was another inferior boom near Fort Conftitution. Thefe booms and chain cost the Americans an amazing deal of labor, and more than fifty thousand pound sterling, as is supposed, in paper continental money. The reduction of the forts put the British into immediate poffeffion of the power of removing thefe obftructions, and of paffing up to Albany. Gen. Putnam was in fuch expectation of their improving this advantage, that he wrote to gen. Gates on the 8th, "I cannot flatter you or myself with the hopes of preventing the enemy's advancing, therefore prepare for the worst." The next day he faid, "The Connecticut militia came in yesterday, and the day before in great numbers, but am forry to fay, they already begin to run away. The enemy can take a fair wind, and with their flat-bottomed boats, which have all fails, go to Albany or Half Moon with great expedition, and I believe without any oppofition." Half Moon is fixteen miles below where Gates was encamped. The fame day a spy was brought before gov. Clinton, and confeffed-"That he was charged by Sir Henry to go to Burgoyne and acquaint him, that on Monday, the 6th, he ftormed and carried the forts with the lofs of lieut. col. Campbell, majors Grant and Sill flain; besides a number of other officers, and upward of 300 rank and file, killed and wounded:-That a number of people were employed, who went conftantly from one army to the other :-That gen. Clinton intended to push up the river; and that a capt. Campbell of Burgoyne's army, lately arrived with dispatches to Sir Henry, and fet off on his return, the Wednesday morning, with the news of the reduction of Fort Montgomery." The captain however, did not get back to Burgoyne till the

1777

1777. night before the convention was figned. The fpy did not mention the death of count Graboufki, a Polish nobleman, who was killed in the attack, while acting as aid-de-camp to Sir Henry Clinton.

Let us now attend the motions of gens. Burgoyne and Gates. In the beginning of October, the British commander judged it expedient to leffen the foldiers rations of provifion, to which they fubmitted with cheerfulness. Things continued in this ftate with the royal army till O&. the 7th, when no intelligence having been received of 7. the expected co-operation, and four or five days for their

limited stay in the camp only remaining, it was thought advisable to make a movement to the left of the Americans, not only to discover whether there was any poffible mean of forcing a paffage, fhould it be neceffary to advance, or of diflodging them for the convenience of a retreat; but also to cover a forage of the army in the greateft diftrefs by the prefent fcarcity.

Before gen. Gates has gained any knowledge of this intended movement, he has ordered out a party of about 300 men in the morning: foon after he directs lieut. col. Brooks to repair to head quarters, when he gives him the command of them, and defires him to call between one and two o'clock for particular directions. The party is deftined to go into the rear of Burgoyne, to drive in his out pofts, and to occafion an alarm, which Gates means to take advantage of, if opportunity offers. But unknown to him, a royal detachment of 1500 regular troops, with two twelve pounders, two howitzers, and fix fix-pounders, are ordered to move, being commanded by Burgoyne in perfon, feconded by gens. Phillips, Reidefel, and Frazer.

The guard of the camp upon the high grounds is com- 1777. mitted to gens. Hamilton and Specht; that of the redoubts and plain near the river to brigadier Gall. The force of the Americans in front is thought to be so much fuperior, that it is not judged fafe to augment the detachment beyond the number stated.

While Brooks is waiting at the American head quarters, a fergeant arrives with an account of the motion of the royal detachment; which is speedily confirmed. On this the party he was to have commanded is difmiffed; and the officers and men prefent are ordered to their pofts. Burgoyne's fcouting parties are driven in by col. Morgan's riflemen and the corps of light infantry; but his troops continue advancing, and are formed within three quarters of a mile of Gates's left. The artillery is posted on a clear spot of ground, in a great measure furrounded by woods, the two medium twelve pounders on a fmall eminence, nearly in the centre of it. The irregulars are pusht on through by-ways to gain the American rear, and to keep them in check. Gen. Arnold, who has mounted his horfe, receives a meffage from Gates, directing him to be cautious, for that he apprehends Burgoyne defigns to make his main attack on the right. Arnold fhows much difpleasure at it, expreffes himself improperly, and fays, "I will be anfwerable for confequences." He orders out Cilly's New Hampshire regiment with others, and foon follows' them. About four o'clock in the afternoon, the American column approaches the royal detachment; and is immediately fired upon by the twelve pounders and the four fix pounders; notwithstanding which, the men draw up along the skirts of the woods behind trees, about 200

1777. yards distant from the artillery. They make a very fudden and rapid attack upon the British grenadiers, who are posted to fupport the left wing of the line. Major Ackland at the head of them fuftains this fierce attack with great refolution. Gen. Gates having ordered out more regiments, the number of the Americans enables them foon to extend the attack along the whole front of the Germans, who are pofted immediately on the right of the grenadiers. It is therefore impracticable to remove any of the Germans, for the purpose of forming a second line to the flank, where the ftrefs of the fire lies. The right is ftill unengaged; but it is obferved, that the Americans are marching a large corps round their flank in order to cut off their retreat. To oppose this bold and dangerous attempt, the light infantry, with a part of the 24th regiment, which are joined with them at the poft, are directed to form a fecond line, in order to cover the retreat of the troops into camp. While this movement is in process, the Americans push forward a fresh and ftrong reinforcement to renew the action on Burgoyne's left; which is totally overpowered and compelled to give way: on this the light infantry and 24th regiment, are obliged, by a quick movement, to attempt faving that wing from being totally ruined; but in doing it gen. Frazer is mortally wounded. The fituation of the detachment is now exceeding critical; but the danger to which the lines are expofed, is ftill more alarming. Gens. Phillips and Reidefel are ordered to cover the retreat; and thofe troops which are neareft or moft difengaged, return as faft as they can for the defence of the lines. A little after five, in the height of the action, lieut. col. Brooks,

by Gates's order, quits the camp at the head of col. 777• Michael Jackson's regiment, and directs his march to the warmest fire. On advancing into the field, he finds the royal detachment has given way in all quarters, and Arnold pushing with Paterfon's brigade for the works poffeffed by the British light infantry affifted by fome of the line, who have just thrown themselves into the fame, with great precipitation, by means of a circuitous retreat. The brigade has a large abbatis to cross, and many other obftructions to furmount, in the face of a brave enemy, occupying works advantageously constructed and completed, it is therefore at length compelled to retire. But during the conteft, Jackfon's regiment paffing the rear of the brigade, falls into the fire on its left, having in front two ftockade redoubts occupied by fome Canadians, and the left of the works in which are the German grenadiers under col. Breyman. At fome confiderable diftance on the left of Brooks are Weffon's regiment, Morgan's corps, and the York troops. Paterfon's brigade failing, Arnold leaves it, and comes to Jackson's regiment, which he orders instantly to advance, and attack the lines and redoubts in front. Brooks commands two platoons from the right to attack the stockades: they move with great rapidity, carry the point with charged bayonets, and fuffer little more than the lofs of two lieutenants killed. The regiment instantly makes an affault on the main lines, though manned with double its number. Arnold having given Brooks his orders, paffes on to the left; and having ordered the Americans there to make a general affault, returns to Jackson's regiment, the left of which has arrived at the works; and a fall fally-port preVOL. II.