CHAP. XI.

Canada-Conduct of the Northern expedition committed to Lieutenant General Burgoyne-Expedition under Colonel St. Leger-State of the Force employed-General Burgoyne sets out from Quebec-His speech to the SavagesHis proclamation-Ticonderoga besieged-Abandoned by General St. Clair-Pursuit by Land and Water-American Gallies and Batteaux destroyed-Rear of the Americans overtaken by Colonel Frazer-Colonel Francis defeated and killed-St. Clair retreats to the woods with the remains of the Army-Americans set fire to and abandon Fort Anne-Extraordinary difficulties encountered by the Royal Army in the march to Fort Edward-General St. Clair arrives at Fort Edward-Hurt done to the royal cause by the Indians-Murder of Miss M'Rea-General Gates succeeds St. Clair in the command-St. Leger besieges Fort Schuyler-He defeats General Herkemer on his way to the relief of the Fort-The Indians desert him-Öbliged to raise the siege-Difficulties of General Burgoyne-General Starke defeats Colonels Baum and Brechman in an attempt to surprise the Magazines at Bennington-General Burgoyne passes North River at Saratoga, and advances to attack the American army at Still Water-Severe actions on the 19th of September and 7th of October-Distressed situation of the Royal army-Gen. Gates misinformed of the state of the British campNarrow escape of a strong detachment sent to take possession of it-The British army nearly surrounded on all sides-no possibility of retreat-convention concluded with Gen. Gates-The British lay down their Arms-State of both armies-Sir Henry Clinton's devastations on North River-Possibility of his relieving Burgoyne asserted— Convention suspended-Consequences of the capture of Burgoyne-Captures at Sea-Attempt to displace General Washington.

ONE great object in the ministerial plan for the campaign of 1777, was, to effect a free communication between New York and Canada, and to maintain the navigation of the intermediate lakes. On the other hand, the Americans were very early attentive to their security in that quarter, and had placed every possible obstruction in their way.

This expedition had been projected by the British ministry as the most effectual method that could be taken to crush the colonies at once. The four provinces of New England had originally begun the confede

racy against Britain, and were still considered as the most active in the continuation of it; and it was thought that any impression made upon them, would contribute in an effectual manner to the reduction of all the rest. For this purpose, an army of 4000 chosen British troops and 3000 Germans were put under the command of general Burgoyne; general Carleton was directed to use his interest with the Indians to persuade them to join in this expedition; and the province of Quebec was to furnish large parties to join in the same. Those who commanded under general Burgoyne were, general Philips of the artillery, generals Frazer, Powell, and Hamilton, with the German officers generals Reidisel and Speicht, all officers of distinguished merit. The soldiers were all excellently disciplined, and had been kept in their winter quarters with all imaginable care, in order to prepare them for the expedition on which they were going. The brass train of artillery that was sent out, was perhaps the finest, and the most excel. lently supplied, both as to officers and men, that bad ever been allotted to second the operations of an equal force. To aid the principal expedition, another was projected on the Mohawk River, under colonel St. Leger, who was to be assisted by sir John Johnson, son to the famous sir William Johnson who had so greatly distinguished himself in the war of 1755.

A considerable force was left in Canada for its internal security, and sir Guy Carleton's authority was restricted to the limits of that province. His military command extended before to every part of America, whither he might find it fitting to conduct the army under his direction. Though the British ministry attributed the preservation of Canada to his abilities, yet he was now called upon to act a secondary part in subserviency to the grand expedition committed to general Burgoyne. His behavior in this trying and difficult situation was conformable to the greatness of his soul. He showed that resentment could not warp him from his duty, and he applied himself with the same diligence and energy, to forward and support the expedi tion in all its parts, as if the arrangement had been en. tirely his own.

May 6.

Lieutenant general Burgoyne arrived in Quebec on the 6th of May, and exerted all diligence to prosecute in due time the objects of the expedition. He proceeded up Lake Champlain, and, on the 21st of June, having landed near Crown Point, he encamped on the western side of the lake, where, being joined by a considerable body of Indians, the general made a speech,

June 21.

in which it is said he exhorted these new allies, but ineffectually, to lay aside their ferocious and barbarous manner of making war; to kill only such as opposed them in arms; and to spare prisoners, with such women and children as should fall into their hands. After issuing a proclamation, in which the force of Britain, and that which he commanded, was set forth in very ostentatious terms, the campaign opened with the siege of Ticonderoga. The place was very strong, and garrisoned by 2546 continentals, and 900 militia, under general St. Clair; nevertheless, the works were so extensive, that even this number was scarce sufficient to defend them properly. They had therefore omitted to fortify a rugged eminence called Sugar Hill, the top of which overlooked and effectually commanded the whole works; imagining, perhaps, that the difficulty of the ascent would be sufficient to prevent the enemy from taking possession of it. On the approach of the first division of the army, the provincials abandoned and set fire to their out works; and so expeditious were the British troops, that by the 5th of July every post was secured which was judged necessary for investing it completely. A road was soon after made to the very summit of that eminence which the Americans had supposed could not be ascended; and so much were they now disheartened, that they instantly abandoned the fort entirely, taking the road to Skeensborough, a place to the south of Lake George; while their baggage, with what artillery and military stores they could carry off, were sent to the same place by water. But the British generals were determined not to let them pass so easily. Both were pursued and both overtaken. Their armed vessels consisted only of five galleys; two of which were taken, and three blown up; on which they set fire to their boats and fortifications at Skeensborough. On this occasion the provincials lost 200 boats, 130 pieces of cannon, with all their provisions and baggage. Their

July 6.

July 7.

land forces under colonel Francis made a brave defence against general Frazer; and superior in number, had almost overpowered him, when general Reidisel, with a large body of Germans, came to his assistance. The Americans were now overpowered in their turn; and their commander being killed, they fled on all sides with great precipitation. In this action 200 were killed, as many taken prisoners, and above 600 wounded, many of whom perished in the woods for want of assistance.

During the engagement, general St. Clair was at Castleton, about six miles from the place; but instead

of going forward to Fort Anne, the next place of strength, he repaired to the woods, which lie between that fortress and New England. General Burgoyne, however, detached colonel Hill, with the ninth regiment, in order to intercept such as should attempt to retreat towards Fort Anne. On his way he met with a body of the Americans, said to be six times as numerous as his own; but after an engagement of three hours, they were obliged to retire with great loss. After so many disasters, disparing of being able to make any stand at Fort Anne, they set fire to it and retired to Fort Edward. In all these engagements the loss of killed and wounded, in the royal army, did not exceed 200 men.

General Burgoyne was now obliged to suspend his operations for some time, and wait at Skeensborough for the arrival of his tents, provisions, &c. but employed this interval in making roads through the country about St. Anne, and in clearing a passage for his troops to proceed against the Americans. The direct distance from Fort Anne, where the batteaux navigation ended, or even from Skeensborough to Fort Edward, was no more than what in easy ground, or a cultivated country, would be termed a moderate ride for exercise; yet such is the savage state of that country, and such were the difficulties thrown in the way by the provincials, that the progress of the army thither was rendered very tedious and laborious; scarcely indeed exceeding one mile a day; a circumstance, to after ages, and in a cultivated state of the country, perhaps hardly credible. Almost every part of the passage was a wilderness. The provincials had cut large trees on both sides of the road, in such a manner as to fall across and lengthways, with their branches interwoven; so that the troops had several layers of these frequently to remove, in places where they could not possibly take an opposite direction. The face of the country was likewise so broken with creeks and marshes, that, in this short space they had no fewer than forty bridges to construct, besides others to repair; one of which was of log work, two miles in length. In short, after undergoing the utmost difficulty that could be undergone, and making every exertion that man could make, he arrived with his army before Fort Edward about the end of July.

July 30. Here general Schuyler had been for some time endeavoring to recruit the shattered American forces, and had been joined by general St. Clair with the remains of his army; the garrison of Fort George also, situated on the lake of that name, had evacuated the place and retired to Fort Edward on Hudson's River.

Notwithstanding the great success of the British general, the people, far from showing the least disposition to submit, seemed only to consider how they might make the most effectual resistance. For this purpose, the militia was every where raised and draughted to join the army at Saratoga; and such numbers of volunteers were daily added, that they soon began to recover from the alarm into which they had been thrown.

The terror excited by the Indians, likewise, instead of disposing any of the inhabitants to court the British protection, had a tendency directly opposite. They had no other means of security but to abandon their habitations and take up arms. The friends of the royal cause, as well as its enemies, suffered from their indiscriminate barbarities. The murder of Miss M'Rea, especially, excited universal horror. This young lady, in the innocence of youth, and the bloom of beautythe daughter of a steady loyalist, and engaged to bo married to a British officer, was, whilst dressed to receive her promised husband, murdered by her savage conductors, the auxiliaries of the British army. Occasion was thereby given to inflame the populace, and to blacken the royal cause. The cruelties of the In

dians and the cause in which they were engaged, were associated together, and presented in one view to the alarmed inhabitants. This melancholy story, though true, was no premeditated barbarity. The circumstances were as follow: Mr. Jones, her lover, from an anxiety for her safety, engaged some Indians to remove her from among the Americans, and promised to reward the person who should bring her safe to him, with a barrel of rum. Two of the Indians, who had conveyed her some distance on the way to her intended husband, disputed which of them should present her to Mr. Jones. Both were anxious for the reward; and one of them killed her with his tomahawk, to prevent the other from receiving it. General Burgoyne obliged the Indians to deliver up the murderer, and threatened to put him to death. His life was only spared, upon the Indians agreeing to terms, which the general thought would be more efficacious than an execution, in preventing similar mischiefs.

The wisdom and propriety of general St. Clair's retreat from Ticonderoga, was soon after evident, even to those who censured his conduct; as the army, saved by that means, stood as a barrier between the inhabitants and general Burgoyne. This abated the panic of the people, and became a centre of rendezvous for them to repair to: And when an inquiry into his con