336

Ch. 21.

1776

Position of
Burgoyne.

BURGOYNE AT FORT EDWARD.

ferred, under the delusive idea of saving time, to
march across a difficult and. hostile country. The
delay occasioned by this perverse movement gave
the enemy time to prepare for defence. General
Schuyler, still retreating before his enemy, fell
back upon
Stillwater, a position lower down the
river; his object being to intercept the communi-
cation between the Royalists and the country
people. At Fort Edward, Burgoyne was detained
by the necessity of making provision for securing
his supplies from Canada, since the enemy, in their
retreat, had destroyed the mills and stores, and
driven the cattle before them. The American
general also, by stirring proclamations and ad-
dresses, was so successful in exciting the spirit of
the people against an invading army, that his
scanty force, recruited by the militia, New Eng-
land States, and the yeomany of the district, soon
amounted to thirteen thousand men. This force
was commanded by General Gates, with Arnold
as his second, the Congress in their wisdom and
justice, having thought fit to supersede the brave
veteran, Schuyler, and his able lieutenant, St.
Clair.

Burgoyne, who appears to have taken little pains to acquire accurate information of the state of the country through which he passed, having heard that the enemy had established magazines at Bennington, sent a detachment of Germans to surprise and seize them. The force despatched on this service was overpowered, and retreated with

HIS DIFFICULTIES.

a loss of nine hundred men.

This event was

decisive of the wavering loyalty of the inhabitants.
The numerous body, which in every conflict, both
civil and military, wait to join the winning side,
now went over to the Americans, or withdrew
from correspondence with the British. Burgoyne
was, at this point, only fifty miles from Albany, his
original destination, where he was to open his
communications with Clinton and Howe. Many
people who had been favourable to the royalists
were alarmed and indignant at the horrible cruel-
ties and outrages committed by the Indian allies
of the English. The native militia rose on the
rear and on the flank of Burgoyne's march, cutting
off his foraging parties and stragglers. Difficulties
were gathering rapidly around; it soon became
apparent that
every inch of ground would be dis-
puted. The English general having halted a
month at Fort Edward, for the purpose of collect-
ing stores, advanced to attack the enemy's position
at Stillwater; but the enemy came out to meet
him, and after a battle of four hours, in which no
material advantage had been gained on either side,
the British remained in possession of the field, and
the Americans retired in good order within their
lines.

Burgoyne's position now became critical. The hostile force in his rear had become so large as entirely to cut off his communication with Canada. He had been baffled in all his attempts to obtain provisions in the country round. The Indians,

337

Ch. 21.

1776

338

Ch. 21.

1776

Convention with Burgoyne.

RETREAT OF BURGOYNE.

who had been useful as scouts and skirmishers, had nearly deserted him. The numbers of the enemy in front were rapidly increasing and full of confidence.

In this emergency, Burgoyne fell back to Saratoga, with the view of retreating to Fort Edward, and thence returning to Canada. But he found the whole line of march covered with American militia; and even if he could cut his way through them and reach the lake, his farther progress would be stopped by the want of boats, all of which had been destroyed by the enemy.

At length, on the 13th of October, finding himself reduced to three days' provisions, Burgoyne called a council of war, at which it was determined to relinquish the conflict. A flag was sent to the American camp, proposing to capitulate on terms. General Gates replied that the only terms which an army, reduced to the last extremity could expect, were those of unconditional surrender. Burgoyne, with the prompt and unanimous concurrence of his officers, declared that they would fall, sword in hand, rather than submit to such indignity. Upon this intimation, the American general wisely forbore to insist upon a harsh punctilio which would drive his brave and highspirited enemy to despair. vention were soon arranged. were to march out with the

The terms of a Con

The British troops honors of war, and

deposit their arms at a place agreed upon. They were to be provided with a free passage from

SURRENDER AT SARATOGA.

Boston, on the usual condition of not serving again in America during the war.

1776

surrender.

339

The part which the Americans had to take in a Burgoyne's scene so painful to their great antagonist, and so glorious to themselves, was performed with a dignity and grace which would have become the most ancient monarchy of Europe. When the ceremony of piling arms took place, Colonel Wilkinson, the adjutant-general was the only American officer present. The whole American army was kept within their lines. The fortune of war, sir, has made me your prisoner,' said the gallant Burgoyne, on meeting his venerable adversary. I shall always be ready to testify it was not through any fault of your Excellency,' replied Gates, with a grave salute. When the disarmed English officers passed along the motley lines of the American army, the rank and file stood motionless, nor did any man betray by word, look, or gesture the least exultation or resentment. General Schuyler, to whom the honor of that great day properly belonged, behaved with the like magnanimity. His spacious residence on the Hudson, with all its furniture, had been burnt down by order of Burgoyne. The first offer of hospitality which the English General received on his misfortune was that of Schuyler; and this offer was accepted for himself and as many of his principal officers as the house would accommodate. Burgoyne, with natural compunction, would have attempted some apology for the cruel injury which

340

Ch. 21.

1776

Rumoured advance of Clinton.

Burgoyne and
Clinton.

WANT OF GENERALSHIP

he had inflicted on his host. But Schuyler stopped him,' Do not think of it,' said the kind old man; 'the act was justified by the usage of

war.'

While the negotiation for surrender was pending, General Burgoyne received information that Sir Henry Clinton's force, upon the co-operation of which he had so long calculated, was advancing up the Hudson. He summoned another council of war, and asked their opinion, whether he was bound to conclude the treaty? The majority thought that his honor was already pledged; but Burgoyne himself, and many of his principal officers, thought otherwise. It is difficult indeed to understand on what argument the opinion of the majority proceeded. No obligation accrues until the terms of the compact are mutually settled; and there is no reason founded on good faith why a convention, like any other agreement, should not be broken off at any point short of its conclusion. The decision of Burgoyne was not determined by the absurd opinion of the military council. He had better reasons. The information which had reached him was not authenticated; and any movement made without certain intelligence as to Clinton's position and arrangements would be hazardous in the extreme.

Clinton commanded at New York; and as cooperation from that point was so obviously conducive, if not necessary, to the success of Burgoyne's expedition, it seems unaccountable that