3777.

that of Cuyler's. The Indians were completely frightened, and determined to go off. St. Leger in vain used every art to prevent it. He attempted making them drunk with rum, and then getting them to alter their refolution, Fond as they are of rum, they would not be taken in at this season of apprehended danger. He then would have prevailed with them to keep in the rear, while the other troops retreated. Neither would they do that; but told him" You mean to facrifice us. When we marched down, you told us there would be no fighting for us Indians we might go down and smoke our pipes, whereas numbers of our warriors have been killed," Nothing could change their determination. They went off, and St, Leger was obliged to deAug. camp, about noon of the 22d, in fuch hurry and con22 fufion, as to leave his bombardier afleep in the bomb

4

battery. His tents, with most of the artillery and ftores, fell into the hands of the garrifon. Some of the Indian Sachems, who were highly difgufted with him, concluded to play upon him, and divert themselves at his expence, In the evening, the flying troops came to a clay foil, pretty foft, St. Leger and Sir John Johnson were in an altercation, St, Leger reproaching Sir John about his Indians, and Sir John blaming St. Leger for not carrying on the fiege differently. A couple of Indian chiefs, upon a rifing hill at a small diftance, with light enough to observe their situation, and near enough to notice their wranglings, which proceeded almost to fighting, directed an Indian to withdraw fome confiderable way behind them, and then to run after them, crying out with all imaginable earnestness in the Indian language they are coming-they are coming-and to con

tinue it. St. Leger and Sir John, upon hearing the 1777 dismal note, made off as faft as they could, but often tumbled into the dirt. The men threw away their packs, and pushed off in the greatest hurry. The Indians renewed the joke; and continued thus and in like ways to divert themselves, till the royalists arrived at the Oneida lake. The animofity between the two commanders rofe at laft to fuch height, that they drew upon each other, meaning to fettle the conteft by the point of the fword. The Indians being fully fatisfied that they had carried the jeft far enough, and not being in a bloodthirsty humor, approached the parties with much gravity and friendship, interpofed their good offices, recommended peace, made them friends, and carried off the fecret of their own management, wherewith to entertain themselves and favorites in future. Confidering the predominant difpofition of the Indians, while retreating in confequence of the ill fuccefs that had attended St. Leger, and the loss they had sustained, it was not in the leaft furprifing, that they plundered feveral of the boats. belonging to the army, and took even from the baggage of the officers what they fancied.

When general Washington perceived from events in the north, that a proper officer must be chosen to command the eastern militia, he fent on gen. Lincoln, having learned that he had influence over them, and that they confided in him. He arrived at Manchester from the fouthward on the 2d of Auguft, and found about 600 militia there, including 250 that arrived a few days

They afterward diverted themselves and general Schuyler with this relation. Many of the foregoing particulars were communicated to me by the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, who was part of the time at Fort Schuyler, with fome of those Indians that were friendly to the Ame ricans.

1777, before from New Hampshire. Lincoln wrote to the Maffachusetts council, that a body of troops in that part would not only cover the eastern states, but being in the rear of Burgoyne, oblige him to leave fo confiderable a part of his army at the different pofts he poffeffed, as would weaken him. Schuyler, attending mainly to making head against Burgoyne's front, wrote to Lincoln, on the 4th, to march his whole force, except Warner's regiment, and join him with all poffible difpatch, On the 6th, Lincoln had not been joined by any of the Maffachusetts militia, faving a man or two; but was the fame day reinforced by the arrival of brigadier-general Stark, with about 800 more men, from New Hampshire, That ftate had been applied to for a large body of militia, Stark, who was one of their brigadier generals, had confiderable influence among them: but he was exceedingly foured, thought himself neglected, and that he had not had justice done him by the congrefs. He had fought courageously at the battle of Breed's hill and had fhowed himself to be a foldier of fterling courage. He had alfo no particular liking for Schuyler, When therefore he was to be intrufted with the New Hampshire militia, he would not take the command, but upon the condition of being left at liberty to serve or not under a continental commander, as he pleased: and he determined not to join the continental army, till the congrefs gave him his rank in it. He had about 1400 brave men under him, well officered. Many of them had been in fervice the two preceding campaigns and were not raw militia. Schuyler urged him repeatedly to join him; but he declined complying. He was induced fo to do, not only from the forementioned rea

fons, but from confidering that Burgoyne would not 1777 care what number of enemies he had in front, if he had none in his rear, and the country was open to his incurfions. Stark refolved therefore to hang upon his rear, and neglected Schuyler's application. The matter was brought before congrefs, fo that on the 19th they re folved, "That the council of New Hampshire be informed, that the inftructions which gen. Stark fays he has received from them are deftructive of military sub→ ordination, and highly prejudicial to the common cause at this crifis: and that therefore they be defired to instruct gen, Stark to conform himself to the fame rules which other general officers of the militia are subject to, whenever they are called out at the expence of the United States," But before this refolve, Stark had affured Schuyler, that he would do every thing to promote the public good, but was not for doing any thing that might prove inconfiftent with his own honor: however, if it was thought beft that he should march immediately to the camp, he would acquiefce. On the 13th he wrote, that he should throw away all private refentment, when put in balance with the good of his country. Gen. Washington did not approve of Schuyler's apparent intention of uniting all the militia and continental troops in one body, and of making an oppofition wholly in front. He was of opinion, that a fufficient body of militia fhould alway be referved to fall upon Burgoyne's flanks or rear, and to intercept his convoys. Stark however had concluded, on the day laft mentioned, upan marching from Bennington to meet Lincoln at a certain appointed place, and to proceed with him and join Schuyler; but while writing to the former, he received

1777: information, that the enemy were on their march to Cambridge.

General Burgoyne's progrefs toward Albany was delayed through the want of a speedy and fufficient supply of provifions. He confidered in what way the difficulty was to be furmounted. According to information, the Americans had a great depofit of corn, flour and store cattle at Bennington, which was guarded only by militia. Every day's account confirmed the perfuafion of the loyalty of one description of the inhabitants in that part of the country, and of the panic of the other. He therefore entertained the defign of furprising the stores at Bennington, and of fending a very large detachment upon the expedition; but was diverted from the latter (as fuppofed) by major Skeen, who affured him, " The friends to the British cause are as five to one, and they want only the appearance of a protecting power to show themselves." Relying upon their attachment, the general sent the German lieut. col. Baum, with only about 500 men, and 100 Indians, who carried with them two light pieces of artillery. To facilitate the operation the army moved along the east shore of Hudfon's River, and encamped nearly opposite to Saratoga; and a bridge of rafts being thrown over, the advance corps paffed to that place. Lieut. col. Breyman's corps, confifting of the Brunswick grenadiers, light infantry, and chaffeurs, were posted at Batten-kill, in order if neceffary to fupport Baum. Stark hearing that a party of Indians was at Cambridge, fent lieut col. Gregg with 200 men to stop their progress. Toward night he was informed by express, that there was a large body of regulars in the rear of the Indians. On that he drew together his bri