CHAP. V. August, and continued his exertions to restore 1777. the affairs of the department, which had been

so much depressed by the losses consequent on the evacuation of Ticonderoga. That officer felt acutely the disgrace of being recalled in this critical and interesting state of the campaign. "It is," said he in a letter to the commander in chief, "matter of extreme chagrin to me, to be deprived of the command at a time when, soon if ever, we shall probably be enabled to face the enemy; when we are on the point of taking ground* where they must attack to a disadvantage, should our force be inadequate to facing them in the field; when an opportunity will in all probability occur, in which I might evince that I am not what congress have too plainly insinuated by the resolution taking the command from me."

If error be attributable to the evacuation of Ticonderoga, certainly no portion of it was committed by Schuyler. His removal from the command was probably unjust and severe, as the measure respected himself; but perhaps wise, as it respected America. The great force relied on for the defence of the frontier towards the lakes, was to be drawn from New England; and however unfounded their prejudices might be, it was prudent to consult them.

Happily, Burgoyne remained steady to his purpose. The disasters at Bennington, and on

*The islands in the mouth of the Mohawk.

the Mohawk produced no disposition to aban- CHAP. V. don the enterprise, and save his army. He 1777. still entertained the hope of accomplishing the great object of the campaign, and resolved to persevere in his endeavours to execute the plan which with his assistance had been formed in the cabinet; and to obey the orders he had willingly received.

It was now necessary to recur to his original slow and toilsome mode of obtaining supplies from fort George, and to this object he applied with unremitting industry. Having with great care, and with persevering labour, collected in advance provision for thirty days, and thrown a bridge of boats over the Hudson, that made of rafts being carried away by a swell of water, he crossed that river the thirteenth and four- Sept 14. teenth of September, and encamped on the Burgoyne heights and plains of Saratoga with the deter- the heights mination of deciding in a general engagement, the fate of the expedition.

· General Gates, who was now joined by all the continental troops destined for the northern department, and re-enforced by strong corps of militia, had left his camp in the islands, and advanced towards the enemy as far as the neighbourhood of Stillwater.

The bridges between the two armies were broken down, and required to be repaired.

h Letter of Burgoyne.

encamps on

of Saratoga.

Gates at

CHAP. V. The roads were excessively bad, and the 1777. country covered with wood: of consequence, the progress of the British army down the river was slow, and attended with skirmishing, in He attacks which, however, no great loss was sustained on Stillwater. either side. On the night of the 17th, Burgoyne encamped within four miles of the American army, and the next day was employed in repairing the bridges between the two camps.' This was effected with some loss, and about noon on the 19th, general Gates was informed, that the enemy was advancing in full force on his left where Arnold commanded.

Sept. 19.

"

Colonel Morgan was detached to observe their motions, and to harass them as they advanced. He soon fell in with their pickets in front of their right wing, which was commanded by general Burgoyne in person. The pickets were composed chiefly of Indians, Canadians, and provincials, and being attacked' sharply by Morgan, were soon driven in. A strong corps was brought up to support them, and after a severe encounter, Morgan in turn was compelled to give way. A regiment was ordered to assist him, and the action soon became more general. An attempt was made to gain the right flank of the British lines, but finding it covered by a brigade under general Frazer, the attack was changed to the left of

i Letter of Burgoyne.

the right wing, where it was made with great CHAP. V. animation. Re-enforcements were continually 1777. brought up, and about four o'clock, Arnold, with nine continental regiments, and Morgan's corps, was completely engaged with the whole right wing of the British army. The conflict was extremely severe, and only terminated with the day. At dark, the Americans retired to their camp, and the British, who had found great difficulty in maintaining their ground, lay all night on their arms, within about half a mile of the field of battle.

In this action, the killed and wounded, on the part of the Americans, were between three and four hundred. Among the former, were colonels Coburn and Adams, and several other valuable officers. The loss of the enemy was, as usual, believed to be much more considerable, and a report was circulated, which gained credit every where, that general Burgoyne, who had through the day exposed his person to every danger, was among the wounded.

2

Each army claimed the victory, and each believed itself to have beaten, with only part of its force, nearly the whole of the enemy. The' advantage, however, considering every circumstance, was decidedly with the Americans. In a conflict which nearly consumed the day, they

* It appears from statements since made that their loss exceeded five hundred men in killed and wounded.

CHAP. V found themselves full equal to their antagonists. 1777. In every quarter they had been the assailants, and after an encounter for several hours, they had not lost an inch of ground. They had not been driven from the field, but had retired from it at the close of day, to the camp from which they had marched to battle. Their object, which was to check the enemy advancing on them, had been obtained; while that of the British general, which was to force their position, had totally failed. In the present state of things, to fight without being beaten was, on their part, victory; while, on the part of the enemy, to fight without a decisive victory was defeat. The Indians, who found themselves beaten in the woods by Morgan, and checked by Burgoyne in their scalping and plundering the unarmed; who saw before them the prospect of a great deal of hard fighting without profit, grew tired of the service, and deserted in great numbers. The Canadians and provincials were not much more faithful; and it was soon perceived, that the hopes of the British general must rest, almost entirely on his European troops.

With reason therefore this action was celebrated through the United States, and considered as the precursor of the total ruin of the invading army. Every where the utmost exultation was displayed, and every where the militia were stimulated to fly to arms, and complete the work which was begun.