A history of the state of New York, from the first discovery of the country to the present time: with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants, Part 18

Author: Eastman, Francis Smith, 1803-1846 or 7
Publication date: 1832
Publisher: New York, A. K. White
Number of Pages: 930


USA > New York > A history of the state of New York, from the first discovery of the country to the present time: with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants > Part 18


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sistance of colonel Baum, coming up just in time to join the fugitives, was vigorously attacked by the Americans, and, after having made a very gallant resistance, and expended all his ammunition, was obliged to retreat."*


The affairs of fort Schuyler and Bennington gave a new aspect to the American cause. By these successes, the militia were inspired with greater confidence in themselves, and the inhabitants generally encouraged to take up arms for the de- fence of the country. The Americans had previously been much irritated by the severe treatment which their soldiers had received while prisoners of war in the power of the enemy.t The cruelties recently committed by the Indians under St. Leger and Burgoyne likewise powerfully contributed to excite the mass of the people, and stimulate them to rise against the English army with more than ordinary feelings of hostility. The savages appear to have been but little under the control of the English, and to have spared neither age, nor sex, nor opinions. The friends of the royal cause, as well as its ene- mies, were equally victims of their indiscriminate rage. . The Americans abhorred and execrated an army which consented to act with such ferocious auxiliaries. Among other events, the murder of Miss M'Crea excited universal interest, and might furnish, if not too horrible, an affecting subject for the dramatic art.


This young lady, of respectable family, and distinguished as well for her virtues as for the beauty of her person and the elegance of her manners, was betrothed to a Mr. Jones, an . American refugee, who was an officer in the army of Burgoyne. Solicitous for a union with his intended spouse, Jones de- spatched a body of Indians to conduct her to the British camp. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of her friends, this


* Holmes's Annals.


t The American soldiers who were prisoners at New York were crowded into the holds of prison-ships, where they were almost suffo- cated for want of air, and into churches and sugar-houses, without cov- ering or fire. Their allowance of provisions and water for three days was insufficient for one ; and, in some instances, they were for four days entirely destitute of food. In consequence of this barbarous treatment, 1500 men died in the course of a few weeks. (See Appendix No. 2.)


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lady committed herself to their charge. She proceeded on horseback, accompanied by the Indians, to a spring near the foot of a pine-tree on the west side of the road, and one mile north of fort Edward. Here they were met by another party of Indians, who had been despatched for the same pur pose. A quarrel ensued between the two parties in relation to the reward they were to receive, (a barrel of rum,) in the course of which, one of the savages, transported with brutal fury, raised his club, and laid this unfortunate young lady dead at his feet. She was found, soon after the contest, a short distance from the spring, tomahawked and scalped.


General Burgoyne crossed the Hudson on the 14th of Sep- tember, and encamped on the heights and plains of Saratoga. General Gates, who had recently taken the command of the northern army, advanced towards the enemy, and encamp- ed three miles above Stillwater. On the night of the 17th, Burgoyne encamped within four miles of the American army.


SEC. XV. On the 19th of September, gen- eral Burgoyne advanced upon the Americans, and a severe but indecisive engagement ensued. The contest was resolutely maintained for four hours, when, on the approach of night, the Americans withdrew from the field. The loss of the Americans was about 300; that of the enemy, about 600.


"The right wing of the British was commanded by general Burgoyne, and covered by general Fraser and colonel Breyman, with the grenadiers and light-infantry, who were posted along some high grounds on the right. The front and flanks were covered by Indians, provincials and Canadians. The left wing and artillery were commanded by the major-generals Phillips and Reidesel, who proceeded along the great road. Colonel Morgan, who was detached to observe their motions, and to har- ass them as they advanced, soon fell in with their pickets in the front of their right wing, attacked them sharply, and drove them in. A strong corps was brought up to support them, and, after &


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severe encounter, Morgan was compelled to give way. A regiment was ordered to assist him, and the action became more general. The commanders on both sides supported and reinforced their respective parties; 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 Americans at length left the field; not because they were conquered, but because the approach of night made a retreat to their camp necessary. Few actions have been more remarkable than this, for both vigor of attack and obstinacy of resistance."


SEC. XVI. A second engagement took place on the 7th of October. The Americans con- ducted with great bravery, and obtained a decid- ed victory. The battle was obstinately contested till night put an end to the effusion of blood. The British lost, in killed and taken prisoners, about 400* men, amongst whom were several of their most valuable officers. The loss of the Americans was very inconsiderable.


From the 20th of September to the 7th of October, the two armies continued so near each other, that not a night passed without some skirmishing, and several concerted attacks were made upon the British pickets. The royal army now began to suffer severely from the want of provisions, and Burgoyne resolved, if possible, to dislodge the Americans from their posts on the left, and thus open a retreat to the lakes. For this purpose, on the 7th, 1500 men were drawn out, headed by himself, and assisted by generals Phillips, Reidesel and Fraser. The detachment had scarcely formed, when a furious attack was made on the left, which was sustained by major Ackland, at the head of the British grenadiers, with great firmness. The Americans soon extended their attack along the whole front of the German troops, who were posted on the right of the grenadiers, and marched a body round their


* This is merely an estimate of the number. The statements as to the numbers killed in this engagement are much at variance. '


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flank, to prevent their retreat. On this movement, the British light-infantry, with a part of the 24th regiment, instantly formed, to cover the retreat of the troops into the camp. Their left wing, in the mean time, overpowered with numbers, was obliged to retreat, and would inevitably have been cut to pieces, but for the intervention of the same troops which had just been covering the retreat of the right.


The whole detachment was now under the necessity of retiring ; but scarcely had the British troops entered the lines, when the Americans, led by general Arnold, pressing forward under a tremendous fire of grape-shot and musketry, assaulted the works throughout their whole extent from right to left. Towards the close of the day, Arnold, with a few men, forced the intrenchments, and actually entered the works; but, his horse being killed, and himself badly wounded in the leg, they were forced to retire. On the left of Arnold's detachment, a regiment under lieutenant-colonel Brooks was still more suc- cessful. It turned to the right, and carried, by storm, the works occupied by the German reserve. Lieutenant-colonel Breyman was killed, and Brooks maintained the ground he had gained. Among thie slain of the enemy was general Fraser. an officer of distinguished merit, whose loss was particularly regretted. ยท


The force under general Gates was greatly augmented by the militia and volunteers, who were constantly pouring in from all quarters, and their commander vigilant in cutting off from the enemy every avenue of retreat. Fourteen hundred men were posted opposite the ford of Saratoga ; two thousand in the rear, to prevent a retreat to fort Edward; and fifteen hundred at a ford higher up. Burgoyne, apprehensive of being hemmed in, retired to Saratoga. The Americans, in the mean time, possessed themselves of fort Edward, and a detach- ment of five hundred men, under colonel Brown, surprised all the outposts of the enemy, from the north end of lake George -


to the body of the fortress at Ticonderoga.


SEC. XVII. After several ineffectual attempts to retreat, general Burgoyne found himself com- pletely surrounded, without a possibility of es-


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caping. In this extremity, he entered into a convention with general Gates, and, on the 17th of October, the royal army, amounting to above 5700 men, were surrendered prisoners of war. Soon after the surrender of Burgoyne, the gar- rison at Ticonderoga abandoned the fortress, and returned to Canada.


Tile capture of an entire army was justly viewed as an event that must essentially affect the contest between Britain and America, and was received by the people with the highest demonstrations of joy. The intelligence of this event, proba- bly, gave a favorable issue to the negotiations then carried on with the French court, and which resulted, the following year, in obtaining from that government powerful aid in the prose- cution of the war.


" Among the romantic incidents of real life, few surpass the adventures of the baroness de Reidesel and lady Harriet Ackland-two ladies who had followed the fortunes of their husbands, the baron de Reidesel and major Ackland, officers in the army of general Burgoyne, the latter of whom was wounded in the battle of the 9th of October.


"' On the 7th of October,' says the baroness de Reidesel, ' our misfortunes began. I was at breakfast with my husband, and heard that something was intended. On the same day, I ex- pected generals Burgoyne, Phillips and Fraser, to dine with us. I saw a great movement among the troops : my husband told me it was merely a reconnoissance, which gave me no concern, as it often happened. I walked out of the house, and met several Indians in their war-dresses, with guns in their hands. When I asked where they were going, they cried out, ' War ! war !' meaning that they were going to battle. This filled me with apprehension ; and I had scarcely got home, before I heard the reports of cannon and musketry, which grew louder by degrees, till at last the noise became excessive.


" ' About four o'clock in the afternoon, instead of the guests whom I expected, general Fraser was brought on a litter, mortally wounded. The table, which was already set,


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was removed, and a bed placed in its stead, for the wounded general. I sat trembling in a corner ; the noise' grew louder, and the alarm increased ; the thought that my husband might be brought in wounded, in the same manner, was terrible to me, and distressed me exceedingly. General Fraser said to the surgeon, 'Tell me if my wound is mortal; do not flatter me.' The ball had passed through his body, and, unhappily " for the general, he had eaten a very hearty breakfast, by which the stomach was distended, and the ball, as the surgeon said, had passed through it.


" ' I heard him often exclaim, with a sigh, ' Oh fatal ambi- tion ! Poor General Burgoyne! Oh my poor wife !' He was asked if he had any request to make ; to which he replied : ' If general Burgoyne would permit it, he should like to be buried at six o'clock in the evening, on the top of a mountain, in a redoubt which had been built there.' I did not know which way to turn; all the other rooms were full of sick. Towards evening, I saw my husband coming; then I forgot all my sorrows, and thanked God that he was spared to me. He and his aid-de-camp ate, in great haste, with me, behind the house. We had been told, that we had the advantage of the enemy ; but the sorrowful faces I beheld told a different tale ; and, before my husband went away, he took me one side, and said every thing was going very bad ; that I must keep myself in readiness to leave the place, but not to mention it to any one. I made the pretence that I would move, the next morning, into my new house, and had every thing packed up ready.


" 'Lady HI. Ackland had a tent, not far from our house, in which she slept ; and the rest of the day she was in the camp. All of a sudden, a man came to tell her, that her husband was mortally wounded, and taken prisoner. On hearing this, she became very miserable. We comforted her, by telling her, that the wound was only slight, and, at the same time, advised her to go over to her husband, to do which she would certainly obtain permission, and then she could attend him herself. She was a charming woman, and very fond of him. I spent much . of the night in comforting her, and then went again to my children, whom I had put to bed. I could not go to sleep, as


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I had general Fraser, and all the other wounded gentlemen, in my room; and I was sadly afraid my children would awake, and, by their crying, disturb the dying man in his last mo- ments, who often addressed me, and apologized 'for the trouble he gave me.'


" 'About three o'clock in the morning, I was told that he could not hold out much longer. I had desired to be informed of the near approach of this sad crisis, and I then wrapped up my children in their clothes, and went with them into the room below .- About eight o'clock in the morning, he died. After he was laid out, and his corpse wrapped up in a sheet, we came again into the room, and had this sorrowful sight before us the whole day ; and, to add to the melancholy scene, almost every moment, some officer of my acquaintance was brought in wounded. The cannonade commenced again ; a retreat was spoken of, but not the smallest motion was made towards it. About four o'clock in the afternoon, I saw the house, which had just been built for me, in flames, and the enemy was not far off. We knew that general Burgoyne would not refuse the last request of general Fraser, though, by his ac- ceding to it, an unnecessary delay was occasioned, by which the inconvenience of the army was increased.


" ' At six o'clock, the corpse was brought out, and we saw all the generals attend it to the mountain : the chaplain, Mr. Brudenell, performed the funeral service, rendered unusually solemn and awful, from its being accompanied by constant peals from the enemy's artillery. Many cannon balls flew close by me; but I had my eyes directed towards the moun- tain, where my husband was standing, amidst the fire of the enemy, and, of course, I could not think of my own danger.


" 'General Gates afterwards said, that, if he had known it had been a funeral, he would not have permitted it to be fired on.


"' As soon as the funeral service was finished, and the grave of general Fraser was closed, an order was issued that the army should retreat. My calash was prepared, but I would not consent to go before the troops. Major Harnange, although suffering from his wounds, crept from his bed, as he


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did not wish to remain in the hospital, which was left with a flag of truce. When general Reidesel saw me in the midst of danger, he ordered my women and children to be brought into the calash, and intimated to me to depart without delay. I still prayed to remain ; but my husband, knowing my weak side, said, ' Well, then, your children must go, that, at least, they may be safe from danger.' I then agreed to enter the calash with them, and we set off at eight o'clock. The retreat ' was ordered to be conducted with the greatest silence. Many fires were lighted, and several tents left standing. We trav- elled continually during the night.


" ' At six o'clock in the morning, we halted, which excited the surprise of all. General Burgoyne had the cannon rang- ed and prepared for battle. This delay seemed to displease every body ; for, if we could only have made another good march, we should have been in safety. My husband, quite exhausted with fatigue, came into my calash, and slept for three hours. During that time, captain Wilde brought me a bag full of bank notes, and captain Geisman his elegant watch, a ring, and a purse full of money, which they request- ed me to take care of, and which I promised to do to the utmost of my power. We again marched, but had scarcely proceeded an hour before we halted, as the enemy was in sight. It proved to be only a reconnoitring party of 200 men, who might easily have been made prisoners, if general Burgoyne had given proper orders on the occasion.


" ' About evening, we arrived at Saratoga. My dress was wet through and through with rain, and in that state I had to remain the whole night, having no place to change it. I, however, got close to a large fire, and, at last, lay down on some straw. At this moment, general. Phillips came up to me, and I asked him why we had not continued our retreat, as my husband had promised to cover it, and bring the army through ? 'Poor dear woman,' said he, 'I wonder how, drenched as you are, you have still the courage to persevere, and venture further in this kind of weather. I wish,' con- tinued he, 'you were our commanding general. General Bur- goyne is tired, and means to halt here to-night, and give us our supper.'


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"' On the morning of the ninth, at 10 o'clock, general Burgoyne ordered the retreat to be continued, and caused the handsome houses and mills of general Schuyler to be burm. We marched, however, but a short distance, and then halted. The greatest misery at this time prevailed in the army, and more than 30 officers came to me, for whom tea and coffee were prepared, and with whom I shared all my provisions, with which my calash was in general well supplied ; for I had a cook who was an excellent caterer, and who often, in the night, crossed small rivers, and foraged on the inhabitants, bringing in with him sheep, small pigs and poultry, for which he often forgot to pay, though he received good pay from me, as long as I had any ; and he was, ultimately, handsomely re- warded. Our provisions now failed us, for want of proper conduct in the commissary's department, and I began to despair.


" ' About two o'clock in the afternoon, we again heard a firing of cannon and small arms. Instantly all was in alarm, and every thing in motion. My husband told me to go to a house not far off. I immediately seated myself in my calash, with my children, and drove off; but scarcely had we reached it, before I discovered five or six armed men, on the other side of the Hudson. Instinctively I threw my children down in the calash, and concealed myself with them. At that moment the fellows fired, and wounded an already wounded English soldier, who was behind me. Poor fellow! I pitied him exceedingly, but, at that moment, had no power or means to relieve him. A terrible cannonade was commenced by the enemy, which was directed against the house in which I sought to obtain shelter for myself and children, under the . mistaken idea that all the generals were in it. Alas ! it con- tained none but wounded and women. We were at last obliged to resort to the cellar for refuge, and in one corner of this I remained the whole day, my children sleeping on the earth, with their heads in my lap; and in the same situation I passed a sleepless night. Eleven cannon balls passed through the house, and we could distinctly hear them roll away. Ono poor soldier, who was lying on a table, for the purpose of having his leg amputated, was struck by a shot, which carried


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away his other leg. His comrades had left him, and, when we went to his assistance, we found him in a corner of the room, into which he had crept, more dead than alive, scarcely breathing. My reflections on the danger to which my husband was exposed now agonized me exceedingly, and the thoughts of my children, and the necessity of struggling for their pres- ervation, alone sustained me.


" 'I now occupied myself through the day in attending to the wounded; I made them tea and coffee, and often shared my dinner with them, for which they offered me a thousand ex- pressions of gratitude. One day, a Canadian officer came to our cellar, who had hardly the power of holding himself up- right, and we concluded he was dying for want of nourish- ment. I was happy in offering him my dinner, which strengthened him, and procured me his friendship. I now undertook the care of major Bloomfield, another aid-de-camp of general Phillips, who had received a musket ball through both cheeks, which, in its course, had knocked out several of his teeth, and cut his tongue. He could hold nothing in his mouth ; the matter which ran from his wound almost choked him, and he was not able to take any nourishment, except a little soup, or something liquid. We had some Rhenish wine ; and, in the hope that the acidity of it would cleanse the wound, I gave him a bottle of it: he took a little now and then, and with such effect, that his cure soon followed ; and thus I added another to my stock of friends, and derived a satisfaction, which, in the midst of sufferings, served to tran- quillize me, and diminish their acuteness.


" 'One day, general Phillips accompanied my husband, at the risk of their lives, on a visit to us, who, after having wit- nessed our situation, said to him, 'I would not, for ten thousand guineas, come again to this place; my heart is almost broken.'


" 'In this horrid situation we remained six days. A ces- sation of hostilities was now spoken of, and eventually took place : a convention was afterwards agreed upon ; but one day a message was sent to my husband, who had visited me, and was reposing in my bed, to attend a council of war, where it was proposed to break the convention ; but, to my great joy,


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the majority were for adhering to it. On the 16th, however, my husband had to repair to his post, and I to my cellar. This day fresh beef was served out to the officers, who, until now, had only had salt provisions, which was very bad for their wounds.


" ' On the 17th of October, the convention' was completed. General Burgoyne and the other generals waited on general Gates, the American commander. The troops laid down their arms, and gave themselves up prisoners of war ; and now the good woman, who had supplied us with water, at the hazard of her life, received the reward of her services; each of us threw a handful of money into her apron, and she got altogether about 20 guineas. At such a moment as this, how susceptible is the heart of feelings of gratitude !


" ' My husband sent a message to me, to come over to him with my children. I scated myself once more in my dear calash, and then rode through the American camp. As I passed on, I observed (and this was a great consolation to me) that no one eyed me with looks of resentment, but that they all greeted us, and even showed compassion in their counte- nances, at the sight of a woman with small children. I was, I confess, afraid to go over to the enemy, as it was quite a new situation to me. When I drew near the tents, a hand- some man approached and met me, took my children from the calash, and hugged and kissed them, which affected me alinost to tears. 'You tremble,' said he, addressing himself to me ; 'be not afraid.' 'No,' I answered, 'you seem so kind and tender to my children, it inspires me with courage.' He now led me to the tent of general Gates, where I found generals Burgoyne and Phillips, who were on a friendly footing with the former. Burgoyne said to me, 'Never mind; your sorrows have now an end.' I answered him, that I should be repre- hensible to have any cares, as he had none, and I was pleased to see him on such a friendly footing with general Gates. All the generals remained to dine with general Gates.


" ' 'The same gentleman, who received me so kindly, now came and said to me, ' You will be very much embarrassed to eat with all these gentlemen; come with your children to my tent; there I will prepare for you a frugal dinner, and give it


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with a free will.' I said, ' You are certainly a husband and a father, you have shown ine so much kindness.' I now found that he was general Schuyler! He treated me with excellent smoked tongue, beef steaks, potatoes, and good bread and butter. Never could I have wished to eat a better dinner. I was content. I saw all around me were so likewise; and, what was better than all, my husband was out of danger.


" ' When we had dined, he told me his residence was at Albany, and that general Burgoyne intended to honor him as his guest, and invited myself and children to do likewise. I asked my husband how I should act; he told me to accept the invitation. As it was two days' journey there, he advised me to go to a place which was about three hours' ride distant. General Schuyler had the politeness to send with me a French officer, a very agreeable man, who commanded the recon- noitring party of which I have before spoken; and when he had escorted me to the house, where I was to remain, he turned back again. In the house I found a French surgeon, who had under his care a Brunswick officer, who was mortally wounded, and died some days afterwards.




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