1777.

While upon their march to the neighbourhood of Boston, the British behaved with fuch infolence as confirmed the country in their determination never to submit; for the people faid, "If they are thus infolent now they are prisoners, what would they be were they our masters ?" The Germans ftole and robbed the houses, as they came along, of clothing and every thing on which they could lay their hands, to a large amount. When at Worcester indeed they themselves were robbed, though in another way. One Dawes, the iffuing commiffary, upon the first company's coming to draw their rations, balanced the fcales by putting into that which contained the weight, a large ftone; when that company was gone (unobferved by the Germans, but not by all prefent) the ftone was taken away before the next came, and all the other companies except the firft had fhort allowance. The troops having finished their march, were quartered in the barracks near Cambridge. It was with difficulty gen. Glover could procure quarters for the gens. Burgoyne, Reidefel and Phillips, in the town itfelf. The inhabitants were totally averfe to accommodating them. They could not forget the burning of Charlestown. A remonftrance was foon prefented to Burgoyne by the officers, complaining, that inftead of being conveniently lodged, according to their different ranks, agreeable to the convention, they were put into barracks, made of fingle boards, five, fix, and seven in a room, without any distinction of rank. Unfortunately for them, there was upon the committee appointed by the general court to the bufinefs of quartering them, one John Taylor, who, though of the council, was of a base spirit, and had raised himself by it to the poffeffion

of confiderable property and influence. He difgraced 1777, religion by making a great profeffion. The last however gave him much weight with well-meaning men, who had only a superficial acquaintance with him. This perfon could put up with any lodging; and thought, that what would do for him, might do for British prifoners though officers. Thus it happened that they were no better accommodated. They had reafon to complain; but the treatment which gen. Burgoyne perfonally met with was pleasing. He went to Boston and dined at gen. Heath's, who commands in this department. He obferved with great fatisfaction the good behaviour of the towns-people. There was no rabble collected to infult him, either going or returning. He remarked, when recroffing the ferry to where Charlestown ftood, (when his eyes furveyed with admiration its awfully majestic conflagration) that he should have met with very different treatment even in London.

Sufpicions began to be entertained left the general had fome finifter defign of conveying the troops to New York or elsewhere, when they fhould be embarked, inftead of failing with them to Great Britain; and the public wished to have fome pretence for detaining them. It was hinted to congrefs, that fhould Sir W. Howe continue obftinately to refuse fettling an equitable cartel for the exchange of prisoners, they would be justified in ordering the fulfilling of the convention of Saratoga to be delayed, until the United States received juftice in that particular. Congrefs foon ordered a committee to confider a return of ordnance and ftores taken from the enemy, which was enclosed in a letter of the 10th of November, accompanying that hint. Upon the re

1777.

While upon their march to the neighbourhood of Boston, the British behaved with fuch infolence as confirmed the country in their determination never to submit; for the people faid, " If they are thus infolent now they are prisoners, what would they be were they our masters ?" The Germans ftole and robbed the houses, as they came along, of clothing and every thing on which they could lay their hands, to a large amount. When at Worcester indeed they themselves were robbed, though in another way. One Dawes, the iffuing commiffary, upon the first company's coming to draw their rations, balanced the scales by putting into that which contained the weight, a large ftone; when that company was gone (unobserved by the Germans, but not by all prefent) the ftone was taken away before the next came, and all the other companies except the first had short allowance. The troops having finished their march, were quartered in the barracks near Cambridge. It was with difficulty gen. Glover could procure quarters for the gens. Burgoyne, Reidefel and Phillips, in the town itfelf. The inhabitants were totally averfe to accommodating them. They could not forget the burning of Charlestown. A remonftrance was foon prefented to Burgoyne by the officers, complaining, that inftead of being conveniently lodged, according to their different ranks, agreeable to the convention, they were put into barracks, made of single boards, five, fix, and seven in a room, without any distinction of rank. Unfortunately for them, there was upon the committee appointed by the general court to the business of quartering them, one John Taylor, who, though of the council, was of a base spirit, and had raised himself by it to the poffeffion

of confiderable property and influence. He difgraced 1777, religion by making a great profeffion. The laft however gave him much weight with well-meaning men, who had only a fuperficial acquaintance with him. This perfon could put up with any lodging; and thought, that what would do for him, might do for British prifoners though officers. Thus it happened that they were no better accommodated. They had reafon to complain; but the treatment which gen. Burgoyne perfonally met with was pleafing. He went to Boston and dined at gen. Heath's, who commands in this department. He obferved with great fatisfaction the good behaviour of the towns-people. There was no rabble collected to infult him, either going or returning. He remarked, when recroffing the ferry to where Charlestown ftood, (when his eyes furveyed with admiration its awfully majestic conflagration) that he should have met with very different treatment even in London.

Sufpicions began to be entertained left the general had fome finifter defign of conveying the troops to New York or elsewhere, when they fhould be embarked, inftead of failing with them to Great Britain; and the public wished to have fome pretence for detaining them. It was hinted to congrefs, that should Sir W. Howe continue obftinately to refuse fettling an equitable cartel for the exchange of prisoners, they would be justified in ordering the fulfilling of the convention of Saratoga to be delayed, until the United States received justice in that particular. Congrefs foon ordered a committee to confider a return of ordnance and ftores taken from the enemy, which was enclosed in a letter of the 10th of November, accompanying that hint. Upon the re

3.

1777. port of the committee, on the 22d, the prefident was directed immediately to fend an express to gen. Gates, defiring answers to feveral queftions. On December Det. the 3d, the general wrote from Albany to the prefident "I had the honor to receive your excellency's letter of the 23d ult. by Mr. Pierce, and immediately proceeded to dispatch to the congrefs the required answers. Respecting the standards, gen. Burgoyne declared upon his honor, that the colours of the regiments were left in Canada. As to the military cheft, its contents might fo easily be difpofed of, that to have fought for it would have been ineffectual. The British army, all laft war, left the paymafter general and the military cheft in fome fecure town, and warrants were granted upon the paymafter general there. From the best accounts, the enemy's army had been lately cleared off; fo that it is not probable there was any military cheft. The medicines were left with the general hofpital, which gen. Burgoyne left behind him at Freeman's farm. Many of the cartouch boxes were left, and fome were carried away. The mentioning of the accoutrements was forgotten in the convention. Thofe that have been carried off have been fold upon the road to Bofton for drams. The quantity of field ammunition and mufket cartridges taken, are by no means inconfiderable. The reft was ufed and destroyed before the treaty commenced. The mufkets will ever be lefs in number than the prifoners, as the drummers and staff officers do not carry firelocks. Many arms were loft in the two hundred batteaus, that were taken from the enemy in their retreat from Freeman's farm, and many others were plundered by the militia on the eaft fide of the river, The bayonets were