1 CHAP. V. ments, and general Arnold, with a few men, 1777. actually entered the works; but his horse was killed under him, and he was himself very badly wounded in the same leg which had suf fered at Quebec. Those who had entered the lines with him, were forced out of them; and, it being now nearly dark, they desisted from the attack. The left of Arnold's detachment was still more successful. Jackson's regiment of Massachussetts, then led by lieutenant colonel Brooks, turned the right of the encampment, and stormed the works occupied by the German reserve. Lieutenant colonel Brechman, who commanded in them, was killed, and the works carried with less difficulty than the assailants had expected. The orders given by Burgoyne to recover them were not executed, and Brooks maintained the ground he had gained. Darkness, as in the engagement of the 19th, put an end to the action; and the Americans lay all night with their arms in their hands, about half a mile from the lines, ready to renew the assault next day. The advantage they had gained was decisive. They had taken several pieces of artillery, killed a great number of the enemy, made upwards of two hundred prisoners, among whom were several officers of distinction; and penetrated their lines in a part which exposed their rear to considerable danger. 1777. Burgoyne could not risk the events of the CHAP. V. next day on the same ground. In the course of the night, he changed his position entirely, and drew his whole army into the strong camp on the river heights near the hospital, extending his right up the river. This movement extricated him from the imminent danger of being attacked with the return of day under the disadvantage of part of his works being already in possession of the assailants. General Gates perceived the strength of Burgoyne's present position, and did not mean to put so much to hazard as would be risked by attempting to force it. Understanding perfectly, that it would be impossible for the enemy to subsist many days, without either defeating his army, or making good their retreat to lake George, he determined, while the security of the main army was not forgotten, to take such precautions, and throw such a force over the river, as would render a retreat to the lake impracticable. With this view, a strong de- October 8. tachment was put in motion for the purpose of taking a position higher up the Hudson, so as to intercept the British army on its retreat, while strong corps were posted on the other side of the river to annoy them from that quarter, and prevent their passing it. This movement compelled Burgoyne again to change his position. To avoid having the road in his rear entirely closed upon him, it Retreats to CHAP. V. was necessary to retire immediately to Saratoga. 1777. About nine o'clock at night, the retreat was commenced, and was effected with the loss of his hospital, containing about three hundred sick, and of several batteaux laden with provisions and baggage. His march was marked with a devastation not to be accounted for. As if disposed to destroy a country he could not conquer, all the dwelling houses on his route were reduced to ashes. A heavy rain, which procrastinated the retreat of the enemy so much, that Fish-Kill creek, which lies a little to the north of Saratoga, was not crossed until the morning of the October 10. 10th, also suspended the pursuit. Ón reaching the ground proposed to be occupied, a strong corps was found already intrenched on the opposite side of the river, prepared to dispute its passage. Their advanced party, which had commenced throwing up works on the very heights where the British army afterwards encamped, retired on its approach, and rejoined the main body on the east of the Hudson. When the rain ceased, general Gates commenced the pursuit; but the enemy had broken down all the bridges in their rear, and, consequently, some time elapsed in overtaking them... From Saratoga, a company of artificers, under an escort, consisting of a regiment of regulars, the marksmen, and a corps of provincials, was detached to repair the roads and bridges towards fort Edward, in order to CHAP. V. enable the army to continue its march. 1777. This party had scarcely been detached, October 10. when the Americans appeared in force on the heights on the other side of the creek, and made dispositions which excited the apprehension of an intention to cross it and attack them. The Europeans escorting the artificers were immediately recalled, and the provincial corps, now the only remaining guard for the workmen, being attacked by a small party, ran away on the first fire, and left them to shift for themselves. No hope of repairing the roads now remained; and, of consequence, it was impossible to move the baggage and artillery of the army. About the same time, the boats containing the provisions were found so much exposed in the river, the opposite shore of which was lined with armed Americans, that it was deemed indispensable to the safety of the small stock on hand, to land and convey it up the hill into the camp.P The British army was now almost completely environed by a superior force. No means remained of extricating itself from difficulties and dangers which were continually increasing, other than by fording a river, on the opposite bank of which a formidable body of troops was P Letter of Burgoyne. CHAP. V. already posted; and then escaping to fort 1777. George through roads impassable by artillery, or waggons, with an army flushed with victory pressing close in the rear,* This desperate condition of their affairs was perfectly understood by Gates. He thought it hot improbable that Burgoyne, after abandoning all his bag. gage and artillery, might attempt to make a Mr. Gordon, in his history of the war, states himself to have received an anecdote from general Glover, proving that all the present advantages of the American general, were on the point of being exposed to very imminent hazard. "On the morning of the 11th, Gates called the general officers together, and informed them of his having received certain intelligence which might be depended upon, that the main body of Burgoyne's army was marched off for fort Edward, with what they could take; and that a rear guard only was left in the camp, who after a while were to push off as fast as possible, leaving the heavy baggage behind. On this, it was concluded to advance and attack the camp in half an hour. The officers repaired immediately to their respective commands. General Nixon's being the eldest brigade, crossed the Saratoga creek first: unknown to the Americans, Burgoyne had a line formed behind a parcel of brushwood to support the post of artillery where the attack was to be made. General Glover was upon the point of following Nixon. Just as he entered the water, he saw a British soldier making across, whom he called and examined." This soldier was a deserter, and communicated the very important fact, that the whole British army were in their encampment. Nixon was immediately stopped, and the intelligence conveyed to Gates, who countermanded his orders for the assault, and called back his troops, not without sustaining some loss from the British artillery. |