and at last the terms decided upon were, that "the British troops were to march out of the camp with artillery, and all the honours of war, to a fixed place, where they were to pile their arms at a word of command from their own officers. They were to be allowed a free passage to Europe, on condition of not serving again in the present war. The army was not to be separated, especially the men from the officers. Roll-calling and other regular duties were to be permitted; the officers were to be on parole, and wear their side-arms. All private property to be sacred; no baggage to be searched or molested."

A vivid account of this time has been given by the Baroness de Riedesel, who was with her husband during the campaign, having two or three young children also with her. An Englishwoman, Lady Harriet Acland, had accompanied them, and hearing her husband was wounded, and a prisoner in the hands of the Americans, she set out with a letter of recommendation to General Gates from General Burgoyne, to search for him and nurse him. She was received with kindness and respect by General Gates.

Baroness Riedesel, meanwhile, had remained with the British troops. She had gone through the long wet march with them, sleeping upon straw with her little children. At Saratoga she had to shelter herself and her children in a cellar for six days. When the capitulation was signed she was sent for by her husband, and joined him in the American camp. "Nobody," she says," treated us with disrespect, but, on the contrary, greeted us, and seemed touched at the sight of a captive mother with her children. When I drew near the tents, a good-looking man. advanced towards me, and helping the children from the calash, kissed and caressed them. He then offered me his arm, and tears

THE STORY OF BARONESS RIEDESEL.

trembled in his eyes.

alarmed, I pray you.'

157

'You tremble,' said he ; 'do not be

"Sir,' cried I, 'a countenance so expressive of benevolence, and the kindness you have evinced towards my children, are sufficient to dispel all misapprehensions.' then ushered me into the tent of General Gates, whom I found engaged in friendly conversation with General Burgoyne. All the generals remained to dine with General Gates. The gentleman who had received me with so much kindness came and said to me, 'You may find it embarrassing to be the only lady in such a large company of gentlemen; will you come with your children to my tent, and partake of a frugal dinner, offered with the best will?'

66 6

"By the kindness you show to me,' returned I, 'you induce me to believe that you have a wife and children.' He informed me that he was General Schuyler. He regaled me with smoked tongues, which were excellent, with beefsteaks, potatoes, fresh butter, and bread. Never did a dinner give more pleasure than this. That my husband was After dinner, General visit at his house in

out of danger was still a greater joy. Schuyler begged me to pay him a Albany, where he expected General Burgoyne would also be his guest."

The capitulation of Burgoyne was signed and executed on October 17th. Soon afterwards the British evacuated the forts Ticonderoga and Independence. The vessels of war that had been going up the Hudson by direction of Sir Henry Clinton, on hearing the news, retreated to New York. The success of the American arms was attributed to General Gates, but seems more rightly to belong to the officers who served with him, and who acted with so much spirit on their own responsibility. General enthusiasm, however, was

awakened for Gates, and he became the idol of the army, and almost of the nation for the time.

Washington, meanwhile, was being harassed by public inefficiency, and by private treachery. He had sent some of his best troops to aid Gates, saying, "If the cause is advanced, indifferent is it to me where or in what quarter it happens."

While adulation and fame were being heaped on Gates for his success, Washington was enduring failure at Valley Forge-pleading for supplies for his forlorn troops, bearing with them the privations which they had to bear, and silently suffering, as only a man of his nature could suffer, from the scarcely-concealed taunts and ill-feeling of some of those around him.

He became aware that a plot was being made amongst his officers-and had even obtained great ascendancy in Congress to get the command taken from him, and given to the successful Gates. This plot was called the Conway Cabal. General Conway was an Irishman, who had taken service under Washington, and was jealous of the military rank bestowed on some of the foreigners who had joined the American army.

When the cabal came to Washington's knowledge (though he had already suspected it from the disrespect shown to him by General Gates, who made no official communications to him as commander-in-chief, but sent them direct to Congress), he contented himself by writing the following note to General Conway :

"9th November, 1777.

"SIR,-A letter which I received last night contained the following paragraph: In a letter from General Conway to General Gates, he says, 'Heaven has been determined to save your country, or a weak general and bad counsellors would have ruined it.'

"I am, Sir, your humble servant,

"GEORGE WASHINGTON."

THE CONWAY CABAL.

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This letter produced a general explosion. The result was the ultimate failure of the intrigue in the army, and of the party in Congress which had favoured it. Conway resigned his commission; and when, several months afterwards, wounded in a duel, and supposing himself to be dying, he wrote to Washington thus :—

"SIR,-I find myself just able to hold the pen during a few minutes, and take this opportunity of expressing my sincere grief for having done, written, or said anything disagreeable to your Excellency. My career will soon be over, therefore justice and truth prompt me to declare my last sentiments. You are, in my eyes, the great and good man. May you long enjoy the love, veneration, and esteem of these States, whose liberties you have asserted by your virtues.

"I am, with the greatest respect, yours,
"THOMAS CONWAY."

His

But meanwhile Washington had much to bear. prudence in not exposing the national cause to entire defeat, or risking the lives of his men by opposing them to forces which he knew must conquer them, was contrasted unfavourably with the energy and dash of the northern army; and an expedition was planned by Gates for an attack on Montreal, without consulting him at all. The first news he received of it was from his friend La Fayette. Being offered the command, La Fayette was inclined to refuse it indignantly. This Washington would not allow him to do, but made him go back to York Town to receive his instructions from Gates.

At dinner with Gates, "La Fayette 'showed his flag.' Towards the end of the meal, when many toasts had been given, the young marquis said that one had been omitted which he wished to propose. Glasses were filled, and he gave, 'The Commander-in-Chief of the American armies ;' but the toast was received without cheering."

La Fayette accepted the command, but considered himself under the immediate orders of Washington. He did not expect great results from the expedition. Writing to his friend and chief, he said, "I go on very slowly; some times drenched by rain, sometimes covered with snow, and not entertaining many handsome thoughts about the projected incursion into Canada. Lake Champlain is too cold for producing the least bit of laurel; and if I am not starved, I shall be as proud as if I had gained three battles."

Neither Washington nor he was much surprised that the expedition failed, and that La Fayette was recalled to Valley Forge

Mrs. Washington arrived at her husband's headquarters in February. It is clear that Washington was not in comparatively greater comfort there than his suffering troops, from a letter which she wrote to one of her friends, in which she says, "The general's apartment is very small. He has had a log cabin built to dine in, which has made our quarters much more tolerable than they were at first."

So the long winter went by; and, meanwhile, the news of Burgoyne's defeat had spread consternation in England, and had led her enemy France, to acknowledge the independence of the States, and enter into an alliance with the Americans. "In May two treaties were brought over to Congress, signed in Paris by M. Girard, on the part of France, and by Silas Deane, Benjamin Franklin, and Arthur Lee, on the part of the United States. One was of amity and commerce, the other of defensive alliance."

The 6th of May was set apart as a fête day in the Valley Forge camp. There were thanksgivings read, guns fired, and shouts of "Long live the King of France !" "Long live the friendly European powers!" "Hurrah for the American