movement towards the coasts of New York, he should be forced to return thither. Burgoyne immediately despatched an emissary, two officers in disguise, and some other trusty persons, by different routes, to general Clinton, with a full account of his present situation, urging him to a speedy execution of the diversions he had proposed, and informing him that he was provided with sufficient necessaries, to hold out in his present position till the twelfth of October. Although the assistance promised by Clinton was much less effectual than Burgoyne had kept in view, nevertheless, he still cherished a hope that the attack on Fort Montgomery, and the apprehension that the English after its reduction might make their way up the river, would induce Gates either to change the position of his camp, or to send large detachments down the river, to oppose the progress of Clinton, and that in either case, some occasion would be offered him to gain a decisive advantage, and open his passage to Albany. But whoever considers the great superiority, in spirit as well as number, of the army of Gates over that of Burgoyne, and that the former was continually increasing in force, will readily perceive how vain were the expectations of the British general. It appears, therefore, that the mere survey of his own weakness, of that of Clinton, and of the preponderant force of Gates, should have determined him for retreat, if, however, retreat was still in his power. For to cross the river in sight of so formidable an army, would have been too perilous an enterprise; and here it is again perceived how imprudent had been the measure of passing it at first, since from that moment it became alike impossible to advance or recede.

In the beginning of October, general Burgoyne thought it expedient, from the difficulty of his situation and the uncertainty of succour, to lessen the soldiers' rations of provisions; to this measure, from its necessity, they submitted with great cheerfulness. But the twelfth of October was approaching, the term limited for the stay of the army in its present encampment. The seventh was already arrived, and no tidings came of the operations that had been proposed for its relief. In this alarming state of things, the English general resolved to make a movement to the enemy's left, not only to discover whether there were any possible means of forcing a passage, should it be necessary to advance, or of dislodging them for the convenience of retreat, but also to cover a forage of the army. He was impelled by necessity to attempt a decisive stroke. Accordingly he put himself at the head of a detachment of fifteen hundred regular troops, with two twelve pounders, two howitzers, and six six pounders. He was seconded by general Phillips, Reidesel and Frazer, all officers distinguished for their zeal and ability. The guard of the camp upon the high grounds was committed to the brigadiers general Hamilton. and Speight, that of the redoubts and plain near the river, to brigadier Goll.

The force of the enemy immediately in the front of his lines was so much superior, that Burgoyne could not venture to augment his detachment beyond the number we have stated. He had given orders that during this first attack, several companies of loyalists and Indians should be pushed on through byways, to appear as a check upon the rear of the enemy's left flank. The column of regulars having already issued from the camp, were formed within three quarters of a mile of the enemy's left, and manifested an intention to turn it. But general Gates, who observed this movement, instantly penetrated the design of the English, and with exquisite discernment resolved to make a sudden and rapid attack upon the left of this corps, hoping thus to separate it from the remainder of the army, and to cut off its retreat to the camp. The Americans advanced to the charge with incredible impetuosity, but they were received with equal resolution by major Ackland, at the head of the grenadiers. Gates immediately detached a fresh and powerful reenforcement to the aid of the first, and the attack was soon extended along the whole front of the Germans, who were posted immediately on the right of Ackland's grenadiers. Hence the British general found it impracticable to move any part of that body, as he would have desired, for the purpose of forming a second line to support this left flank, where the great weight of the fire still fell. As yet the right was unengaged, when the British generals perceived that the enemy were marching a strong body round their flank, in order to cut off their retreat. To oppose this dangerous design of the American general, the light infantry, with a part of the twenty-fourth regiment, which were joined with them at that post, were thrown into a second line, in order to cover the retreat of the troops into camp. Whilst this movement was yet in process, Arnold came up with three regiments, and fell upon this right wing. Gates, at the same time, sent a strong reenforcement to decide the action on the English left, which being at length totally overpowered, fell into disorder and fled. The light infantry and the twenty-fourth advanced with all speed to check the victorious Americans, whose riflemen pursued the fugitives with great eagerness; there ensued an extremely warm affair, and many perished on both sides.

Upon this occasion, brigadier-general Frazer was mortally wounded, an officer whose loss was severely felt by the English, and whose valor and abilities justified their regrets. Their situation now became exceedingly critical; even their camp was threatened; the enemy, emboldened by victory, was advancing to storm it, and if he arrived before the retreating detachment, there could be little hope of defending it. Phillips and Reidesel were ordered to rally with all expedition those troops which were nearest, or most disengaged, to cover the retreat of the others, while Burgoyne himself, fiercely pursued by Arnold, retired with great precipitation towards the camp.

The detachment at length, though with extreme difficulty, regained the intrenchments, having left, however, upon the field of battle a great number of killed and wounded, particularly of the artillery corps, who had, with equal glory to themselves and prejudice to the enemy, displayed the utmost ability in their profession, along with the most undaunted resolution. Six pieces of cannon also remained in the power of the Americans.

But the business of the day was not yet terminated. The English had scarcely entered the camp, when the Americans, pursuing their success, assaulted it in different parts with uncommon fierceness; rushing to the lines through a severe fire of grape-shot and small arms, with the utmost fury. Arnold especially, who in this day appeared intoxicated with the thirst of battle and carnage, led on the attack against a part of the intrenchments occupied by the light infantry, under lord Balcarres. But the English received him with great vigor and spirit. The action was obstinate and sanguinary. At length, as it grew towards evening, Arnold having forced all obstacles, entered the works with some of the most fearless of his followers. But in this critical moment of glory and danger, he was grievously wounded in the same leg which had been already shattered at the assault of Quebec. To his great regret, he was constrained to retire. His party still continued the attack, and the English sustained it with obstinacy, till night separated the combatants.

The royalists were not so fortunate in another quarter. A republican detachment, commanded by lieutenant-colonel Brooks, having succeeded by a circuitous movement in turning the right wing of the English, fell, sword in hand, upon the right flank of their intrenchments, and made the most desperate efforts to carry them. This post was defended by lieutenant-colonel Breyman, at the head of the German reserve. The resistance at first was exceedingly vigorous; but Breyman being mortally wounded, his countrymen were damped, and at length routed, with great slaughter. Their tents, artillery, and baggage, fell into the power of the assailants. The Americans established themselves in the intrenchments. General Burgoyne, upon hearing of this disaster, ordered them to be dislodged immediately. But either in consequence of the approach of night, or from the discouragement of his troops, he was not obeyed, and the victors continued to occupy the positions they had gained with so much glory. They had now acquired an opening on the right and rear of the British army. The other American divisions passed the night under arms, at the distance of half a mile from the British camp. The loss in dead and wounded was great on both sides; but especially on the part of the English, of whom no few were also made prisoners. Majors Williams of the artillery, and Ackland of the grenadiers, were among the latter. Many pieces of artillery, all the baggage of the Germans, and many warlike stores, fell into the power of the republicans, who

needed them greatly. They were impatient for the return of day, to renew the battle. But deplorable, and perilous beyond expression, was the situation of the British troops; they bore it, however, with admirable temper and firmness. It was evidently impossible to continue in their present position, without submitting to a certainty of destruction on the ensuing day. The Americans, invigorated and encouraged, would certainly have profited of the access they had already opened to themselves on the right, and of other untenable points, to carry every part of the camp, and completely surround the British army. Burgoyne therefore determined to operate a total change of ground. He executed this movement with admirable order, and without any loss. The artillery, the camp and its appertenances, were all removed before morning to the heights above the hospital. The British army in this position had the river in its rear, and its two wings displayed along the hills upon the right bank. The English expected to be attacked the following day. But Gates, like the experienced general he was, would not expose to the risk of another battle that victory of which he was already certain. He intended that time, famine, and necessity, should complete the work which his arms had so fortunately commenced. There were frequent skirmishes, however, engaged in the course of the day; but of little importance. Towards night, the obsequies of general Frazer were celebrated in the British camp; a ceremony mournful of itself, and rendered even terrible by the sense of recent losses, of future dangers, and of regret for the deceased. The darkness and silence of night, aided the effect of the blaze and roar of the American artillery; while at every moment the balls spattered earth upon the face of the officiating chaplain.

General Gates, prior to the battle, had detached a strong division of his army to take post upon the left bank of the Hudson, opposite to Saratoga, in order to guard the passage and prevent the enemy's escape on that side. He now despatched a second detachment to occupy a passage higher up. He ordered at the same time, a selected corps of two thousand men to push forward and turn the right flank of the enemy, so as to enclose him on every side. Burgoyne, on intelligence of this motion, determined to retire towards Saratoga, situated six miles up the river, on the same bank. The army accordingly began to move at nine o'clock at night; but such was the badness of the roads, rendered still more difficult by a heavy rain which fell that night, and such was the weakness of the teams for want of forage, that the English did not reach Saratoga till the evening of the ensuing day; the soldiers were harassed with fatigue and hunger. The hospital, with three hundred sick and wounded, and a great number of wheel carriages, were abandoned to the enemy. The English, as they retired, burnt the houses, and destroyed whatever they could use no longer.

The rain having ceased, Gates followed them step by step, and with extreme caution, as they had broken all the bridges, and he was resolved not to give them any opportunity to engage him with advantage.

Fearing that Burgoyne would hasten to detach his light troops, in order to secure the passage of the river near Fort Edward, he rapidly threw several companies of militia into that fort, in order to prevent it. Scarcely had they arrived there, when the English rangers appeared; but finding themselves anticipated, they returned disappointed and dejected. During this time, the main body of the English army having passed the night of the ninth at Saratoga, left it on the morning of the tenth, and forded Fish Kill Creek which falls into the Hudsou a little to the northward of that town. The British generals had hoped that they should here be able to cross the river at the principal ford, and escape pursuit upon its left bank. But they found a body of republicans already arrived, and throwing up intrenchments on the heights to the left of Fish Kill Creek. These Americans, however, when they observed the great superiority of the English, retired over the Hudson, and there joined a greater force, which was stationed to prevent the passage of the army. Having lost all hope of passing the river in the vicinity of Saratoga, the British generals had it in mind to push forward upon the right bank, till they arrived in front of Fort Edward, and then to force a passage to the left bank, in defiance of the troops stationed there for its defence. For this purpose a company of artificers, under the escort of a regiment of the line, with a detachment of marksmen and loyalists, was sent forward to repair the bridges, and open the road to Fort Edward. But they were not long departed from the camp, when the enemy appeared in great force upon the heights on the opposite side of Fish Kill Creek, and seemed preparing to cross it, in order to bring on an immediate engagement.

The regulars and marksmen were immediately recalled. The workmen had only commenced the repair of the first bridge, when they were abandoned by the loyalists, who ran away, and left them to shift for themselves, only upon a very slight attack of an inconsiderable party of the enemy. Hence it became necessary to abandon all hopes of saving the artillery and baggage.

Amidst all these embarrassments, still a new difficulty presented itself; the republicans who lined the further shore of the Hudson, kept up a continual fire upon the batteaux loaded with provisions and necessaries which had attended the motions of the army up the river, since its departure from Stillwater. Many of these boats had been taken, some retaken, and a number of men lost on both sides. At length, to avoid these inconveniences, the English were forced to land the provisions and transport them up the hill to the camp; a labor which they accomplished under a heavy fire with great fatigue