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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, 11 est fllm6 d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d drolte, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants lllustrent la mdthode. i 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■.w 'a I ■ ) ,n ■■1/ i 1 / W- / / ■0 € SARATOl^A Till' HATTIJ:-HATTLIi (;Kor\l)-\'lSITORS' GUIDE Willi MAI'S BY E L L E N II A R 1 ) I N W A L \V ( ) R T H 4' <•■■■ PUBLISHED BV THE AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY :1 NEW YORK CITY y(j PRICE CF.NTS. L ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Wlule ronM.ltin^autl.oritics and ..Mainin^ malcrial for the hist.mral part of thi. little wurk, 1 found nn.clf under many ,.lcasant obli..t>ons ,., various knulncsscs. 1 a.n .ndcbtc-d to Mrs. Allen for the use of ,.,,,ers, maps and hooks of her hushan.l. .he late R. 1,. Mien, M- 1 >-, -'I Sarato.ni Sprin,.; to N. !!. Sylvester, i^s.!.. for suggestions and .nota- tions taken from his hook, " Northern New Nork and the Adirondack Wilderness;- to Mr. lohn Austin Stevens, tor valuable adviee a.d ass.st- an.candto i.r. K. n.OVallaghan: tn Mr. .\rthur nott, of Albany, tor „u. use of his unpublished i^aper, - The lless.ans in .\meriea;" to Mr. W . , Stonejor his translation of Madame Reidesebs mernon.: and ,o my a,„.h,er. l.:ilen H. Walworth, lor the skill and accuracy «i.h whuh she has perfected n,y crude " '*' \ •■dRf///, 1S77, /;!■ A/VV.v J/,ir,//n ir.ihcorfh. -T-X nil- BATTLE OF SARATOGA lil'Ki.DVNK AND Till-; N <) R T U l. K N (AMI'AU, N, 1777 liY ELLKN HARDIN WALWORTH J^i-/>riiitt Con- passed nought ; of the :imand. )lans of widely ays an wholly Herki- y attack liate the His first riconde- /ard the i States, om Lord irried to )jected at for want George, Dendence. that v/ere approach r of Con- tie various of the im- •y exertion he might >mmand of 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. ... • i Schuyler's appeal for reinforcements met with a languid response Washington alone seemed to understand tlie urgency of his need and he could do little to augment Schuyler's ins.gn.hcant army. He, liow- ever appealed also to the New lingland States, urging upon them the danger to their own boundaries if Burgoyne should gam any f^^^tho Id in the Northern Department. He also ordered Putnam at Peeksk.ll to reinforce Schuvler with four Massachusetts regiments. \t this time the main armv under Washington consisted ol but seven thousand five hundred men, many of them militia, whose term.s of service would soon expire. With this small force, Washington from the hei-htsat Middlcbrook, watched and baffled the movements of Lord Howe, whose army, assembled at Brunswick, " had not its equal in the '^'^ 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 l>l«ladelphia, the princMpal 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 m much anxiety from his inabilitv 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-lovmg Lord Howe, he compelled that commander on the 30th of June to evac- ate the Jerseys with his whole army. , u „ Washington had written to Schuyler : " If I can keep General Houe below the Highlands, 1 think their schemes will be entirely baffled Even when Howe was known io iiavc .ailed ^^-t^'--'"' V t '^ °n 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 Departn^ent con- stantly occupied the attention of the Commander-in-Ch.ef. 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 .11 himself in f,n-eat need of troops and efficient officers, he parted with Morjran's Corps of live hundred picked men, and sent Arnold, of whose al)iliries as a General he entertained a high opiniiMi. 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 Hank movement upon Burgoync toward the east. He also addressed circulars to the Brigadier-Generals of Militia 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 be"-in 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 Ticonderoga came near being "a trap," in which St. Clair and his little Vmy of three thcnisand men would have been captured but for the jirompt 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 officiousness, 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 traditionary, 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. Vet Wayne, Gates, Schuyler, and St. Clair were equally agreed in con- ' ii BATTLE OF SARATOGA II sideringit necessary to hold Ticondcroga and strengthen Mount Inde- oendence, 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 unexi)ectcd rapidity of Burgoyne s ad- vance, may partly explain the apparent want of sound military judg- mcnt that caused this fortress to fall like ripe fruit into the hands of the '""^ An old entrenchment on the road to Lake George was also neglected 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. ^ . 1 .1 t-u^ Burgoyne had lingered a few days at Crown Point, and there on the ^oth of June he issued the famous order, containing these words: '' T/ns army must not retreat:' On the following morning he moved for- ward in battle array. The 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 sice and the floating batteries moved, in unison between. On the 4th of July, when Fra/er 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 fi-om 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\eavy ropes, and, writes Anburey, "General Philips urged the work forward with the same vehemence with which he drox. 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. , , , • *v,» St Clair quietly and expeditiously, mz^d^t nrrangements 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 l;.\T'n,I' OF SARATOGA posed that this would delay the British j^unboats, so that the American batteaiix might reach Skciiesl)oroii<;ii in safety. As soon as darkness rendered it discreet, the wounded and women, together witii the stores and ammunition, were embarked on two hundred of these batteau. Thev were escorted by live armed galleys and six hundred men, under the command of Colonel Long. It was a bright moonlight night, but they got imder way in safety ; as they i)ro .ceded leisurely up the lake, they indulged in much merriment and exultation over their (luiet 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 was 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 Ilub- 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 otiicers. Among the wounded was Major Ackland, whose painful walk after- wards down the steep, wooded hll, 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 nATTI.K OF SARATOGA 13 disobeyed orders, and with his men was soon afterwards captured by tlic enemy. St. Clair, hearing now that Biirgi)yne had possession of Skcnes- borouj^di, 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 was 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 give him no account of St. Clair and his army. Fears were entertained that he had been overtaken and compelled 14 HA'III.r. OK SARATOGA ' ! . \ in surrender. After a .nvstcri..us disappearance ol seven days. St C'lalr joined Schuyler at Fort Edward, his men ha-gard and worn with their exhausting march, but safe and resolute for further service These misfortunes in the beginning of the campaign uivolved a hcav) U,ss of artillery, small arms, and stores of all kinds ; the c.jnsternat.or o r^eople who fled before Burgoyne seemed still more disastrous and Schuyler's fortitude and composure were most severely tned. lie was su ined and encouraged by constant despatches rem Washington who writes at one time, " We should never despair. If new dnficulties arise we must only put forth new exertions." and again he expresses an earnest mpathy for Schuyler amid these thickening difficulties^ and nWes s his unwavering confidence in his ability to overcome them. With un- flalX energy Schuyler exerted himself to delay the enemy while en- d;a:;"rfng to collect a'sufficient force to meet him with some reasonable ''^Xrt>nrnoThad his headquarters at the house of a noted loyalist. (\.lonel Skene; the victories he anticipated appeared to fall into his h r s thTn;tural result of his well laid schemes. The nghtened pa ots trembled at his approach, and Colonel Skene assured h.m that hundreds of loyalists were waiting for an opportunity to jom his advanc- inl army. Skene was an old resident, a large land owner, and was sup- pcTsed to exert an extended influence ; much weight was therefore attach- '' Burl^;twas greatly elated, and on the tenth of July ordered a Thankslwing service to be read "at the head of the Ime, and at the head of the Advanced Corps, and at sun-set on the same day, a feu de 'Ijfto 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 In aritie 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- .;nn river near the Batten Kill, on the thirteenth of September. Gene;a 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 urroundbg country was stripped of forage and the cattle driven off, so hi the enLy would be compelled to rely upon his base of operations for s "y ;! g g " ^s, St. n with 1 heavy ition of us, and [^le was )n, who es arise earnest anifcsts /"ith un- hilc en- isonable loyalist, into his ghtened lim that advanc- was sup- e attach- rdered a id at the a feu de I, Crown mpaign," lis return der, from The see- the Hud- ffectually now ling- led across ads. The /en off, so rations for It.M ri.K Ol' SARAH )( .A 15 provisions ; this proved a serious obstacle to Burgoyne's advance. Hav- ing accomplished these purposes, Schuyler fell back to Tort Miller, on the east side of the river, and again paused to destroy the road over which he had just jxisscd. He then retreated to Stillwater, and reinforcements coming in hut slowly, he fir)ally encamped his little army near the mouths of thcMohawk, but maintained his head(iuarters at Stillwater. At vSkcnesborough 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 marcii 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 troo[)s suffer- ed greatly during their severe labors from the excessive heat and inninn- 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 Ducr's House, not far distant, until September 10th, 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 Hock 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 shocketl 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 . I ':'l I 1^ 16 hatti.i' ok sarat(^oa 1 ci fl,-f -.t H.imin<'-t()n the Americans had colk-ctcd many Skene al», relU-nUccl his -™--- ,-">-■"""« '",,;'; ^h y w.ml.l l,v suci, a movement, secure the opv...rtun,ty (..r "Inch n ey : tei ,. j.,in the Britlsl, anny. So e.mlulent were '^'^."^;^ ^^l^ r th 1,1 these statements ,.r Skene, that when the Anuncans . f Starks :;m;nan,l ::me erceph,K aronn,, the Hanks ,.f the ""-^ -__ ^-'^^^ ,„n for their hrst attack, they were all.)wed to a»S!S?; 'liV^'T*"*!'- 19 llAl ll.r. <"•■ SAIiATDCA not approve. , , , ,. .,„,u^r St LcL't-r, was informed by »iis sis- tcr of Herlcimcrs approach. ^v-' narrow causway. Uerki.ncr's van-guard was ^--";,. ; ^^'^ j^, , assailed them on „,ar ()risli ^r ^^^^' llllS'^^l G e!!:: ;:;::cl ".portunity to gratify fndits of the war. Johnson s m)ya ,,„„„,,cnts were their oUl neiRh- „t,y ,„„g.chcrl.hed -;--'-•-:;'''■: Ted .„ unusual ferocity. ^.e-Hf;:::' iSiiiTdHt';:";:.., ne,,, ... ^0. .uppor.. hcan,,, secured and brought mto the foit^ ^^ ^j^^ National Congress had just adopted the Stars ana i ensign. Stinwix now made an American flag of a One of the officers at Ff^^.^^;^"?^ the blue field was made of an over- white shirt and some bits of red c lotl ; »- ^ ^^^^f ^^ This uncouth coat belonging to ^-P^^" ^warto t of^D^^^^^^^^^^ ^ y^.^.^, ^^^^^ard; -t-Leger now caused ^^-1-^^^!^^^^^ pr'essed the seige and advanced his fines. I 'iS —TffST T under • mccs- [)lticcrs Ih cow- :nt did his sis- WhiU- ausvvay, beni on )iirs, the Indians It! forest. igainst a British I the bay- nore des- to hand to jj;ratify )ld neigh- ferocity. rs hearing :hed Gan- , was suc- lists were ; National in flag of a of an over- lis uncouth 1 standard ; his ignoble rican losses surrender. 1 St. Leger BATTIK Ol SAUATOGA 19 On Mu' tenth tl;o officers were disiiatched by (lansc-voort to make their wav thr.)u;;h tlic lines, and ohtai'\ assistance from Schuyler. At great risk, and after enduring many ha. Iships, they reached .Stillwater. Schuyler wished to respond iinmrdiately to this demand, but many of his oiVicers objected; tin. urged the iin|)rudence of lessening the force with which nnrgoyne'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 servi(<'s for its command. 11 J 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 Iiulian allies became alarmetl and ungovernable. They seized upon the blankets and other effects of the British officers, and commenced a hasty retreat. St. Leger, believing the Americans were close ui)on him, left his camp, and foUowed his retreating allies, abandoning his guns and baggage to the exultant patri- ots, who were now relieved of all ai)prehension. Arnold was forty miles from Stanwix at this time, 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 auhiented 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 ! 1. ,. VI ri !■; <^1' SARATOGA 20 ,.,„,„t ^ ♦iv- lip, and a liftin- of the eyebrows- A n.omentary "-v " ^ ;;:;^; ^ ,,^^,, ,h, „outh, were the only s.gns then a deepenn.g <> the ^''^l" ''"^ f^,i ^^,, ,,, the xvaith.g oltcer the of suppressed eniot.on. U ith a gi^cU ^..^d-ciuarters. Wh m deeply injured ComnuandernKlequeUyoto^h^^^^^^^ 1^ ^^.^^ surrounded by his o.^cers lu. expUn. d U d sp ^^^^^^^^^^,, ^^ ^^^^ " Until the country IS nisafet), 1 shall ^" > ^ ^^^ ^^e ardu- his word, and with -^^^^^f^^^.^'^^l^^^t^l In a few days ous duties of his comn.and ""^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ,d-quarters, where he was "T::s:;;i:r Polish en^^^ „„„rc and select a position for «*"^P™1 "f ,^^,^ „i|e, above Stillwater, icans. He decided that 0™-";^^'% :",„„„ afterward encamped rttt'7cc;'r.r?"re :t"ernclrn,e„ts constructed Tor Its "^'th: defeat o, Ban., and t„c lallnre ^. ^^^:^;::^:i:Z strokes, had paralyzed the r.ght !'"f ^*^<=^=^^^^^^^^ „( hi 'army, amid and l,c now struggled forward -**;!^'7;~ ]„„„,„ endeavored ever thickenmg danger, ^et ""^l™"* . ' „ .„, „( Gennainc and the to carry out his orlglna design, and f^yj^ """Jl^eh.he dispatched King. Havlngcollectedprov.su,ns o a hr yd y^^ ;^ ^^ ^ „„,, a messenger to New York w,th e"t. eat.es , , ^.^ {r<„n that direction. He then le Df """"f''^,,^,, „„ the night of steadily forward to the Batten Kdl, where he ■^^IZLrc reluctLt to the twelfth of S^P'""^-- X:t"tfre rlo,* himself, and on the cross the river, he assu.ncl the '"'"^^ "^^JP°' ,,^ n^rf^on on a bridge o( ,3th and .4th passed the whole army »^" '"^ ""^j„„,... They con. b'oats, enforcing his order ■■ Th.s -"1^ _;;^^' ^^ ^e ^orth side of Fish tinned their march down t --. "d -c P ed o^_^ ,,^ ^.,„th ,Me of the Creek. Here, n, s.ght of Old ^".™!"_f,"; "".^pii^^," and with dramatic ;;S-He r ifftus ^n;ralh: Tc-t.-'whih in its progress has ^ire'ady indicated the direction of -""^ ^'^September, Bnrgoyne's Here also, on the inght of the 4th I ^^^___^ ,_.^ ^^^_. ^Xrl^tft C^reinr^:^ o-:^- this cam, Perched in '1, ^4. liA-ni.l': OK SAKATOUA 21 yebrows— only signs officer, the ;rs. Wn ,n niply said: • He kept 1 the arcUi- a few days ere he was mpled mag- tes to recon- f the Amer- Stillwater, d encamped ted for its f successive oyne's force, ; army, amid endeavored :iainc and the le dispatched to be made ved his army L the night of : reluctant to if, and on the n a bridge of ' They con- th side of Fish uth side of the with dramatic ; progress has r, Burgoyne's later, his sur- z battle-field of Lidson, Colonel n. Perched in the forks ot 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 constan't 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 stamiinj^ 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 hfteenth he says, " The army are to maach in three columns, after having passed Schu) ler'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 G:>;:es 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, m 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 . . H UATTl.K OF SARATOGA A Mill Creek swept throujrh a deeper ravine, a little Learned occupied the elc'vated plam ^^ ^™'«^; „,„3t„„t,^ skirmishing An,o,d, with fi'--,,^!"- i on ^" ™"y »' '■'- »'>-" r- with the enemy, and *"*"'='*' ^•"f,"^.., constantly harassed, and often cise orders issued by HurRoyne, who "»^ "»^'^ / , ^^^^j ^ty. compelled to use a «,^'>';. -S^Xord's Cse where he encamped. On the seventccntli he \\as at swoit and prepared for battle. •„ ^f the nineteenth of September, At eleven o'clock on the mornmg oi ^ j^j^ ^is army General Bur.oyne -;^-';-^^,^:;lt^^^^^ an'd composed of r;s.s:::^-n"^:i.=;s^ I'O^t^- J r> Kr,nr.'c rnrns made a detour far to the we^;::::i e"- - p" t--- '°- '^—' •marched toward the heights on the ngl-t p_.^^^^,^ The '^«'^'^;^X^;:^:^:ZJL^ camp. The Cana- divisions ni the rear o( the 'e'™g .,,„ti„n ol the Americans in (ront, ,ians .,d l"-)'-'^;;;- ^thf rel of rZerican left by his circuitous whi.e brazer would get m tne rear Burgoyne would route through the woods; at a P^^"' "^ ^'^^ f,"td PhiUips would make a simultaneous attack m *= front R edcse a P^^^^^ ^^^^ - oli:t: told ofthe near ^^ -j;;-^^::^^:::-^^. to meet or prepare for them, t^^^^^^y > f , hovering Indians to j;:^;;;::trr fo^ ^:;z:^<:^fr '" "'"'"" '" Brit,sh, Burgoyne-s plan '^^^^^ --^tre restless and cage. The American regiments behmd their "or^^ ^ (^ey (or the contest, and no f ""-^7'■^* ^ P^ Morga" led the way assailed the enemy with «^'^f ^'^ "XTn; .rces with such rapidity, - ;: :=;:i^:J::^^ 1-' -nr i:S t;s BATTLE OF SARATOGA 23 ;, a little lills and sion, the iver, ana rmishing larp, con- incl often ng party, ncamped, jptember, his army ciposcd of 1 the river far to the centre and d Frazer's The Cana- ns in front, ; circuitous yne would lips would ■ would cut gain an ad- e no orders i importuni, r Indians to jpulse of the 3S and eaget e than they ed the way .ch rapidity, IS shrill whis, Arnold with nt of Frazer from the main army ; Frazer at the same time was endeavoring to reach the American rear. Both striving for the same object, and tlicir move- ments screened by the heavy forest, tiicy 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 army, when Phillips came forward with his artill- ery, and the Americans were forced back within their lines. It \vas 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 vl<.t.ory ; it was worse than barren to them. Foiled in their main object, they were now burdened with many wounded; they ie?^i^ii^'i^ - .* ■■■■. ,;f«»«ii!^*i^!rt 24 I'.ATTl.K Ol- SARATOGA had tested the strength of the Americans, and were convinced that Ihcirown advantages of discipline and bayonets were perfectly ccmn- terpoised by the enthusiasm and courage of the Patnots. 1 he Bn . who bivouaced on the field, were harassed until midnight by laigc 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 to.tk serious offense, although he failed to tell Arnold that he was short of ammunition-lhe reason afterwards given lor his re usal to follow up the advantage of the previous day. In his report of the battle to Congress, he refrained from mentioning Arnold s name. 1 his led to a further c,uan-el, and Arnold was deprived of his command. Gates continued to strengthen the defenses of his camp, while his army daily increased in numbers. , , , i ■ i .., 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 cctl led Wil- bur's Basin. This was the northern extremity of a narrow alluvial flat that'extended to Bemis House, two miles hcUnv ; it widened in the cen- tre and narrowed again at this point, where the hills lay very near the rver 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 Tthe heights near Freeman's farm. North ot that again a strong semi-circular redoubt was occupied by Breyman s artillery ; this pro- tected the right flank of the entire camp; the north branch of Mil 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 through 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 ^o ^e checked in its res^ less desire to drive the invader from the f-"^^"^^^'^:,^"^/^ '/''h homes he desecrated and destroyed. Rushing out from their entrench- TfATTI.p: or SARATOC.A 2$ ments under every plausible excuse to skirnush with the outposts of the enemv, or capture his pickets, Iheea^er militia could with d.t hculty be restrained bv the cautious Gates from brin!,nnjjj on the general engage- ment that he seemed quite willing to avoid. , , r •. The other camp seemed oppressed by the overhangmg cloud of its impending fate. The British officers, perpetually on the ah rt, were mi- able to secure a single night of undisturbed repose: the men bore with qniet 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 mipassable 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. 1 hey 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 m dis- guise were immediately dispatched in return to inform Clinton of the critical position of Burgoyne's army, and urge him t(^ 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 Heio-hts, was placed in command of the right wing. Gates took command of the left, of which Arnc^ld 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 stroncrly 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 i^ve days' rations distributed, and arranged for i. reconnoissance in force on the following day. As he could not leave , .Pf^^^.'SfS^SKiSfeiilK-N-^tt^sT^ 26 HATTl-E OF SARATOGA bis camp unprotected, he only took fifteen hundred men. They were selected from the corps of Riedesel, Frazer and Flnllips. Led by these officers in person, and Burj^oyne as Commander-m-Chief, they marched out of camp at eleven o'clock on the mornmj; 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 jrrenadicrs were posted, on a j,rentle hill in the edge of a wood that fronted on Mill Creek. Bal- carras" light infantry and other English regiments formed the right: the Messiahs 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. ^ ,■ , rr Foragers were at work in a wheat field, while the English officers reconnortred 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 Frazcr'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 th& 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 onslauo-ht that in less than twenty minutes the British were thrown into confuston. 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 hve 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. . , . • 1 1 J The division under Poor, with the same impulsive vigor, dashed up the hill upon the artillery and grenadiers of the British left, and u:C-e them from their guns. Ackland brought them back, and recapturcvi the -j:C1 HATTLK OF SARATOGA VJ to guns, which a<^ain fell into the hands of the Americans, who rapidly turned them upon the enemy, and drove them Hyin^^ from the field. Ackland was wounded in botli lej;s. He was a lar.- a that point, he encountered a part of Learned s br,g- e an d'hc^^l upon the strong works of the Hessian can,p Ilcre, tn he drove everything before hin. Capturing the cannon, the artdl- e t fle^^^^^^^ I^-y-- -- killed on the spot. Ar- nold's horse was shot under him ; it fell on him, and h.s leg was severely wounded. 1 le was carried from the held. • v • „e The whole British camp now lay exposed to the pursmng Americans Nhd' am silence fell upon the scene. The groans of the woundec. 1 e m it ed words of command given for the burial of the dead and the d !eUkrw ilingof the autruun wind in the tall pines, were the only ids that followed the roar of artillery and the shouts of the victors. " A thousand glorious actions, tliat might claim Triumpliant laurels, ami ininiorlal fame. Confused in clouds of glorious actions lie,^^ And troops of heroes undistinguished die." Ah vcs' the f^eld of Saratoga is rich with the blood of heroes. Wht k,^ "he few names we have recorded compared with the unnum- bered hosts wh<3 lie under the placid hills of the ""^son ^ r -^^o Per^ formed upon this f^eld unnoticed deeds of valor, and passed through hfc ""^hS.rbl«W on the heights, confusion ajul sorrowreigned in and around the British camp nearthe river The Baroness Rteck^.el, who, with her little children, had pined her husband at F^'-t ^xlward, Td remained with the army, was living at Taylor s house, a^-^ V^^^ bur's Basin. She had breakfasted with her husband at h.s -n^p on the heights, and having returned home, was awa.tmg his '-^"^^I,^^;'*\ \;^^^; erat Frazer and other officers, who were to dme with her. These pkas ant anticipations were supplanted by grief and terror when at about two o'clock. General Fra.er was brought in on a htter, desperate y wtuinded. The table, which had been spread for dinner, was hastily put aside, and a bed prepared for him. He asked the surgeon to m form him truly of his condition, and when told he could ^^^^ J^ut a 17^ hours, he exclaimed: " O, fatal ambition! Poor General Burgoyne. My p;orwife!" These brief words express forcibly the desires, the thoughts, and the affections of this brave man. 5 1 --i. BATTLE <)1' SAkA |ii(,A -0 The Baroness, with her children and servants, and the wives of Ma- jor IIaniaj;e and Lieutenant Re) iiell, clustered despairingly to-;etlur in one corner of the room where the dyin*; General lay. The wliolc house was now filled with the wounded, and Madame Ricdcsel soon recov- ering her composure, was actively engaged in relieving their sulfer- ings and comforting her aillicted companions. Information had lu'cn brought that Major I larnage 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 f^eld 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, wdierc she was soon united with her hus- band, whose wounds, though serious, were not fatal. ' i! I 30 ItAiri.l-, (i|- SARATOGA liiuj^ovne now f^avc orders for a full retreat of his army, to he^^iii at nine o'clock that same ni^lit, the wouiuled and all heavy baj^j^aj^e to be left hchiiid. (n-neral Riedesel was ordered to lead the van-^uard, and push on until he crossed the Hudson at the SaratoLja ford, and there take a position behind the hills at the IJatten kill. A drcnchinj^ rain poured upon the weary, ploddin}^ army the whole nij^ht. At Dovoi^at a h;ut was made. lJurL(oync wavered and countermanded his orders. I lis last chance of retreat escaped him. " 111 lul|ik'>s irulc'cisions lit', The nicks nil wliicli Wf strike .-iiul die.'' The impcri(His commander, who had led the forward march with un- flinching resolution, pushinjjf to his end without fear or hesitation, when foiled and sent back, for a moment shuddered, and refused to accept his fate. lie still held his panic-striken army under his will, and he deter- mined once more to wait for thecominjj^of thearmy from below ; it might yet bring him relief. Starting from Uovogat at daybreak, the Brii; .h moved again, but only to encamp during the day on the heights north of the Fish kill. The handsome residence of General Schuyler was burred 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 tl. ; 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 ud 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. r JiA j^ ..,.ymm^i*f*» ' im mi ii Mii ItAiri.r. OK SARATOGA 3i Morgan had crossed tin- creek t..\v:irds Saratoga Lake and, screera.l by the woods, posted lus rilUmen on the hei-hts in the rear ami tt-mk of tlie British cainp. This was strongly intrenched on the lull 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 s<.on huuid by the British that their canip was exposed \n every part to the hre ol can.ion or rillenien ; no approach to the river was permitted an( there was much suffering for want of water. The sick, wounded and w<.men were huddled to-ether in a Imusc where cann.m balls torethrou-h the walls and roMed across the Ih.or, often woundm- the iielpless men who lay within. Madame Riedesel. with her children, and the other ladies took refu-e in a cellar, where hours of horror were endured with unccjmplaininj? misery. r^ , i . Sir Henry Clinton, havinj; obtained reinforcements from hiifrlancl, at last'camc storming up the Hudson as thouf,di he would annihilate all ob- stacles between himself and Bursoyne. 1 le obtained possession o Ports MontLmmcry and Clinton, although they were m()st couraj;e(.usly defend- ed by Gov George Clinton and his brother James, who very skillfully 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 answer 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 was 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. 'I I im ., HAITI r. ni >AKAI 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- i;^ the stars and stripes, and a band playing Yankee Doodle, were marched between the files of their victors presence Gates and Burgoyne stood contemplating the scene. In the presence of both armies. General Burgoyne stepped out. and drawing Ins sword from its scabbarli lords of '7C), 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 vvere with the British army ? Tiiey are charming; the simplicity, (piaintness and truth with which they describe the country and the people are incomparable." Miss Van Kyck: "O, Mrs. Harris! do tell father that delightful story about the German poet." Mr. Winship, drawing near: "What do 1 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 befove my face, and if we are going to the battle field, we had better start; but 1 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 : " l^ear 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 sufiicient 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, 1 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 1 am thinking how I will dispose of the lime 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 Kates 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 who A VISIT TO THE liATTI.K CROUND 37 »oks in ible. I ca that ed at a 11 agrce- ; to try igs and md who itiment ; bother leans, I our trip all; one ler, but I e of the arc talk- rch of a /liss Fan- Tiise yet, vledge is formation not half rence for no doubt the men nterest to the name ;re telling as Seume, hich gives and hard- losophical y indiffer- rman com- lie British, degraded, jspots who ruled llicni ; 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 lunope." 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 them. 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 tlieory about them upset, and my facts ([ues- tioned." Judge Van Eyck : " Yes, sir ; you will generally find this to be the case, whicii only proves that we have no rigiit 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 Ey(,k : " 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 liule 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 studv, when he was suddenly seized by a rec liting 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 l':ngland to Canada. Their Land- grave sent them to England, almost des- ftl' 3S A VISIT TO THE BATTl.K CKOUND ^ I |i |. ,il \ 4 1 . 5! I titute of clothing ; rontracts were made with iMiglishmcn 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' slioes, and other things eciually appropn- itc Miss IVlham: " 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 parasol, too ! " , , Mr. Winship: "Why, yes; what an al- leviation of his sufferings. If he <-.ould 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, quit.- 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 ciuite different from either the British or American." Judge Van Eyck: " 1 suppose we have that in the Memoirs of Madame Riede- sel, 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 r Miss Van Eyck: " O, yes ! I want to retaliate on father and Mrs. Hams; 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 Visri' 1() rilK BATTLE GROUND 39 erman either 'ohave Riede- isband, stone." of the Toyne's I have , drawn ;, which ime for ; for my le book- Kate?" J to the of ten- want to ris; they t» road hall lie hotel, des, and continue Pelham, ip in ad- pon some 1. Harris n behind subject iring the read the I. I was ler intelli- as her de- ildren, are dness and ts passing around her, and with what nahctc she relates the most trifling incidents of her own experience ! " Mrs. Harris: "Yes; lliat is the very thing that gives su( h reality to lier ac- count of the campaign, and tlie long captivity that followed. liy the way, judge, do you not think it was rather disgraceful in our Congress to refuse to ratify tlie terms of the convention signed at Saratoga? Certainly ilurgoyne and his officers had reason to feel aggrieved, althougii tlie linglish (lovernment bore it very quietly. I believe that W ashing- 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 tliat 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 (iovernment, 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 tlie 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 tlie poet does of one of the kings of Eng- land, that 'he never smiled again,' it is known tliat, even after he was excul- l)ated from censure by Parliament, when lie enjoyed great social distinction, and was flattered and applauded in conse- quence of the success of his drama, " 'I'lie 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 tiling 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 llIK ll.Vni.K liKOUNU II. It is afternoon. Jiulgc Van Kyck and Mr. Winship arc LMijoying their cigars anil the New York papers in the gentle- men's reading room. 'l"he ladies of their party have retired to their rottage, in the south wing o( 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 nai)s 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 HARONESS RIEDKSEL 'N AMERICA On the nth of June, 1777, in I'l^-' li-ir- bor of Quebec, a ship, just arrived from England, cast anchor. On its deck stood the Baroness Riedesel with her three young children, Oustava, Fred- erika and Carolina ; her faithful maid, Lena, who had followed her from Oer- 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. (lazing 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 (histava and Frederika danced about her, wild with delight, in anticipation of a release fmm 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 siWer helmets and green sashes," approaching the ship to carry them ashore. With it came letters from Cen. Riedesel, informing his wife that he had been unable to await her arrival at (Quebec, and had started on the summer campaign with (ieneral 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 (ieneral 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 ever 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, I and joy hie eyes, le more ;ava and nkl with ase f'"om veeks on itions of ' a boat, essed in id green to carry Iters from ifethat lie arrival at e summer ne. Here but this little time remaining e with the i without the long the same imily, em- proceeded o overtake east a few beautiful ;:ompanied Mingled ind antici- :art of the ded on so the broad, earied with jf the day, t they were a long ride ht calashes : Baroness, A VISIT TO TIIK r.ATI'I.K (IROl'N'D 41 "bring my heart to trust a single one of my (liildren 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 tlie 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 ( onsequently 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 dis.isters at sea, tliat he feared might have robbed him of his lit- tle family. The Grand Vicar of the vil- lage, sympathi; ing wilii her anxiety to join her husba.id, loaned her ' covered calash in which she immediately resum- ed her journey in pursuit of the advanc- ing army. The weatherwas exceedingly stormy, and the road difficult and nig- 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 UATTI.E GROUND love that oul-strips time, spare, obsta- ^.l^.^_ that endures, waits, yearns, la- bors for the beloved one, and never wearies, never flags, but i^rnws, 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 'ipon whom the world gazes with blind eyes. A messenger had been dispatched in advance to inform (leneral 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 fro V: 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 higli 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 hi 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 wluch 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. Custava for joy at again seeing her father, and little Frcderika because she saw him in this plight. For this reason she wouUl not go to him at all, but said, " No, no, this is not my papa ; my papa is ])retty." "The very moment, however, ■ that he threw off his Cianadian coat, she tenderly embraced him." How grapliically 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 lie 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 dov/n, I travelled back. What a difference between this journey A VISIT TO THE BATTLE (lUOUNU 43 •s in tears, lier father, c saw him slic would , " No, no, is pretty." r, • that he le tenderly lically the if her .^hil- ;rself. "It 'as beyond "We re- ippy days." e emotions cpressions ! )e may find urs of joy ; , of persist- ew days of . Yet how ; fuUness of ted hopes ! ;d his wife y the army id lie neces- hree Rivers, of events, ed love, the ippreciation separation, grieve with [ was forced, .ck to Three e upon wit- the troops I, with my and desert- itrange land, )rrowful, and veiled back, this journey and that which I had made a little while before ! 'Phis lime I did not move so ([uickly ; for at every post station, which removed me further from iiim I loved, my heart was torn open afresh." A few weeks were passed by Madame Riedestl at the little village of Three Rivers, where with discretion and amia- bility she adapted herself to the jjcople 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 i)ro- visions. The first night they were obliged to land on a small island — the second boot, 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 wiiat had caused the alarming sights and sounds, lie admit- ted that he had discovered, when too late to make a change, that tliis was Rattlesnake Island, so called because a very great number of these reptiles infested the place. Me 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 (|ui(kly 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 Chamjjlain 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 thet- encamped. They were re- 44 A VISIT TO lllK IIATTI.K C-KOUND ceivcd with unbounded dcliglit hy Ccii- eral Ricaes(;l, ;nul warmly wcU oiuod by llic ( oinn.anding otVucrs. Immediately i;,fter this, communication was rut oil with Canada, and the I'.aroness congrat. ulated herself greatly en having been coming into the 'promised land;' and when we jiassed the Hudson river, and (leneral lUirgoyne said, "I'he I'.nglish never lose ground,' our spirits were greatly exhilarated." After the battle of the 19th of Sep- Iwrio'ioin her" husband, as otherwise tember, and while the i r.l.sh were en- !h wild have been separated fron. him .amped near Freeman s lam,. Ma. une clurin 1 the years of his captuity. Riedesel. with her famdy, oc.up.ed 1 ay^ Upon' her arrival, a roon, was assigne.l lor's house, a mde or wo -r o t^^ Herat headquarters in the Red House; encampment, (.eneral R edesc s 1 c d "and here " says the Baroness, " I had quarters were a long r.de fron. 1 aylor s. thTtv of spending ll>ree happy weeks Madame Riedesel daily v.sUed the camp, ntrgreatst tranquility. We had a and sometimes took breakfast or dmner lerv Pleasant life. The surrounding with her husband, but more frequently omt w. magnif.cent; and we were he came, accompanied by othe. of,u:ers errcled by the encampments of the to dine with her. Colonel Wdhams of En ^h an/oerman troops. The weath- the artillery, noticing the fat.gue to wh.ch er w s bea Uiful, and we often took our these visits subjected .enera K. desel meals under the trees." She and her and his w.fe, .offered to budd a block- Chi dren endeared themselves greatly to house for her near the camp. ^^'-.f and their period, find due distinction ; and lon^; may they survive, lonj; alter llie frail rf< ord of my pen sliall he forgot- ten 1 " Immediately after the funeral a retreat was order.'d. Madame Riedcsil entered her rakish with her eliiidren and maids, and traveled tlie whole night in a pour- ing rain. Tlie strictest silence was en- joined lest the enemy should discover the retreat. Little I'rederika had became so nervous and frightened liy the painful events of the day, that her tears and s( reams could not he restrained, and her mother was ohliged to hold a pocket handkerchief over her moutli to prevent her cries from heing heard. At six o'l lock in the morning a halt was made. General Riedescl * ame up, and being greatly exhausted, dismounted from his horse, and sat in the calash, s(u)n falling asleep with his head t)n hiN wife's shovd- der. His little daughter now became very docile and ([uiet, 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, reciuesting 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 l)c taken for a savage. Upon this she became still more frantic, and lore her bonnet off her head, letting her liair hang down over her fate, and said: "Vou talk well! Vou have your hus- band I l'>nt we h.iving nothing tn look forward to, hut dying miserably on tl>e ime hand, or losing all we possess on the other!" To cpiiet her, I promiseil 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 I lothing, and laid upon some straw near the fire to sleep. While sitting near them, distressed and exhausted, C.eneral IMiillips 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 i)revailed 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 rilK llATTLE (iUOUND 47 , k'ttinR her c, anil s>ii(l: your bus- ing to look ably t>n llii; issi'ss (ii\ tlie proniisi'il to My good itcncd, said hoiit half an at old Sara- is built, the ppicl in dry le straw near sitting near itcd, dencral ked him why lud. " Poor m amazed at gh, have you go further in ext morning greatest mis- ivailed in the liad forgotten More than vho could en- no longer. I or them, and he provisions IS filled. We gh an arrant pedients, and teul from the Itry, and pigs, 5 us for a high we only learn- nonading was in confusion. family hurried into the calash, and drove to a house near by. As she arrived at the door she saw some men at a distamc leveling their guns towards this spot ; she threw hei children into the bottom of the cal- ash, and herself over them ; at the same moment a soldier just behind her had iiis arm shattered by one of these balls. She hurriedly entered the house whii h the Americans suijjjosed to be oi( ii])ied by the (ienerals; a heavy fire was di- rected towards it. Madame Riedesel and her family took re(ugc in the cellar. Here, during the whcle night, she iat upon the iloor, while tl e 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 steni h 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 ( almni'ss, stood in the doorway, and spreading o'lt her arms, firmly « om- manded the men to stand ba( k. 'Huy shrank away ashamed. The lHlj)les!* ones were then brought in. Major Ilarnage, who was wounded, with his wife, and Mrs. Keyneil, whose hiisb.iiul had been killed the day before, curtained off a corner of the cell.ir, and wished to arrange another i orner for the JJaroness. She preferred to stay near the door, where she thought she ( ould more readily save her children in case of fire, and where she could the more easily slip out during the night to see if ti>e i amp fires were still burning. She was in con- stant fear that the army wouUl make a hasty retreat, and leave her behind; she IkuI 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 \niTt 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 Till-: BATTLE GROUND Frederika would wake up in the night and cry, he often mimicked these ani- mals, Nvhen she would laugh heartily, and thus reassured, fall asleep agam. They suffered greatly for water, as the Americans would not allow the British to approach the river, but picked off with tlieir well aimed rillcs 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 1 7 th of October the army capit- ulated. After the generals of the concpiered army had been received by General Gates, a message was sent to the Baron- ess, asking iier 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. " aere," 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 I'hilip 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 ajjpre- 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. Ui)on 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 1 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 THK IJA'I'TI.K CKOUND 49 tent, where ( onsidcrate he sent an to Albany, lis house by Iters, where I)on leaving le Baroness nd children, ;s and trials ley traveled md to Cam- re they re- lecting from r England ; ;ed to ratify I, they jour- e interior of p temporary :lomesticated 1 their trying for Virginia, following ac- the German I to consider the colors of 1 further, as s at Saratoga nt lip — a cir- st took, in bad y tacitly over- ily the staves colors having Now my hus- ecret, and en- [ further con- liut myself in K, who helped liich we sewed ain O'Connell, rand, was sent d the mattress off as his bed. He sent it to Halifax, where we again found it on our passage from New N'ork to Canada, and where — in order to ward off all suspicion in case our shi]) should be taken — I transferred it into my cabin, and slept during the whole of the remaining voyage to Can- ada ui)on these honorable badges." Upon Madame Riedesel's return to Europe, and to Brunswick, she says: " 1 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 ha[)piness, 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 Wiliiam, King of Prussia, caused a beautiful monument to be erected to her memory. Kate Van P^yck drops the manuscript in her lap, her hands lie listlessly on the arms of the large chair, and she gazes dreamily out of tiie window. Mrs. Harris: " Well, Kate, how do you like my heroine? " Miss Van Kyck: " 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 A VISIT TO THE BATTLE GROUND 50 evening it is arranged that they ^vill 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 dm- 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, man;hy 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 ecpial 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 placid 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, K-ate." . , J , • 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 i775. 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 bix Nations. He was a capital shot and a A VISIT TO THK ItATTl.K f.ROUND 51 i the lake ure Snake r it should 5 probably attlesnakes xceedingly I like such js a fact or ih the place ■tation that 1 names to . interesting Snake Hill, some time, ng the dark- announces the shaded uxurious re- el bass; the and Islands, res and pen- ig and camp- , did you not ;r of the Rev- r?" that was, per- idsuch influ- lere was not ;ept the John- 10 could man- i Schuyler was ioncr in i775> Hong after the istantly called ind the State or control the jes of the Six ital shot and a fine liorscman, which seem to me to be incontestable proofs of liis personal cour- age, which some jircjudiced persons have called in question. Do you think, Col- onel Shelby, tliat a man can handle a gun witli ease and accuracy during a long life, and be always at home on a horse of high metal, and yet lack i)hysical courage, esj)ecial]y if he has the princi- ples and instincts of a gentleman, as ail admit that General Schuyler had?' Colonel Shelby, laughingly " Well, Judge, I l)elieve 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 j isti; r1 in making such sweeping asser- ti Wasliinitton, complaining of the hidi< roiis i>ositi()n in \vhi;h he was placed, and which he declared would make him the laughin- stock of l",urope. 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 ('.ales, but some how you have not touched tlie im- portant point as between C'.ales and Schuyler. Was it not a wise decision that gave Gates the command of tlie 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 ( rossed the Mohawk above him. In fact, I think it was by the route crossing those ferries that Gene- ral rhillips advised Burgoyne to ad- vance frtjm 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 headquarters 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 h;:ndful 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 19th of September, because he was short of ammunition. Schuyler, wliile still at Fort I'dward, liad ordered Hie window leads to be taken from all the houses 111 Albmv, and melted into bails, 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 hk condition, an.l the efforts he made to remedy it reacted in lifting Gates over his shoulders." Mr. Winship: " B'Ut 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 (ieorge, would be the first objects of^ at- tack. During the i)revious 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 HATTLE GKOUND 55 short of still at window lOUscs in )iit it rc- is order, nd many at Van I that he- ld. The tion, and t reacted ers. lyler was idition of ected the lents, and ion before as the nuin i it could. t. He was n Depart- n arrange- ;ted for the in of years, 1 this coun- if the Hud- mplain and jects of at- 'inter, Gen- fficers show )ns for the these orders by the coni- oukl receive at had con- is dissipated f command - ambition of Thus were -nt in great confusion at the most imjjortant moment, for when Schuyler returned to the com- mand in June, JJurgoyne was already prepared for his advance, which was made with great rajjidity in the begin- ning." Colonel Shelby: " 1 think there is too much importance attached to the capa- bilities and actions of the < ommandeis of the .\merican army in this campaign. We are apt tcj 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, I'he 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 i)eace- ful homes, the cruel murder of Jane McCrea, and the victory of Bennington — that could inspire the enthusiasm nec- esi-ary to draw an army together, and push it to victory. And when such an army 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 trooj)s, 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, lor he found great difficulty in obtaining in- formation of lUirgoyne's movements, and he had but just begun the fortifications at T.emis' Heights." Colonel Shelby: "Yes; I remember that this uncertainty about Rurgoyne'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 lUir- 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 exi)edition, 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 the 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 cra/.y capers. He may have done some good service at Saratoga, but after all he was 56 A VISIT TO llIK ItAllLK C.UOIIND f . rc.kless he.astronR scoundrel. I Mr. Winship: " Conf.rm.ng the adage, do, • 1 ko' ike to f.nd young people < her- ' that a man's heart hes m h.s stomach, h , g my iu.imental reg=ui for him.- I r.n easily believe that h.s courage does; nWinship: "ItisanuestionJthink, we are all hahle t^nnv famt-hear.e, wlu.n 1 nnn vields t<, a great temptation waUmg for a long delayed meal. :^.n;s,.nonuntus act, whether Judge Van Eyck: " h .scertam that Uur- thi s d thn.; discredit on his former goyne's precar.ous pos.t.on was owmg ,n a this should ^^^^^^ measure to this diftuulty. Kvery "TreV.nKyck: " 1 do not think it pound of pork he distributed was brought sl,o 1 \nd 1 am sure that ..Krnold. in urg- frou. Ireland; ' and among the three causes ,n\;ates the necessity of meeting of failure speciHed by Hur^.yne s la est ,; y e on the ..th of September, was biographer, one .s a want of adnnn.stra- Kd by the most honorable motives, tive arrangement and preparednes m . ,,\,,U iJs judgment was correct; it is the essentials of army supply. Yet I .o tlvit if P.uruovne had not am far from thinkmg that tins scarcity of i::!r:;;i^:d :!: U J::: that he wou^ provisions wo^d have .ed to nurgoyne-s Have driven C.ates back to Albany, or cap^re.^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ThTladies ot the party now excused some statements lately that assert it was them!elves nd wandered down to the St. Clair, instead of Sohuy er who u.- ak lor The gentlemen disposing peded Wood Creek, and fe led trees on themselvel' comforUblv. and lighting the road bet^veen Skenesborough and their cigars, continued the conversation. Fort l-khv-ard? ..,,,,,,, ,i„eere Colonel Shelby: " Do you know it is Judge Van Eyck 1 h e a mcere freouently said now that neither of the respect for General St. Cla.r. who suf batUes of Saratoga were necessary? I do fered undeservedly so n.any n..sforttmes. ^ot know udget whether you belong to but I am sure he wotdd have indulged tn th p"ty' t lat c aims General Schuyler a dry. incredulous smde at that sugges- had ' blggcd the game ' before General ticm. He was plodding his way through Gates arrved in famp. They say that the wilderness from Cast eton, and quite Bur^oyne-'s ate was iievitablJ from the to the east, while Scluiy^er was destroy^ tZ:Ti Stark annihilated the German ing the road between Sl*enesborough and el n^^^^^^^^^ Schuyler hav- Fort Edward, where St Clair joined him ng pre ously stripped the country of after his mysterious disappearance of ;::^Iions so\.o,4letely .to paraly. sev^Wla.. ;---;--- Eureovne's movements. \ ou know it of St. L-lair s qivimu.. ,,,■,„ h slTn said that ' an army moves on fight of Fort Anne had rocks rolled mto its belly • which is true; the strictest dis- the creek as he retreated, but this was a cbHn "the staunchest courage and best small matter compared wUh the work equ pments are useless, if soldiers are that was done. Sc .uyler s orders to poTfed. m modern warfare, the Generals Fellows and Nixon and many conmissariat is justly considered the others, dated at Fort Edward, before St. herof the army '• ^ . Clair arrived, show what active measures A VISIT TO THE ilATir.K (;i, and quite k'as destroy- borough and r joined him pearance of Dionei Long, r his gallant s rolled into It this was a th the work 's orders to n, and many rd, before St. live measures he was taking to impede the roads, and to stri]) the country of provisions and wagons tlia*. miglu 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 (leorge, and at the same time he was using the utmost vigilance to protect the western frontier. I tell you, sir ; the energy, the extraordinary liusiness ca|)acity and the unflinching courage of Schuyler, exer- cised at that time, whe.\ all was dark and tlireatening, saved tlie campaign of '77. It was at the very moment when lUirgoyne considered himself invincible, and was prepared to push rapidly for- ward, that Schuyler, with a shattered, despairing, emjjty-handed s(]uad 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 jx)- sition, and then set about surrounding Burgoync on every side. He succeeded in doing this, and thus he obviated the necessity for an open fight. I believe denoral dates was right in wishing to avoid such a risk. Was it not a neces- sary |)recaution. Colonel ?" Colonel Shelby : "(), no, sir! \'ou are mistaken. The .Americans were nuich better at a dash or a skirmish in the woods than behind entrenchments. I'he 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. Clates 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 whole day, in readiness for a retreat, which he evi- dently thought would be necessary. If the army had remained quietly behind their works, as dates 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 (iates 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 impa- |: 58 A VISIT TO THK HATTLE (.ROUND tiencc that instigated Arnold ; he had the eye anf September, and tlie check received then was after all the fir.l insurmountable obstacle that Hur- goyne had encountered. It was Arnold's desperate valor in the next ( ontest that drove I'.urgoyne back upon his retreat, and into the terrible circle where the cautious C.ates finally came up and se- ,ured him, and there is no doubt but the roar of Sir Henry Clinton's artillery on the lower Hudson know that. In fart, our best histories are very deficient in many particulars that are full of interest, and are of importance in any effort to understand tiie events of the revolutionary perioil. It is perhaps l)erfhensible heights— all contribute to subdue gaiety and arouse deeper emo- tions. .\s they drift on the artifn ial world seems left behind. The conven- tionalisms of society disappear— Parisian elegancies, military restraint, I'.oston pos- itiveness, and shy dignity are forgotten; the simi)licity 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 i)ictures(iue language tells a wild, tragic story of life in Neva- da; he siieaks of the towering mountains and tumbling cataracts amid which the scene took place. Miss I'elham, in an awed voice: "Col- onel, your story oppresses me; I 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 tliese sloping hills and this quiet lake; one 'ould not imagine a tragedy taking place here." Miss Van I'-yck, 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 1 feel as if we might be going there now as we glide over this lake; it takes us so mu< h nearer. Some of the people who lied before Murgoyne'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 jieacefulness that we feel now ! -and yet the lake is as it was; how insignificant it makes one feel U, think of this— that we come and go as time Hows 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 Kyck, to Mr. Winship: "Don't you think Lady .\ckland 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 1 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 Miss Van Eyck, evidently m a yield- ing mood: "I will sing a song of the Hudson in a storm," A VISIT TO Till'; llAIIM.i; (iUOt N!) r.i (ivrr this r. Some ur^ioyiie's it;li l-isli v anxious iivc been; Incss tlMit tc is as it s one I'ct'l ic ami n<) the same, (I tl\c sky ibli-. Miss fixed laws, el the same it the peo- times did, •cted into and terror, same sway . Winship: :kland dis- an any that day ? — and 3uld tell me than I yet n appropri s this. How A-hile in that 3m the Brit- t was not a and stormy, at you know Miss Kate, ,t sing me a y in a yield- song of the S0N(;. Oil lliy hosoin iin(;ry river, Still I s;iffly rust 1111(1 (Irciiii, Kiiowini; tlu-f n faithful Imrr, 'riioii^li ilaik ji.issiciiis I (I'MiiviT Mill llu' liglitiiiiit;-. lilfiil ^liMiii. Oft when lluiii wort calmly >iiiiliiij;, .Stormy griefs I \vln^|)L•ll■(l ilu'i-, .\iii| for^^dt llu-m wliilr rfi linintj On lliy IxiMuii llidii lii'|.;iiiliiitj Mc to iire,'im> of ecstasy. Now I love thee for tliy rafjiii^;, Like my soul's uiircstfiil ways. Storms or siiiisliitie thee ciitjaniiii;. Still my woes ilioii art assiia);im;, I. over tlioM who'iic'er betrays. Soft and clear the rieh tones of Kate Van Ky( k's voice float out on the moon- lighted air. As she linishes, a deep (piiet ])revails. Mr. Winship in low, distinct tones: " "I'd gallant (iales, in w.ir serenely brave, Tlie tide of fiirliine turns its rellueiit wave; l'"orcc(l l>y liisarm-, the hold invaders yield The ])rize and j;l(iry of the well-foiij;ht Held: IJIeedin^j and lost the caplureil Ackland lies — ,' He is in the hantls of the enemy, quite helpless, wounded in both legs. His valet, who is warmly attached to him, is groping aboitt in the darkness among the wounded on the ojjen field, in the chill, autumn night, peering into dead and suffering faces, examining the cloth- ing of the killed and mangled, patiently passing from grou|) to grouj) 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 fal'* in struggling to rise he finds hii.itjU wounded in the shoulder. Bleeding profusely, it is with diflficulr.' he gets back to the camp." Miss Van l''.yi k ; " Was he the same mat) who s.ived his master's life when tin- tent was burning ?" Mr. Winship: " I dtm't tliink he w.is. Major Ackland seems to have inspired an anient affection in all who siirroiiiKlid him. riie man who twic:e in tiie s.tiue night risked his lite to save the M.ijur's, was a sergeant. The tent occupied by Major .\ckl.ind anil his wife took fire from a ( andle upsit by a favorite dog. I.ady .\ckland was soon aroused, ami crept out imler the side of 'he ti'nt, at the sam^' ;ime '.he sergean'. entered it. He fotind the Major in . profountl sleep and carried him out r\ his arms. As soon as contact with tlie air had arotis'd the sleeper, he saw tne condit' .1 of a; fairs, and not knowing that hi ife had est aped, he immediately rut'it-il into the flames to rescue he; Me was ovcrcor with the fire and sraoke and wotild piob- ably have been smothered had not the sergeant followed him and again dragged him from the flame;." Miss Pelham : " \\'asn't it strange they should have a net dog on such an expedition ?" Mr. Winship : " Many of the officers hatl 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 belotijjii' .J to Lord Balcarras, that had a curioi. ; 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 THK liAPri.K (IROUND %! ■s?v. *:, 0-i Colonel, but to continue my story: lars^e trees wc-c being cut down. One of them fell directly on the dog, and by its weight seemed to bury him in the c-irlh 'The dog was unusually intelli- gent and .luick ; 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 diligently 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 .ondition and spirits." Colonel Shelbv : " 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 ICvck : "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. " T'on 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. Winship : " T'Ut 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 tra^ s were not swallowed up in the intlulgence of coarser tastes shows that there was some strong infiuence 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 Cates 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 Crates 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 b, 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 llIK IJATTLK (UiOl'M) 63 , and was at he was ible senti- ihcse tra' ,s imlulgence there was ■k to coun- active his ;t of Lady ranee, indi- fying spirit lim. When e American nieral dates xnd respect. to suppose manly and t of women have been a re can draw this, as the ivler's horse- ips so. But a miserable lone less for camp under usband soon it after their shot in a duel e valor of the Iden shock of kland's mind ; )ut was finally lation in the 11, whom she ,vas the chap- ceremony at id also accom- i that perilous vo camps; her husband's faithful valet, although wound- ed, also went with her. A sister of Lady Ackland, l,ady Susan O'Hrien (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 bhie : 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 of yon hills The crashing cannon-thiills 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 pia/za, 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 tiie landau. Miss \'an Eyck, Mr. Winship and Judge Van Eyck take their i)laces witii her, and they are driven off toward the lake on Union Avenue. Colonel Shelby and Miss Pelham have decided to visit Sciniylerville 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 ?" Coloeel Shelby, evidently amused at Miss Pelham's eagerness to obtain in- formation at the dictation of Miss Kate: 64 A VISIT TO TIIK UATlT.t; GROUND "Not yet, but it is proposed to put one tliere in commemoration of the l)attles ,,t' Saratoga." Miss Pelham, perplexedly: "But 1 tliought the battles were not fought there Vou see, Colonel, I am hopelessly mixed when it comes to military matters, liut do enlighten me about this monument. C-olonel Shelby: " It is claimed that the place of surrender is a proper loca- tion for the monument, as bemg the **ySsi " -. *^!i#:iSfSA; ! 68 A VISir TO THE ItATTLE (IKOUND |„dge Van Eyrk; "Kate, those are the hit;h hills of Lake Cleorge to the north, and the KayaanjsseraeluUn l.reaks up inl.) peaks there to the northwest. AVe must have a view of one thousand square miles under our eyes here. Sara- tot;a 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?" ludge Van Eyck: " To the right agam. Tliis is the main road from Quaker Springs to Hemis- 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 si.ot, 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 intcve.t them. She also shows them the relii s that have been ploughed up on the farm. There are musket balk, a twenty-four pound ( annon ball, buckles and buttcms 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 I5ak arras 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 Eearned'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 'I'o 'II IK isArn.K CROUXn 69 iskct balk, ,11, buckles :r of V.rh- c of a man 'I'hcy are knoll near jot deep; a ;rain of al- )elieve that )ot, for just oic defence nd succeed- the redoubt yne moved t after the ley all stand bf "Which called?" A :s of a light a ravine, is 1, but some hat, Kate, is St it is where ,hich he de- orks between the last bat- ments broke the time of Icarras. See- l gained, Ar- nent, dashed 1 where Brey- getting pos- was killed at driven away, there; but the ubt, and you the command , and made it ) abandon his position. \\ e will now go to tiu- sight of J-'ra/cr's (amp, in the ]>ine woods just a( rf)>s ilie road." Mrs. Harris: "I think. Judge, that we have lingered so long on tlie way that we had l>ctter take our lunch at once, and make further investigations afterwards." Judge Van I'^yck; " A good suggestion, Madame; and if you like a genuine pic- nic, those woods are just tlie place for it. Robert, have tlie coffee boiled, and buy nonie 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 P'arm, 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 cushiorvs from the carriage were disposed around, and lounging on them in oriental fashion, with sharpened appetites, the whole i)arty 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 sec here on the map that the bridge across the north ravine is just above the fork made by this small one? " Miss Van Kyck: "Come, father, I am sure we know that map by heart; let us go and look for the bridge." Mr. Winshij): "Wait a few minutes, Miss Kate; I want to take another look. I see. Judge, it is ([uite 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 Beinis' Heights and Neilson's I'arm, 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 ii Mr-^z?^*-;i:nmr^i\:' '^^i^^i:^^^!'^: >< V ■" ■ '•-'<^' ■ ■ '" 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. Duln'l you tell me, Mrs. Harris, that these ravines would all be dry? " Mrs. Harris: "I supposed they would, for I have heard that all tlie small water courses in this country had become greatly reduced, or were (luite 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 oilier 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 onlyijlace 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 skilfuU 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. Winshii): "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 fdled up long 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- rcst, 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 i)lace 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 Tllli UAITLK CiROUND 71 e's time? up long d dirt?" hat a de- arth will ;cr time. J the for- \o doubt only that they are, with the tvn at the )neof the iid-marks t we pos- s on that ; old will Mr. Win- amemora- be made Freeman's land. Al- gan off on on driven if the 19th preserved interesting of time a pon it." is decided he river, a The pub- arm is fol- cession of they make robable lo- rters, which n the way ;een as they and more rugged and the hills more precipitous. They can understand now wliy the col- umns of lUirguyne's army were so widely separated on their advance; liiey must either go on the river road or far to the west. It would be impossible to drag artillery over these hills antl glens. It becomes iiujre and more evident that tlie American position was well ciu>sen. .\p- l)roaciiing 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 i''.yck, coming to the siile of the landau: "This is just like the i)ic- tures with which we are familiar; there are the three hills on which the British tents are always seen m 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 con^- plete the view. What a beautiful place this is; no wonder Frazer cliose 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 cam]). No, that was at Coveville. Judge Van Eyck: " It was just here, too, that the British army was huddled to- ijether on the night after the lost battle. Look behind you at the Hats where the river bends a little and yea will see where the Americans posted themselves when they 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 iiere long. Shall we now ride up the riser to tiie house where Frazer died?" .\Ir. Winship: "I th'i.l it will be more interesting, as we cannot see all these places to-day, to visit Bemis' Ilciglits, 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 F^yck: " Before we go, let us walk up the hill, and see if iheie is anytiiing 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 oi)ened 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 hmi, 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 i if: *fc!j».'^>»S!*«-'* ,i **:3,w>i«a^i«;'ia',®jg;iaBS^sS%-»<':#iai5;. ■ ji^;tt¥M.f'v-- - 7^ A VISIT 'lo iiir. i;\iri,K ckound river, when tlicv ri;i( li llu' silc of tlie old IWniis House. Ik-re tliey turn to the rij;lit, and hejiin the long and gradual a;>( ent lo the hiights. 'I'liis road they oh- ser\e, as they examine the map, follows the line of tiie Amerii an ramp, and runs along a rid_i;e, with a ravine in front and liehind. 'I'he rem.iins of an old ( ellar on the left indi( ate the plai e of (leneral Catis iieachpiarters. i'inally reaching the height, a turn to the right soon brings them III the Neilson House, where Mor- gan and I'oor had their headcpiarters. Fart of the original building is still stand- ing, and in it the room where Lady Ackland was condueted to the bedside of her wounded husband. 'I'he house is still owned and occupied by descendants of the family to whom it then belonged. Thev have many relics that have been found on the farm, arrow points, balls, bavonets, (amp spoons, and other things suggestive of the great conllicts 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 Kyck 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 ma]) 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 incpiiries, 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 on( e 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-:. .\s they near ihe \illage, 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 clima.x on its per- fections." Mr. Winship: " It has been a most en- joyable day, and 1 have never visited a battle field with more satisfa( tion. It is generally difficult to realize the connec- tion between the i)lace 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 reai h the hotel, alight and pass into their cottage. Colonel Shelby and Miss IVlham are sitting on the front ])iazza, 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. Uefore 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- l)lace 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 SCnUYl,ERVII,I.F, 73 be found 1 its (lark- in a p ro- ll startlin ,' iiH' of its I re <-■!•. As )on comes 311S day we seems to jn its per- .1 most en- r visited a lion. It is le connec- the event; amps, with the Sara- ; of recol- t and pass ihclby and , the front rival. Col- Eyck from /our antici- at you have been more ent I had a lly got upon maginations lat it would id common- As I rode : that it was : it had been t ideas had ce, and that while many of the contestants had ' r.uilded l)etter than they knew,' tlu'V must still hasf been inspired with some dim \ ision of tiie future." Colonel Shelby: "You conx ince me, Miss Van liyrk, that the jjleasure or profit we may linil in any obje( t 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. 1 envy the i)erson whom you will i)ermit at any time to be the companion of your thoughts and sentiments. Will you al- low me to hope that I may occasionally have su( h a happiness? You must be cnnvinrid by this time that such (m < .i- sions ( annot be too often repeated to please me. Will you allow me to go with you to-morrow on the proposed ex- l)edition to I'roipect Hill?" Miss Van Kyck: " I will tell you in the morning, Colonel, what arrangements we have made." SCHUYLERVH.I.E This village, the Saratoga of the past, which forms so important and interest- ing a feature in the Ikirgoyne 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 approa( h 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- (juois, 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 i ar *"^i;*rts ^-3^^' '^-^;> ■^iti*:*-''^' ^' - ■ .-"/ffe : fe5<-*!(*9f f/jf .'it**' ". 74 SCmiYLERVII.LE and foes, he yielded his sword to Clcn- rior for his Field Book. Since then the eral dates. house has been remodeled, hut the main Here is also the plain, now partly filled timbers, and, in fact, all the rooms ro- hy canal ind basin, and marked by the main asthey were in 1777. The rafterand i;im tree of tr.idilional renown, where base boards, through which the cannon the I5riiisl> stacked their arms. Here balls passed, have been removed. They also is tile site of the .S( luiyler m.insion, are < .irefiiUy jireservcd, and upon inspec- tion, will be found to authenticate Mad- ame Kiedesel's thrilling account of the days spent in this house; scenes that are vividly recalled as one stands ujion the little children which war burned by Hurgoyne's order, and wli' re the officers representing the commanders of the respective armies first met for the ( onsideration of terms of surrender, and near it is the first place cellar floor, where her of meeting between lUirgoyne and dates, crouched in terror. for an interchange of the courtesies of From the pia/,/ i may be seen the hills military life before the final surrender, on the cast side of the river, where the 'I'lie Srhiivler mansion, as rebuilt and oc- American artillery was posted, from rupied for many years by the deneral, is which were thrown the balls that tore still standing. through the house. The exact place On a pine-crested hill, south of the where Burgoyne crossed the river is Fish dreek, which overlooks the ceme- also in sight; and upon riding to that tery on the north side, are the remains spot, the river bank will be found cut of earthworks, dn this hill Major Ste- away on each side, to facilitate the pas- vens probably placed the artillery from sage of the army. A little to the south which were tiirown the very balls that are the hills on which the Americans, tradition says interrupted so rudely the under Fellows, were posted, dinner of the British denerals. Many places of minor interest may be 'I'his cemetery hill, stretching towards visited at Schuylerville, and the tourist of Victory, was evidently that strongly forti- leisure would be well repaid for a week fied part of the camp indicated on the or more of rambling and driving about old military maps as the position of Fra- this lovely village, where every comfort- zer's light rangers, and those now living able accommodation can be found at the assisted in the destruction of the earth- doldsmith House, which has also the works, as declared in the affidavits be- inducement of a good sulphur spring in low. A drive from the cemetery along its grounds. the heights takes one quite through the The village is quiet and quaint, and is site of the British camp, and is apjiro- remarkable for the large number of fam- priately terminated at the Riedesel house, dies who have lived within its limits or now owned by Mr. Marshall, and shown neighborhood for several successive gen- to visitors with great kindness, and intel- erations. This fact gives an unusual ligent interest. This house was visited interest and authentication to the tradi- by Mr. Lossing nearly thirty years ago, tions of the place. The following affi- when he sketched the interior and exte- davits were made by two of the oldest 8CHUYLERVILLE 75 e then the t the main rooms re- : rafter and ihe cannon red. They )on inspec- icate Mad- )unt of the les that are Is upon the le children en tlie hills , where the sted, from s that tore ;xact place le river is ing to that found cut ite the pas- o the south Americans, rest may be he tourist of for a week iving about ;ry comfort- found at the as also the lur spring in Liaint, and is iber of fam- its limits or xessive gen- an unusual :o the tradi- iliowing affi- >f the oldest inhabitants for the use of the Senate Committee having the Saratoga Monu- ment under consideration; they are now published for the first time:* Statk ok Nf.w York, | County of Saratoga, j .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 tile 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 Briti.sh 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, tiie .American army pur- sued them as far as u 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 of the cemetery. I assisted in tear- ing them down. They were made of pine logs and earth. [ ploughed up a cartridge box containing about sixty musket balls. F remember the old Dutch Church, which stood on the south side of the road now running from the river rtiad to Vic- lory; I fre(iuenlly 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 Ceneral Schuyler's mansion, aiul only two on the north side at that time. I visited General Si huylcr's mansion when he was there; I saw him signing deeds or leases. Ai.iifrt Clements. Sworn to before me April 13th, 1877. S. Wells, Notary Public. )RK, ) nty. ) State of New Yoj 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 aijny 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 SCIIUVLEKVILLE I dug up five cannon Jwtl^ there some lifty years ago. I visited old C.eneral Si luiyler at liis mansion several times. 1 dined tliere on one occasion; and after finishing my meal, the old General asked me if 1 had oaten enough. I answered that I liad all that I wanted, and he re- plied: " If you have, knock out your teeth." My grandfather, Charles McCrcedy, and father, James McCrecdy, were both in the engagements fought at Bemis' Heights, September 19th and October 7th, 1777. lh'>y 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 IukI the pleasure of conversing wilh these ol.l men, and caa bear witness lo tlie clear- ness and readiness of their memory. Mr. Clements is exceedingly interesting, and a man of some attainments. lie ha= been a civil engineer, and told me that he had surveyed the first lots that were laid out in Schuylerville, Thilij) Schuyler, grandson of the. General, and Mr. licadlc, who afterwards laid out the vi'lage ol West Troy, carrying the chain. Mr. Clements also said lie had made the survey that settled the disputed line between the towns of Northum- Ijcrland and Saratoga, and a curious incident en- abled him to verify his work. lie found the old survey mark in a log of yellow pine (known to be very durable) under ground, and correspond- ing wilh his own lines. Mr. McCreedy is 01. e of four generations who have fought in the various wars of the country. Mis father and grandfather were in the battles of Saratoga; he fought in tlie battle of I'lattsburgh in the war of 1812, 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 .'.ady, 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. II. W. :i= been a civil I surveyed tlie Schuylerville, , General, and out the vi'lage Mr. CIcnuMils that settled the i of Northum- lU^; incident cn- lle found the w pine (known md correspond- ;enerations who ~il the country. in the battles of of riattsburgh took an active ivho is near his sixty years, is a a vivid account that took place ago, when the banquet spread •I i'.ady, where i\\c says the old and that there :rowd of people E. II. W. VISITORS' GUIDE jj^^«=^.i^*;,, ■-.^:-^~^ IS lalU MoreaaSaJt'/ i con Hilll ^^lic, Picffi yoveville - SARATOGA SPRINGS IN RELATION TO THK IIRKAT ROUTKS OF TRAVEL The village of Saratoga Springs is located directly on the main northern railroad between New York citv 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, tlicn by > ♦^age 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, cast 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, agrfl 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 ^SS*;nKtr!; i^'^y^^t^^.'^ '^^--^^^ii^^^l^Jii^ii.^.^.-. .i: 'i''4i^^-^'^ir^-s?'--^:r^\VAv Hali, and Washing- ton Hall, on Broadway, are houses long established and favorably known. There are many other good houses on J^ioad- way and other streets. Pitnev's, on Congress -treet, is also a favorite resort. Dr. iIamilton's Medical 1 vstitute offers a pleasant and r Sned home, with many advantages to invfJids; it is on Franklin street. MoREv'sis a large and comfortable house on tit tme street. Temple Grove Sf";;.nary 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 gULSts 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 througli 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 ore thrown towards the earth's surface, not only the mineral springs that surprise and delight u.s, 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- i I; ■;;tj3S3!r*eF-jv: t.'ii«€**>-'..'-,.-,%J ^jVKXr-Sv^^Nt; 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 fre.piently 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 nen s.-.von he put up the first frame ho.se lb, c was built at the Springs. Cc-'^'.av.ed medicinally, the waters of this sp.in^ are among the very best of the vMncal fountains of Saratoga, and iw.y -.10. residents prefer them to any others, The especial feature of this spring, huwever, is its wonderful geolog- ical formation; "it is one of the greatest natuial 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-for.t feet in circum- ference at the baf..:. The spring bub- bles up through .u-i aperture in the centre of the rock, remaining ten inches below the top, wheve the opening is one foot in diameter. The >valls of the rock are of nearly uniform thickness. The .'pnng formcrlv overflowed this rock, which has been formed from the mineral deposits of the water. " The mineral substances held in solution in the springs with tlie 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 ar; umulate 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. Tn, water of the High Rock Spring is .f uniform quality, and an excellent tonic; it is also bottled on an extensive scale. Congress Spring and Park, corner of Broadway and Congress streets. I.et 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 o.uaint blacksmiths 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- I! VISITORS CUIDE 83 lime and with oth- bout the nuts and gh Rock, alatcd in- on at the imount of It the Flat th of the ufa, about 1, with an ic de[>osits seldom re- te and be ion of the of a rock, !scent into d any such )ck Spring n excellent . extensive RK, corner ss streets, o Saratoga ugust 1792. ; stand two ough addi- ch convert ccommoda- spring then the rear of jlacksmith's 3. Not far rimitive for- )use of Gen- ;ting of two ireplace and mile to the }ideon Put- nam. A few visitors are gathered at the little taverns. 'I'hey come to use tlie waters of the " great medicine s])ring " of traditional renown, the 'ligh Rock; some of the gentlemen being attracted sim])ly by the fme hunting and fishing to be enjoyed in the vicinity. The dense forest, the abundance and variety of game, and the repose of the wilderness appe.'led 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 Clovcrnor John Tay- lor C.ilman, 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 General Schuyler, Dr. Blakesley, Gideon Putnam, a brother of Governor Gilm.in, with a few more guests • 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 Roc k, 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 '■-''I \i^- 84 visitors' guii>e I; original sourre. He turned the bed of the creek and found lus sui)i.()sitK)n cor- recf a large stream flowed from this place ]Ie 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 sprmg, and has been undisturbed since 1865; but what marvelous changes have taken place around it! Yet with alKhe d>ggmg and filling up, the draining, the garden- ing, and the building that has been in progress about it, the spring has remam- 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 s])reading trees or graceful colonnade of the I'ark, 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- es