USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
The Americans, impatient of delay, urged Gates to attack the British camp, but that general, now assured that the surrender of Bur- goyne was only a question of time, and unwilling needlessly to sacri- fice his men, refused to accede to their wishes, and quietly awaited the course of events.
The beleaguered army was now constantly under fire both on its flanks and rear and in the front. The outposts were continually en- gaged with those of the Americans, and many of the patrols, detached to keep up communication between the center and right wing, were taken prisoners. The captured bateaux were of great use to the Americans, who were now enabled to transport troops across the river at pleasure, and reinforce the posts on the road to Fort Edward. Every hour the position of the British grew more desperate, and the prospect of escape less. There was no place of safety for the baggage and the ground was covered with dead horses that had been killed by the enemy's round shot and bullets, or by exhaustion, as there had been no forage for four days. Even for the wounded there was no spot that could afford a safe shelter, while the surgeon was binding up their wounds. In fact, the entire camp became a scene of constant fighting. The soldier dare not lay aside his arms night or day, ex- cept to exchange his gun for a spade, when new entrenchments were to be thrown up. He was also debarred of water, although close to Fish Creek and the river, it being at the hazard of his life in the day time to get any, from the number of sharpshooters Morgan had posted in trees, and at night he was sure to be taken prisoner if he attempted
262
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
it. All the water accessible was from a muddy spring, and what could be obtained out of the holes the cattle made with their feet, while by way of luxury, when it rained hard, the men used to catch it in their caps to mix their flour. Without tents to shelter them from the heavy and incessant rains, the sick and wounded would drag themselves along into a quiet corner of the woods and lie down and die upon the damp ground. Nor were they safe even here, since every little while a ball would come crashing down among the trees. The few houses that were at the foot of the heights were nearest to the fire from Fellow's batteries at the mouth of the Battenkill, not- withstanding which the wounded officers and men crawled hither, seeking protection in the cellars.1
In one of these cellars the Baroness Riedesel ministered to the suf- ferers like an angel of light and comfort. She made them broth, dressed their wounds, purified the atmosphere by sprinkling vinegar on hot coals, and was ever ready to perform any friendly service- even such from which the sensitive nature of a woman would recoil. Once, while thus engaged, a furious cannonade was opened upon the house from Fellow's batteries under the impression that it was the headquarters of the English commander. "Alas," says Madame Riedesel, "it harbored none but wounded men and women." Eleven cannon balls went through the house and those in the cellar could plainly hear them crashing through the walls overhead. One poor fellow by the name of Jones, a British surgeon, whose leg they were about to amputate in the room above, had his other leg taken off by one of the cannon balls in the very middle of the operation." Often General Riedesel wished to withdraw his wife from danger by send-
1 This cellar is underneath the " Marshall House." two miles north of Schuylerville and di- rectly opposite the mouth of the Battenkill whence the shots were fired. With the exception of a recent addition, the house is the same ( rgoo) as when it was shelled by Fellow's batteries. In this connection I may say, that the ball which passed through the surgeon's leg (Jones) as mentioned a little further on is now in my possession, and if any curious reader would like to see it, I would be happy to show it to him, if he should call on me at Mt. Vernon, N. Y.
2 An almost similar incident occurred during our late Civil War. In the naval battle, June 19, 1864, between the "Kearsarge" and the "Alabama," as Assistant Surgeon Llewellyn of the latter vessel was sceing to the wounded in the ward-room, his table and a patient lying upon it were swept away from him by an eleven inch shell, which opened in the side of the ship an aper- ture that fast filled the ship with water. See Century Magazine for April, 1885.
The veritable cannon-ball (a 12-pounder) which took off Jones's leg, is in my cabinet of relies from the Saratoga Battlegrounds, and is seen by me while I write this. It was very kindly given me by Mrs. Sample, who now owns and occupies the "Marshall House." This cannon-ball entered the northeast corner of the wall of the house, and the hole made by it was still visible until re- cently.
263
DEMORALIZATION IN BRITISH CAMP.
ing her to the American camp, but the latter remonstrated with him on the ground that to be with people whom she would be obliged to treat with courtesy, while, perhaps, he was being killed, would be even yet more painful than all that she was then forced to endure. The greatest suffering was experienced by the wounded from thirst, ' which was not relieved until a soldier's wife volunteered to bring water from the river. This she continued to do with with safety, the Americans gallantly withholding their fire whenever she appeared.
Meanwhile, order grew more and more lax, and the greatest misery prevailed throughout the entire army. The commissaries neglected to distribute provisions among the troops, and, although there were cattle still left, not one had been killed. More than thirty officers came to the Baroness for food, forced to this step from sheer starva- tion, one of them, a Canadian, being so weak as to be unable to stand. She divided among them all the provisions at hand, and having ex- hausted her store without satisfying them, in an agony of despair, she called to Adjutant-General Petersham, one of Burgoyne's aides who chanced to be near her, and said to him passionately, " Come and see for yourself these officers who have been wounded in the common cause and are in want of everything that is due them. It is your duty to make a representation of this to the general." A quarter of an hour afterward, Burgoyne himself, came to Mrs. Riedesel, and thanked her for reminding him of his duty. In reply, she apologized for meddling with things she well knew, were out of a woman's pro- vince, still, it was impossible, she said, for her to keep silent, when she saw so many brave men in want of food, and had nothing more to give them. "Thereupon," says the Baroness, "he thanked me once more (though I believe in his heart, he has never forgiven me the lashing I gave him) and went away from me to the officers, and said to them that he was very sorry for what had happened, but why had they not come to him, as his cook was always at their service?" They replied, that English officers were not accustomed to visit the kitchen of their general, and that they had " gratefully received every morsel from Mrs. Riedesel as they felt that she gave it to them directly from her heart."
On the afternoon of the 12th, Burgoyne held a consultation with
1 1 have seen it stated, that gunshot wounds always create unusual thirst.
264
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Riedesel, Phillips, and the two brigadiers, Hamilton and Gall, to whom he submitted the choice of the following courses :
" First. To wait in the present position an attack from the enemy, or the chance of favorable events."
"Second. To attack the enemy."
" Third. To retreat, repairing the bridges, as the army moves, for the artillery, in order to force the passage of the ford."
" Fourth. To retreat by night, leaving the artillery and the bag- gage, and should it be found impracticable to force the passage with musketry, to attempt the upper-ford [Fort Edward] or the passage round Lake George."
" Fifth. In case the enemy, by extending to their left, leave their rear open, to march rapidly upon Albany."
The want of provisions rendered the first proposition inadmissable ; while to break through the superior numbers of an enemy strongly posted and entrenched in every point was desperate and hopeless. In view of these facts, Riedesel strongly urged the adoption of the fourth proposition and suggested that the baggage should be left and a re- treat begun on the west side of the Hudson, and, as Fort Edward had just been reinforced by a strong detachment of the Americans, he further proposed to cross the river four miles above that fort and con- tinue the march to Ticonderoga through the woods, leaving Lake George on the right-a plan which was then feasible, as the road on the west bank of the river had not yet been occupied by the enemy. This proposition was approved, and an order was issued that the re- treat should be begun by ten o'clock that night. But when every- thing was in readiness for the march, Burgoyne, with his usual inde- cision, suddenly changed his mind and postponed the movement until the next day,1 when an unexpected manœuver of the Americans made it impossible. During the night, the latter crossing the river on rafts near the Battenkill 2 erected a heavy battery on an eminence nearly opposite the mouth of that stream and on the left flank of the army, thus making the investment complete.3
1 Very likely. so as to have one more merry evening with his mistress and boon companions. 2 The Dutch word Kil, meaning a channel, is often used for creek, and always erroneously printed Kill. It is not unusual to meet in American works with such an anomaly, for instance, as Batten Kill Creek.
3 The fact of the erection of this battery seems to have escaped the notice of almost every writer upon the subject. The planting of it, however, was, as is shown in the text, of vital im- portance to the complete success of the Americans.
265
BURGOYNE PROPOSES CESSATION OF ARMS.
Burgoyne was now entirely surrounded, the desertion of his Indian and Canadian, and many of his German allies,1 and his losses in killed and wounded had reduced his army one-half; there was not food sufficient for five days, and not a word had been received from Clin- ton. Accordingly, on the 13th he again called a general council of all his officers, including even the captains of companies. The coun- cil were not long in deciding, unanimously, that a treaty should be at once opened with General Gates for an honorable surrender-their deliberations being doubtless hastened by rifle balls perforating the tent in which they were assembled, and an 18-pound cannonball sweeping across the table at which Burgoyne and his generals and captains were seated.
Accordingly, the following day, the 14th, General Burgoyne sent Lieutenant-Colonel Kingston to the headquarters of General Gates with a proposition for " a cessation of arms, during the time necessary to communicate the preliminary terms, by which, in any extremity he and the army mean to abide." Lieutenant-Colonel Kingston was met by Adjutant-General Wilkinson on the banks of Fish Creek and con- ducted blindfolded to the American headquarters.
General Gates, upon the reception of this communication, author- ized a cessation of arms until sunset, and having already prepared a schedule of the terms upon which he was prepared to treat, for- warded them by Kingston to Burgoyne. This schedule evinced that the American general was well acquainted with the distresses of the British, and was drawn up in terms of extreme liberality. It did not, however, satisfy Burgoyne, who returned it with his comments-
1 In justice to Burgoyne it should be stated that the chief cause of the desertion of his Indian allies was the fact, that they were checked by him in their scalping and plundering of the un- armed.
Regarding, however, the desertion of the Germans, many availed themselves of this oppor- tunity to settle on good farms in the northern portion of New York. There is even yet (1900) standing, near the late Hon. John B. Haskin's place on Friend's Lake, near Chestertown, Warren County, N. Y., the foundations of the cabin of a German deserter from Burgoyne's army, who settled there in the fall of 1777. The cabin was built in 1783, as the figures cut in the stone lintel above the fireplace attest. Hon. Charles H. Faxon, of Chestertown, a gentleman whose patriotic tastes are well known, did his best to have this cabin bought by the State of New York, and pre- served as an "heir-loom" for the county. But our wise Legislature- much more interested in political jobs-no matter under which machine "boss" they are carried on-found no time to attend to this suggestion of Mr. Faxon. And, why, pray, should they ? When there was no money in it for those of our Legislators-be they Republicans or Democrats-who are working "for their pockets all the time !" Shame on such men who represent us in the Legislature !
[33]
266
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Lieutenant-Colonel Kingston, who delivered it, adding the following message :
" If General Gates does not mean to recede from the sixth article, the treaty ends at once. The army will, to a man, proceed to any act of desperation rather than submit to that article.1 Finally, after much discussion over the articles of the treaty, Burgoyne wrote to Gates that " Lieutenant-General Burgoyne is willing to appoint two officers immediately, to meet two others from Major-General Gates, to pro- pound, discuss and settle these subordinate articles, in order that the treaty in due form may be executed as soon as possible."
This meeting took place on the afternoon of the 15th, and the par- ties mutually signed articles of capitulation, or Convention, as Bur- goyne wished to have it designated. A copy of the Convention was to be formally signed by the English General and delivered the next morning. Meanwhile, during the night, a provincial arrived from below, who stated that he had heard through a third party that Clin- ton had captured the forts on the Hudson Highlands, and had arrived at ÆEsopus eight days previously; and further, that by this time he was very likely at Albany. Burgoyne was so encouraged by this news, that he once more called together a council of war and laid before it the following questions:
First. Whether a treaty which was about being completed by his deputies, and which he, himself, had promised to sign, could be broken? Fourteen votes against eight decided this question in the negative.
Second. Whether the report of a man whom nobody knew was sufficient, in our present situation, to justify our refusal of so advan- tageous a treaty ? The same number of votes decided this also in the negative.
Third. Whether the common soldiers possessed sufficient spirit to defend the present position of the army to the last man ? All the officers of the left wing answered this in the affirmative. Those of the center and right wings gave a similar answer provided the enemy were attacked; but the men were too well acquainted with their defee- tive positions to display the same bravery in case they were then- selves attacked."
1 This article was as follows :
" Article VI. These terms being agreed to and signed, the troops under his Excellency's, General Burgoyne's command, may be drawn up in their encampments, when they will be or- dered to ground their arms, and may, thereupon, be marched to the river side on their way to Bennington."
267
BURGOYNE HESITATES TO CAPITULATE.
But, notwithstanding these votes, Burgoyne was resolved, as the articles of capitulation were not yet signed, to repudiate the informal arrangement with Gates; and in order to gain time, he informed him by letter that he had been told by deserters and other reliable persons that he had sent a considerable corps of his army toward Albany, and that this being contrary to all faith, he (Burgoyne) could not give his signature without being convinced that the American army outnum- bered his own by at least three or four to one; Gates should, there- fore, name an officer of his army who might see for himself the num- ber of the enemy; and should Burgoyne, after hearing this officer's report, be convinced of the superior number of the Americans, he would at once sign the treaty. General Gates received this letter with considerable nonchalance, but replied that he would give his word of honor that his army was just as strong now as it was previous to the treaty, and that having since then been re-inforced by a few bri- gades, it certainly did outnumber the English four to one, and this, too, without counting those troops that were on the other side of the Hudson and at Half-Moon. He also gave Burgoyne to understand what it meant to break his word of honor, and offered to show his whole army to him after the latter had signed the treaty, when he would find that everything he had stated was true. Being, moreover. in no mood for temporizing, he drew up his troops in order of battle at early dawn of the next day, the 17th, and informed Burgoyne in plain terms, that he must either sign the treaty, or prepare for imme- diate battle. Riedesel and Phillips added their persuasions, repre- senting to him that the news just received was mere hearsay; but even if it were true, to recede now would be in the highest degree dishonorable. Burgoyne thereupon yielded a reluctant assent, and the articles of capitulation were signed at nine o'clock the same morning.
The second clause of this agreement or capitulation was not carried out by Congress, and most of the captured army, with the exception of Burgoyne, Riedesel, Phillips and Hamilton were retained as pris- oners while the war lasted. 1
I The second clause, to which allusion is made in the text, read as follows:
" Second. A free passage to be granted to the army under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne to Great Britain, on condition of not serving again in North America during the present contest; and the port of Boston is assigned for the entry of transports to receive the troops, whenever General lowe shall so order."
268
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
The excuses given by Congress for this lack of faith were most pal- try and utterly unworthy of a body representing a great cause. The remonstrances to General Gates and Congress remained unnoticed, and although Washington, himself, earnestly urged a fulfillment of the pledge in which the honor of Congress and the country was in- volved, the most unworthy counsels prevailed. When, for instance, it was proposed that the embarkation of the troops should take place at Newport, R. I., an intention (perfectly absurd) was imputed to General Howe of breaking faith by causing Burgoyne's army to join him in New York. Finally, in the beginning of January, 1778, Con- gress passed a resolution indefinitely suspending the embarkation. The true reason for this course was, undoubtedly, the unworthy one that many of the troops might be brought over to the American cause by desertions, which, however, was unsuccessful, as-although it has been thought otherwise-not more than eighty Germans deserted from their colors after the surrender. Washington felt this keenly and seems to have been greatly mortified at the decision of Congress. In a letter to Burgoyne dated at headquarters, Penn., March 11th, 1778, he writes: "I take pleasure in the opportunity you have afforded mne of assuring you, that, far from suffering the views of na- tional opposition to be embittered and debased by personal animosi- ty, I am ever ready to do justice to the gentlemen and the soldiers, and to esteem where esteem is due, however the idea of a public enemy may interpose." By this most unworthy action of Congress, the Ried- esels, Phillips and many other worthy officers as well as privates suf- fered great privation and misery for several years.
The Americans obtained by this victory, at a very critical period, an excellent train of brass artillery, consisting of forty-two guns of various calibre, four thousand, six hundred and forty-seven muskets, four hundred sets of harness, and a large supply of ammunition. The prisoners numbered five thousand, eight hundred and four, and the entire American force at the time of the surrender, including regulars (i. e. Continentals) and militia, was twenty thousand, eight hundred and seventeen effective men. This, however, does not in- clude the American troops on the eastern bank of the Hudson as they were not counted. These consisted chiefly of militia from what is now Washington County, and from New Hampshire and Connecticut.
At eleven o'clock on the morning of the 17th the Royal army left their fortified camp and marched to the green in front of old Fort
269
BRITISH SURRENDER.
Hardy, on the meadow just north of Fish Creek, at its junction with the Hudson.1 Here in the presence only of Morgan Lewis and Wil- kinson, they left their cannon and small arms. With a longing cye the artilleryman looked for the last time upon his faithful gun, part- ing with it as from his bride, and that forever. With tears trickling down his bronzed cheeks, the bearded grenadier stacked his musket to resume it no more. Others, in their rage, knocked off the butts of their arms and the drummers stamped their drums to pieces. General Riedesel was, also, deeply affected by these sad events. At eight o'clock in the morning he collected all the German troops, and in- formed them of their fate. In solemnity and in silence, and with drooping heads, the brave and tried warriors heard the words from the mouth of their beloved leader, whose voice, manly at all times, trembled on this occasion, and who was obliged to summon all of his self control to hide his emotions. "It was no lack of courage on your part," he said, among other things, to his men, " by which this awful fate has come upon you. You will always be justified in the eyes of the world." He concluded his address, with the exhortation that as good soldiers they should bear their misfortune with courage and do their duty at all times, displaying order and discipline, for, in so do- ing, they would retain the love of their sovereign and the respect of their enemies.
Immediately after the surrender, the British, under a body-guard, took up their march for Boston, whence they expected to embark; and bivouacked the first night at their old encampment at the base of the hill where Fraser was buried. As they debouched from the meadow, where they had deposited their arms, they passed between the Continentals, who were drawn up in parallel lines. But on no face did they see exultation. "As we passed the American army," writes Lieutenant Aubury, one of the captured officers and bitterly prejudiced against his conquerors, "I did not observe the least disre- spect, or even a taunting look, but all was mute astonishment and pity; and it gave us no little comfort to notice this civil deportment to a captured enemy, unmarred by the exultant air of victors." General Gates, moreover, showed himself on this occasion, exceedingly noble
1 Fort Hardy was a military work built by the English, during the governorship of Sir Charles Hardy, and was intended to supersede the old fort which had been erected as the war of William and Mary (See one of my early chapters) during the latter part of the 17th century. The outer works yet (1900) retain the appearance of a strong fortification and embrace about fifteen acres of ground.
270
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
and generous towards the captives. That he might show in some manner the feeling of the Americans, he commanded his troops to wheel around the instant the English laid down their arms, while he, himself, drew down the curtains of his carriage in which he had driven to the ground and in which he was then seated.
Early the next morning General Wilkinson, before the capitulation, visited Burgoyne in his camp and accompanied him to the ground where his army were to lay down their arms. Having inspected the place, the two generals rode to the bank of the Hudson, where Bur- goyne, surveying it with attention, asked his companion whether it was not fordable at that place ? "Certainly, sir," said Wilkinson, " but do you not observe the people on the opposite shore ?" "Yes," replied Burgoyne, "I have seen them too long !"
The English general having expressed a wish to be formally intro- duced to his old comrade, Gates, Wilkinson arranged an interview a few moments after the capitulation. In anticipation of this meeting, Burgoyne had bestowed the greatest care upon his toilet. He had attired himself in full court dress, and wore costly regimentals and a richly decorated hat with streaming plumes. Gates, a smaller man and with much less of manner. was dressed, on the contrary, in a plain blue overcoat, which had upon it scareely anything indicative of his rank. Upon the two generals first catching a glimpse of each other, they rode forward simultaneously and advanced until they were only a few steps apart, when they reined up and halted. The English general took off his hat, and making a polite bow, said, "The for- tune of war, General Gates, has made me your prisoner." The American general, in reply, simply returned his greeting and said: "I shall ever be ready to testify that it was not the fault of your ex- cellency."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.