in Vermont. The enemy pursued, and on the morning of the 7th, their van overtook and attacked the American rear, under colonels Francis and Warner. The action was warm and well contested; but other troops arriving to the aid of the British, the Americans were compelled to give way.

20. The retreat now became precipitate and disorderly; the pursuit rapid and persevering. At length, the republican army, diminished in number, exhausted by fatigue, and dispirited by misfortunes, arrived, by various routes, at fort Edward, on the Hudson, the head-quarters of general Schuyler. These disastrous events spread terror and dismay throughout the land. The people, ignorant of the weakness of the army, attributed its retreat to cowardice or treachery, and trembled at the dangers which menaced them from the British, Germans, and savages.

21. The royal forces, elated by success, proceeded through the wilderness towards fort Edward. Their progress was slow and toilsome. General Schuyler, on their approach, evacuated the fort, and retired across the Hudson to Saratoga. Soon after, he descended the river to Stillwater; and, the British continuing to advance, he retreated, on the 14th of August, to the islands at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson, a few miles north of Troy. About the same time, intelligence was received, that St. Leger, having penetrated from Oswego to the Mohawk, had laid siege to fort Schuyler, situated in the present township of Rome.

22. The American general, before leaving fort Edward, issued a proclamation calling to his aid the militia of New-England and New-York. Aroused by the danger, multitudes obeyed his call. Vermont poured forth her daring Green-Mountain' boys; the other states of New-England their hardy yeomanry, ardent in the cause of freedom; New-York, her valiant sons, indignant at this invasion of her territory, and determined to protect their property from pillage and destruction. These beset the invaders on every side, impeding their progress, cutting off their supplies, and fatiguing them by incessant attacks.

23. Burgoyne, finding it difficult to transport his provisions through the wilderness, despatched colonel Baum, with five hun dred Hessians, to seize a quantity of beef and flour which the Americans had collected and deposited at Bennington. Fortunately, general Stark, at the head of a party of New-Hampshire militia, had just arrived at that place, on his way to the main ar- * my, and been joined by volunteers from the immediate neighborhood. Baum, ascertaining their number to be greater than his own, halted near Bennington, erected breastworks, and sent back for a reinforcement.

24. In several skirmishes between small detachments, the militia were uniformly successful. This sharpening their courage, Stark resolved to attack the main body. On the 16th of August, a fierce and sanguinary battle took place. For two hours, the Hessians fought bravely, but their works, assaulted by braver troops, were at length entered, and most of the detachment either killed or made prisoners.

25. Just after this action had terminated, colonel Breyman arrived with the reinforcement sent to Baum. The militia, apprehending no danger, had dispersed in pursuit of plunder or the fugitives. By carelessness was nearly lost all that by valor had been gained. Happily, at this critical juncture, colonel Warner arrived from Manchester with a continental regiment, and immediately fell upon Breyman. The militia, rallying, hastened to his aid. The battle continued until sunset, when the enemy retreated, and under cover of the night the greater part effected their escape.

26. The tide of fortune was now turned. The decisive victory at Bennington diffused confidence and joy. The friends of independence, before depressed by disaster and defeat, were now animated by the prospect, which suddenly burst upon them, of a glorious victory over an arrogant and once dreaded enemy The greatest zeal and activity were every where displayed. Again crowds of militia flocked to the republican camp.

27. In a few days, cheering intelligence arrived from fort Schuyler. The garrison under colonels Gansevoort and Willet, had, in the midst of the most discouraging circumstances, made a gallant defence against the forces of St. Leger. General Herkimer, marching with eight hundred militia to their relief, fell into an ambuscade, was defeated and slain; but a larger party was speedily collected and immediately despatched, under general Arnold, upon the same service.

28. The Indians, alarmed by their approach, and fatigued and disgusted by the protracted labors of the siege, threatened to abandon St. Leger, if he would not relinquish his enterprise. He reluctantly consented, and with the loss of his baggage and stores retreated to Montreal. Burgoyne was thus deprived of his expected co-operation, and the militia of that part of the state were enabled to join the American army.

29. The disasters which befell this army at the commencement of the campaign induced congress to recall the generals who commanded it, and to appoint, in their places, generals Gates, Lincoln, and Arnold. Having the control of more abundant and powerful means, they acted with more energy and boldness. Gates, leaving the encampment on the islands, to

which Schuyler had retreated, advanced, in the beginning of September, to the neighborhood of Stillwater.

30. Burgoyne, after the defeat of Baum, was obliged to have recours, for provisions, to the magazines at fort George. The laborious task of ransporting them through the wilderness to the Hudson being accomplished, he moved forward, and on the 17th of September, encamped within four miles of the American army.

31. The next day, the first battle of Stillwater was fought. It was begun by skirmishes between the scouting parties of the two armies, which were respectively and repeatedly reinforced, until nearly the whole of each was engaged. Both fought with determined resolution; they alternately drove and were driven by each other. A continual blaze of fire was kept up. Men, and particularly officers, dropped every moment and on every side. Night put an end to the conflict.

32. The American army retired to their camp; the British lay on their arms near the field of battle. The loss of the former was three hundred and nineteen; that of the latter exceeded five hundred. Each claimed the victory; the consequences of defeat were felt by the British alone. Their hopes of success were diminished, their Indian allies, the Canadians and tories, were disheartened and deserted them.

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33. Pressed on all sides, Burgoyne made frequent and urgent applications to Sir Henry Clinton, at New-York, for aid, and informed him that, in expectation of such aid, he would maintain his present position until the 12th of October. diminished the allowance of provisions to his soldiers, and having waited until the 7th, without receiving any intelligence from Clinton, determined to make another trial of strength with his adversary.

34. He made dispositions to commence the action with the right wing of his army; Gates, discovering his design, made a sudden and vigorous attack upon the left. In a short time, the whole of both armies was engaged. This battle was furious, obstinate, and more bloody than the other. Arnold was eminently distinguished for his bravery and rashness. Towards night, the enemy, who had fought with desperate valor, gave way. A part of their works were stormed and taken, and more than two hundred men made prisoners.

35. Darkness put an end to this action also. The Americans lay upon their arms near the enemy's lines, intending to renew the battle the next day; but Burgoyne, during the night, withdrew to a stronger position. Gates forbore to pursue, believing that a bloodless victory was now in his power.

36. In the mean time, Sir Henry Clinton despatched general Vaughan with three thousand men, to endeavor to relieve Burgoyne. He ascended the Hudson, and on the sixth of October, assaulted and took fort Montgomery; but instead of hastening forward, he consumed a whole week in pillaging and burning Esopus, and other flourishing villages on the river. He perhaps expected that this wanton destruction of property would draw off a part of the forces under Gates; but it had no other effect than to exasperate the inhabitants.

37. Burgoyne, perceiving that his antagonist was endeavoring to surround him, retreated to the heights of Saratoga. The Americans pursued, keeping a sufficient force on the east bank of the river to prevent him from crossing. The situation of the British troops was now distressing in the extreme. Many of their most valued officers had been killed. Their strength was exhausted by incessant exertion; they were almost encircled by their enemy, and were greatly annoyed by a continual and destructive cannonade. From this forlorn condition but one mode of escape remained, a forced march in the night to fort George. This expedient was resolved on, and preparations were made; but the scouts sent out returned with intelligence that all the passes were guarded by strong bodies of militia.

38. An account of provisions was then taken, and a supply for no more than three days was found on hand. No hope of rescue within that time could be indulged. Burgoyne summoned his principal officers to a council. It is said that while deliberating, a cannon ball crossed the table around which they sat. By their unanimous advice, he opened a negotiation with the American general, and on the 17th of October, surrendered his whole army prisoners of war.

39. Great were the rejoicings occasioned by this glorious victory. Many supposed it would terminate the contest. In the joy of success, all feelings of resentment were forgotten From regard to the feelings of the vanquished, general Gates, while they were piling their arms, kept the victorious troops within his camp. The British officers, in social converse with the Americans, were led to forget their misfortune, and the troops, when on their march to Massachusetts, did not receive from the people that vindictive treatment which their distressing depredations, and those of their fellow soldiers under Vaughan, would have excused, if not justified.

40. Against this band of marauders, general Gates marched soon after the capitulation was signed; but on learning the fate of Burgoyne, they retired to New-York. About the same time, the garrison left at Ticonderoga, having rendered their cannon

useless, returned to Canada, and the northern department was restored to perfect tranquility.

41. While the exertions of the northern army were rewarded by brilliant success, that of the south, equally brave and meritorious, but enfeebled by the detachments which Washington generously spared to Gates, sustained distressing reverses. The greatest was at Germantown, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, where the main body of the enemy was stationed.

42. Upon this body, at sunrise, on the fourth of October, the American general made a bold and vigorous attack. So sudden and spirited was the onset, that the enemy, unable to sustain it, fled, and a complete victory appeared in prospect. But six British companies, while retreating, threw themselves into a large stone house, from which, in entire safety, they poured a destructive fire upon the American troops. The pursuit was arrested, and much time consumed in a vain attempt to demolish this fortress.

43. The fugitives rallied, and turned upon the assailants. Confusion followed, and a thick fog, which that moment arose, increased it. The different divisions, ignorant of the positions and success of the others, uncertain even as to their own, acted with indecision and timidity. A retreat was therefore directed, and the troops withdrew in good order.

44. In this action, in which fortune snatched victory from the grasp of the Americans, they sustained a loss of twelve hundred men; that of the British was less than six hundred. But the vanquished sustained no loss of reputation nor confidence. Their country applauded the boldness of the attempt, and the enemy felt higher respect for their courage and discipline.

45. The British army soon after left Germantown, and marched to attack the American posts on the river Delaware below Philadelphia. On the 22d of October, a body of twelve hundred Hessians, commanded by count Donop, made an intrepid assault upon the fortifications at Red Bank. They were repulsed with great loss, and their gallant leader killed.

46. Fort Mifflin, on Mud Island, was next attacked. For six days it was bravely defended. It was then evacuated, the works having been almost demolished by the enemy's artillery. Preparations being made for a second assault, with a much larger force, upon the post at Red Bank, that was also evacuated, and thus was opened a free communication between the British army and their fleet, which had sailed round to the mouth of the Delaware.

47. After several movements of the respective armies, which nad no important result, general Washington withdrew to winter