USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 29
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* He then sent a message to General Burgoyne begging that he would have him buried the following day at six o'clock in the evening on the top of a hill, which was a sort of a re- doubt. * * * About three o'clock in the morning they told me that he could not last much longer. I had desired to be apprised of the approach of this moment .. I accordingly, wrapped up my children
1 For a full and detailed account of this see my "Life of Mrs. General Riedesel."
All war is dreadful, still it seems to me that this cold blooded shooting of Fraser by Murphy was no less than murder-yet Murphy lived to be highly extolled for this deed, and during the Governorship of Buck, of New York State, was sent to the Legislature. On the other hand, it may be argued that this cold blooded murder saved the lives of many soldiers. So, let it go! Let each reader judge of it from his own ideas of right or wrong.
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in the coverings and went with them into the entry. Early in the morning, at eight o'clock, he died."
General Fraser belonged to the House of Lovatt, whose family name was Fraser. The Earl of Lovatt was one of the noblemen who were compromised by the rebellion of the last Stuart pretender and whose fortunes were reversed at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. General Fraser, a scion of the house, had received intimations (on being appointed to a command under Burgoyne) that if the enterprise were successful, the government would revoke the act of attainder, and restore to him the family estates. With a knowledge of these facts, it is easy to understand the meaning of the wounded general's exclamations as he lay waiting for death-the first alluding to the sad extinction of his own well cherished hopes of well earned position and renown; the second betraying his anxiety for his commander, whose impending disgrace he clearly foresaw.
" We learned," continues Mrs. Riedesel, "that General Burgoyne intended to fulfill the last wish of General Fraser and to have him buried at six o'clock, in the place designated by him. This occasioned an unnecessary delay, to which a part of the misfortunes of the army was owing. The English chaplain, Mr. Brudewell, performed the funeral services. The cannon balls flew continually around and over the party.1 The American General, Gates, afterward said that if he had known it was a burial he would not have allowed any firing in that direction. Many cannon balls also flew not far from me; but I had my eyes fixed upon the hill, when I distinctly saw my husband in the midst of the enemy's fire, and therefore, I could not think of
1 These shots were fired from the rising ground above the eastern shore in Washington Coun- ty, almost opposite the scene of the interment, and not, as some have thought. from " Willard's Mountain." This last (as it is in Washington County) is worthy of mention. It lies about three miles northeast of Wilbur's Basin and derives its name from the following fact. At the time that Burgoyne was encamped with his army near Wilbur's Basin, a man by the name of Willard took a spy-glass and went to the top of the mountain for the purpose of ascertaining, as near as possible, the number of the British troops, the situation of their camp, and to watch their move- ments and make his reports accordingly, by means of colored glass flashed by the sun to Gates. These reports were of much benefit to the Americans and from this circumstance the mountain has ever retained the name of " Willard's Mountain."
The precise spot where Fraser was buried is now (1900) marked by two tall pines which stand like two grim sentinels, over the remains of the gallant general. The hill, on the top of which the latter was buried, stands some forty rods west of the river-road from Schuylerville to Still- water and about two hundred rods north of Wilbur's Basin. The Champlain canal passes elose to its base. For an incident connected with the supposed removal of Fraser's remains to Eng- land, see my "Burgoyne's Campaign."
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BURGOYNE'S RETREAT.
my own danger." "Certainly," says General Riedesel in his Journal, "it was a real military funeral, one that was unique of its kind."
General Burgoyne has himself described this funeral with his usual eloquence and felicity of expression. "The incessant cannonading during the solemnity, the steady attitude and unaltered voice with which the chaplain officiated, though frequently covered with dust, which the shot threw upon all sides of him, the mute but expressive mixture of sensibility and indignation upon the mind of every man who was present, the growing duskiness added to the scenery and the whole marked a character of that juncture that would make one of the finest subjects for the pencil of a master that the field ever exhibited. 1 To the canvas and to the faithful pen of a more important historian, gallant friend! I consign thy memory. There may thy talents, thy manly virtues, their progress and their period find due distinction and long may they survive, long after the frail record of my pen shall be forgotten ! " 2
CHAPTER XVIII.
1 777.
BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN CONCLUDED.
BURGOYNE'S ARMY BEGIN THEIR RETREAT-THE HEIGHTS OF SARATOGA OCCUPIED, THUS CUTTING OFF ALL HOPES OF ESCAPE-LADY ACLAND'S FLIGHT TO THE AMERI- CAN CAMP-BURGOYNE SURRENDERS-INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THAT EVENT -- MADAME RIEDESEL'S ESTIMATE OF GENERAL SCHUYLER-CHARACTER OF BURGOYNE AND GATES COMPARED -- THE GENERAL RESULT OF THE SURRENDER IN SECURING THE AMERICANS THE FRENCH ALLIANCE.
As soon as the funeral services of General Fraser were finished-as narrated in the last chapter-an order was issued that the army should
1 This scene has been several times depicted by some of the best English and American ar- tists.
2 This is, of course, a very beautiful tribute-but, so far as relates to the chaplain (Brudenell) who officiated at Fraser's obsequies, the less said of him the better. He was, from all accounts, a man whose habits brought disgrace upon all the English clergy, and I may as well state here that the tradition, that after her husband's death, he married Lady Acland, is entirely without foundation. See letter from Lord Carnarvon, late Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and a grand- nephew of Lady Acland, to myself. Vide my " Visits to the Saratoga Battle Grounds."
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
retreat as soon as darkness had set in, and the Commander-in-chief, who in the beginning of the campaign, had vauntingly given out in general orders that memorable sentiment, "Britons never retreat," was now compelled to steal away in the night, leaving his hospital containing four hundred and sixty sick and wounded, to the mercy of a victorious and hitherto despised enemy. Gates in this, as in all other instances, extended to his former companion in arms on the Monongahela, the greatest humanity.
The army began its retrograde movement at nine o'clock on the evening of the 8th in the midst of a pouring rain, Riedesel leading the van, and Phillips bringing up the rear with the advanced corps. All deplored the loss of Fraser, who had always shown as great skill in managing a retreat as bravery in leading an attack. Indeed, he used frequently to say that if the army had the misfortune to retreat, he would ensure, with the advanced corps, to bring it off in safety. This was a piece of generalship of which he was not a little vain, hay- ing, during the "Seven Year's War," made good his retreat with five hundred chasseurs in sight of the French army.
In this retreat, the same lack of judgment on the part of General Burgoyne is apparent. Had General Burgoyne, as Riedesel advised, fallen immediately back across the Hudson where is now a part of Washington County, and taken up his former position behind the Battenkill, not only would his communications with Lakes George and Champlain and Canada have been restored, but he could, at his leisure, have awaited the movements of Clinton. Burgoyne, however, having arrived at Dovegat's house, two hours before daybreak on the morning of the 9th, gave the order to halt, greatly to the surprise of his whole army. "Every one," says Riedesel in his Journal, " was, notwithstanding, then of the opinion, that the army would make but a short stand, merely for its better concentration, as all saw that haste was of the utmost necessity, if they would get out of a dangerous trap."
At this time the heights of Saratoga, commanding the ford across Fish Creek, were not yet occupied by the Americans in force, and up to seven o'clock in the morning, the retreating army might easily have reached the place and thrown a bridge across the Hudson. Gen- eral Fellows, who, by the orders of Gates, occupied the heights at Saratoga opposite the ford, was in an extremely critical situation. On the night of the 8th, Lieutenant-Colonel Southerland, who had been
255
LADY ACLAND'S HEROISM.
sent forward to reconnoiter, crossed Fish Creek and, guided by Gen- eral Fellow's fires, found his camps so entirely unguarded that he marched around it without being challenged. He then returned and reporting to Burgoyne, entreated permission to attack Fellows with his regiment, but was refused. "Had not Burgoyne halted at Dove- gat," says Wilkinson, "he must have reached Saratoga before day in which case Fellows would have been cut up and captured or dispersed and Burgoyne's retreat to Fort Edward and Fort George would have been unobstructed. As it was, however, Burgoyne's army reached Saratoga just as the rear of our militia was ascending the opposite [i. e. the eastern] bank of the Hudson, where they took post and pre- vented its passage." Burgoyne, however, although within half an hour's march of Saratoga, gave the surprising order that "the army should bivouac in two lines, and await the day."
Mr. Bancroft-who, notwithstanding his reputation as an historian, is often exceedingly superficial-ascribes this delay to the fact that Burgoyne " was still clogged with his artillery and baggage, and that the night was dark and the roads weakened by rain." But according to the universal testimony of all the manuscript journals extant, the road which up to this time was sufficiently strong for the passage of the baggage and artillery trains, became, during the halt, so bad by the continued rain, that when the army again moved at four o'clock in the afternoon, it was obliged to leave behind the tents and camp equipage, which fell, most opportunely, into the hands of the Ameri- cans. Aside, however, from this, it is a matter of record that the men, through their officers, pleaded with Burgoyne to be allowed to proceed, notwithstanding the storm and darkness; while the officers themselves pronounced the delay "madness." But whatever were the motives of the English general, this delay lost him his army and, perhaps, the British crown her American Colonies.
During the halt at Dovegat's, there occurred one of those incidents which relieve with fairer lights and softer tints the gloomy pictures of war. Lady Harriet Acland had, like the Baroness Riedesel, ac- companied her husband to America and gladly shared with him the vicissitudes of campaign life. Major John Dyke Acland was a rough, blunt man, but a gallant soldier and devoted husband and she loved him dearly. She had already been subjected to great inconvenience and distress before the army arrived at Saratoga. She had been dis-
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
tinguished by her devotion and unremitting attention to her husband, when he lay sick at Chamblee in a miserable hut. She was, indeed, not only the idol of her husband, but, together with the Baroness Riedesel, shared the admiration of the whole army, continually mak- ing little presents to the officers belonging to the Major's corps, whenever she had anything among her stores that she thought would gratify them. In return she received from them every attention which could mitigate the hardships she daily encountered and now, ever since he had been wounded and taken prisoner in the action of the 7th, she had been in sore distress; and it had required all the com- forting attentions of the Baroness to reassure her. As soon as the army halted, by the advice of the latter, she determined to visit the American camp, and implore the permission of its commander to join her husband, and by her presence alleviate his sufferings.
Accordingly, on the 9th, she requested permission of Burgoyne to depart. "Though I was ready to believe," says that General in his trial by Parliament, " that patience and fortitude in a supreme degree were to be found, as well as every other virtue, under the most tender forms, I was astonished at this proposal. After so long an agitation of spirits, exhausted not only for want of rest, but absolutely want of food, drenched in rains for twelve hours together, that a woman should be capable of such an undertaking as delivering herself to an enemy, probably in the night and uncertain of what hands she might fall into, appeared an effort above human nature. The assistance I was able to give was small indeed. All I could furnish to her was an open boat and a few lines, written upon dirty wet paper to General Gates, recommending her to his protection." 1
In the midst of a driving autumnal storm and with nothing but a little spirits and water, obtained from the wife of a soldier, to sustain her, Lady Acland set out at dusk in an open boat for the American camp, accompanied by Rev. Mr. Brudeweil, the chaplain-the same who had officiated at the burial of General Fraser-her waiting-maid and her husband's valet. At ten o'clock they reached the American advanced guard under the command of Major Henry Dearborn. Lady Acland, herself, hailed the sentinel and, as soon as the bateau struck the shore the party were immediately conveyed into the log cabin of
1 Nor was it in the higher walks of life, only, that female heroism and conjugal devotion were displayed. In proof of this, the reader will recall Sergeant Lamb's account of his trip to Lake George to obtain supplies, some pages back.
BURGOYNE WITHDRAWS BEYOND FISH CREEK. 257
the Major, who had been ordered to detain the flag until the morn- ing, the night being exceedingly dark and the quality of the lady unknown.1 Major Dearborn gallantly gave up his room to his guest, a fire was kindled, a cup of tea provided, and as soon as Lady Acland made herself known, her mind was relieved from its anxiety by the assurance of her husband's safety. "I visited," says Wilkinson, "the guard before sunrise. Lady Acland's boat had put off and was float- ing down the stream to our camp, where General Gates, whose gal- lantry will not be denied, stood ready to receive her with all the ten- derness and respect to which her rank and condition gave her a claim. Indeed, the feminine figure, the benign aspect and polished manners of this charming woman, were alone sufficient to attract the sympathy of the most obdurate; but if another motive could have been wanting to inspire respect, it was furnished by the peculiar circumstances of Lady Harriet, then in that most delicate situation, which cannot fail to interest the solicitude of every being possessed of the form and feelings of a man." The kindness which had been shown to his wife, Major Acland reciprocated, while on parole in New York, by doing all in his power to mitigate the sufferings of the American prisoners.2
On the evening of the 9th, the main portion of the drenched and weary army forded Fish Creek waist deep and bivouacked in a wretched position in the open air on the opposite bank. Burgoyne remained on the south side of the creek, with Hamilton's brigade as a guard and passed the night in the mansion of General Schuyler. The officers slept on the ground with no other covering than oileloth. Nor did their wives fare better. "I was wet," says the Baroness Riedesel, "through and through by the frequent rains and was obliged to remain in this condition the entire night, as I had no place whatever, where I could change my linen. I asked General Phillips why we did not continue our retreat ? . Poor woman, ' answered he, 'I am amazed at
1 Among the bronze tablets in the Saratoga Monument there is one representing Lady Acland proceeding to the American camp. The picture of Lady Acland is from a portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, a photograph of which was sent me, for this purpose, by my friend, the late Lord Car- narvon, (Lieutenant-General of Ireland) who was, as before stated, the grand nephew of Lady Acland. Lady Carnarvon recently sent me a contemporaneous print showing the voyage of her great-aunt by marriage, going to the camp of Burgoyne. It is a remarkable one and, as I have said before, in speaking of my various original documents, should any reader wish to see this print, I shall be very happy to show it to him.
2 As everything connected with this devoted wife must be of interest, the reader is referred to my " Burgoyne's Expedition " appendix No. VII for some particulars of her after life.
[32]
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
you! completely wet through, have you still the courage to wish to go further in this weather ? Would that you were our commanding general! He halts because he is tired and intends to spend the night here and give us a supper!' "
Burgoyne, however, would not think of a further advance that night; and while his army were suffering from cold and hunger and every one was looking forward to the immediate future with appre- hension, "the illuminated mansion of General Schuyler," says the "Brunswick Journal," " rang with singing, laughter and the jingling of glasses. There, Burgoyne was sitting with some merry compan- ions, at a dainty supper, while the champagne was flowing. Near him sat the beautiful wife of an English commissary, his mistress.1 Great as the calamity was, the frivolous general still kept up his orgies. Some were even of the opinion that he had merely made that inexcusable stand for the sake of passing a merry night. Riede- sel thought it his duty to remind his general of the danger of the halt but the latter returned all sorts "of evasive answers." This state- ment is corroborated by Madame Riedesel who also adds, "the fol- lowing day General Burgoyne repaid the hospitable shelter of Sehuy- ler's mansion by burning it, with its valuable barns and mills to the ground, under pretence that he might be better able to cover his retreat ; but others say, out of mean revenge on the American Gen- eral." Let us, however, do justice. Lamb, who was present at the time of the fire claims, on the contrary, that the burning of the barns was purely accidental and of the house, the result of military necessi- ty.
But the golden moment had fled. On the following morning, the roth. it was discovered that the Americans, under Fellows, were in possession of the Battenkill, on the eastern side of the Hudson, and Burgoyne, considering it too hazardous to attempt the passage of the river, ordered the army to occupy the same quarters on the heights of Saratoga, which they had used on first crossing the river on the 13th of September. At the same time he sent ahead a working party to
1 Were this statement made by Mrs. Riedesel only-for she states the same thing-instead of by the " Brunswick Journal," it might be necessary to receive it with caution, since her preju- dices sometimes, unintentionally led her into extremes. Mr. Fonblanque, however, in his admir- able, though too partial Life and Correspondence of General Burgoyne, admits this by implication, but seeks to leave the impression that the champagne and the " flirtation," as he calls it, were indulged in by the British general to relieve the mental agony consequent upon his defeat. This may be so, but how about all of his officers who were left out " in the cold " on that occasion ?
259
BRITISH REPULSE NIXON AND GLOVER.
Fort Edward, his intention being to continue his retreat along the west bank of the Hudson river to the front of that fort, force a pas- sage across, and take possession of that post. Colonel Cochran, how- ever, had already garrisoned it with two hundred men and Burgoyne's detachment hastily fell back to his camp.
Meanwhile, General Gates, who had begun the pursuit at noon of the roth with his main army, reached the high ground south of Fish Creek, at four the same afternoon. The departure of Burgoyne's working party for Fort Edward led him to believe that the entire British army were in full retreat, having left only a small guard to protect their baggage. Acting upon this impression, he ordered Nixon and Glover, with their brigades, to cross the creek under cover of the fog which at this time of the year usually prevails till after sunrise and attack the British camp. The English general had notice of this plan, and placing a battery in position, he posted his troops in ambush behind the thickets along the banks of the creek,' and concealed also by the fog, awaited the attack confident of victory. At early daylight. Morgan, who had again been selected to begin the action, crossed the creek with his men, on a raft of floating logs, and falling in with a British picket, was fired upon, losing a lieutenant and two privates. This led him to believe that the main body of the enemy had not moved, in which case, with the creek in his rear, enveloped by a dense fog and unacquainted with the ground, he felt his position to be most critical. Meanwhile, the whole army advanced as far as the south bank of the creek and halted. Nixon, however, who was in advance, had already crossed the stream near its confluence with the Hudson, and captured a pieket of sixty men, and a number of bateaux, and Glover, with his Marblehead regiment, was preparing to follow him, when a deserter from the enemy confirmed the suspicions of Morgan. This was corroborated a few moments afterwards, by the capture of a reconnoitering party of thirty-five men by the advanced guard under Captain Goodale of Putnam's regiment, who, discerning them through the fog just as he neared the opposite bank, charged and took them without firing a gun. Gates was at this time at his headquarters, a mile and a half in the rear," and before intelligence could be sent to
1 This precise spot is about three rods east of Victory Mills.
" This seems to have been the normal position of that general whenever any fighting was going on.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
him the fog cleared up and exposed the entire British army under arms. A heavy fire of artillery and musketry was immediately opened upon Nixon's brigade, and they retreated in considerable disorder across the creek.
General Learned had, in the meantime, reached Morgan's corps with his own and Patterson's brigade, and was advancing rapidly to the attack, in obedience to a standing order issued the day before, " that in case of an attack against any point, whether in front flank or rear, the troops are to fall upon the enemy at all quarters." He had arrived within two hundred yards of Burgoyne's battery, and in a few minutes more, would have been engaged at great disadvantage, when Wilkinson reached him with the news that the right wing under Nixon had given way, and that it would be prudent to retreat. The brave old general hesitated to comply. "Our brethren," said he, "are engaged on the right, and the standing order is to attack."
In this dilemma Wilkinson exclaimed to one of Gates' aides stand- ing near, "Tell the general that his own fame and the interests of the cause are at hazard; that his presence is necessary with the troops." Then, turning to Learned, he continued, "our troops on the right have retired, and the fire you hear is from the enemy; although I have no orders for your retreat, I pledge my life for the general's approbation." By this time several field officers had joined the group, and a consultation being held, the proposition to retreat was approved. Scarcely had they turned about when the enemy, who, expecting their advance, had been watching their movements with shouldered arms, fired and killed an officer and several men before they made good their retreat.
Had the plan of the English general succeeded, it is difficult to say what might have been the result. With the brigades of Nixon, Glover, Learned and Patterson cut off, and with the consequent demoraliza- tion of the American army, his retreat would have been rendered less difficult, or retracing his steps, he might possibly have entered Albany in triumph. He himself, called it, in his trial in Parliament, "one of the most adverse strokes of fortune during the campaign."
The ground occupied by the two armies after this engagement, resembled a vast amphitheatre-the British occupying the arena and the Americans the elevated surroundings. Burgoyne's camp, upon the meadows and the heights of Saratoga north of Fish Creek, was fortified and extended half a mile parallel with the river, most of its
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BRITISH HEMMED IN.
heavy artillery being on an elevated plateau, northeast of the present village of Schuylerville. On the American side, Morgan and his sharpshooters were posted on still higher ground west of the British, extending along their entire rear. On the east or opposite bank of the Hudson (what is now a portion of Washington County) Fellows, with three thousand men, was strongly entrenched behind heavy bat- teries; while Gates, with the main body of the Continentals, lay on the high ground south of Fish Creek and parallel with it. On the north. Fort Edward was held by Stark with two thousand men, and between that post and Lake George in the vicinity of Glens Falls, the Americans had a fortified camp; while, from the surrounding country (and especially from Washington County) large bodies of yeomanry flocked in, and voluntarily posted themselves up and down the river. The "trap" which Riedesel had foreseen, was already sprung!
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