
 ed, and near which is the Look-Off. 
 When it can be said that the view from 
 this point, though on a smaller scale, is 
 similar to the one from the Mountain 
 House on the Catskills, no one will doubt 
 that it is well worth seeing. Besides the 
 ranges of mountains that skirt the hori- 
 zon, which sweeps around in a vast semi- 
 circle — Glens Falls, Fort Edward, Sandy 
 Hill, Schuylerville, Saratoga village and 
 lake, and Willard's Mountain, overlook- 
 ing the Battle Ground, are plainly dis- 
 cern able, while Bennington lies off 
 among the hills on the east side of the 
 Hudson. To one who has already vis- 
 ited or intends to visit the historic spots 
 in this region, there is an especial inter- 
 est in thus seeing at a glance the great 
 theatre of the many and brilliant mili- 
 tary movements of Burgoyne's cam- 
 paign — his marches, his defeats, his sur- 
 render. 
 
 The Greenfield Hills — Prospect 
 Ridge. (Round trip about eighteen 
 miles northwest. ) Drive out Waring 
 avenue, pass Granger's Four Corners 
 without turning either to the right or 
 left, and then take the first road to the 
 
 left, near a school house, to reach HiCK- 
 ock's Hill. This road is steep, and 
 winds over some slippery rocks, making 
 it a dangerous place for horses. It would 
 be well to ascend the hill on foot. The 
 view is best seen from the front of New- 
 ell's cottage. Widow Smith's Hill is 
 reached either by continuing on past 
 Hickock's house and taking the first road 
 to the left, or by returning to the school 
 house and driving through Spli<nterville, 
 which is a very small ville indeed, and 
 then turning to the left. From the 
 Widow Smith's drive on to the first cross 
 road and turn to the right to reach Hag- 
 gerty or Prospect Hill, which is six 
 miles from the village. Then drive on 
 through Greenfield Centre, past the Pop- 
 lar Tree and on to Eli Stiles', from 
 whose place there is another fine view. 
 Here there are four corners. Turn to 
 the right and follow the road along by 
 the Palmertown Hills to Glen Mitchell. 
 
 Lake Desolation. (About twelve 
 miles northwest.) Follow Greenfield or 
 Waring avenue into the south Greenfield 
 road, thence on past Widow Smith's 
 house, near which there is a fine view, to 
 Jamesville (or Middle Grove). From 
 there drive north and west to Chatfield's 
 Corners and turn sharply to the left. 
 From here to the lake the road is rough 
 and up hill, the scenery desolate as the 
 name of the lake suggests, and the dis- 
 tant views magnificent. Near the Seely 
 place, on the way, there is a watering 
 trough, supplied from a fresh water 
 spring, remarkable both for its volume 
 and its quality. 
 
 White Sulphur Spring Park and 
 Hotel. (Eight miles southwest.) Drive 
 out to Saratoga Lake, down the hill be- 
 
92 
 
 VISITORS GUIDE 
 
 hind Moon's to Briggs' House, thence 
 across the bridge and along the lake 
 shore — a lovely drive — to the far side of 
 Snake Hill, where the White Sulphur 
 Spring, Hotel and Park are situated. 
 
 Omnibuses run regularly back and 
 forth between this place and Saratoga 
 Springs. It may also be reached by driv- 
 ing out Union avenue, and then travers- 
 ing the lake in a little steamboat. 
 
 From the White Sulplur Spring there is 
 a road to Bemis' Heights (see Map of 
 Drives), thence along the Hudson river 
 to Stillwater, and on to Mechanicsville, 
 through which the Rensalaer and Sara- 
 toga Railroad passes. 
 
 Ballston. (Seven miles southwest.) 
 Round Lake. (Twelve miles south.) 
 To Ballston Spa, which was the fashion- 
 able watering place before Saratoga 
 eclipsed her, is a pleasant drive of seven 
 miles. Round Lake, the great camp 
 meeting ground, can be reached by car- 
 riage from the road between Ballston 
 and the White Sulphur Spring by turn- 
 ing south through Dunning's Corners 
 and Malta. It is only a few minute's 
 ride on the cars from Saratoga to either 
 of these places. 
 
 Chapman's Hill (five miles south- 
 east), from which there is a fine view, is 
 reached by turning sharply to the left at 
 the first road which leaves the lake shore 
 after crossing the bridge from the Briggs 
 House, and keeping straight up the hill 
 past the Chapman House. 
 
 Wagman's Hill (seven miles south- 
 east) is about three miles farther from the 
 Lake shore road. After mounting Chap- 
 man's Hill, turn to the left at two differ- 
 ent cross roads, and keep right on till the 
 hill beyond the school-house is mounted. 
 
 The views are beautiful all the way from 
 Chapman's Hill to Wagman's, and the 
 road passes through an unusually fine 
 farming region. From Wagman's Hill a 
 road to the left leads to Stafford's Bridge, 
 and thence to Saratoga Springs, either by 
 Moon's Lake House or the Schuylerville 
 road. Another road from the Hill leads 
 direct to Schuylerville, 
 
 Waring Hill (about fourteen miles 
 and a half northwest). " The boldest 
 and most imposing view, within a conve- 
 nient drive from the Springs, is Waring 
 Hill, on the road to Mount Pleasant, 
 one of the highest points of land be- 
 tween the valley of the Hudson and Lake 
 Ontario. This view includes the villa- 
 ges of Saratoga, Ballston Spa, Schenec- 
 tady, Waterford, Mechanicsville, Schuy- 
 lerville, Saratoga Lake, Fish Creek, Owl 
 Pond, Ballston Lake, and Round Lake, 
 together with the winding stream of Kay- 
 aderosseras, from its source in the sides 
 of the mountain to its entrance into Sar- 
 atoga Lake, and the whole course of the 
 Hudson, from its confluence with the 
 Sacondaga until it is lost in the midst of 
 the Catskill Mountains. This view is 
 obtained by a drive up the Hadley Plank 
 Road of about eight miles; thence along 
 the Mount Pleasant Plank Road nearly 
 up to the foot of Waring Hill, six miles; 
 thence to the right by a mountain road 
 for half a mile. At this point the car- 
 riages are to be left, and Waring Hill, of 
 three hundred feet, is to be ascended on 
 foot. The excursion may be made be- 
 tween the breakfast and dinner hours 
 with great ease. A good glass is im- 
 portant, for many of the villages are not 
 to be seen distinctly by the naked eye."* 
 Corinth Falls (fifteen miles north). 
 
visitors' guide 
 
 93 
 
 ''Another drive is Coiinth Falls in the 
 Hudson River, about one mile from Jes- 
 sup's Landing. In order to view the 
 falls from the Luzerne side, it is neces- 
 sary to cross the river at the landing, and 
 drive to the top of the bluff, which rises 
 one hundred feet above the falls, or to 
 the bank of the river below them." * 
 
 Luzerne (twenty-two miles north). 
 
 Glens Falls (nineteen miles north- 
 east). 
 
 Lake George (about thirty miles 
 north). Those who have private carri- 
 ages, or who prefer driving to the regular 
 railroad routes, can make a pleasant trip 
 to Luzerne and the Falls of the Hudson 
 by the old stage road. There are several 
 roads to Glens Falls and Fort Edward. 
 Li the autumn, when the woods are aglow 
 with color, a delightful trip can be made 
 to Glens Falls by carriage, and thence to 
 the foot of Lake George. 
 
 * Dr. Allen's Hand-Book of Saratoga. 
 
GUIDE 
 THE BATTLE GROUND AND SCHUYLERVILLE 
 
GUIDE TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 (Nine miles soullieast). See Map of the 
 
 Third Period of Burgoyne's Cami)aign; 
 
 also Map of Drives.) 
 
 The Battle Ground proper is about 
 nine miles from Saratoga Springs; but 
 to drive there, around and through all 
 the interesting spots and back again, 
 makes a drive of about twenty - four 
 miles. Taken leisurely, it is a delightful 
 day's expedition. Having ordered a 
 carriage, or, for a large party, chartered 
 an omnibus, and prepared a lunch to be 
 eaten at some historic spot — either in the 
 British Camp near Freeman's Farm, at 
 Gates' Headquarters near the Neilson 
 House, or at Wilbur's Basin down by the 
 river — leave the village at eight or nine 
 o'clock in the morning, expecting to re- 
 turn at five or six o'clock in the after- 
 noon. 
 
 Drive out Union Avenue to the Lake, 
 down the hill behind Moon's to the 
 Brigg's House, cross the bridge, and fol- 
 low the road along the Lake shore, about 
 a mile and a half, to Myer's Cedar Bluff 
 Hotel. Here take the first left hand 
 road, and drive up Caldwell's Hill, from 
 which there is a view similar to that from 
 Chapman's Hill. Take the second left 
 hand road, which turns off between an 
 orchard and a little cemetery, and enters 
 a pleasant wood. Keep first to the right 
 and then to the left. On emerging from 
 the woods, drive straight on past a small 
 red school-house, and up Summit Hill, 
 the highest point on the drive, from which 
 there is a splendid view in every direc- 
 tion. Standing out prominently on the 
 
 eastern bank of the Hudson, Willard's 
 Mountain, from which the Americans 
 looked into the British camp at Sword's 
 House, is seen, and remains in sight dur- 
 ing the drive over the Battle Ground. 
 From here a cross-road is i)assed, and 
 the road skirts a rounded, pine-crowned 
 hill, at the foot of which it turns sharply 
 to the right, and reaches the highway to 
 Quaker Springs. Here turn to the right 
 again near the Quaker Meeting House, 
 and keep to the left where the road forks. 
 From the moment the Quaker Meet- 
 ing House is reached, one is on historic 
 ground. Frazer's march through the 
 woods to the first fight was about where 
 the road now is. At a short distance 
 Burgoyne's Hill (the Hessian Camj), 
 where Breyman was killed and Arnold 
 wounded), a rounded eminence, covered 
 with small trees, is seen to the left. At 
 the first cross-road turn to the left, and 
 the first farm house on the right, which 
 is now occupied by Mr. Brightman, 
 stands on the old revolutionary clearing 
 of "Freeman's Farm," around which 
 raged the fury of both battles. Some 
 interesting relics, dug up in the neigh- 
 borhood, are shown here, and the old 
 well is pointed out, for the possession of 
 which the British and American soldiers 
 fought fiercely on the 19th of September. 
 In the woods just across the road from 
 " Freeman's Farm " is an old graded 
 road, made by Burgoyne to bring his 
 cannon across the ravine. Lately the 
 bridge has been rebuilt, and now farm 
 wagons travel in the ruts of the old can- 
 
98 
 
 GUIDE TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 non wheels. From Burgoyne's Hill, which 
 still retains faint traces of entrenchments 
 and an old road, and which may be reach- 
 ed by a walk over the fields, one can get a 
 good view of the ravines in the rear of 
 the British Camp, and the battle field of 
 October 7th, stretching off to the south 
 and west. On Bemis' Heights, about 
 two miles south, is seen the Neilson 
 House, near a poplar tree. This stood 
 in the American Camp. 
 
 From " Freeman's Farm," drive on to 
 Wilbur's Basin down by the river. This 
 road goes through the midst of what was 
 the British Camp (see modern road on the 
 Map of the Third Period of Burgoyne's 
 Campaign), and gives one an idea of its 
 natural defenses. Turn to the left along 
 the river road, and drive a few rods in 
 front of a succession of high mounds. 
 It was here that the British were crowded 
 together just before they began their re- 
 treat up the river. On the second mound 
 north of Wilbur's Basin stood the great 
 redoubt in which Frazer was buried. 
 At the base of the fourth mound is the 
 site of the house in which he died, occu- 
 pied at the time by Madam Riedesel, 
 and from which she witnessed his funeral. 
 Nothing remains of it. Sword's House, 
 where Burgoyne encamped before the 
 first battle, was two miles farther up the 
 river. 
 
 From Wilbur's Basin drive two miles 
 south, along the river road, to where the 
 old Bemis tavern stood, which is also 
 demolished. Notice on the way where 
 the Middle Ravine, or Mill Creek, so fre- 
 quently referred to, comes in, and also 
 the ravine which skirted the front of 
 American Camp. 
 
 At Bemis' Heights turn up the hill to 
 
 the right. This drive gives one an idea 
 of the strong position chosen by Kos- 
 ciusko for the Americans. Nearly all 
 the breastworks have been ploughed 
 down. In a field to the left, opposite the 
 road which turns up to the Neilson farm, 
 stands a single spreading tree, under 
 which is an old well that supplied the 
 house used by Gates as headquarters. A 
 faint, square depression in the ground 
 near it is the only indication of the 
 house. 
 
 The Neilson house stands on the high- 
 est point of the Heights, and traces of 
 entrenchments are visible near it, extend- 
 ing under the barn that stands on the 
 same place as the old fortified log barn 
 of 1777. The back part of the Neilson 
 house is just as it was then. In it Gen- 
 eral Poor and Coloned Morgan had their 
 quarters, and Lady Ackland visited her 
 wounded husband. 
 
 In driving back toward Burgoyne's 
 Hill, the country is traversed over which 
 the American troops rushed forth from 
 their camp to the battle of October 7th; 
 and near the roadside, not far from 
 Walker's house the spot is pointed out 
 where General Frazer was wounded. 
 This is the road which passes the Quaker 
 Meeting House, and the visitor can eas- 
 ily find his way back to Saratoga Springs 
 by the same landmarks which guided 
 him thence. 
 
 The Round Trip to Bemis' Heights 
 AND SCHUYLERViLLE. After driving out 
 to the Battle Ground and visiting the 
 various spots mentioned above, instead 
 of returning to Saratoga Springs, drive 
 up the river road to Schuylerville. Along 
 this road the British army marched to 
 the Battle Ground and retreated to the 
 
GUIDE TO THE BATTLE GROUND 
 
 99 
 
 Place of Surrender, halting each time at 
 Dovegat or Coveville. Spend the night 
 at the Goldsmith House inSchuylerville, 
 and return to Saratoga Springs the next 
 day, visiting in the meantime all the his- 
 toric spots at Old Saratoga. Omnibuses 
 may be chartered for this trip. 
 
 Guide to Schuylerville. (Twelve 
 miles east.) The regular stage road to 
 Schuylerville leaves Broadway, Saratoga 
 Springs, at Lake avenue, passes Free- 
 man's Hotel without turning, and con- 
 tinues along the north side of Fish 
 Creek to Grangerville. Here it crosses 
 a bridge and turns south, passes a cross 
 road, turns to the left, crosses the creek 
 again and then goes direct through Vic- 
 tory to Schuylerville. Fish Creek may 
 be crossed either at Stafford's or Bryan's 
 Bridge, and the drive continued along 
 the south side of the creek through a 
 fine farming region to Schuylerville. 
 (See Map of Drives.) The principal 
 thoroughfare in this village is Broad 
 street, running parallel with the river. 
 An old Elm is shown, between which 
 and Fort Hardy the British laid down 
 their arms. The site of Fort Hardy is 
 on the plain near the canal basin, reach- 
 ed from Perry street. Drive out Broad 
 street to the Fishkill. The old ford across 
 the creek is said to have been at the first 
 bend below the modern bridge. The 
 Schuyler mansion, now Col. Stover's, is 
 seen to the left after crossing the creek. 
 A few rods beyond is the site of the old 
 mansion burnt by Burgoyne. A gravel 
 hill to the right is where Lovelace, the 
 Tory, was executed. A little beyond 
 this is the spot where Gates and Bur- 
 goyne met for the first time. About 
 where the road to Victory leaves the river 
 
 road stood the old Dutch Church. A 
 few rods further on is the bluff 
 upon which it is probable that 
 Gates' marquee stood, in front of 
 which Burgoyne surrendered his sword. 
 The house which was used as headc^uar- 
 ters by Gates formerly stood some dis- 
 tance south of this bluff. The house in 
 which Madam Riedesel remained during 
 the cannonade is a mile north of the 
 village. After leaving this house, drive 
 towards the village, and take the first 
 road to the right, which passes the Welch 
 place, upon which there were remains of 
 old barracks a few years ago. To ob- 
 tain a fine view of Burgoyne's position 
 here, follow this road to the summit of 
 the Heights, and then turn to the left, 
 driving to Victory along the ridge of the 
 Heights, upon which the British Camp 
 was posted until the time of the sur- 
 render. The Germans, under Riedesel 
 and Hanau, were encamped to the north; 
 the British regulars extended beyond the 
 new cemetery to a strongly fortified hill 
 just back of Victory, which formed the 
 south-western part of the camp, and the 
 Canadians were stationed at the western 
 outposts; while Morgan's corps, under 
 cover of the woods, hemmed them in to 
 the north-west. (See Map of Third Pe- 
 riod of Burgoyne's Campaign.) 
 
 A monument, located on the summit 
 of these Heights, would have an impos- 
 ing appearance, and would be discern- 
 ible at a great distance from many di- 
 rections. 
 
 Bennington. The Battle Ground of 
 Bennington can be reached from Schuy- 
 lerville by a drive of five miles through 
 a beautiful region to Greenwich or Union 
 Village, and thence by rail to Bennington. 
 
 Lcf^ 
 
KEY TO THE MAP OF THE THIRD PERIOD OF BURGOYNE'S 
 
 CAMPAIGN, 1777 
 
 The March, The military move- 
 ments may be easily followed on this 
 map by starting with the line of march 
 of Burgoyne's army where it crosses the 
 Hudson river on the bridge of boats, 
 above the Batten Kill; follow to the first 
 encampment at Saratoga, the second at 
 Coveville, the third at Swords House. 
 From this place began the march to at- 
 tack the American camp posted on 
 Bemis' Heights, and which resulted in 
 the battle of September 19th. The 
 march is in three columns, indicated by 
 three colored lines; follow two of these 
 columns to Freeman's Farm. 
 
 Battle OF September 19TH. Leave 
 the large map and trace the battle in the 
 smaller division marked Battle of Sep- 
 tember 19th. In the first position it will 
 be seen that Riedesel's corps (green) has 
 not yet reached the field; the Canadians 
 are in advance, pushed by the Ameri- 
 cans (yellow); the British columns are 
 breaking up to form in line of battle. 
 
 In the second position Canadians 
 are driven back, British regulars (red) 
 are in action, the light artillery are on 
 Burgoyne's hill (marked Breyman's 
 cam J)). 
 
 In the third position may be seen the 
 onset of the Americans ; Riedesel 
 comes into action; Briti.sh and Hessian 
 grenadiers are drawing up in lines, Amer- 
 icans are resisting this. 
 
 In the fourth position the British lines 
 are unbroken, the Americans are pushed 
 towards their entrenchments. 
 
 The Camps. Refer again to the large 
 map and find the British camp estab- 
 lished on the field of September 19th; 
 Freeman's Farm and Burgoyne's Hill 
 (marked Breyman's camp) being within 
 the entrenchments, which extend to the 
 river, where the hills are fortified with 
 redoubts, and the hospital, artillery 
 stores and batteaux are covered by a 
 strong battery, near which is the bridge 
 of boats. 
 
 The defences of the American and 
 British camps, which lay within two miles 
 of each other from September 19th to 
 October 7 th are readily traced by follow- 
 ing the course of the streams in the 
 front and rear of the camps; these in- 
 dicate ravines that deepen toward the 
 river. 
 
 Battle of October 7TH. In trac- 
 ing this action observe the British and 
 Hessians drawn up in line of battle 
 southwest of their camp, with Frazer's 
 light infantry on the right, the Hessians 
 in the centre and the British grenadiers 
 on the left. The Americans are seen 
 pouring from their camp in three main 
 columns. Next observe Frazer's second 
 position to cover the retreat into the en- 
 trenchments; this position he never fully 
 obtained, being wounded, and his troops 
 thrown in confusion in the act of taking 
 it. Balcarras' camp was next stormed; 
 Williams' artillery having been captured, 
 and the grenadiers being driven within 
 the works, along which the battle raged, 
 Breyman's camp, the final point of at- 
 
I02 
 
 KEY TO THE MAP 
 
 tack, was captured; this being, as is read- 
 ily seen, the keystone of Burgoye's en- 
 camped position. 
 
 Position on the Morning of Oc- 
 tober 8th. Refer to the small map 
 marked " Position on the Morning of 
 October 8th." The British will be found 
 crowded down by the river near the hos- 
 pital and batteaux, the Americans close 
 upon them. While in this position the 
 funeral of Frazer took place on the great 
 redoubt. 
 
 The Retreat. This will be traced 
 along the river road to Coveville, where 
 a halt was made; thence to Saratoga and 
 across the Fish Kill. 
 
 Camp on the Heights of Sarato- 
 ga. It will be seen at this point that 
 
 the British were strongly posted; the 
 Americans will be found surrounding 
 them on every side. 
 
 The Surrender. The place where 
 the British stacked their arms is indicat- 
 ed on the plain near Fort Hardy ; the 
 spot where Burgoyne surrendered his 
 sword to Gates is a short distance below 
 the church, which is south of the Fish 
 Kill, on the river road. 
 
 Opposite the Batten Kill two houses 
 are indicated by dark spots on the map, 
 on each side of the road to Fort Miller; 
 the most northerly is the one in which 
 the Baroness Reidesel took refuge. It 
 was commanded by the guns seen on the 
 hills north of the Batten Kill, from which 
 shot was thrown into the houses. 
 

 
 
 s\^^ 
 
 
 ot'lxjtrts 
 
 .y 
 
 'm 
 
 W"'il\i\ 
 
 
 
 
 
 rnar-k the relatiWpasiiion oftM-y ban7^ 
 yrui-V r^^imx 7,.. .,een on f/u- prmrtpal map 
 
 •IRE 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ERSONS OF 
 
 pleasantly, without 
 ir effect is not weak- 
 s the case with oidi- 
 ne time they are not 
 h some of our most 
 it sufficiently so for 
 Dt strong enough to 
 
 ■eps the blood in a 
 indition, producing a 
 They preserve the 
 ire powerful prevent- 
 jmplaints. 
 
 JPEING WATER 
 
 ged to be the best 
 Where the blood 
 .upplies it in the best 
 le assimilation is per- 
 i this water is, in the 
 ysician, "'more potent 
 Hted according to the 
 
 cly natural, are high- 
 frequently prescribed 
 •ities, many of whom, 
 leir condemnation in 
 of artijicial mineral 
 
 Congress Water has 
 e glass. 
 
 nl Hotels ttiroiH/lioHt 
 ttvij. 
 
 Id on Draught. 
 eive prompt attention, 
 allowed for at liberal 
 
 :piee spring co., 
 
 RINGS, N. Y. 
 
 ecent analysis of Congress 
 "As a Cathartic water, 
 I iron should recommend it 
 ch contain so much of this 
 air their usefulness." 
 
 called to the fact 
 ■s Street, JOHN 
 and 1st Avenue, 
 ers, in New York, 
 tties, as we have 
 
 CONGRESS £ EMPIRE SPRING CO, 
 
— r 
 
 MAP OK TIIK TliiKi) PICKK)]) 
 
 or 
 iiK-hidiiio 
 
 TilJv TWO llATTLKS OF SAKATOC.V 
 
 TlieAmfri.-:.ji :„.,n5,-iii.sl, CuiiMs ;ln;..n,i.I^•iohf- 
 
 ^J,A( h Ol ^\ RUKXDKKU'jj. 
 
 li^ ,. 
 
 <\ 
 
 Iv V 
 
 i- 
 
 T O ^ T.' o T S A fi A 
 
 - — I 9 
 
 I , ^ ^. T (» ,'. 
 
 <^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 
 
 <.»liBlll-S".»"'-<'au. 
 
 *^^ 
 
 
 ' 
 
 ilA'l 
 
 1 
 TI.K 
 
 ■' '•••('"■' 
 
 .I..1 i»» 
 
 ...f... 
 
 i 
 
 udl'mntiojiB 
 
 -k^ 
 
 ' I 
 
 i^. 
 
102 
 
 tack, was c; 
 ily seen, tl . 
 camped po 
 PosiTic 
 
 TOBER 8i 
 marked " 
 October 8 
 crowded ( 
 pital and 
 upon then 
 funeral of 
 redoubt. 
 
 The Ri 
 along the i 
 a halt was 
 across the 
 
 Camp o 
 GA. It w 
 
THE 
 
 CONGRESS ™EMPIRE 
 
 SPRING WATERS OF SARATOGA 
 
 ^ 
 
 ARE THE BEST OF ALL 
 
 CONGRESS SPRING PAVILION. 
 
 ERECTED, 1876. 
 
 THE SARATOGA WATERS FOR THE USE OF PERSONS OF 
 CONSTIPATED HABIT. 
 
 They act promptly and pleasantly, without 
 producing debility, and their effect is not weak- 
 ened by continued use, as is the case with ordi- 
 nary cathartics. At the same time they are not 
 too cathartic— rt! fault with some of otir most 
 drastic mineral -d'iiters—h\\\. sufficiently so for 
 daily healthful use, and not strong enough to 
 produce reaction. , 
 
 Their continued use keeps the blood in a 
 very pure and healthful condition, producing a 
 clear florid complexion. They preserve the 
 tone of the stomach, and are powerful prevent- 
 ives of fever and bilious complaints. 
 
 THE COLUMBIAN SPUING WATER 
 
 Is universally acknowledged to be the best 
 Chalvbeale Water known. Where the blood 
 requires Iron, this water supplies it in the best 
 possible form for use. The assimilation is per- 
 fect. A strain of iron in this water is, in the 
 opinion of a celebrated physician, ''more potent 
 than txventy grains exhibited according to the 
 Phnrmacopceia." 
 
 These waters, htmgpurely natural, are high- 
 ly recommended, and very frequently prescribed 
 by the best medical authorities, many of whom, 
 however, have expressed their condemnation in 
 strong terms of the use of artificial mineral 
 waters. 
 
 Every genuine bottle of Congress Water has 
 a large '*1[/" raised on the glass. 
 /•>>»• SaJr hi/ Drnf/ffists and Hotels throtujhout 
 till' (Jo II II tr If. 
 None Genuine Sold on Draught. 
 Orders by mail will receive prompt attention. 
 Empties taken back and allowed for at liberal 
 prices. Address, 
 
 CONGRESS AND EMPIRE SPRINa CO., 
 
 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. 
 
 ir^^In connection with a recent analysis of Congress 
 WaTer Prof. Chandler says : ''As A Cat/iartic water, 
 its almost entire freedom from iron should reconimend it 
 above all others, many of which contain so much of this 
 ingredient as to seriously impair their usefulness. 
 
 O^irNew York Depot havhtf, been dUeoniinned, attention is is called to the fact 
 that Messrs. ACKEll, MEltMALL S tONJDlT, 132 Chambers Street, JOHN 
 GELSTOK, 4 Broad Street, JOHN 3IATTHEWS, 20th Street and 1st Arenne, 
 PARK c€ TILFOItn,21st Street and Broad ua,/. and other dealers, in New York, 
 deliver our Waters in Netv York and Brooklt/n, and receive empties, as we have 
 
 heretofore done, and at oar prices. 
 
 CONGRESS cC EMPIRE SPRING CO. 
 
\jmBf> 
 
 
 %^ ;So¥^if'' 
 
 /x 
 
 SARATOCiA^^P^INQSr N. Y. 
 
 This Magnificent Hotel is Built of Brick and Stone. 
 
 In addition to its numerous and commodious Sleeping Rooms, it contains a 
 large number of 
 
 SUITES OF PARLORS 
 
 with communicating bed rooms, furnished with running water ; also bath rooms 
 and all desirable appurtenances. There are two elevators. Besides its broad 
 and spacious hall and extensive piazzas, there is a beautiful undulating lawn of 
 four acres, enclosed b}^ the House, laid out tastefully, and rendered luxurious by 
 the shade of numerous trees and the constant play of fountains. -s-k. 
 
 T0MPKIIT3, PERRY, GAGE & JANVRItT, Proprietors. 
 
ADVERTISEMENTS 
 
 I: 
 
 (DAILY AND WEEKLY.) 
 
 The only Regular and Permanent Daily Newspaper 
 published in Saratoga Springs. 
 
 Contains all the Social and General News, Full Reports of Arrivals, Sched- 
 ules of the Arrival and Departure of Trains, with River and Lake Connections, 
 Directory of the Place, Advertisements of the principal Mineral Springs, with 
 descriptions, analysis^ etc.; also. Telegraphic Dispatches and Stock Reports. 
 
 Published every morning. Orders received for Subscriptions and Adver- 
 tising at the Saratogian Counting Room, in the Arcade, opposite the United 
 States Hotel, Broadway. 
 
 PAUL & RITCHIE, 
 
 Publishers and Proprietors. 
 
 CONKLING & McOMBER, 
 
 Real Estate Agents, 
 
 Nos. 7 and 8 Marvin House Block, 
 
 (Directly opposite U. S. Hotel Office.) 
 
 Particular Attention given to Renting and Leasing Cottages for the Season. 
 
 ■ J. H. FARRINaTON^ 
 
 DEALER IN 
 
 446 BROADWAY, 
 
 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. 
 
ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 "EXCELSIOR" 
 
 AND 
 
 ''UNION" SPRINGS 
 
 are situated in a beautiful valley amid pic- 
 turesque scenery about a mile East of the 
 Town Hall and near the center of EXCEL- 
 SIOR PARK, Saratoga Springs. 
 
 Visitors are cordially invited to enter our 
 Bottling-house and examine our peculiar 
 method of Barreling, and the Apparatus by 
 which these Waters are dispensed throughout 
 the Union, fresh and sparkling, in the same 
 condition in ivhicJi thev flowed from ilie 
 
 Sf<ring, WITHOUT RECHARGIN& WITH 
 GAS. 
 
 A. R. LAWRENCE & CO., 
 
 I'RIIl'RIETORS (IF 
 
 " Excelsior " and " Union " Springs, 
 Beautiful Villa Sites for Sale at Excelsior Park 
 
 High Rock Spring. 
 
 Great pains have been taken, and no expense spared in re-tubing and 
 piitting in perfect working order this old and, for years, only known mineral 
 spring at this place. 
 
 The utmost care has been taken not only to keep out all impure and fresh 
 waters, but also to preserve and retain the fixed carbonic acid gas, for which 
 this Spring is so pre-eminently celebrated ; and the proprietors are now able to 
 supply their customers with the best and purest Mineral Water in the country, 
 and as such they confidently offer it to the public, relying solely upon its merits. 
 
 The High Rock water is put up in Pint and Quart bottles, carefully packed 
 for shipment to any part of the world. 
 
 The water is sold by all the principal hotels, grocers and druggists 
 throughout the United States and Canada. 
 
 To prevent imposition, ALL CORKS 
 will be branded thus, %^^' 
 without which no water is genuine High 
 Rock Spring Water. 
 
 '^ 
 
 ^j^^OGAHlG^^^^ 
 
 SPRING, 
 
 C. & W. 
 
 '0^ 
 
 J. McB. DAVIDSON, Sec. & Treas. 
 
 WM. G^FARGO, President. 
 HENRY SMITH, Superintendent. 
 
 Address all orders and communications to the Superintendent, at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. 
 
 This wonderful mineral fountain is located on Spring Avenue, in the northern portion of the village. 
 
 The High Rock is the oldest, in point of discovery, of the Saratoga Springs. As early as 1767 Sir William 
 Johnson was brought to it on a litter by his Indian friends of the Mohawk tribe. It takes its name from the dome- 
 shaped rock — a superb vase of nature's unassisted workmanship, which is justly considered the most remarkable 
 curiosity in the vicinity. The mound of stone, three or four feet high, appears like a miniature volcano. 
 
 The High Rock Spring, which may be looked upon as the father of all these healing waters, has stood the test 
 of over a century. It is a superior tonic, and cathartic as well as alterative. It is^useful in Rheumatism, Scrofula, 
 Dyspepsia, Constipation, and a wide range of diseases. 
 
 The High Rock water is especially beneficial in its operation upon the Kidneys and Liver ; and indeed it purifies 
 and renovates the whole system, clearing and beautifying the complexion and prolonging life. 
 
 So congenial is this mineral water to the stomach, that it will tolerate much larger quantities of it than of any 
 other fluid known, ^nd, when taken in suitable portions, it imparts a vigor to the stomach unknown to follow any 
 other medicinal agent, while at the same time it corrects all acids. 
 
ADVERTISEMENTS 
 
 GOLDSMITH HOUSE, 
 
 SCHUYLERVILLE, 
 
 Saratoga Co., N. Y. 
 Twelve Miles from Saratoga. 
 
 Adjacent to one of the best Mine- 
 ral Springs on the Continent. 
 Already noted for its r/reat 
 Medicinal Tirtiies. 
 
 RATES 
 
 For Board and Furnished Rooms : 
 
 Trom $9.00 to $14.00 per "Week; 
 
 Or, $3.00 per Day. 
 
 A Liberal Discount for Children. 
 
 For further particulars, address the 
 Proprietor, 
 
 L. GOLDSMITH. 
 
 ^XAC^'JVA''.^ 
 
 USE 
 
 FISH'S SARATOGA APERIENT 
 
 A Perfect Substitute, in Powdered Form, for the Natural 
 Mineral Waters of Saratoga. 
 
 COMPACT, PORTABLE AND ECONOMICAL. 
 
 SOLD BY DRUGGISTS. 
 
AUG 15 1900 
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS 
 
 THE 
 
 PARK HOTEL, 
 
 WHITE SULPHUR SPRING, 
 
 located at the south end of the Lake, is reached by a fine carriage 
 road along the borders of the Lake, and by omnibus from Saratoga to 
 the Lake, thence by steamer through the Lake. 
 
 FAHE FHOM SARATOGA AND RETURN, $1.00. 
 
 This Hotel can also be reached by the way of Ballston Spa. Par- 
 ties calling at the American Hotel, near the Depot, will be forwarded 
 in carriages through a delightful country, distance 6 miles. Connected 
 with this Hotel is 
 
 A PARK OF 160 ACRES, 
 
 laid out in walks, &c. There are commodious bathing houses con- 
 nected with the White Sulphur Spring, which has a long and Well 
 established reputation; price of baths, 25 cents. There is no bar on 
 the premises, but refreshments, wines and liquors will be served as 
 heretofore on the piazzas and other appropriate places. The Law will 
 be observed in regard to Sunday liquor selling. 
 
 It is the intention of the Managers to keep the house more for the 
 interests of boarders than as a road house. 
 
 PRICE OF BOARD, FROM $10 TO $15, 
 
 ACCOltDING TO JOOCATION OF MOOM. 
 
 For further particulars, address 
 
 JAMES R. MARVIN,