USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. > Part 76
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Just above the present bridge at Stillwater village was the ancient ferry. Its history no doubt reaches back to the middle of the last century, if not even to the date 1732, which is upon the house of Alfred Gray, on the east side of the river. Over this ferry the first settlers passed from the earlier settled portions of Rensselaer county, and from the New England States to their homes west of the Hud- son. And here the army of Burgoyne is said to have erossed on rafts, after the surrender, and from this point took up their line of march through the eastern States for Boston.
About a mile northwest of Stillwater village, on a wooded hill, are remains of intrenchments. The origin of these is not certain. Local tradition assigns them to the Freuch
and Indian war of 1756, or to some still earlier period. They may, however, be the works commenced by General Gates, in 1777, on the return of the army from Van Schaiek's island, and before it was decided to fortify Bemus Heights.
In the village of Stillwater, the Direk Swart house was deemed worthy of being engraved for Lossing's " Field-Book of the Revolution." It was ereeted before the Revolutionary war, and no doubt appears now as it did in the olden time, except that it has been kept painted, and perhaps been newly sided.
When the northern army in the campaign of 1777 was on the retreat sonthward, it encamped for a time on the hill where now the Presbyterian and Catholic churches are situated. Just below, on the southeast, General Schuyler had his headquarters at the house of Dirck Swart. It was here that Lieutenant Stockwell and Colonel Willett, escaping from Fort Stanwix and getting through the wilderness, found General Schuyler and asked for help. In this same house was held the council of war, at which Schuyler favored sending reinforcements and his officers opposed. It was here that he overheard an officer remark, " He means to weaken the army," and unconsciously bit his pipe in several pieces in the height of his indignation. It was this council that he abruptly ended by personally assuming the responsibility and accepting Arnold's offer to head a relief- party.
It might be noticed that the second term of the circuit court for the new county of Saratoga was held at the Presbyterian church in Stillwater, June 4, 1792.
Tracing the river northward, we enter upon the grand historic points of the battle-grounds of Sept. 19 and Oct. 7, 1777. The tavern of John Bemus, whose name was ap- plied to the near uplands west and north, stood on the river- road, as it now runs near the canal, not on the site of the present hotel of Elias Hewitt, but farther north, on a rounded knoll, in the corner between the river-road and the one leading westerly, and just south of the present Dans- comb place. Here may still be seen the old well of the tavern, two or three fruit-trees ancient enough in appear- ance to have been growing when General Gates was here, and a venerable lilac-bush by the roadside. From near the spot occupied by the house a breastwork extended to the river, reaching the bank just north of the west end of the old float-bridge, marked at the present time by a single buttonwood-tree, formed of two widely-diverging trunks, There was a battery placed here, the remains of which are still to he seen. Ilere, too, in the vicinity of this same old tavern site, must we commence looking for the line of iu- trenchments, " three-quarters of a mile in length," thrown up by the army of General Gates on the brow of the river- hill. This line had three batteries; one at each extremity, the other near the centre. The one at the southern end was on the ground occupied by the present sehool-house or a little southeast of it. The shooting practiced in that old battery was not exactly the same as the present school- ma'ams inculcate when " teaching young ideas how to shoot."
To find the site of the second battery, eross the ravine just north of the Dunscomb House, and on the summit of this hill, nearly opposite the eanal-bridge, let the best mili-
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tary man in the party choose the ground, for the broad sum- mit has so often been plowed in the hundred years now clos- ing that any attempt at precise location will be difficult, and have quite an element of uncertainty about it. But that this was the summit crowned by the central battery is certain, from the maps of all the authors who have written of the great struggle.
Traveling farther north along the line, the position of the battery at the northern extremity will be found on a projecting spur of the hills near the corner of an orchard, and a little northeast of the grave-stones which mark the burial-place of the Vandenburg and Reubottom families. This is on the farm of Mr. Hill, who lives just east, at the foot of the range across the canal. That that was the site of the battery is proved not ouly by the maps, but by the statement of Mr. Hill that he himself plowed down the intrenchments at that point. This place, too, is described by some writers as the " northeastern angle" of the first intrenchments, at which the east and west line was begun after the battle of the 19th. From this point may be ob- tained a splendid view of the "alluvial flats" lying between the hills and the river, narrowed down to a few rods in width at Bemus Heights, where General Gates had fortified the southern extremity, and also narrowed in the same way at Wilbur's basin, where General Burgoyne soon after held the northern pass. The line of the hills is nearly straight, and the river makes a grand eurve. It is plain, even to unmilitary eyes, how superior this place is to that at Still- water village for the purpose of resisting the march of an invading army down the valley. The plain common sense of the Stillwater farmers in the camp, united with the trained engineering skill of Kosciusko, made no mistake when, together, they decided to fortify this pass. The hills near Stillwater village were too distant from the river and from the main road along its banks.
Besides the one line from the hills to the river at Bemus' tavern, with its battery by the float-bridge, there was an independent work-not connected to the line of the hills- on the south side of what is sometimes called Mill creek, though just why it has this name old residents find it diffi- cult to explain. The work consisted of a battery at the bank of the river, and a line of intrenchments extending a few rods northwesterly nearly parallel to the creek. Whatever there was of this creek being in late years diverted to the canal, it is only the dry bed of the little stream that is to be seen east of the canal during the sum- mer. The mouth of this creek may easily be found, how- ever, on the farm of Mr. Hill,-before spoken of,-by going to the river on a line bearing a little northeast from his house. South of the ereck are very clearly seen the re- mains of the embankment. These batteries and intrench- ments thus described constituted the principal American works at or before the first battle.
Traveling now through the northern neck of the alluvial flats (Wilbur's basin), and looking for the historical posi- tions of the British army, we commence northward, just within the town of Saratoga. The " Sword house," sup- posed to be so called because occupied by a man of that name, may be in some dispute among writers, but local tradition, universal and precise in this case, together with
much written historical authority, sustains the following description. The " Sword house" was situated on the pres- ent farm of Tunis Flamburg, a little northwest of Robert Searles' residence, across the canal, and just southwest of the farm-bridge. It was a large, gambrel-roofed house, with a wide, old-fashioned hall, through which a yoke of cattle might be driven. Benjamin Searles, father of Robert, took the building down in after-years, and the timber was put into the family residence on the river-road, where Mr. Searles now lives. That house was burned in 1861.
Next southward was the house of Ezekiel Ensign, a pioneer tavern for some years before the Revolution. Ilis house was turned into a hospital by the British army while they were encamped there. The building so used is a part of the present house of George A. Ensign, the property having remained in the Ensign family from the first settle- ment to the present time.
The "John Taylor house" bears a prominent place in all the minute histories of the Burgoyne campaign. John Taylor was the owner, living in Albany. It was occupied in 1777 by one McGee, a tenant. The house stood near the foot of the hills west of the present canal, on the farm now owned by Calvin and Hiram Cotton, at a point in the open field where a depression in the ground clearly shows the position of the old cellar, and broken brick, glass, and crockery most certainly identify the spot. This is one of the places to kindle intense feeling in the mind of the vis- itor. Here was gathered much of the glory and the sor- row of war. No one can read the letters of Madam Reidesel and then visit this place without emotion. The dinner- party planned for the afternoon of the 7th, at which she was to entertain Generals Burgoyne, Fraser, and Phillips ; the uncertainty of the day ; the terror of the great battle ; Fraser brought in wounded at four o'clock ; the whispered report of her husband that all was lost and they must be ready for retreat ; the long, fearful night ; the hushing her children to sleep, lest they should disturb the dying man ; Fraser's exelamations of sorrow for his poor wife,-never again to meet him in the far-off English home; his death at sunrise; the day with the dead ; the retreating army ; the pursuing Americans,-all these things together make up a picture of surpassing sorrow. Then the granting of Fraser's dying request by Burgoyne, even at the risk of himself and army; the sad procession of distinguished officers, bearing the body of Fraser, at sunset, up the hill, where he wished to lie beneath the moaning pines ; the reading of the burial service amid the falling shot from the victorious Americans beyond the first ravine,-all together complete a scene unequaled even in war's dread gallery of paintings.
Burgoyne had guarded this place with much care. There was the " great redoubt" on the hill, where Fraser desired to be buried, marked now by two solitary pines ; a line of intrenchments from this to the sharp hill just west of the canal grocery and overlooking Wilbur creek ravine; and on that hill another battery. From the foot of the hills below the " great redoubt" a line was thrown up to the river, with a battery on the bank.
The magazine of the British army was on the bank of the river, protected by this intrenchment. It stood on a
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HISTORY OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
little rise of ground a few rods below the Cotton farm-build- ings, and just south of the slight ravine or depression in the road at that point.
Burgoyne's first works were commenced after the battle of Sept. 19, by taking possession of the hills south of the stream now constituting Wilbur's basin, and connecting them by a line of intrenchments perhaps eighty rods long, and ereeting a battery at each end. As the actual site of these batteries would depend somewhat on the question whether they were erected for offensive operations against the Americans southwest, or simply to secure the magazine and stores of the army against a possible attempt by General Gates to move northward along the alluvial flats, it may not be easy to decide their exact location. Assuming, however, that Burgoyne's main objeet was to guard his camp and stores, it may fairly be concluded that the north battery was on the extreme eastern point of the hill next to Wilbur's basin, and the south one on the second hill, and probably on a small plateau a little below the highest summit. The curve on the maps from this place westward agrees with the actual curve of the hills from this lower plateau. If the other view was taken, it might be concluded the bat- teries were a few rods farther west, connected by a line on the level ground passing near the present residence of Wm. Larrington. It is said that there are remains of a battery in the woods skirting the east side of Wilbur's ravine and nearly west of Larrington's house. If this is correct, then the second view of these positions may be the best. These lines and batteries were undoubtedly the principal works of the armies at the first. That besides these each army had certain extra works for the temporary safety of picket-guards or other purposes is very probable. The remains of these, found at different points, may have tended to confuse sub- sequent accounts of the battle-field.
The battle of the 19th having been fought, and the result not having decided the great question whether Burgoyne's army was to march through Stillwater to the capture of Albany or not, it became necessary for both armies to pro- vide for the exigencies of the future. General Gates, com- mencing at the " northeastern angle," -- that is, the battery of the orchard, near the grave-stones before mentioned,-built a line of intrenehments westward along the north bank of the ravine, crossing one of its branches, through to the Neilson hill. There, the old log barn, standing about on the site of the present frame barn, was strongly fortified, and named Fort Neilson. This was so arranged, projecting to the north, as to thoroughly command every point of approach. From the barn, the line of intrenchments was extended southwesterly and south, winding somewhat along a ridge, and skirting the western edge of the present orchard till it reached the " greut ravine." There it terminated on the brow of a hill, a little south of some old apple-trees standing there at the present time. The outlet of this "great ravine" passes to the river just by the school-house, where the south battery of the first line was built. Besides the strong fort at the northwestern angle, on the Neilson hill, there was a battery on the north line of the intrenehments considerably left of the centre,-that is, nearer to the Neil- son hill than to the east end, at the Reubottom burial-place. This battery was evidently on a rounded knoll, just down
the slope from the Neilson barn, at the termination of the ravine, and on its north side. It is fair to state, however, that a slightly different site may have considerable argument in its favor.
Another battery was ereeted on the southern extension beyond the fort, near the line of the present orchard, and not far from where the old Neilson house stood in the years before the battle. The magazine of the American army was placed back from the lines, on the lower ground south- east of the Neilson house, at a point now marked by a clump of low bushes sixty or seventy rods distant from the house. Here then was a grand quadrangle constituting the American position, bounded south by the " great ravine," or, as it is otherwise called, the "Great Falls creek," east by the first and strong line of intrenchments on the river hills, and inclosed north and west by the new line just described.
It is obvious that it had elements of strength and seeu- rity sufficient to render it wellnigh impregnable if defended by brave men under skillful command. Within this quad- rangle General Gates now established his headquarters at the house of Ephraim Woodworth. This was on the pres- ent farm of William L. Dennison, on the south side of the road passing westerly at that point, near a willow-tree in the open lot southeast of the barns, and eight or ten rods from the road. A building used as a hospital stood a little east of the Woodworth house. This, in after-years, was moved to the present Searles place, by Aaron Knight, and used as a dwelling-house. It was in still later times taken down, sold, and the timber is to some extent in the present wagon-house on the place of Van Buren Searles. Another building used as a hospital stood on the other side of the road west of the present Dennison house. This was also taken down, and the frame removed to ereet a barn now standing on the farm of Clarence Curtiss, near Wilbur's basin, on the hill, separate from other buildings and west towards the woods.
The kitchen part of the present Neilson mansion was the Neilson house of olden times. It stood then on its present site, though the first Neilson house was forty rods sontheast of the present one, in what is now the new orchard with a few old trees in it. This had been taken down, and the kitchen where it now stands was the headquarters of Gen- eral Poor. The British General Ackland when severely wounded was also brought to this house, and there his wife joined him a day or two after the battle, bearing a letter from General Burgoyne commending her to the pro- teetion of General Gates.
Besides the works of the American army now deseribed, a redoubt, ready for the emergency of flanking or being flanked, was erected on the present farm of Rial and Henry Newland. The hill where it stood is clearly defined, being a little west from the southern extension of the intrench- ments, and the place of the redoubt was north of the well still there and near a few very old apple-trees. From this point, looking northwest, may be seen two elevations. The nearer one was occupied by the troops of Morgan, ready at this advanced position to resist any attempt to flank the left wing of the American army, or himself to push for- ward to flank the right wing of the British forees. The
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elevation still farther northwest became the place of strategie movements in the various attempts to flank by either force. At the northern end of it was the house of J. Munger, where Gen. Fraser was stationed with a thousand men on the morning of October 7. This house was near the old barn now standing there on the farm of Simeon Rowley. The house of A. Chatfield was on the hill where the resi- dence of Benjamin Searles now stands. The Chatfield house was a little south of the present one, near a small tamarack now growing there.
It was on the Chatfield hill that General Gates' aids effected a reconnaissance on the morning of October 7. and discovered the British soldiers foraging on a field below, while the British officers were making a like observation from the house of J. Munger.
Now returning to the river-hills, near Wilbur's basin, the works of General Burgoyne are to be more fully mentioned.
Commencing at the southern battery of his first line already described, on the second hill south of Wilbur's basin, a line of intrenchments was thrown up in a general westerly direction, passing near the present barns of William Lar- rington and in his fields north of the road, then through the woods farther west and along the brow of a hill from which the timber has been recently eut (after crossing a spur of the ravine), and reaching the southwestern angle a little south of the orchard upon the present farm of A. S. Bright- man. This intrenehment is laid down upon the older and the newer maps as substantially a straight line, and doubt- less this is nearly correet ; still it is now difficult to find it such by an actual examination, the known points, or at any rate the supposed points, rather obstinately refusing to fall into line. Its general course, however, is clear. On this east and west line there were two batteries. The northerly one was on the farm of William Harrington, per- haps eighty rods from his buildings, a little north of west, near the present woods. Mr. Larrington himself cleared the land at that point in the year 1864, and leveled the works, and the present state of the ground indicates that there was a work of some kind at that point. The battery farther west was probably on the edge of the ravine where the timber has been recently cut, and embankments at that point seem to sustain this view.
At the southeastern angle, near Brightman's present orchard, a strong redoubt was built, and from this the intrenchments were thrown up in a straight line northerly, passing a few yards west of Brightman's house, and reach- ing nearly to the road. At the north end was a battery, and this must have been twenty-five or thirty rods from the house, perhaps near a single hickory-tree, now standing there.
An independent battery was located a little west of this line, and northwest of the southeastern angle by this orchard. A sharp slate ridge, rising abruptly from the plain, seems to be the point where this battery was located.
These outlines show the camp of General Burgoyne in- closed aud fortified during the interval between the two battles. It was protected on the north by the ravine, in the rear and on the other three sides by intrenchments and batteries. The elevation occupied by the Hessian troops
is a low, irregular hill, now partially covered with small timber, lying northwest of the house of A. S. Brightman, and beyond the road. A little east of this there are shown on maps one or two houses where none are now found. Besides these British intrenchments thus described, there is also a point on the Wilbur farm where William L. Stone locates Burgoyne's headquarters, on the authority of the Brunswick Journal, sustained by the recollection of Mr. Wilbur as to wine-bottles and other things found at that point. There is also evidence of a redoubt in the woods, on the Carrington farm, farther west than the one already described.
In taking positions for the battle of Oet. 7, the British army also occupied a hill southwest from the " Freeman's cottage." This hill, somewhat bluff at the northeastern extremity, slopes gradually to the southwest, towards the foot of the elevation where the Munger house stood. This hill is on the farm now owned by the widow of Isaac Freeman, deceased, and also by Patrick Welch.
" Freeman's cottage," so often named in the histories of the battles of Sept. 19 and Oct. 7, stood on the place now owned by A. S. Brightman. The cottage was not on the site of the present dwelling, but a little southwest of the barn. The statement of Ebenezer Leggett, who owned that farm for many years, is very clear as to the site of the cottage. He built the present barns, and Charles Ensign, of the hotel at Stillwater village, was the contractor. They both state that the grading west of the barn uncovered very clearly the remains of a house, a fire-place, and many relics. A quantity of balls was taken from the place, as if they had been stored there.
The name " Freeman's farm" has been used in something of a confused manner in relation to these battles. This results from the fact that there is a present " Freeman's farm," not the same as the Freeman farm of the battle, and yet the two adjoin each other and the heavy fighting ex- tended over both. The " Freeman's cottage" of the battle account is the Brightman place, while the place marked George Coulter on the war-maps of old times is the present farm of the widow Freeman.
Having named as far as possible the location of intrench- ments, batteries, magazines, hospitals, and dwellings, it remains to mention the places of the severest fighting, not entering, however, upon a description of the battles. It should also be mentioned that involved in the account of the battles and the description of the works there are four ravines, which it is necessary to note,-first, at the north is the ravine breaking through the hills at Wilbur's basin ; second, the ravine through which the little stream, Mill creek, flows, reaching the alluvial flats near the canal-bridge in the vicinity of a barn standing on the main road, and belonging to Isaac W. Valance ; third, a ravine sometimes called South Mill creek, which breaks through the hills just north of the Dunscomb house ; and the fourth, the " Great ravine," so called, at which General Gates' line terminated on the southeast, and which ravine passes just south of the school-house at Bemus Heights village.
Nature did not, however, draw the courses of these ravines in straight lines, and their various branches, deflec- tions, and curves need considerable study in attempting to
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understand the disposition of the various troops, the diffi- culties they met with, and the minute details of the engage- ments.
Recalling now the fact that the battle of the 19th of September was fought before any of these works were con- structed by either army, except a portion of the American defenses on the river-hills and the alluvial flats, the his- tory of that battle must be read with that understanding. The extensive works upon the upper plains and hill-sides were not there, or at least only commenced by General Gates, as some writers indicate. There was nothing except the temporary protection which an army can make for itself in a few hours, and history records little or nothing of that. It was sheer open-field fighting without defenses, and the battle-ground was in the vicinity of " Freeman's cottage."
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