the rest of his days in the new world, we are not informed, but his conduct evinced so perfect an attachment to his new country, and his military reputation was so high, that he was immediately appointed by congress, adjutant-general, with the rank of brigadier-general, in the new army. General Washington was well acquainted with his merits in his military character, and warmly recommended him to congress on this occasion. They had been fellow-soldiers and sufferers under Braddock.

From this period, he took a very active part in most of the transactions of the war, and his abilitics and good fortune placed him in a rank inferior only to Washington, and above any otherneral. He accompanied the commander in chief to Massachusetts, in July, 1775, and was employed for some time, in a subordinate, but highly useful capacity.

In 1776, General Gates was appointed to the chief command of the forces destined against Ticonderoga and Crown Point.

In the spring of 1777, he was appointed, with Schuyler, from a subordinate, to the chief command on the northern frontier. In May, of the same year, he was superseded by Schuyler, nor was it, until after Burgoyne with his well appointed legions had reached Ticonderoga, that he resumed the command. This place, commanded by Sinclair, was evacuated without a siege, on the, fifth of July. The retreating army under Sinclair, was hotly pursued, overtaken, and defeated, Fort Ann and Skeensborough were occupied by the enemy, and all attempts to check his further progress appeared wholly desperate.

At this crisis a small delay in the advance of Burgoyne, from Skeensborough, rendered necessary by the natural difficulties of the country, was diligently employed by general Schuyler. That

meritorious officer contrived to raise the most formidable impediments to the further progress of Burgoyne, by breaking down the bridges, obstructing the navigation of Wood-creek, choking up the roads, or rather pathways through the forest, by felled trees, and by driving off all the cattle of the neighbouring country. These obstructions were so formidable that Burgoyne did not arrive at Fort Edward, on the upper branches of the Hudson, till twenty-five days after his pause at Skeensborough. Here, a painful, unseasonable, and dangerous pause, was again necessary, in órder to procure provisions from the posts in the rear, and to collect the boats and other vessels necesary for the navigation of the Hudson.

The progress of Burgoyne was arrested at the very point where it should seem all obstacles, of any moment, were fully surmounted. He had reached the Hudson, by a most painful and laborious march through the forest, and a detachment of his army under St. Leger, who had been directed to approach the Hudson by another road, had nearly effected this purpose. St. Leger had gained a battle, and was now besieging fort Schuyler, the surrender of which was necessary to the further co-operation of the British generals, and was confidently anticipated. The tide of events, however, now suddenly took a new direction.

Fort Schuyler refused to surrender, and the assault of the besiegers made very little impression on the works. The Indians, who composed a large part of St. Leger's army, began to display their usual fickleness and treachery, and after many efforts made by the British general to detain them, finally resolved to withdraw. This created an absolute necessity for raising the siege, which was done with great precipitation, and with the loss of all their camp equipage and stores.

On the other side, the strenuous exertions of

general Schuyler, had deprived Burgoyne of all those resources which the neighbouring country might have afforded him. After a fortnight's labour, he had been able to collect only twelve boats, and five day's provision for his army. An attempt to obtain possession of a depository of provisions at Bennington, had failed, and two detachments, sent on that service had been defeated. The militia of the eastern and lower country were rapidly collecting, and threatened to raise obstacles still more formidable than those of nature.

Gates was now appointed to succeed Schuyler, and arrived at the scene of action on the 21st of August, 1777.

It was fortunate for general Gates, that the retreat from Ticonderoga had been conducted under other auspices than his, and that he took the command when the indefatigable but unrequited labors of Schuyler, and the courage of Starke and his mountaineers, had already insured the ultimate defeat of Burgoyne, who, notwithstanding his unfavourable prospects, would not think of saving his army by a timely retreat, was highly propitious to the new American commander.

After collecting thirty days provision, Burgoyne passed the Hudson and encamped at Saratoga.Gates, with numbers already equal, and daily increasing, began to advance towards him with a resolution to oppose his progress at the risk of a battle. He encamped at Stillwater, and Burgoyne hastened forward to open the way with his sword. On the 17th of September, the two armies were within four miles of each other. Two days after, skirmishes between advanced parties terminated in an engagement almost general, in which the utmost efforts of the British merely enabled them to maintain the footing of the preceding day.

Burgoyne, unassisted by the Bristish forces under Clinton at New York, found himself unable to

pursue his march down the river, and in the hope of this assistance, was content to remain in his camp, and stand on the defensive. His army was likewise diminished by the desertion of the Indians and Canadian militia, to less than one half of its original number. Gates, finding his forces largely increasing, being plentifully supplied with provisions, and knowing that Burgoyne had only a limited store, which was rapidly lessening, and could not be recruited, was not without hopes that victory would come, in time, even without a battle.His troops were so numerous, and his fortified position so strong, that he was able to take measures for preventing the retreat of the enemy, by occupying the strong posts in his rear. Accordingly, nineteen days passed without, any further operations, a delay as ruinous to one party, as it was advantageous to the other. At the end of this period, the British general found his prospects of assistance as remote as ever, and the consumption of his stores so alarming, that retreat or victory became unavoidable alternatives.

On the 8th of October, a warm action ensued, in which the British were every where repulsed, and a part of their lines occupied by their enemies. Burgoyne's loss was very considerable in killed, wounded and prisoners, while the favourable situation of Gates's army made its losses in the battle of no moment. Burgoyne retired in the night to à stronger camp, but the measures immediately taken by Gates to cut off his retreat, compelled him withont delay to regain his former camp at Saratoga. There he arrived with little molestation from his adversary. His provisions being now reduced to the supply of a few days, the transport of artillery and baggage, towards Canada, being rendered impracticable by the judicious measures of his adversary, the British general resolved upon a rapid retreat, merely with what the soldiers could carry.

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On a careful scrutiny, however, it was found that they were deprived even of this resource, as the passes through which their route lay, were so strongly guarded, that nothing but artillery could clear them. In this desperate situation a parley took place, and on the 16th of October the whole army surrendered to Gates. The prize obtained consisted of more than five thousand prisoners, some fine artillery, seven thousand muskets, clothing for 7000 men, with a great quantity of tents, and other military stores. All the frontier fortresses were immediately abandoned to the victors.

It is not easy to overrate the importance of this success. It may be considered as deciding the war of the revolution, as from that period the British cause began rapidly to decline. The capture of Cornwallis was hardly of equal importance to that of Burgoyne, and was, in itself, an event of much less splendour, and productive of less exultation.

How far the misfortunes of Burgoyne were owing to the accidents beyond human controul, and how far they are ascribed to the individual conduct and courage of the American commander, would be a useless and invidious inquiry. Reasoning on the ordinary ground, his merits were exceedingly great, and this event entitled him to a high rank among the deliverers of his country. The memory of all former misfortunes were effaced by the magnitude of this victory, and the government and people vied with each other in expressing their admiration of the conquering general. Besides the thanks of congress, the general received from the president a gold medal, as a memorial of their gratitude.

Every war abounds with cases of private suffering and distress, very few of which become public, though sympathy and curiosity are powerfully excited by narratives of that kind; and the feel

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