360

SCHUYLER SUPERSEDED--BURGOYNE'S EXTREMITY.

Schuyler Superseded. This general was not popular in Congress, which rendered it easier for Gates with his strong body of supporters, to reach the point on which his restless ambition had been long fixed, and he was sent to supersede Schuyler. It was alleged at the time, that Schuyler was unfairly treated; and his friends were the more indignant, since after St. Clair's dis asters, he had soon gathered an army of thirteen thousand men around him, with fair prospects of a successful prosecution of the campaign. The injustice, however, if such it were, was forgotten in the glorious victory of Saratoga, which soon afterwards followed. But Schuyler endeared himself the more to his friends by his subsequent conduct; for through all his future career, he never allowed the insult to leave the slightest taint upon his patriotism. It was enough for him that fortune had smiled upon our arms, and it did not ruffle the serenity of his noble spirit, that she was already smiling upon his successful rival.

Burgoyne's Extremity.-The stars were fighting against the British general, and the prospects of his carrying out the campaign which had been so suc cessfully fought out on paper in the closet of the King of England, was growing darker every hour. As he afterwards himself said: 'I could not have anticipated any serious obstacle to the advance of St. Leger with his numerous and trusted allies; nor did I suppose that General Clinton would be arrested by any little obstacles in the Highlands of the Hudson, starting as he did from New York with a strong force so completely appointed. The greatest curse of the whole thing was, that I was placed where I could neither advance nor retreat, nor hold my ground: there was nothing left but for me to fight, and win or lose the day, as the Fates would have it.' His Canadian allies were getting discouraged, and the ardor of his savages was somewhat cooled by learning that some of the warriors of the SIX NATIONS' were joining the camp of his enemy. With less modesty than became a commander-in-chief, Burgoyne boasted that he would eat his Christmas dinner in Albany. Gates had heard of this silly boast, and equalled it ;-Then it will be a dinner of cold lead.' Without desiring to detract from the merit of General Gates, it is but just to say that, at this time, he was in command of the largest body of troops ever massed together under one commander during the Revolution; a degree of order and subordination almost unknown had been introduced into his camp; that their ammunitions and equipments were in some measure adequate to the work before them, and that no great body of men of higher character, intelligence or patriotism, was ever mustered into the American. service. The strength, manhood, brains and valor of New York, New England and Virginia were completely represented. Burgoyne's men knew little of Gates or Schuyler, but they had found out who Stark was, to their heart's content. Burgoyne always said that Stark was the only name that ever raised a dread in his army; and it is doubtful if, with the exception of Washington, he himself ever was afraid of any other American general.

1 See Campbell's Border Warfare of New York, and Stone's Life of Brant, for an account of these tribes,

BURGOYNE PREPARES FOR BATTLE.

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Gates assumes Command of the Army of the North, August 19, 1777.After liberating the Mohawk Valley, Arnold, with his victorious battalions, and Morgan, with his veteran regiment of riflemen, joined the Continental troops, which made Gates' command outnumber Burgoyne's German and British regulars; while his large accessions of militia from New York and New England, with fresh arrivals of small arms and artillery from France, recently landed at Portsmouth, left him superior to his antagonist.

Burgoyne prepares for Battle.-The British general now began a final movement, which, if successful, would cover him with glory; while the disgrace of a failure could be thrown on his superiors, who might be held responsible for a disaster incurred in obeying their orders. He was determined to cut his way through the American lines to Albany, or lose his army. Before sundown, September 13, his fine train of artillery had crossed over the Hudson on a bridge of boats at Schuylerville; but formidable as was the appearance he now presented, before daylight streaked the east on the morning of the 18th, his star began to lose its brightness. Colonel John Brown, of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, had been despatched by Lincoln from Manchester, with five hundred light troops to harass the rear of the enemy. Surprising the outposts of Ticonderoga, he liberated a hundred American prisoners, captured four companies of regulars, and the guards at the portage between Lake George and Lake Champlain, with their arms and cannon, and destroying a hundred and fifty vessels, among which were several gunboats, and an armed sloop. The next four days, Burgoyne's army, by stopping to rebuild bridges, advanced hardly as many miles. But on the morning of the 19th, encountering Gates' army, now strongly posted on Bemis's heights, he saw there was no way to victory, except by dislodging them at once. He formed his entire force in three columns. The left, under Riedesel, with the heaviest field-batteries, took the road through the meadows on the bank of the Hudson; Burgoyne led the centre in person across a deep ravine; while the right column, under Fraser, following the circuitous ridge, advanced towards the heights on the left of the Americans,-the only point from which they could be successfully assailed. Along the rear of these advancing columns, hung hordes of Canadians, Tories, and Savages, thirsting for plunder and blood. There were three major-generals on the British side-on ours not one in the field.'

A Glimpse of the Battle.-The Americans used no artillery that day. The work was done by the separate regiments, which being well handled by their officers, and rigidly adhering to the orders of the chief commander-suggested in the main beyond all doubt by Arnold who watched the battle-won the field which was obstinately contested for so many hours. Morgan, with his veteran regiment of riflemen, did fearful execution.' Scammel's New Hamp

1 The impression that Arnold engaged in, instead of directing this battle is a mistake. For this I have the authority of Robert R. Livingstone, in a letter to General Washington, written January 14th, 1778, as well as the testimony of Wilkinson, who was present at

the battle, as reported by Chief-Justice Marshall; and other witnesses whom Gordon regarded as reliable. See his history, vol. ii., p. 551.

"Next to Washington, Morgan was the best officer whom Virginia sent into the field, though she raised ne

362

FIRST BATTLE OF BEMIS'S HEIGHTS.

shire battalion, and Cook's two regiments of Connecticut militia, by their rapid, dexterous and daring movements, had much to do in the hardest work of the day. But where all did so well, Cilley's Continental regiment, the Con. necticut militia under Cook, the Virginia riflemen under Morgan, and the New Hampshire men under Scammel, carried away the chief glories of the field. It was evident enough at the time, that, if an able general officer had led the army in person, the route of Burgoyne might have been complete.

The Night after the Battle.-Evening was coming on, and the long engagement having nearly exhausted the ammunition of the Americans, they withdrew quietly and in good order, taking with them their wounded and a hundred prisoners. Burgoyne's divisions bivouacked on the field, too exhausted to bestow much care on their disabled, or to bury their dead. Including the wounded and the dead, the American loss was three hundred and twenty, while the enemy's exceeded double that number. Arnold, who doubtless from the jealousy of Gates, was not allowed to engage in the fight, saw with the eye of a consummate soldier where a complete victory might have been won when Burgoyne's columns began to waver towards evening, and he expressed this opinion to Gates. Again, when the next morning had exposed the desperate condition of the British army, he pressed his views so urgently that the less resolute, if not timid commander, resented the interference, and a quarrel ensued. The fiery Arnold demanded a passport for Philadelphia, which Gates readily granted; but, repenting of his rashness, the restless and insubordinate man lingered in the camp, though he could no longer obtain access to Gates, nor a command.1

Burgoyne sends to Sir Henry Clifton for help ;-but Clinton was a hundred and fifty miles away to the south, and every hour the northern commander's position was becoming more desperate.' He must meet his destiny-he pre

in

statue to the incomparable leader of her light troops.Bancroft, vol. ix., p. 131. Among the troops who hastened to Washington's camp at Cambridge was a company of riflemen from Virginia, commanded by Daniel Morgan, whose early life was so obscured by poverty that no one remembered his parents or his birth-place, or if he had sister or brother. Self-supported by daily labor, he was yet fond of study, and self-taught, he learned by slow degrees to write well. Migrating from New Jersey, he became a wagoner Virginia in time to witness Braddock's expedition. In 1774, he again saw something of war, having descended the Ohio with Dunmore. The danger of his country called him into action which was his appropriate sphere. In person he was more than six feet high and well proportioned, of an imposing presence, moving with strength and grace, of a hardy constitution that defied fatigue, hunger, and cold. His open countenance was the mirror of a frank and ingenuous nature. He could glow with vehement anger, but passion never mastered his power of discernment, and his disposition was sweet and peaceful, so that he delighted in acts of kindness, never harbored malice or revenge, and made his house the home of cheerfulness and hospitality. His courage was not an idle quality; it sprang from the intense force of his will, which bore him on to do his duty with an irresistible impetuosity. His faculties were only quickened by the nearness of danger, which he was sure to make the best preparations to meet. An intuitive perception of character assisted him in choosing

among his companions those whom it was wise to betrust; and a reciprocal sympathy made the obedience of his soldiers an act of affectionate confidence. Wherever he was posted in the battle-field, the fight was sure to be waged with fearlessness, good judgment, and massive energy. Of all the officers whom Virginia sent into the war, next to Washington, Morgan was the greatest: equal to every occasion in the camp or before an enemy, unless it were that he knew not how to be idle, or to retreat. In ten days after he received his commission, he attracted to himself from the valley. a company of ninety-six backwoodsmen. His first lieutenant was John Humphreys; his second, William Heth; his sergeant, Charles Porterfield. No captain ever commanded braver soldiers, or was better supported by his officers; in twenty-one days they marched from Winchester in Virginia, to Cambridge.-Bancroft, vol. viii., pp. 62-63.

The historian also says, vol. ix., p. 412. that the British dead were buried promiscuously, except that officers were thrown into holes by themselves in one pit three of the twentieth regiment, of whom the eldest was not more than seventeen.'

In Bancroft's fine, and somewhat elaborate description of this campaign, he thus speaks of Burgoyne's condition: The Americans broke down the bridges which he had built in his rear, and so swarmed in the woods, that he could gain no just idea of t) eir situation. His foraging parties and advanced posts were ha rassed; horses grew thin and weak; the hospital was

BURGOYNE'S LAST BATTLE.

303

pared for it like a brave man. No tidings came from Clinton, ard finding that he must go into the struggle alone, he prepared for a reconnoissance in force. Fifteen hundred picked men, under his ablest commanders, advanced in the afternoon of October 7th, to within half a mile of Gates' position, and offered battle. The Americans entered the conflict with coolness and confidence. The battle was fiercely contested on both sides. Every regiment moved to its work with order, and held its ground with steadiness: not a bat talion wavered, not an officer was at fault.

Although Burgoyne had led only fifteen hundred men from his camp, the rest of the army was in supporting distance, and his entire available force could be brought to bear during the long conflict. Rank and file on both sides seemed to understand that the fate of both armies would be decided that day; and it is difficult, with the full knowledge we have of that battle, to determine whether the honors of the field should be accorded to the generalship of Burgoyne, the admirable manner in which Fraser, Breyman, Riedesel, and Phillips, managed their troops, and the unshaken steadiness with which. they fought all through-or to the brilliant conduct of the American officers, sustained as they were by the steady valor of the patriot army, and all fired by the gallant and desperate heroism of Arnold, who could be restrained no longer by Gates, and in defiance of orders, sprang upon a horse and dashed into the thickest of the fight, where without a command whole battalions followed his intrepid lead. During the Revolution there was no better fighting by the republicans or their invaders. Straight into the mouth of the British batteries of twelve-pounders, heavily charged with grape-shot and well handled, our regiments advanced, closing up their ranks as fast as their men were mowed down. Nothing could withstand their deadly fire, or impetuous charges. While Poor's brigade and Broeck's militia engaged Ackland's grenadiers, Morgan was making a circuit by one of his brilliant evolutions to flank the British right, and Dearborn was dashing down with his light infantry from the heights. Not long after the battle had begun to wax hot, Fraser was struck in the head by a rifle bullet, and the British grenadiers broke and fled, leaving their heroic commander, seriously wounded. Burgoyne's first aid, Sir Francis Clark, was struck from his saddle on his way to rally the Brunswickers. The gallant John Brooks-afterwards governor of his State-with a Massachusetts regiment was storming the stockade redoubts on the right of the British camp, while Breyman, now exposed in front and rear, fell mortally wounded. It became evident that the enemy was losing the field.

But Burgoyne's spirit rose with the occasion. Officers on his staff were wounded and fell with their wounded horses. A shot meant for Burgoyne, dropped the officer nearest to him dead. A bullet flew through his hat; others grazed his body. Where a battalion or regiment wavered, he dashed in

cumbered with at least eight hundred sick and wounded men. One-third part of the soldiers' rations was retrenched. While the British army declined in number, Gates was constantly reinforced. On the twentysecond Lincoln arrived, and took command of the right

wing; he was followed by two thousand militia. The Indians melted away from Burgoyne, and by the zeal of Schuyler, contrary to the policy of Gates, a small band, chiefly of Oneidas, joined the American camp —Ibid.

364

BURGOYNE'S SURRENDER.

that direction and breathed new fire into their ranks; and could the field have been won by mortal power, he would have gained it. But the terrible charges of the patriot regiments and battalions could not be resisted. And so the battle raged till long after sunset. It was ten o'clock at night before Burgoyne gave orders to retreat. But there was no time for repose that night. On the outer verge of the field from which he retreated, an improvised hospital was receiving the wounded and the dying, to join a thousand of their comrades who had fallen sick from fatigue and exposure, or been disabled in former engagements. On the rising ground beyond this scene of suffering and defeat, he gathered his shattered army.

The Surrender of Burgoyne.-When the sun of the next morning rose over the field of yesterday's struggle, Burgoyne saw that the work was done -the fate of his army was sealed. He could not attribute it to his lack of courage; and to his dying day, never seemed to have been conscious that in lack of judgment, nature had been too niggardly, to stamp him with the impress of a great commander. The consciousness of valor transported him with ceaseless illusions of victory. He followed his star till it vanished

like a miserable ignis fatuus in the morass of defeat.1

When another night of gloom had closed in after the disheartening day that followed the battle, Burgoyne abandoned his sick and bleeding men in the hospital, and began his retreat. When within two miles of Saratoga, on the night of the 10th, finding a flight across the Hudson impossible, he forded the Fishkill, and choosing the best position he could, made his final encampment. Only one hope was left of escape; but a reconnoitering party sent out found that Stark held the river at Fort Edward! This indomitable man had been greeted by two thousand recruits who rushed to join the hero after the battle of Bennington, and he had now returned with a powerful corps of New Hampshire militia eager for battle. The last hope being cut off, in a council of war, Burgoyne's proposal to surrender was unanimously approved. Transported with a triumph which good fortune, more than generalship had accorded to him, Gates allowed the victory to be shorn of some of its fruits, by signing a convention which stipulated for a passage for his army from Boston to Great Britain, on condition of their not serving again during the war in North America, when he should have demanded, what he could instantly have enforced, and what he was by all laws of war entitled to, an unconditional surrender. But it was not an hour for censure the American people were satisfied.

Among the officers who fell wounded or dead that day, there were many whose names were cherished for their noble qualities, by friends on both sides of the Atlantic. "All persons sorrowed over Fraser, so much love had he inspired. He questioned the surgeon eagerly as to his wound, and when he found that he must go from wife and children, that fame and promotion and life were gliding from before his eyes, he cried out in his agony: Damned ambition!" At sunset of the eighth, as his body, attended by the officers of his family, was borne by soldiers of his corps to the great reda ibt above the Hudson, where he had asked to be buried, the three major-generals, Burgoyne, Phil

The British army were to lay

lips, and Reidsel, and none beside, joined the train: and amidst the ceaseless booming of the American ar tillery, the order for the burial of the dead was strictly observed in the twilight over his grave. Never more shall he chase the red deer through the heather of Strath Errick, or guide the skiff across the fathomless lake of central Scotland, or muse over the ruin of the Stuarts on the moor of Drum-mossie, or dream of glory beside the crystal waters of the Ness. Death in itself is not terrible; but he came to America for selfish ad vancement, and though bravely true as a soldier, be died unconsoled."-Bancroft, vol. ix., pp. 418-419