USA > New York > The Empire State: a compendious history of the commonwealth of New York > Part 28
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Schuyler, fully comprehending the importance of checking the advance of St. Leger in the west while endeavoring to roll back the invasion from the north, called a council of officers and proposed to send a detachment to the relief of Fort Schuyler. The council objected because of the pressing need of men for the army confronting Burgoyne.
* Marinus Willett was born at Jamaica, L. I., in 1740, and died in New York City in 1830. He was graduated at King's (now Columbia) College, and soon afterward served with Abercrombie in the attack on Ticonderoga in 1758. He was with Bradstreet against Fort Frontenac. Willett was one of the most eminent of the " Sons of Liberty," and became a captain in McDougal's regiment in the invasion of Canada in 1775. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the Third New York Regiment. In 1777 he was in Fort Stanwix and assisted in its defence. In August he bore a message by stealth to General Schuyler asking for relief, which was sent. ' He was in the battle of Monmouth in 1778, was with Sullivan in his campaign against the Indians in 1779, and in 1784 became sheriff of New York City, in which position he served ten years. In 1807 he was elected mayor of the city. He had been appointed a brigadier-general in the army to act against the Indians in the North-west in 1792, but declined the honor.
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FORT SCHUYLER RELIEVED.
Schuyler heard one of the officers say in a half-suppressed whisper, " He means to weaken the army." This was an echo-an epitome-of the slanders with which the general had been assailed since the evacuation of Ticonderoga. With hot indignation he turned upon the slanderer, and unconsciously biting in pieces a elay pipe that he was smoking, exclaimed in a voice that awed the whole company into silence :
"Gentlemen, I shall take the responsibility upon myself ; where is the brigadier who will take command of the relief ? I shall beat up for volunteers to-morrow."
The brave Benedict Arnold, one of the council, who knew how unjust was the thought that there could be treason in the heart of General Schuyler, immediately stepped forward and offered his services. The drums beat for volunteers the next morning, and before noon (August 13th) eight hundred stalwart men were enrolled for the relief expedition. They were chiefly from the Massachusetts brigade of General Larned.
With such followers-men who had implicit confidence in him-Gen- eral Arnold pushed rapidly up the Mohawk Valley. By stratagem, audacity, and prowess Arnold impressed the followers of St. Leger with the startling idea that the Americans advancing upon them were over- whelming in numbers.# So impressed, the Indians resolved to fly. No persuasions could hold them. Away they went, as fast as their legs could carry them, toward Oswego and the more western forests. They were followed by their pale-faced confrères, pell-mell, helter-skelter, in a race for safety to be found on the bosom of Lake Ontario.
So was suddenly raised the siege of Fort Schuyler, and so ended the really formidable invasion from the west.
The failure of the expedition of St. Leger t was a stunning blow to the hopes of Burgoyne. This disaster, following so closely upon that
* At the German Flats Arnold found a half idiotic Tory under sentence of death for some crime he had committed. His mother begged Arnold to pardon him. Her prayer was granted on the condition that he should accompany a friendly Oneida chief among the barbarians into St. Leger's camp, and by representing the oncoming Americans, from whom they had just escaped, as very numerous, frighten them away. The prisoner consented. The Tory had several shots fired through his coat, and with these evidences of a " terrible engagement with the enemy," he ran, almost out of breath, into the Indian camp. Pointing toward the trees and the sky he said : "They are as many as the leaves and the stars at night." Very soon his companion, the Oneida, came running from another direction with the same story, when, as we have seen above, the Indians fled.
t Colonel Barry St. Leger entered the British army in 1749 ; came to America with his regiment in 1757, and was with Wolfe at Quebec. He became lieutenant-colonel in 1772, and was sent to Canada in 1775. After his failure in the Mohawk Valley he dis- appears from history. He died in 1789.
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THE EMPIRE STATE.
near Bennington, staggered him. His visions of conquest, " orders," and perhaps a peerage for himself vanished. His army was already con- quered. The sad news thoroughly disheartened his troops. The fidelity of the Indians, always fair-weather warriors, waned, and these and Canadians and timid Tories became lukewarm, and they deserted by hundreds.
Burgoyne's perplexity was great. To proceed would be madness ; to retreat would give hosts of friends to the Republicans and dissipate the idea of British invincibility. He complained to the ministry that Howe had not co-operated in his favor by movements below, and consequently troops from above the Highlands had swelled the Northern army of the Americans. He resolved to remain where he was (on the heights of Saratoga, where Schuylerville now stands) until the panic in his army should subside and he should receive supplies from posts on Lakes Cham- plain and George. By great diligence he soon afterward had sufficient provisions brought from Lake George to last his army a month.
At this juncture, when Schuyler, who for weeks had retarded the invasion of Burgoyne with a handful of men ; when his wisdom, prowess, and patriotism were inducing recruits to flock to his standard, now that their summer crops were generally gathered and he was ready to strike a blow for victory, he was superseded in the command of the Northern Department by General Gates. This change had been effected by intrigues, a faction in Congress, and widely circulated slanders. That Schuyler was the victim of a conspiracy no careful student of our history can reasonably doubt. Yet he patriotically acquiesced, and generously offered to give Gates all the aid in his power. Had Gates wisely accepted the generous offer and aeted with a proper spirit at that time, he might have gained an early victory over the invaders. But he did not act wisely, generously, nor efficiently, and when a victory was finally won in spite of him, he was not entitled to the honor of achieving it.
Burgoyne established an intrenched camp on the heights of Saratoga. Early in September Gates found himself in command of an army stronger in numbers than the whole British force opposing him. The American forces were well posted on Bemis's Heights, two miles above Stillwater, the right wing resting upon the Hudson River below the Heights, and their left upon gentle hills. Upon their front was a well- constructed line of fortifications.
Imperious necessity compelled Burgoyne to move forward. He took a position within two miles of the American lines, and on the morning of September 19th he advanced to offer battle. He had no alternative but to fight or surrender, for he had been informed that General Lincoln,
275
BATTLE ON BEMIS'S HEIGHTS.
with two thousand New England militia, had gotten in his rear and had cut off his communication with Canada. On the day before, Colonel John Brown, despatched by General Lincoln with a few troops and some heavy guns, had surprised an ontpost between Ticonderoga and Lake George ; had taken possession of Mount Defiance ; cannonaded Ticon- deroga and Fort Independence ; destroyed two hundred vessels, includ- ing seventeen gun-boats and an armed sloop, at the ontlet of Lake George ; seized a large quantity of stores ; released one hundred Ameri- can prisoners, and captured about three hundred British soldiers.
Burgoyne's left wing, with an immense artillery train, commanded by Generals Phillips and Riedesel, kept upon the plain near the river. The centre and right, composed largely of Germans, extended across the rolling country on the IIeights, and were commanded by Burgoyne in person. Upon the hills on the extreme right General Fraser with grenadiers and Colonel Breyman with riflemen were posted for the pur- pose of ontflanking the Americans. On the front and right flank was a body of Canadians, Tories, and Indians designed to attack the central outposts of the Americans.
During the morning General Arnold, who commanded a division, had observed through vistas in screening woods preparations of the foe for an attack, and urged General Gates to send out a detachment to confront them. But Gates had determined to act on the defensive within his lines, and hesitated. At length he permitted Colonel Morgan and his riflemen, and some infantry under Colonels Dearborn and Scammell, to make an attack upon the Canadians and Tories. After severe skirmish- ing the parties retired to their respective lines.
At eleven o'clock Burgoyne gave a signal for his whole army to move forward. Gates seemed indisposed to fight, and remained in his tent. General Fraser began the battle by making a rapid movement to turn the American left commanded by Arnold. At the same time Arnold, with equal celerity of movement, attempted to turn the British right. He was frustrated by the refusal of Gates to send him re-enforcements. He was forced back, when Fraser, by a quick movement, called up to his aid some German and other troops from Burgoyne's centre column. Arnold brought his whole division (chiefly New Englanders) into action and called for re-enforcements. They were not supplied ; yet he smote the enemy so lustily that their line began to waver, and it soon fell into confusion.
General Phillips, below the Heights, hearing the din of battle, hurried over the hills with fresh troops and artillery, followed by German dragoons under Riedesel, and appeared upon the ground just as victory
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THE EMPIRE STATE.
seemed about to rest with the Americans. Still the battle raged. The ranks of the British were becoming fearfully thinned, when Riedesel made a fnrions attack upon the flank of the Americans with cannon and musketry, which compelled them to give way. So the Germans saved the British army from ruin.
At the middle of the afternoon there was a Inll in the tempest of battle. It was soon succeeded by a more violent outburst of fury. Burgoyne opened a heavy cannonade upon the Americans, who made no response. Then he ordered a bayonet charge. As the invaders rushed forward to the assault their silent antagonists sprang forward from their intrenehments like tigers, and attacked the British so furiously with ball and bayonet that they soon recoiled and were pushed far back.
At that moment Arnold was at headquarters seated on his powerful horse, vainly begging for re-enforcements. The sounds of battle made him exceedingly impatient, and when it was announced that the conflict was indecisive he could no longer brook delay, but turning his horse's head in the direction of the storm, exclaimed, " I'll soon put an end to it !" Putting spurs to his charger, he dashed away on a wild gallop, followed by a young staff officer (Wilkinson), who was sent by Gates to order the impetuous general back. The subaltern could not overtake Arnold before he reached the scene of conflict, where, by words and deeds, the gallant general animated his troops.
For three hours more the battle raged. The Americans had almost turned the British flank when Colonel Breyman with his German rifle- men, fighting bravely, averted the blow that might have been fatal to the British army. The combatants had surged in doubt backward and forward across the fields like the ebb and flow of the tide. Darkness fell upon the scene and ended the conflict. The British slept that night upon their arms, and the Americans slumbered within their lines. The American forces much outnumbered those of the British.
Petty jealousies marked the conduct of the opposing chief commanders in this conflict. Twice the German troops had saved the British army during the battle. Burgoyne, regarding Riedesel with envy, withheld the honor due him in his official report. Hlad Arnold been furnished with re-enforcements when he asked for them, no doubt he would have won a victory in the morning. Gates was not seen on the field during the day,* nor any other general officer besides Arnold but Learned ; and
* The concurrent testimony of contemporaries plainly shows that Gates scarcely left his tent during the day of the battle, and that under its shelter he freely indulged in strong drinks and in unbecoming remarks concerning officers of whom he was jealous.
217
BURGOYNE HOLDS A COUNCIL OF WAR.
but for the prowess and skill of the former, all candid historians admit that Burgoyne would undoubtedly have entered Albany in triumph as a victor at the autumnal equinox. Gates, angry because the army praised Arnold and Morgan, did not mention their names in his official report of the battle !
The wretched condition of his army was revealed to Burgoyne on the morning of the 20th. He had lost about six hundred men. He expected an immediate renewal of the battle by the Americans. With: that impression he hastily buried his dead in holes and trenches, and withdrew to high ground about two miles from the American lines. The latter had good reason for removing within their lines, for their ammunition was exhausted. This fact was known only to Gates. He was justified in not acceding to Arnold's urgent request to attack the enemy on that morning.
Burgoyne and the whole army were greatly depressed in spirits by the events of the 19th, yet, hourly expecting good news from Howe or Clinton below, he addressed his troops in a cheerful tone, and declared that he would either leave his dead body on the field or push his way to Albany. On the following day he received a despatch from Clinton, who was in command at New York, promising aid by attacking the forts or the Hudson Highlands. He also gave him the cheering news of Howe's victory on the Brandywine Creek. Burgoyne assured Clinton that he could maintain his position until October 12th.
Burgoyne waited many days for more tidings from Clinton. None came, and on the evening of October 4th he called a council of officers. Phillips proposed an attempt to turn the American left flank by a swift circuitous march. Riedesel favored a rapid retreat to Fort Edward. Fraser was willing to fight then and there. The latter course was agreed upon, and on the morning of the 7th, after liquors and rations for four days had been distributed to the whole army, Burgoyne moved toward the American left withi fifteen hundred picked men, eight brass cannons, and two howitzers. He formed a battle-line behind a forest screen three fourths of a mile from the American intrenchments. Generals Riedesel, Phillips, and Fraser were with the lieutenant-general, who sent out a party composed of Canadians, Tories, and Indians to make a circuit through the woods, and, hanging upon the American rear, keep them in check while he should attack them in front.
Burgoyne was discovered before he was ready for battle. The drums of the Americans beat to arms, and an alarm was sent all along the lines. They had been re-enforced by Lincoln, and their army now numbered about ten thousand men-nearly double the number of the British force.
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THE EMPIRE STATE.
Gates inquired the cause of the disturbance, and when he ascertained the truth he sent out Colonel Morgan with his riflemen and some infantry to secure a position to attack the flank and rear of the British right and to " begin the game." At the same time New Hampshire militia under General Poor and New York militia under General Tenbroeck advanced against the British left.
Meanwhile the Canadians and Tories had turned the flank of the Americans and attacked their pickets in the rear. The British grenadiers soon joined these assailants and drove the Americans back to their lines, where a hot contest ensued, lasting half an hour. In that fight Morgan and his men assailed the foe so vigorously that they were driven back in confusion to the British line, which then stood in battle order in an open field. Grenadiers under Major Acland and artillery commanded by Major Williams formed the left of the line upon rising ground. The centre was composed of Britons and Germans led by Phillips and Riedesel, and the extreme left of infantry under Earl Balcarras. General Fraser at the head of five hundred picked men was a short distance in advance of the British right ready to fall upon the left front of the Americans.
Just as Burgoyne was about to advance, at three o'clock in the after- noon, he was astounded by the thunder of cannons on his left and the rattle of small arms on his right. New Englanders under General Poor had moved stealthily up the slope, upon the crown of which were the troops of Acland and Williams, and pressed through the thick wood toward the batteries of the latter. When the Republicans were dis- covered the British opened upon them a heavy storm of musket-balls and grape-shot with very little effect, for the missiles passed over their heads. The Americans then sprang forward with a shout and fired rapid volleys, when a fierce conflict ensued. The Republicans rushed up to the mouths of the cannons and engaged in a hand-to-hand struggle for victory among the carriages of the field-pieces. Five times one of the cannons was taken and retaken. It finally remained with the Americans, and as the British fell back Colonel Cilley mounted the gun, waved his sword high in air, and dedicated the weapon to " the American cause."
In this fierce combat Major Acland was seriously wounded * and Major Williams was made a prisoner. Their men, panic-stricken, fled in con-
* The wives of General Riedesel, Major Acland, and others were with their husbands. When Mrs. Acland, a daughter of the Earl of Ilchester, heard of her husband's con- dition-wounded and a' prisoner within the American lines-she obtained permission from Burgoyne to go to him. She was admitted, and was at her husband's bedside at a house on Bemis's Heights until he recovered sufficiently to proceed to New York.
279
GENERAL ARNOLD ON THE BATTLE-FIELD.
fusion, and the whole eight brass cannons and the field remained in pos- session of the Americans.
Morgan in the mean time led an attack upon General Fraser and drove him back upon the British lines ; then falling upon their right flank, he broke their ranks and put thein in confusion. Colonel Dearborn attacked their front with fresh troops and broke their line, but it was soon rallied.
It was at this moment that General Arnold reappeared upon the scene. Gates's treatment of him had so greatly irritated him that he had de- manded a pass to go to Washington's headquarters. It was readily granted, for Gates, now feeling sure of success, did not wish the brave general to have a share in the glory of the achievement. He did not thereby actually take the command of the division from Arnold, but he assigned its control to General Lincoln, who tried to reconcile the differ- ences between the two generals. The officers of the latter, by personal entreaties and a written address, persuaded him to remain, but Gates refused to give him any command. Arnold had no authority even to fight, much less to order. He was eager to join in the combat at the beginning.
" No man," he exclaimed to his aides, " shall keep me from the field to-day. If I am without command I will fight in the ranks ; but the soldiers, God bless them ! will follow my lead."
Thoroughly aroused by the din of battle at the moment just allnded to, Arnold leaped into his saddle and dashed away to the point of conflict in which his division was engaged, again followed by one of Gates's aides (Armstrong) with instructions to order him back. The chase was in vain. Arnold plunged into the thickest of the fight, where the subaltern dared not follow. His troops welcomed him with shouts. He immedi- ately led them against the British centre, riding along the lines, giving orders, and exposed to imminent peril every moment.
The Germans received the first furious assault from Arnold's troops. They made a brave resistance and flung the assailants baek at first, but when at a second charge Arnold dashed among them at the head of his troops, they broke and fled in dismay.
And now the battle became general all along the line. Arnold and Morgan were the ruling spirits that controlled the storm on the part of the Americans. The gallant Fraser was the directing soul of the British troops in action. Ilis skill and courage were everywhere conspicuous. When the lines gave way he brought order out of confusion ; when regi- ments began to waver he infused courage into them by voice and example. The fate of the battle evidently depended upon him.
Arnold perceived this, and said to Morgan, "That officer in full
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THE EMPIRE STATE.
uniform is General Fraser. It is essential to our success that he be dis- posed of. Direet the attention of some of the sharpshooters of your riflemen to him." The order was obeyed, and very soon Fraser fell from his horse mortally wounded. It is difficult for a humane and gen- erous mind to accept any exeuse for this eruel order and the deed that ensued .*
When the gallant Fraser fell a panic ran along the British line. At that moment three thousand New York militia under General Tenbroeek appeared, when the wavering line gave way and the British troops, covered by Phillips and Riedesel, fled to their intrenehments. Up to these works, in the face of a terrible tempest of bullets and grape-shot, the Americans eagerly pressed, with Arnold at their head, who was seen at all points, through the sulphurons smoke, encouraging his men. His voice could be heard above the din of battle. With a part of the brigades of Generals Paterson and Glover he drove the troops of Earl Balearras from an abatis at the point of the bayonet, and attempted to foree his way into the British camp. Failing in this, he led Learned's brigade against the British right. For a while the result was doubtful, but at length the Britons gave way, leaving the Germans under General Specht entirely exposed.
At this moment Arnold ordered up from the left the New York regi- ments of Colonels Wessen and Livingston and Morgan's riflemen to make a general assault, while he, with the Massachusetts regiment of Colonel Brooks, attacked the Germans commanded by Colonel Breyman. He rushed into the sally-port on his horse and spread terror among them. They had seen him for two hours in the thiekest of the fight unhurt, and they regarded him with superstitious awe as a charmed character. They broke and fled. A bullet from a parting volley which they gave on their retreat killed Arnold's horse and wounded him in the same leg that was badly hurt at Quebec. Just then Gates's subaltern overtook the wounded and victorious Arnold and gave his commander's order to return to camp ! Gates had expressed a fear that Arnold might " do some rash thing." He had done a "rash thing" in achieving a decisive vietory which Gates was incompetent to win. Yet the latter claimed and received the honors of the achievement
* General Fraser died on the morning after the battle. His body was buried at the evening twilight of the same day within a redoubt upon a gentle eminence, which the dying hero designated as the place of his sepulture. It was followed to the grave by Burgoyne and a large number of officers. As soon as the solemn character of the proces- sion was recognized by the Americans a cannonade which they had begun ceased, and they fired minute-guns in honor of the memory of the brave soldier.
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THE SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE.
The rout of the Germans was complete. They threw down their arms and ran, and could not be rallied. Colonel Breyman was mortally wounded. Darkness ended the conflict.
Burgoyne, resolved to retreat, withdrew his whole force a mile north of his intrenchments, and on the night of the Sth he marched, in a cold rain-storm, for the heights of Saratoga, where the troops arrived, in a most wretched plight, on the morning of the 10th. They had burned the mansion, mills, and other property of General Schuyler on their way.
The American army also moved northward, and a part of it took a position on the hills on the east side of the IIndson directly op- posite Burgoyne's camp and within cannon-shot of it. Satisfied that he could neither fight nor retreat with safety, Burgoyne opened nego- tiations with Gates for a surrender upon honorable terms. A capitn- lation was signed, and on October 17th, 1777, his troops laid down their arms in submission on the plain, near the Hudson, in front of PHILIP SCHUYLER. (present) Schuylerville. Burgoyne surrendered his sword to Gates at the headquarters of the latter, not far from the ruins of General Schuyler's property .*
The whole number of troops surrendered to the Americans at Saratoga was five thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, of whom two thousand four hundred and twelve were Germans. Besides these there were eighteen hundred prisoners of war, including sick and wounded. The entire loss of the British army after they entered the State of New York, including those under St. Leger, who were disabled or captured at Fort Schuyler and Oriskany, was almost ten thousand men. On Burgoyne's
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