UC-NRLF HHHHBBfii O GO 00 od ■OYI M£m.GW; : \ tow mh iiitii^pw 1 A) Ctr^<~ A<~t+**f&*- "^ ETHAN ALLEN. THE BURGOYNE CAMPAIGN. ItW fltipj? HHW> ORISKANY AND BENNINGTON. HAUVER ISLAND AND ITS FORTIFICATIONS, SECOND EDITION. BY H. C. MAINE, A. M., (Of the Troy Whig.) Illustrated with Pen Drawings by Buckland. TROY, N . Y . : TROT WHIG PUBLISHING CO., PRINTERS, 1877. > • ■> PREFACE TO THE SEOOISTD EDITION". A desire to search out and record in some permanent form the history of the occupation by an American army in 1777, of Hauver and Yan Schaick's islands, at the sprouts of the Mohawk, gave rise to these pages. The remains of fortifications on Hauver island, are undoubtedly the best preserved of any relics of the revolutionary struggle. A study of the his- tory of these interesting remains opened to the whole history of Bur- goyne's campaign and preceding events in the Cbamplain, St. Lawrence and Hudson valleys. In connection with the historical record, the writer sought to preserve by art, accurate representations of historic localities as they appear to-day. On account of the great cost of illustration, the difficulties were considerable. Happily there fell into the writer's hands the circular of a Boston house, the Photo-Electrotype Company, announc- ing a new discovery by which the art of illustration was rendered com- paratively inexpensive. The method was tested and the illustrations of these pages are the result. They have defects, nevertheless they are faith- ful and accurate, having been reproduced with the greatest fidelity from original sketches by H. Buckland. We trust they may add to the knowl- edge of the localities now so interesting, and may guide our readers to a more complete understanding of the operations of the two armies engaged in the valley of the upper Hudson. For valuable aid and encouragement in the preparation of these brief pages, we are greatly indebted to Hon. James Forsyth, B. H. Hall, N. B. Sylvester. Dr. C. C. Schuyler, grand- nephew of Gen. Philip Schuyler, and H. Buckland, the artist. Troy, N. Y., Oct. 17, 1877. h. c. m. BURGOYNE'S FIRST EXPEDITION IN 1776. a good understanding of the Burgoyne campaign of 1777, a brief review of preced- ing operations in the north is necessary. After the first collision at Lexington, April 19, 1775, it was the intention of the patriots to seize and hold the gateway to Canada, and, if possible, induce that province to join in the struggle for liberty. The provincial assembly of Connecticut, through a few of its members, immediately agreed upon a plan to seize Ticonderoga and the munitions of war stored there. One thousand dollars was appropriated to cover the expense. Edward Mott and Noah Phelps were entrusted with the raising of troops and examination of the fortress. If ex- pedient, they were to' surprise and capture the garrison. They collected 15 men in Connecticut, and at Pittsfield, Mass., were joined by Col. Easton and John Brown. Col. Easton enlisted volunteers from his regiment of militia, about forty being engaged by the time he reached Benning- ton. There, Ethan Allen, who had energy enough for a brave and determined man, and energy to spare, joined the expedition with his Green Mountain Boys. The whole party, Ml£5£G3 6 two hundred and seventy strong, reached Castleton, fourteen miles from Skenesborough (now Whitehall) on the evening of the 7th of May. There Allen was chosen commander, with Col. Easton second, and Seth Warner third. The ex- pedition was divided into three detachments, Allen leading the one which was to cross the lake, from a point directly opposite the fortress. One party was to go by way of Skenesborough, and capture young Major Skene and confine his people, afterwards to seize boats and proceed to Ticon- deroga. The third party was dispatched by way of Panton beyond Crown Point. Before the troops moved from Cas- tleton, however, Benedict Arnold, who had marched to Cambridge with his company from New Haven, immediately after the battle of Lex- ington, appeared with a commission from the Massachusetts commit- tee of safety, giving him command of an expedi- tion, which he was to raise to reduce Ticon- deroga. As he had not raised such an expedi- tion, he was not allowed to supersede Ethan Al- len. Arnold then went with Allen as a volun- teer. During the night of the 9th, Allen with his little force reached the lake. The officers and eighty-three men had crossed, under the guidance of a farmer boy named Beman, when day began to dawn. Without waiting for the other detachments, Allen deter- mined to enter the fort. With Arnold at his side, Allen led his men to the covered entrance. The sentinel snapped his piece at them and fled, the patriots following him into the works. Another sentry resisted, but he was made a prisoner. RUINS OF TICONDEROGA RY MOONLIGHT. 7 What occurred thereafter is a matter of dispute. The following account is undoubtedly the correct one. It is from Matthew Dunning, who went from Will iamstown, Massa- chusetts, and who was third behind Allen as he entered the fort. These are his words : " The line formed at the front of the barracks. The com- mandant slept at the head of the stairs in the second story. The prisoner sentinel pointed out the room. I was directly in front of the stairs, the door being open. Allen* rapped upon the officer's door with his sword violently. The officer sprang from his bed in his night clothes, and opening the *Ethan Allen was born at Litchfield, Connecticut, Jan. 10, 1737, and died in Bur- lington, Vt., Feb. 12, 17S9. He moved to the westward of the Green Mountains in 1766, and was one of the most active partisans in fie struggle of the New Hamp- shire Giants against the state of New York. The headquarters of these partisans was at the old Catamount tavern in Bennington. He was brave, generous, rash and eccentric. When the revolution began he turned all his powerlul energies to assist the colonies. His daring capture of TiconoLeroga and subsequent surrender at Montreal are recorded in another place. He was exchanged May ( { th, 177S, and returned to Vermont. Before the end of the war he removed to Bennington, thonce to Arlington, and finally to the vicinity of Onion river, where he died. The picture of Allen presented on the title page is from the statue by Sthepenson, sur- mounting the monument at Burlington. This statue was unveiled July 4th, 1873. The monument upon which the statue stands is in the old cemetery on the ridge east of Burlington, overlooking a wide scene— the Adirondacks on the west, and Allen's loved Green Mountains on the east. The shaft is of granite forty-two feet high, and of the Doric order. It stands upon a square pedestal which is inscribed upon each of its four faces. The western face has: •* Vermont to Ethan Allen, born in Litchfield, Conn., 10th Jan.. A. D. 1737,0. S. died in Burlington, Vt., 12th Feb. A. D. 1769, and buried near the site of this monument." The southern face bears the following inscription : "The leader of the Green Mountain boys in the surrender and capture of Ticonderoga, which he demanded " In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.'" East face : " Taken prisoner in a daring attack on Montreal and transported to England, he disarmed the purpose of his enemy by the respect which he inspired for the rebellion and the Rebel." North face: " Wielding the pen as well as the sword, he was the sagacious and intrepid defender of the New Hampshire Grants, and master spirit in the arduous struggle which resulted in the sovereignty of the state." When the state of Vermont moved in 1858 to erect this monument, it was impossible to find the exact place of Allen's interment. His remains were known to repose within a certain enclosure, but an examination of the spot revealed nothing. So, without the people's knowledge, in the course of those seventy years their hero had become traditional. The statue is heroic. The face is ideal. The form and features of the hero hid passed into tradition, and it was believed at the time the model was exe- cuted that not a lineament of his features or form had been preserved, although it is stated somewhat doubtfully that Trumbull made a painting of him which ie still in existence. In view of the uncertainty, i he people of Vermont indulge their magination to the fullest extent, picturing their hero a man nearly seven feet high, and endowing him with all the manly qualities which distinguish the sons of that state. 8 door asked, " What do you want ?" Allen replied, " This fort." The commander asked, "In whose name ?" "In my own name, and in the name of the Continental Congress, and by God I will have it." The officer said, " very well," and started to go down stairs. Allen said, " You are not going down before my men naked, are you ? Go back and put on your clothes." The officer then dressed and came down. Mr. Dunning survived until nearly 1830 and was greatly respected. According to Lossing, the commandant Delaplace, ap- peared in his night dress, "with the frightened face of his pretty wife peering over his shoulder." It is also stated that he and Allen had been old friends, and that when Allen was roughly asked his errand, he replied pointing to his men, " I order you instantly to surrender." " By what authority do you demand it," said Delaplace. "In the name of the great Jehovah and the Continental Congress !" thundered Allen. The surrender then followed. Seth Warner arrived just as the surrender was completed. Ticonderoga was a valuable fortress. It was fortified by the French in 1755 and had been greatly strengthened by the English after its capture by Lord Amherst in 1759, and contained valuable stores and over a hundred and fifty cannon and mortars. On the 12th Crown Point surren- dered to Seth Warner. This too was a strong fortress. A fort had been built near its site by the French in 1731, which they called Fort St. Frederick. This was deserted when Amherst captured Ticonderoga, and the English immediately began the erection of the fort on Crown Point. This cost, according to Lossing, $10,000,000, the fort being part of Pitt's plan to utterly crush French power in Amer- ica. After its capture by Allen and Warner, it was not regarded of very great importance. Col. Allen was in- stalled as commander of the two forts after a sharp contro- versy with Arnold, who claimed authority. The prisoners, forty-eight in number, were sent to Hartford. Arnold and Allen pushed on to St. John's, and Arnold captured the fort and a British vessel lying there. The ipplljljjftyljjift ST.L*C£R'$ . TaV A*ST6z4L, <5%C *&7Z-<^ -{XtsWsT^f On-*-* <*&- 1 » cf c J 2 &~^ *-t^^ Q / # /{frves &AfJ CZtf^L^&^tfc (O^L O^yJ Ml 7^-^ <$C<_<, %{,7u^fw^^< * y -?• A^JhO P A**^_ r ^7^- £. '7*7 J-z«- caJ f 6%l^< « Sb£/1<>1SL*/ r / ■<%£ ^cy c ^UMLU 0Vt/UWU4 £ y #& across the sprouts, as they were called, or mouths ot the Mohawk, which, ■ xcept in time of freshets, were fordablc, and by four of which that stream enters the Hudson ; ihe second and third forming Van Schaick's Island, across which the road passed, and was the usual route at that time.— Neil- orCs History. u CENTRE REDOUBT ON HAUVER ISLAND, OPPOSITE WATERFORD. place. On the 1st of August, Congress passed a resolution ordering Gen. Schuyler who was then facing Burgoyne at Moses Creek with a handful of men, " to repair to head- quarters, and that Gen. Washington be directed to order such general officer as he shall think proper to repair im- mediately to the northern department to relieve Major General Schuyler in his command there." This resolution, with one passed July 29 :h directing an inquiry into the evacuation of Ticonderoga, was forwarded to Gen. Schuyler on the 5th of August. He received them on the 10th but determined to continue his arduous labors with patriotic spirit until his successor should arrive. Gates's New England friends were sa anxious that he be appointed that they drew up an impertinent letter praising Gates and requesting Washington to appoint him. The letter was in the handwriting of Samuel Adams and was first signed by John Adams, the other New England dele- gates following. 25 [The trees growing upon the redoubts pictured in the two preceding cuts are of large size and are doubtless sprung from seed dropped in the fresh earth thrown up by Gen. Schuyler's army a hundred years ago. The present owner of the island, A. A. Peebles, a grandson of John G. Va?i Schaick,* who was the owner in 1777, has jealously guarded these mementoes of the past.] WEST REDOUBT ON HAUVER ISLAND. Gen. Washington did not like this impertinence and in a letter to Congress on the 3d of August, declined to act. He *Joftn G. Van Schaick was a brother-in-law of Col. Peter Gansevoort. the brave defender of Fort Stanwix, and himself a sterling patriot. He loaned to Gen. Ga'es $ 10,000 in gold to pay the army, taking for security continental notes of credit, which were never redeemed, many being now in possession of his descendants. Gen. Gates had his headquarters fur a time at Van Schaick's house, which is still standing opposite La'singburgh. The island had been in possession of the Van Schaicks since about 1643, it being part of the Halfaoon patent, which extended for several miles up the Hudson and up the Mohawk. John G. Van Sch>ick is well remembered by the oldest residents of Troy and Lansingburgh as the last man who wore a cocked hat ffrid knee-breeches, in this vicinity. 4 MAJOR GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER. had, in fact, lost confidence in Gates, but had the greatest esteem for Schuyler. Schuyler was Washington's peer in almost every sense of the term, while Gates was a man of mean spirit. Congress then, through eastern influence, im- mediately appointed Gates, giving him absolute power (sub- ject to Congress) of removal and appointment in his department, a power which he afterward exercised in humiliating Arnold. The army was not greatly pleased with the change, the New England general officers having joined with others in expressing regret at the necessity which compelled Gen. Schuyler to leave the command of them. Arnold, who was the bravest general and best sol- dier in the army, had a profound respect for Schuyler and his military skill. It is safe to say that Arnold would have ended his career differently, had he not been subjected to the meanness of Gates and the coldness of John Adams. 27 Gen. Schuyler gracefully delivered his command to Gen. Gates, who arrived at Van Schaick's on the 19th of August. On that day Gen. Schuyler had congratulated Gen Stark on his victory at Bennington, and, Stark, acceding to General Schuyler's wish, subsequently joined the army under Gates on Van Schaick's Island. Gen. Schuyler continued with the army for some time, but Gen. Gates ignored him, and he did not intrude. In December, Congress acquitted him of all blame for the loss of Ticonderoga. He then left the army to the great regret of Washington. HAP OF HADVEK ISLAND. Gen. Poor's brigade was encamped at Loudon's Ferry, five miles up the Mohawk. Poor was joined toward the last of August by Col. Daniel Morgan, with his corps of riflemen, which had been detached from Washington's force, reach- ing Gates' army, by forced marches. Gen. Arnold also en- camped at Loudon's Ferry after his return from the relief of Fort Stanwix. The army, while resting at the sprouts of the Mohawk, was clothed, paid and reorganized. With a dense forest between him and Burgoyne's force, Gates knew little of the enemy. About the first of Septem- ber Dr. Wood, surgeon to General Burgoyne, arrived at Van Schaick's with a letter from his general complaining of the treatment of the prisoners captured by Stark at Benning- ton. On the second of September Gates answered Bur- goyne in a public letter reciting the murder of Jane 28 McOrea* and the cruelties inflicted by the savages following the British army. This letter aroused the Americans and greatly aided in strengthening the army. In Parliament, - Burke used the story told by Gates with powerful effect. * General Gates wrote : " That the savages should, in their warfare, mangle the unhappy prisoners who fall into their hands, is ne ther new no* extraordinary ; but that ihe famous General Burgoyne, in whom the fine gentleman is united with the scholar, should hire the savages of America to scalp Europeans; nay more, that he should pay a price for each scalp so barbai ously taken is more than w ill be belie ved in Europe, until authenticated facts shall in every gazette confirm the norrid tale.'' He added : "'Miss McCrea, a young lady, lovely to the sight, of virtuous character and amiable disposition, engaged to an officer of your army, was, with other women and children, taken out of a house at Fort Edward, carried into the woods, and there scalped and mangled in the most shocking manner. Two parents with their six children, were treated with the same inhumanity, while quietl- resting in their own happy and peaceful dwelling. The miserable fate of Miss McCrea was particu- larly aggravated, by being Pressed to receive her promised husband ; but met her murderers employed by you. Upwards of one him ired men, women, and children have perished by the hands of the ruffians, to whom, it is asserted, you have paid the price of blood." This letter was effective, although the facts were not carefully stated. As the heroine of the sad romance, which had such an effect upon the fortunes of the s rugging colonies, Jane McCrea, well deserves the place given her in these pages, Th3 port ait which we present is ideal, but made from a careful study of her personal appearance, as decribed by those who knaw her history and character. Charles Neilson, author of " Bargoyne's Campaign " received from his father, who dvei on the field of Bemis ieights, and those who knew Jane McCrea, a de- scription of herappearance. Mr. Neilson writes: " At the time of her death shewas about, twenty three years of age, ot middling stature, finely formed, dark hair, and uncommonly beautiful.' 1 In 1818 Lossing visited, at Glen's Falls, " Mrs. F n," then sixty years old 'he granddaughter of Mrs. McNeil, who was captured with Miss McCrea. She related the story as follows: "Jane McCrea was the daughter of a Scotch Presbyterian clergymm of Jersey City, then known as Paulus' Hook. Mrs. McNeil was an inti- mate acquaintance of Miss McCrea's father, and when he died, the latter went to live with her br ther at Fort Edward, where Mrs. McNeil then also resided. Near her brother Jived a family named Jones, and Miss McCrea and young David Jones became attached to each other, and were betrothed. The Joneses took the royal side when the war broke out anl in the autumn of 1776, David Jones and his brother Jonathan raisel a company ot men under pretense of going to swell the garrison at Ticonderoga, but contiuued down the lake and proceeded to Crown Point, where they joined the British army, When Gen. Burgoyne advanced to Fort Edwa-d in 1777 David Jones was a lieutenant in the corps of General Frazer. Mrs. McNeil was a cousin of General Frazer, and a staunch loyalist. Miss McCrea's brother was a staunch Wnig, and when the British approached he left Fort Ed ward and went to Schuyler's army at Moses creek. His si-ter lingered with Mrs. McNeil, with a laint hope that she mhjht see her lover. Her brother sent repeated requests for her to join him, and on the 25th of July hi gxve her a pjremptory order to that effect. She promised to leave the next day." Early on the morning of the 27th the ludians appeared. Nearly everybody but the loyalists had taken refuse in Fort Edward. The two women were siezed and carried off toward Gen. Frazer' a camp, Miss McCrea on horseback. The Indians nearly disrobed Mrs. McNeii and took her into camp Sojii after they appeared with a scalp which she recognized as that of Miss McCrea. She charged them 29 Burgoyne denied Gates's charges indirectly, although he must have known that Whigs and Tories had been alike wantonly murdered. The whole family, six in number, and three negro slaves of John Allen, a Tory of Argyle, were murdered the same day that Jane McOrea lost her life. Burgoyne did not dare to punish his red allies, for many had already deserted. They helped to work his ruin by arous- ing the people to vengeance. In the south Howe, without the orders, which as we have seen, lay in the office of Lord George Germaine in London, or belated by his indolence, were on a storm-tossed vessel, went skylarking after glory by the cipture of Philadel- phia, instead of moving up the Hudson to help Burgoyne. As Burgoyne advanced on Ticonderoga, Howe evacuated New Jersey, and on the 5th of July put his army from 17,000 to 20,000 strong, on transports, and lay within Sandy Hook until the 22nd, a puzzle to Washington, who expected he would move up the Hudson. Clinton was left at New York but was indolent, and had no orders. Before putting to sea Howe turned toward the Hudson, and Washington hurried Lord Stirling with his division to Peekskill : but with murdering Miss MCcrea, but thev said she was killed by a bullet from a party of Americans who pursued from the fort, and they saved the scalp. Mrs. McNeil Delieved the story, and Lossing was also inclined to believe it. Lossing says Miss McCreaV hair which hung from the scalp " was of extraordinary length and beauty, -"easuring a yard and a quarter. She was then about twenty years old, and a very lovely girl.'" The version of Miss McCr^a's death given by Lossing is only supported by he tale of he Indians who witnessed it and took her scalp. Mrs McXeil did not know how Miss McCrea died. Neilson's version of the affair received from Caleb Baker, Esq., of Sandy Hill, is probably the correct one. Caleb Baker was but six years old at the time of the murder, but his father who lived at Sandy Hil was in the fort and saw the whole affa ; r. Neilson writes : '• Fro n that place, then m plain view of the scene he saw Jane McCrea shot from her horse by the Indians. On that day no one dared ven- ture from the fort, but at dawn of the morning of the 2Sth, Mr. A. Baker, in com- pany with a file of nen from the fort, went in search of the body of Jane, and found it naked and mutilated, about twenty rods from the spot where they had seen her fall the day before, together with the body of an American officer, both stripped and scalped. Neither Mr. C. Baker nor his father, A. Ba'^er, found the murdered Tane while still breathing, nor were the Indians surprised by an American scout. There was no such scout." There is no proo' that the Indians were sent for Miss McCrea by any one in the British camp. They were merely a marauding party ready to murder, scalp and mutilate anyone who came in their way. They doubtless quarrelled over Miss McCrea and she was shot in the melee. The m inner of her death is a mystery like that of the lost dauphin and the man in the iron mask. JANE MC CREA. Howe turned about and went up the East river, and then put to sea on the 23d of July. He had a stormy time. For seven clays lie was beating about the capes of the Delaware. Twenty- six days he tacked to the southward to enter Chesa- peake bay. Washington learned about the first of August that Howe was off the Delaware capes, but feared that the movement was a feint. So he marched and countermarched until the 22d of August when he learned that Howe had en- tered Chesapeake bay. On the 25th Washington reached Wilmington, Delaware. Howe landed at Elktown on the 25th, 54 miles south of Philadelphia. He had lost his horses by his stormy voyage and was crippled. Washing- ton, on the 9th of September, took position north of the Brandy wine creek, and Howe attacked and defeated him there on the 11th, but owing to the loss of his horses could not gather the fruits of his victory. Washington retreated to Germantown. THE FIRST BATTLE OF BEMIS HEIGHTS, SEPT. 19, 1777. Jjj|%]S T the 8th of September Gen. Gates broke camp at ! Van Schaick's Island and marched to Stillwater, arriving there next day. According to Lossing, Gates's army then out-nnmbered Burgoy lie's, which had been depleted by the battle of Bennington and the necessity of garrisoning Ticonderoga, Carleton refusing to perform that service. Other authorities place Gates's army at about 6,000, when it arrived at Stillwater. It was at first decided to intrench there, but by the advice of Kosciusko a more eligible position was selected three miles up the river on the right bank at Bern is Heights, so named from a man named Bemis who kept a public house at the foot of the river hills on the old road to Skenes- borough. Here the wooded river hills, about a hundred feet high, and seamed with ravines, approached to within about forty rods of the river. The road at that time ran along the river bank. Northward from Be- mis's the river flat widens by a bend in the stream, narrowing to a few rods at Wilbur's Basin about two miles above Bemis's tavern. The ravines run back to the west gradually decreasing in depth as ' *W ^ W" / the ground rises, until at three- quarters of a mile there are con- ™addeus kosciusko. siderable areas of level land fit for the movement of troops. In 1777, there were a few rude clearings on the heights west of the river, the principal one being on Freeman's farm. This was an oblong space in front of the Freeman cottage(see map,) its length extending east and west and containing some 32 twelve or fourteen acres. There were also clearings on Bemis Heights, about three-quarters of a mile northwest of Bemis's tavern. This ground, the highest in the vi- cinity, was then occupied by John Neilson and is now owned by his son's widow, Mrs. Charles Neilson. These points are accurately indicated on the map of the field here presented. fRAZER C WCVNOCD BRITISH, MAP OF BEMIS HEIGHTS. Along the brow of the river hills, Kosciusko* located *Thaddeus Kosciusko was born in L thuania n 1730 f an am ient andn ble fam- ily, lie was educated in France. There he became acquainted wi h Dr. Franklin, and was by him recommended to Gen. Washington. Before leaving Poland he had eloped vith a beau iful ladv cf high rank. They were overtaken n their flight by her lather, who made a violent attempt to rescue his daughter. The young Pole had either to slay the lather or abandon the young lady. Abhorring the former act, he sheathed his sword and econ after elt the country. He came to America and joined the patriot army a* a volunteer, Oct. 18, 1776. 33 breastworks, strengthened at intervals with redoubts for cannon. On each side of Bemis's tavern, on the hills, strong redoubts were erected. The lines ran from Bemis's north- ward, bending to the west in circular form with a strong re- doubt at the sharpest turn. This is the northeast redoubt GROUND PLAN OF AMERICAN WORKS ON THE RIVER PLAT. commanding the plain and river, and is on a sandy hill. Within this redoubt is now a neglected burial place of the Vandenburgh family, with a few monuments still standing. The elder of the Vandenbnrghs was an ardent republican, and his house on the river below was burned on the 19th of September. From this redoubt to the west, the lines fol- low the bend of a ravine. At the head of this ravine, on an eminence, about 50 rods east of the old Neilson house, was subsequently erected another redoubt, designated on the map as the " centre redoubt." Of these lines, hardly a ves- tige remains. According to Neilson the American lines did not extend westward much beyond the northeast redoubt on the river hills, at the time of the first battle. Lossing says the American intrenchments at that time reached the heights where the Neilson house now stands. The lines were about three-quarters of a mile in extent from the river. From the foot of the abrupt height of the river hills, an in- trenchment extended across the narrow flat to the river op- AMERICAN WORKS ON THE RIVER FLAT AS THEY APPEAR TO-DAY. 5 34 posite Bemis's tavern, with a redoubt on the river bank com- manding a floating bridge. These intrenchments are in an excellent state of preservation and are very interesting. Military engineers who have examined them, say they are in excellent form to resist attack in front and from the river. About a half mile above Bemis's tavern, a short line of breastworks, with a redoubt, was thrown up, south of Mill Creek, where the road crossed that stream. Burgoyne rested at the mouth of the Battenkill on the east bank of the Hudson, until the 11th of September, gathering supplies for 30 days. Without consulting his of- ficers, he surprised them on the 11th with an order to be ready to move forward next day. It had been intimated to Burgoyne by some of his officers, that it would be wisdom to fall back to Ticonderoga. He felt compelled to obey the orders given him by the British ministry, and moved for- ward. The British generals in this campaign obeyed orders r? y^^^^^fe}?;- THE OLD NEILSON HOUSE OK BEMIS HEIGHTS, WITH A VIEW OF BURGOYNE'S CAMP AT WILBUR'S BASIN. too str'ctly, instead of using common sense. Burgoyne went forward hoping to push through to Albany by some piece of good luck. As Gates said of him, he was a " an old game- ster," and had a certain respect for chance. From the time he gave the order his movements seemed to lack decision- It is said of Burgoyne by the Baroness Eiedesel, who joined her husband in the early summer with her three children, that high revel and debauch rendered him unfit for the proper discharge of his duties. The German historians, Von Elking especially, attributed Burgoyne's defeat to neglect of duty. He crept toward his goal at a snail's pace, giving the Americans time to rally. The bridge upon which Frazer had crossed the Hudson to the heights of Saratoga, had been carried away by a freshet, and "a new one was constructed of rafts just above the mouth of the Battenkill. A redoubt was thrown up and cannon planted to cover this bridge. Remains of this embankment still exist on the east shore. The 12th of September was consumed in preparation. On $ the 13th and 14th the -army burgoyne. crossed by the bridge and a ford below the Battenkill. Just as Burgoyne moved, Gen. Lincoln, then in Vermont, sent Col. Brown with 2,000, Thacher says 500, men to at- tack the forts on Lake Champlain and Lake George. He surprised Fort George, captured a vessel conveying provision, captured a post at the outlet of Lake George, destroyed a large number of boats and armed vessels, released one hun- dred Americans, captured 289 prisoners and five cannon, occupied Mount Hope and Mount Defiance with the old French lines, and summoned Ticonderoga to surrender. 36 The commandant refused and as Col. Brown's artillery was deficient, he rejoined Gen. Lincoln. Without giving attention to this raid in his rear, Burgoyne pressed on to the south. On the 15th he moved from Saratoga, but was de- tained by the repairing of bridges which Gen. Schuyler had destroyed, ^ and it was the 18th before he reached Wilbur's Basin. He slowly dragged his great train of artillery, general lincolx. including two heavy 24 pounders and a heavy baggage train. His movements had been watched by Lient.-Col. Colburn from the high hills east of the Hudson, and reported to Gen. Gates. By the 15th Gates was fully prepared. The right wing composed of the brig- ades of Glover, Nixon and Patterson, under the immediate command of Gates, occupied the brow of the hill and the lines by the river. The left wing, commanded by Arnold, occupied the western portion of the line about three-fourths of a mile from the river. Arnold's old headquarters now form the wing of the Neilson house. Arnold's command consisted of Gen. Poor's New Hamp- shire brigade, the New York militia regiments of Pierre Van Courtland and Henry Livingston, two Connecticut regiments and Major Dearborn's Massachusetts infantry with Morgan's corps of riflemen. The centre was composed of Massachusetts and New York Continental troops, and consisted of Learned's brigade, with Bailey's, Wesson's and Jackson's regiments of Massachusetts, and James Living- ston's of New York. On the 17th, Arnold, with 1,500 men, was ordered forward to harrass Burgoyne's advance. On account of the impracticable ground on the wooded river hills, he could not well attack in flank and would not attack so powerful a force in front, and retired after a skirmish having captured a number of prisoners. About this time some of the New Hampshire militia were inclined to insubordination, and had determined to return home. Gates succeeded in holding them by offering a bounty of 37 $10 each, until the arrival of Gen. Stark, who had been left behind on account of illness. GEN. JOHN STARK. Burgoyne on examining the ground determined to march around the left wing of the Americans, while a feint was made in the direction of the American works on the flat. This plan well-nigh succeeded, and would have been fully accomplished had it not been for Arnold, who by great ex- ertion, persuaded the timid and indolent Gates to permit an attack on the British flanking force before it should be- come dangerous to the American position, which had no protection but the woods on the left. Burgoyne fortified his camp at Wilbur's Basin by re- doubts on the river hills and entrenchments extending across the river flat. Frazer was posted on the plateau back of the second hill north of the Basin, where what is known as "the great redoubt" was situated, (see map.) Burgoyne formed his forces in three columns. The right, composed of British grenadiers, British light infantry, the 24th Brunswick grenadiers, and a battalion with eight six- pounders under Lieut. Colonel Breyman, was led by the gallant General Simon Frazer, his front and flanks being covered by Indians, Canadians and Tories. Burgoyne was with the centre column, consisting of the 9th, 20th, 21st, and 62nd regiments with six six-pounders, led by Brigadier General Hamilton. The left wing, commanded by Generals 38 Phillips and Riedesel, was principally composed of Germans, and the heavy artillery, with a force of Canadians and In- dians in advance. Frazer took a circuitous route along a new road to its intersection with tne road leading north- west from Bern is Heights (Fort Neilson of the map), thence MAJOR GEN". HORATIO GATES. he proceeded south toward the American left to some high ground at the head of the middle ravine, about one hundred and fifty rods west of Freeman's cottage. Burgoyne followed the stream now forming Wilbur's Basin for a half mile and then moved to the southwest to a point a little south of Freeman's cottage near the middle ravine. Phillips and Kiedesel moved down the river road. At eleven o'clock Burgoyne fired a signal gun notifying the left wing that he was in position. The British advance then moved forward. On the flats the Canadians and Indians marched through the woods to the attack but were scattered with considerable 30 loss by the American pickets. The movement on the flats was but a feint to distract Gates, and it succeeded ; for he refused to withdraw troops from that quarter after Eiedesel had marched away to reinforce Burgoyne. From the begin- ning Gates was in his quarters and did not understand the battle. It is even asserted, and recorded by Lossing, that he was not in condition to understand it on account of in- toxication. Burgoyne and Earl Balcarras, it is also asserted, drank wine to a late hour the night before the 19th, but were on the field, and handled the British with great skill. If Gates was indolent and timid, Arnold was alert. When the Canadians and Indians began to swarm in the woods in his front and on his left, he knew that the enemy meant to Hank him, and that the battle must be fought in the woods and on the hills, instead of behind intrenchments, as Gates intended. Arnold implored Gates to permit a movement to thwart the enemy's intentions. Finally Gates consented to detach Col. Daniel Morgan, (afterward a general,) with his riflemen, and allowed Ar- nold to support him. With this permission Arnold began the battle vigorously. Morgan about noon attacked the Canadians and Indians advancing in front of Bur- goyne at the middle ravine, south of Freeman's cottage, and drove them back. Beinforced by the British, the Canadians drove Morgan back, when he was reinforced by Dearborn and at one o'clock the battle was renewed. At this time Arnold gejt. daniel mor- with his command attacked Frazer's gan\ right, intending to turn it, but not succeeding counter- marched and attacked Frazer's left to cut him off from the center. Frazer in turn attacked Arnold's left. The fight- ing was on and about Freeman's farm. Arnold was gain- ing positive advantage when troops from the British center fell on his right and compelled him to withdraw. Arnold being reinforced rallied to the attack, again causing the British line to waver ; when Gen. Phillips followed by 40 Riedesel and his Germans, who had marched up from the flats through the thick woods, appeared. Phillips, in ad- vance of the heavily accoutered Germans, attacked, but with little effect. But Riedesel, moving to the attack on a line nearly perpendicular to that of Arnold, compelled him to give way. Riedesel thus saved Burgoyne from disaster. For a while the conflict ceased, and both armies rested. While this battle was raging Gates was inside the intrench- ments, stubbornly refusing further to reinforce Arnold, although with reasonable diligence he might have learned that Riedesel had reinforced Burgovne. Bargoyne re- newed the battle by a cannonade and bayonet charge across the clearing of Freeman's farm, but the Americans sent him back as quickly as he came, following his retreat. At this time Arnold was at headquarters vainly asking for reinforcements, although Neilson says Learned joined him. Arnold returned again to the field and, encourag- ing his men, the battle raged more furiously than ever, the opposing lines swaying back and forth across the clearing of Freeman's farm. A British field battery of four guns was repeatedly taken and retaken, but finally remained with the enemy. The American fire was terribly destructive. Night put an end to the conflict, the British resting upon the field, though badly crippled. The British loss ex- ceeded six hundred. The Americans lost in killed, wounded and missing three hundred and nineteen men. Arnold was the hero of the day, and his success made Gates envious. Gates refused to renew the engagement next day, when requested by Arnold, and would give no reason. He finally admitted that it was lack of ammunition. This was evidently Gates's neglect. Gen. Schuyler then sent up from Albany a supply of window leads for bullets. Arnold was diligently insulted from the day of the battle. In his report Gates did not mention him, but said the battle was fought by detachments from the army; and Wilkinson, Gates's adju- tant insisted that the return of Morgan's rifle corps be made to him although it was in Arnold's division. Arnold and Gates finally came to an open rupture, and Gates exercising his arbitrary powers removed him from command. The 41 general officers prepared an address asking hirn to stay with the army as another battle was imminent. This was with- held, although Arnold was apprised of it. Gen. Lincoln, who had arrived with 2,000 men on the 29th of September, was placed in command of the right wing. Burgoyne withdrew a little on the 20th and intrenched himself, his lines resembling in contonr those of the Ameri- cans (see map). Breyman, with his Hessians, held a flank redoubt on the extreme right, the Light Infantry under Earl Balcarras, and Frazer's command occupied the intrench- ments about Freeman's cottage, with Hamilton's brigade on the left extending to the north branch ravine. The rest of the army, including Riedesel's command, was on the river hills and the flat by the river. A section of the British works still remains in a good state of preservation in the woods on Pine Plains, south-west of the present residence of E. K. Wilbur, on the road running west from Wilbur's Basin. U v^ AST&FY APPCAR SEPTI9,I9?7± P0K1 t GROUND PLANE, HITISH WORKS ON PINE PLAINS. The ground on which these works are situated is owned by Edward and William Lerrington. The ground of the two battles. September 19 and October 7, is now owned by John Newland of Stillwater, the widow of Isaac Freeman and Asa F. Brightman. Joseph Rogers owns the ground where Frazer fell, and Ebenezer Leggett owns the ground of the Hessian flank redoubt, commanded by Breyman, where Arnold was wounded. William Dennison owns the site of Gates's headquarters. The Americans completed and strengthened their works, erecting a strong redoubt on the heights a few rods north of the present site of Neilson's house, where stood a log barn which was converted into a block house and named Fort Neilson. The lines were also run to the south from this point, and flank defences were constructed. 6 42 On the 21st Burgoyne received a promise of assistance from Sir Henry Clinton at New York. On the 4th of Octo- ber Sir Henry and General Vaughan moved up the Hudson river. On the 6th he captured Forts Clinton and Mont- gomery. Fort Montgomery was commanded by Governor Clinton, and the other post by his brother, Gen. James Clin- ton. The British ships broke the chain across the Hudson between Fort Montgomery and Anthony's Nose and sailed SALLY PORT OF BRITISH WORKS ON" PINE PLAINS AS IT APPEARS NOW. up the river. On the 9th Governor Clinton captured a mes- senger from Fort Montgomery to Burgoyne. He was seen hastily to swallow something, and was given a dose of tartar emetic, throwing up a silver bullet containing a dispatch from Fort Montgomery, saying the way was clear to reach Gates's army. Upon the 13th of October the fleet moved up and burned Kingston. Clinton arrived too late to save the town, but immediately hung the spy upon an apple tree. Lossing says he saw the bullet a few years ago in possession of Charles Clinton a grandson of General James Clinton. The British pushed on as far as Livingston's Manor, but there heard of Burgoyne's defeat on the 7th of October and returned to New York, THE SECOND BATTLE OF BEMIS HEIGHTS, OCTOBER 7, 1777. FTER the 19th of September militia flocked to Gates's army from all quarters, and at the close of the month he had a formidable force. Gates moved his quarters from Bemis's to the left of the line. On the 1st of October Burgoyne put his army on short allowance. On the west, the wings of the two armies were within cannon shot. On the fourth, Burgoyne consulted Riedesel, Phillips and Fraser. Burgoyne proposed another attempt to turn the American left. Riedesel advised a retreat to Fort Edward. Frazer was willing to fight. On the 7th of October, shirking the respon- sibility of ordering a battle, Burgoyne ordered a reconnoi- sance in force. This resolution to fight, after the experience of the 19th September, and when hopelessly outnumbered is unaccountable, except on the theory that Burgoyne was too proud to retreat or had lost his grip as a cautious general, through indolence and excesses. Whatever happened he was certain of reproach if he did not succeed, so he fought. Burgoyne with 1,500 men, eight cannon and two howit- zers, marched out on the morning of the 7th and formed on an eminence (indicated on the map) west of the British right wing. Five hundred rangers and savages were sent to make a circuit to the rear of the American left and produce a diversion. They drove in the American pickets and advanced toward the breastwork south of Fort Neilson, but were driven back by a sharp fire. Before Burgoyne had 44 formed his line the Americans were on the alert. The American left was composed of two brigades under Generals Poor and Learned, with Morgan's liifle corps and New England Militia. Morgan, with about fifteen hundred men, was ordered out to an eminence on Bnrgoyne's right, while General Poor's brigade and a pare of Learned's moved to attack the British left and center. Morgan first became engaged with the Canadians and savages whom he drove back to the main British line. On the left of the British line, which had moved forward to a wheat field, was Major Ackland with the artillery under Major Williams. The center was composed of Brnnswickers under Riedesel, and British under Phillips. The light infantry under Earl Balcarras was on the left. In advance of the right was Prazer with five hundred (N"eilson says a thousand) picked men. At half-past two o'clock the Americans attacked both flanks of the British. The British artillery on the left fired over the heads of the Americans, who rapidly advanced and delivering their fire opened to right and left, sheltering themselves by the woods fronting the British to avoid the sweep of the artillery, then charged to the very mouths of the cannon. Five times one of the cannon was taken and retaken, finally remaining with the Americans, the British falling back. The Americans greatly encouraged pressed the British on every side. Major Ackland* was shot through both legs and made a prisoner, and Major Williams was captured. On the British right Morgan made a furious attack and drove Frazer back to the main line. Morgan moved quickly to the left and again attacked the British right throwing it into confusion. While changing position to * Major Ackland was carried to General Poor's quarters (the Neilson House) vvhsra his wife, Lady Harriet Ackland, who had been with him in the British army since 1776, joined him two days after the battle. This beautiful and accomplished lady, with a letter from Burgoyne, was carried in an open bo t accompanied by Chaplain Brudenell and attendants, from Uurgoyje's army, north of Wilbur's Basin down the river during a drenching rain storm and landed at the American intr nch- mentson the river flat. When the sentinel hailed them Lady Harriet answered- She was then conveyed to her wounded husband. Major Ackland at a dinner party, alter his return to Englan I, warmly defended American c mrage against the aspersions of Lieutenant Lloyd. A duel followed in which Major Ackland was shot dead. Lady Harriet was insane for two years on account of his death, but re- covered and married Chaplain BrudenelL 45 meet Morgan, Major Dearborn attacked the British in front. The British right then gave way, but was formed again in the rear by Earl Balcarras and brought into action. Arnold, though deprived of command, had watched the battle, and becoming greatly excited, sprang upon his horse, and with- out orders, placed himself at the head of three regiments of Learned's brigade, and led them against the enemy's center. Tne troops were inspired by the presence of their old and trusted commander, and made such a charge that the British center was broken, giving way in disorder. When Gates learned that Arnold had joined the battle he sent Major Armstrong to order him back, but Armstrong could not follow where the intrepid commander led and did not come up with him until he was wounded in carrying Brey- man's redoubt. Arnold and Morgan were now the leading spirits, and in- spired by them, the British were pressed from every quarter. Frazer, the bravest and best of Burgoyne's officers, was making every effort to rally the troops and hold the line. He was everywhere conspicuous on an iron grey charger. He alone could bring order out of the confusion, and wherever he rode the troops fought with new spirit. In the thickest of the fight he was shot by one of Morgan's riflemen, (Timo- thy Murphy), it is said, at the suggestion of Arnold. A panic seized the British and Burgoyne took command in person, but the master spirit had fallen, and the Ameri- cans being reinforced by three thousand men under General Ten Broeck, the whole British line gave way and fell back to their intrenchments, leaving their cannon behind, most of the artillerymen and horses being slain. The Americans pursued; and led by Arnold the lines commanded by Earl Balcarras were assaulted, but without success. Arnold then assaulted the British, between Brey man's redoubt and Earl Balcarras's line, defended by Canadians and Tories. Here at length the British gave way. Arnold then ordered a general assault while he with the regiment of Brooks assaulted the German flank redoubt commanded by 46 Breyman and already engaged by Learned. Arnold rushed into the sally port with his powerful horse, spreading terror among the Germans who had seen him unharm- ed in the thickest of the fight. The Germans fled giving a parting volley which shattered Arnold's leg that had been wounded at Quebec, and killing his horse. Breyman was mor- tally wounded and died on the field. Major Armstrong, with a message from Gates found Arnold wounded in the redoubt. Arnold's brav- ery had again crowned the American arms. Night, or the loss of Arnold in the field, put an end to the con- flict. For his daring and ability to skillfully handle troops in action, a modern writer has named Arnold the Ney or Desaix of the American revolution. Arnold was borne to camp and thence to a hospital at Albany, where he was under the care of the good Dr. Thacher.* While Arnold was winning the * Thacher in his Military Journal says that Arnold in the desperate charge at Breyman*s redoubt, "had so little control of his mind, that while brandishing his sword in animating the officers and soldiers, he struck Captain Pettingill and Cap- tain Brown, and wounded one of them on the head without assigning any cause. These officers the next day requested Colonel Brooks to accompany them to Arnold's quarters to demand an explanation. He disavowed any recollection of the fact, and denied that he had struct an officer ; but when convinced of it, readily offered the required apology.'' Dr. Thacher also wrote in his Military Journal on the 12th of i ctober : " The last night I watched with the celebrated General Arnold, whose legs was badly fractured by a musket ball while in an engagement with the ene- my on the 7th iust. He is very peevish, and impatient under his misfortunes and required all my attention during the night.' 1 47 battle, Gates (according to Wilkinson, his adjutant), was in his camp discussing the merits of the struggle with Sir Francis Clarke, Burgoyne's aid, who, wounded and a prison- er, afterward died. Gates in his report, which he insulting- ly sent to congress instead of Washington, barely mentioned Arnold and Morgan. About midnight General Lincoln's division, which had remained in camp, marched out to the relief of those upon the field. The American loss in killed, wounded and miss- ing did not exceed one hundred and fifty, and Arnold was about the only officer wounded. The British lost seven hundred. The field of Freeman's farm where the most desperate fighting occurred and where the British dead were hastily buried, has been prolific in interesting relics. Elisha Freeman, whose grandfather owned the farm, and was an American scout, has a large collection. RELICS FROM FREEMAN'S FARM.* In 1823, Ebenezer Leggett came from Westchester county to the old Freeman farm. At that time the British re- doubts were well defined. Mr. Leggett has plowed up great numbers of skeletons, rifle and cannon balls, and twenty or thirty years ago plowed up the well-preserved skeleton of an officer wrapped in a blanket. A part of the red uniform was entire, the color being unchanged. He still exhibits it to curious visitors. He also has well-preserved skulls. When Mr. Leggett moved and repaired a barn on the Free- man farm, about 1846, he found quite a large sum of money. British gold and silver, guineas ^nd half-joes. It was scat- tered over a space of about forty square feet near where a log * This group consists of a cartridge box, bayonet, silver knife, tomahawk, a large button, from the uniform of Colonel Peter Gansevoort (presented to Mr. Freeman by Gansevoorfa descendants), and a small military button worn by a member of the 24th British regiment. 48 house stood in the time of the revolution. The su m is stated by Mr. Leggett at between eighty and ninety dollars. It is reported, however, in the neighborhood that the sum made a good fortune. Breyman's redoubt captured by Arnold was the key to the British position, and on the night of the 7th, Burgoyne moved his artillery and stores to a point a mile north of his first position at Wilbur's Basiu, still holding the redoubts on the river hills north of the Basin. The gallant Frazer was conveyed to the house of John Taylor near Wilbur's Basin where he expired on the morn- ing of October 8th. The house was standing until 1846. The Baroness Eiedesel, who occupied the house on the day of the battle writes : "About four o'clock in the afternoon in- stead of the guests, which I expected, General Frazer was brought on a litter, mortally wounded. * * * General Frazer said to the surgeon, * Tell me if my wound is mor- tal ; do not flatter me.' The ball had passed through his body. * * He was asked if he had any request to make, to which he replied that if General Burgoyne would permit it, he should like to be buried at six o'clock in the evening, on the top of a mountain, in a redoubt which had been built there. * * * I could not sleep as I had General Frazer and all the other wounded gentlemen in my room. About three o'clock in the morning I was told he could not hold out much longer ; I had desired to be informed of the near approach of this sad crisis, and I then wrapped up my children in their clothes, and went with them into the room below. About eight o'clock in the morning he died. After he was laid out, and his corpse wrapped up in a sheet, we came again into the room, and had this sorrowful sight before us the whole day. * * We knew that General Burgoyne would not refuse the last request of General Frazer, though by his acceding to it, an unnecessary delay was occasioned, by which the in- convenience of the army was much increased. At six o'clock the corpse was brought out, and we saw all the generals at- tend it to the mountain. The chaplain, Mr. Brudenell, per- 49 formed the funeral service, rendered unusually solemn and awful from its being accompanied by constant peals from the enemy's artillery. Many cannon balls flew close by me, but I had my eyes directed toward the mountain where my husband was standing amid the fire of the enemy," SITE OF THE GREAT REDOUBT WHERE FRAZER WAS BURIED. The mountain with the redoubt upon it, of which the Baroness speaks, is what is known as the "great redoubt" and is the second spur of the river hills north of Wilbur's Basin. It now shows no vestiges of a redoubt, the plow having done its work. Two lonely pines guard the resting place of the gallant officer who fought for a coronet and found his grave there. Much interest attaches to this hill. The American cannon which fired upon the burial party were posted on the plain southwest of the redoubt, the Americans having advanced and occupied the British intrenchments and pushed parties forward to harrass Burgoyne's flank. It is said the Ameri- cans fired minute guns when they ascertained it was a burial party. The burial hill is a conspicuous landmark. Mrs. Catharine Barker, a daughter of Fones Wilbur, from whom Wilbur's Basin was named, and grand-daughter of John Mc- Carthy, who first bought the land about the Basin, 200 7 50 acres, from the Schuyler patent, relates that within her rec- ollection, (she is now aged 82), the burial hill was covered with excavations made by parties searching for Frazer's re- mains or for money. To her knowledge, and she is a very ^intelligent and active lady, no traces of Frazer's remains were ever discovered. She has come to question the fact of his burial there, and is inclined to believe that it is not known where Frazer was buried. She is quite certain that his remains have never been removed, although some English gentlemen visited the region a long time ago to ascertain his burial place. Benjamin Silliman, who visited the spot in 1797, and again in 1819, is quite cer- tain that Frazer's remains were removed. lie w r rites in his " Tour," descriptive of a journey made in the autumn of 1819: "It has been dis- puted which is the redoubt in question, [where Gen. Frazer was buried], but our guide, [Ezra Buel, called Major Buel, at the time of Silliman's visit seventy-five years old, was in the battle as a guide and, according to Mrs. Barker, claimed to be one of the sharpshooters who climbed trees to pick off British officers], stated to us that, within his knowledge, a British sergeant, three or four years after the surrender of Burgoyne's army, came and pointed out the grave. We went to the spot ; it is within the redoubt, on the top of the hill nearest to the house where the general died, and corresponds with the plate in Anbury's travels, taken from an original drawing, made by Sir Francis Clarke, aid to General Burgoyne, and with the statement of the general in his defence, as well as with the account of Madam Eiedesel. * * The place of the in- terment was formerly designated by a little fence surround- ing the grave. I was here in 1797, twenty-two years ago ; CATHARINE BARKER. 51 the grave was then distinctly visible, but the remains have been since dug up by some English gentlemen and carried to England." Silliman gives no authority for this statement, but makes it as though he were positive. It is probable that he was mis- informed. There is a tradition at Wilbur's Basin that the GENERAL SIMON" FRAZER. remains were removed, but it can be traced to no reliable source, and there is no certain knowledge of it. It would be well worth while to make an effort to ascertain the truth by consulting English authorities. If his remains still rest on the little hill, it would be appropriate to erect a simple monument to his memory. After the burial of Frazer, on the night of the 8th, Bur- goyne retreated without his sick and wounded, in a heavy rain, reaching Saratoga on the evening of the 9th. Twelve hours were wasted, near Wilbur's Basin, in paying funeral honors to Gen. Frazer, according to his request, before the re- treat was commenced. Burgoyne has been greatly blamed for this delay. The Americans were enabled to take up strong positions on Pins Plains, although they did not show that 52 THE BUKIAL OF FRAZER. energy in pursuit which would have compelled a surrender then and there. The timid Gates was always a mile or two behind the army, and did not follow up his successes. Burgoyne could have "been shut in between the hills and river and com- pelled to capitulate. He undoubtedly desired it, and waited for the inevit- able, but was compelled to march slowly off, with a show of escaping. He knew what a good general with Gates's force would do, and expected it would be done, but Gates disappointed his enemy. Burgoyne could not very well surrender, unless he were asked. Frazer knew, before he died that surrender Avas inevitable. So good a soldier as Frazer, even in the hour of death, would never have asked delay for his burial had he not been convinc- ed that capitulation was the only alternative. It was related by Samuel Woodruff of Connecticut, a volunteer in the Amer- ican army, that Frazer on his death bed advised Burgoyne to propose terms of capitulation to Gates and prevent fur- ther bloodshed ; because the situation of his army was now hopeless ; it could neither advance nor retreat. The army was but a handful. The Canadians and Tories, whom Burgoyne had pushed to the front to receive the first deadly fire of the Americans and to save the regulars, in both bat- tles, had deserted or been killed. The Indians, after work- ing untold mischief, had fled. Silently, on the night of the 8th the little band, only about 3,500 strong, officers and men, retreated from their position at Wilbur's Basin. The camp fires were kept brightly burning and were piled with fagots as the army marched away. So silent was the march in the drenching rain, that the Baroness Riedesel kept a handkerchief over the mouth of her little daughter Fred- erika, lest her crying might reveal the retreat to the 53 Americans. The army halted for rest at Do-ve-gat and reached Saratoga on the evening of the 9th. The army did not cross the Fish creek, and rested, wet, cold and discour- aged, though much preferring to retreat. While the baron- ess was sitting by a great fire trying to dry her drenched clothing, General Phillips, who was an old friend of her husband, having served with him in the seven years war, came up. The baroness writes in her memoirs: "I asked General Phillips why he did not continue our retreat while there was yet time, as my husband had pledged himself to cover it and bring the army through ? * Poor woman,' an- GEN. WILLIAM PHILLIPS* swered he, ' I am amazed at you ! Completely wet through, have you still the courage to wish to go farther in this weather! Would that you were only our commanding *This picture of General Phillips is taken from Graham's painting of Prazer's burial. His eyes arc cast down, gazing sorrowfully upon the grave of his gallant comrade in arms. 54 general ! He halts because he is tired, and intends to spend the night here and give us a supper/ In this latter achieve- ment, especially, Burgoyne, was very fond of indulging. He spent half the nights in singing and drinking, and THE BAROKESS RIEDESEL. amusing himself with the wife of a commissary, who was his mistress, and who as well as he loved champagne."* Burgoyne was completely discouraged, and was seeking ignoble relief from the cares of a responsible general. The army crossed the Fish creek on the 10th and took up posi- tions for defense. On the 8th detachments of the army *" While the array were suffering from cold and hunger, and everyone was looking forward to the immediate future with apprehension, Schuyler's house was illumi- nated and rung with singing, laughter, and the jingling of glasses. There Burgoyne was sitting, with some merry companions, at a dainty supper, while the champagne was flowing. Near him sat the beautiful wife of an English commis- sary, his mistress. Great as the calamity was, the frivolous general still kept up his orgies. Some were of opinion that he had made that inexcusable stand merely for fie sate of passing a merry night. Riedesel thought it incumbent on him to remind Burgoyne of the danger of the delay, but the latter returned all sorts of evasive answers."— German Auxiliaries in America. 55 under Gates had pushed forward. General Fellows, on the evening of the 8th, erected a battery on the east bank of the Hudson, south of the Battenkill, which swept the British camp on the heights of Saratoga. A detatchment of two hundred men under Col. Cochran was pushed for- ward to occupy Fort Edward. The heights of Saratoga were occupied by the Americans when Burgoyne arrived, but they fell back. On the 10th the Americans were so well posted on the opposite side of the river that the British camp was under their fire, and the Baron Eiedesel told his wife to THE RIEDESEL HOUSE. take refuge in a liDuse a little to the north of the position of the main army and a safer place. There was quite a gathering about the house as the baroness moved there, and the Americans deeming it the quarters of officers, trained their guns upon it and the whole party was compelled to take refuge in the cellar. The house is still standing. The baroness* in her memoirs best describes the terrible suffer- ings of herself and the army up to the time of surrender. After the knot of soldiers and officers had disappeared, the cannonade ceased. The baroness writes: " After they had all gone out and left me alone, I for the first time surveyed our place of refuge. It consisted of three beautiful cellars, splendidly arched. I proposed that the most dangerously wounded of the officers should be brought into one of them ; that the women should remain in another ; and that all the rest should stay in the third, 56 which was nearest the entrance. I had just given the cellars a good sweeping, and had fumigated them by sprink- ling vinegar on burning coals, and each one had found his place prepared for him, when a fresh and terrible cannonade threw us all once more into alarm. Many persons who had no right to come, threw themselves against the door. My children were already under the cellar steps, and we would all have been crushed, if God had not given me strength to place myself before the door, and with extended arms pre- vent all from coming in. Eleven cannon balls went through the house, and we could plainly hear them rolling over our heads. One poor soldier, whose leg they were about to amputate, having been laid upon a table for this purpose, had the other leg taken oif by another cannon ball, in the very middle of the operation. [This man was a British surgeon by the name of Jones.] His comrades all ran off, and when they came back they found him in one corner of the room, where he had rolled in his anguish, scarcely breathing. * * * Often my husband wished to withdraw me from danger by sending me to the Ameri- cans; but I remonstrated with him. * * * * Our cook saw to our meals, but we were in want of water; and in order to quench thirst I was often obliged to drink ■ *The portrait of Madame Riedesel which we present is from a picture by the celebrated German artist, Tich'jein, in 1762. It represents her at the age of six- teen. The picture was made with other ladies of her acquaintance, represent- ing the four seasons, just before her marriage. Madame Riedesel, then Fred- erika Von Massow, represented Spring. One of her daughters was named America, in remembrance of her mother's experience in this country, Frederika another daughter, who, a mere child, passed through the Burgoyne campaign with her mother, became one of the most distinguished women of her day, being a friend of Humboldt and Baron Stein. On the retreat, alter the burial of General Frazer, little Frederika was so badly frightened that her mother held a handker- chief over her mouth to prevent her cries reaching the Americans, and disclosing the movement. The children who accompanied this noble baroness on her journey to America were Gustava, aged four; Frederika, aged two, and Caroline ten months old, whom the baroness nursed herself. The baroness was one of the noblest of wives and bravest of Christians. While on board ship, coming to America with her three little children, in the spring of 1777, she wrote in her diary : *« I know not whether it was the hope of so soon again seeirjg my husband that gave me good spirits, but I found the sea not so dreadful as many had painted it to me. I was conscious of fulfilling my duty, and was calm because I trusted in God that he would bring me safely to my dear husband. 1 ' The general wrote to his wife from Chambly, closing with : " Farewell, and do not be uneasy. God will be your and my protector in every event that may befall us." 57 wine, and give it also to my children. * * * * As the great scarcity of water continued, we at last found a soldier's wife [seventy-seven wives of Brunswick soldiers accompanied them to America and remained with the armyj who had courage to bring water from the river, for no one else would undertake it, as the enemy shot at the head of every man who approached the river. This woman, however, they never molested. * * * * I endeavored to divert my mind from my troubles by con- stantly busying myself with the wounded. I made them tea and coffee, and received in return a thousand benedic- tions. * * * * In this horrible situation we remained six days. Finally, they spoke of capitulating, as by temporizing for so long a time, our retreat had been cut off. A cessation of hostilities took place, and my hus- band, who was thoroughly worn out, was able for the first time in a long while to lie down upon a bed." The house in which the bar- oness took refuge is now owned by Mrs. Jane M. Marshall. While the events just nar- rated were transpiring, St. Leger arrived at Ticonderoga by way of Montreal, to aid Burgoyne. He was too late to be of any service. He held the fortress until the autumn of 1781, since which time it has been unoccupied. On the 10th Burgoyne burned Gen. Schuyler's house and sent a party to Fort Edward to re- pair the roads and ascertain if retreat were practicable in that direction. The road builders were driven in by the Americans who swarmed everywhere, and the garrison of 200 at Fort Edward made a great display of fires, conveying the idea that it was held by a strong force. General Gates, who was a mile in the COL. BARRY ST. LEGER. 58 rear, heard that Burgoyne had retreated to Fort Edward, and immediately ordered the brigades of Generals Nixon and Glover, and Morgan's corps to cross Fish creek and fall upon Burgoyne. The latter, more wide-awake than Gates, prepared a trap for the American general. Morgan crossed On the 11th, under cover of a fog, and received a warm reception from the British pickets He then believed the rumor of a retreat was false, and decided to give the infor- mation and await farther orders. He met Adjutant-General Wilkinson, who agreed with him. In the meantime Nixon had crossed the creek near old Fort Hardy, built in 1755 by General Lyman. Glover was about to follow when a deserter came in, who said the British army was in force. Morgan and Nixon were in a perilous situation, and the former was compelled to maintain it until Gates, who was in the rear, could be consulted. Some authorities say that Nixon re- treated without orders from Gates, just in time to save his brigade from the strongly posted batteries of Burgoyne, which were revealed when the fog lifted. Morgan, who crossed farther up the creek, was soon supported by Learned and Patterson. When their danger was discovered Learned and Patterson recrossed Fish creek, but Morgan moved to the left through the woods, and took position upon the heights on the flank and rear of Burgoyne. Thus by the 12th Burgoyne's position was completely invested. On that day a council of officers decided to retreat by night, leaving the artillery and baggage. The information brought in by scouts showed that this course was impracticable. On the 13th a council of all the officers was called, but while it was being held a cannon shot passed across the table and disturbed the deliberations. It was resolved to open a treaty for surrender. Lieutenant Colonel Kingston pro- ceeded to Gates's headquarters with a note from Burgoyne, proposing a cessation of hostilities to arrange terms of capitulation. General Gates ordered a cessation of hostili- ties until sunset, and sent a series of proposals to Burgoyne for his approval. The first proposition of Gates was for the British to ground their arms in their camp, but Burgoyne proposed to fight before submitting to terms so humiliating. 59 Finally it was agreed that the British should march out with the honors of war and pile their arms at the word of command. On the lGth the terms* were agreed upon and hostilities ceased. On the 17th the convention was signed and the British marched out and piled their arms in the meadows bordering the river near old Fort Hardy. Gen. Burgo) T ne delivered his sword to Gates in the American camp, and it was immediately returned. According to Fonblanque, the number killed and wounded during the campaign was 1,3G6, and the number who surrendered 3,500, officers and men. Gates's army, at this time, num- bered 17,000 effective troops. The terms of surrender were most advantageous to the British, and not at all to the credit of Gen. Gates. The latter was frightened with a rumor that Clinton was coining in his rear, and made terms as easy as possible, without delay, although he could have utterly crushed Burgoyne in a day. Burgoyne accurately describes the causes of his disaster in the following, written to Phillipson from the residence of Gen. Schuyler at Albany, on the 20th of October: " This army has been di- minished by scandalous desertions in the collateral parts, by the heavy drain of the garrism at Ticonderoga, and by great loss of blood. It has been totally unsupported by Sir William Howe." Burgoyne wrote to his nieces from Albany : " I have been with my army within the jaws of famine ; shot through my hat and waistcoat ; my nearest friends killed around me." *The following are the principal articles of the convention : l * The troops under Lieutenant General Burgoyne, to march out of their camp with the honors of war, and th^ artillery of intrenchments to the verge of the ri» er where the old fort stood, where the arms and artillery are to he left ; the arms to be piled by word of command from their own officers. A free passage to be granted to the army under Lieutenant General Burgoyne to Great Britain, on condition of not serving again in North America during the pres- ent contest ■; and the port of Boston is assigned for the entry of transports to receive the troops, whenever General Howe shall so order. All officers to retain their carriages, battle horses and other cattle, and no bag- gage to be molested or searched; Lieutenant General Burgoyne giving his honor that there are no public stores secreted therein. Major General Gates will, of course, take the necessary measures for the performance of this article. Should any carriages be wanted during the march, for the transportation of officers' bag- gage, they are, if possible, to be supplied." The Canadians were to be sent to their homes on parole. 60 The Baron Riedesel and his wife spent three days with Gen. Schuyler at Albany, and then S2t out for Boston. The baron concealed the colors of the German regiments at Saratoga, and eventually took them safely to Germany. Arrived near Boston, Burgoyne's army was quartered at -Cambridge, waiting for the promised transports and the ful- fillment of the terms of capitulation. That fulfillment never came. The timid Gates had given the army back to England, so every man could be put in garrison, and the men thus relieved, sent to fight the colonies. Congress did not like the prospect, and never ratified the convention signed at Saratoga. Burgoyne complained that the prison- ers at Cambridge were badly treated by Healy, who had charge of them. Healy was brought to court-martial and Burgoyne conducted the prosecution, but Healy was acquitted. In Albany, where the wounded prisoners were held, Dr. Hayes, one of Burgoyne's surgeons, wrote to his commander : " On the 31st of May, an order was, by direc- tion of the commanding officer, (a Gen. Starke of noted in- famy,) stuck on the door of the Dutch church at Albany, in these words : ' All British officers and soldiers, prisoners, who are seen ten rods from their quarters, shall be taken up and whipped two hundred lashes, on their naked backs ? without the benefit of court-martial." This order was prob- ably a hoax, as it was never read to the troops. The troops quartered at Cambridge were marched to Virginia in No- vember, 1778, and reaching Colle and Charlottesville in February, 1779. Many deserted. Most of the prisoners were not released until the close of the war. Burgoyne went to England on parole in April, 1778. and defended himself in Parliament. NOTES. Nearly all of the histories state that Burgoyne reached Wilbur's Basin before the battle of the 19th of September, and fortified his camp. This is a mistake which the writer copied. It was first made by Wilkinson. Burgoyne made all his movements on the 19th from Sword's house, more than a mile north of Wilbur's Basin. On page five, third line, read " May 26th," instead of " 6th." In next to the last line on page six read last of May instead of "first of May." On 34th pige, under cut, read : "with a view of Willard's mountain" in- stead of "Burgoyne's camp." UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Fine schedule: 25 cents on first day overdue 50 cents on fourth day overdue One dollar on seventh day overdue. MAY 23 1947 '4< L '»*ARY U6l . REC'D LD AUGl 1957 LD 21-100m-12,'46(A2012sl6)4120 YC 50388 M165303 M 3 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY