nant of an army was compelled to flee before a victorious enemy, and that those important fortresses were abandoned. These events greatly depressed the spirits of our countrymen, while the foe exulted in the triumph.

On the 3d of August, Colonel St. Ledger was detached by General Burgoyne against Fort Stanwix, as a diversion. To relieve the fort, the general was ordered down with eight hundred militia. Near the fort he fell into an Indian ambush, and was killed in a most severe action. The garrison sallied out, decided the sanguinary contest, drove the Indians, and relieved the fortress. The colonel sent a summons to the fort to surrender, but Colonel Gansevoort returned a prompt and spirited reply, and St. Ledger withdrew precipitately, and returned to the lake.

During these movements, General Washington detached General Lincoln to the northward, to take command of such eastern militia as might join the northern army. General Lincoln arrived at Manchester, on the 2d of August, where he took the command of six hundred militia, and on the 6th, he was joined by General Stark, with eight hundred more.

General Stark was a soldier of merit, and had deserved well of his country, by his distinguished services in the famous battle of Bunker's Hill; but he had felt himself wounded by the neglect of Congress, after the battle, and retired from service. He engaged at this time in the service of his country, upon the express condition that he should not be constrained to serve under a continental officer; he accordingly resisted the pressing solicitations of General Schuyler, to join him in checking the progress of General Burgoyne.

Congress interposed in this controversy; and at this eventful moment, General Burgoyne detached Colonel Baum, with five hundred Germans, and one hundred Indians, to seize on the American stores at Bennington, to enable him to pursue his march to Albany. General Stark was apprised of this movement, and sent expresses to collect the neighbouring militia, and marched to meet the enemy on the 14th, supported by Colonels Warner, Williams, and Brush. The advance parties of the two armies met, and commenced a skirmishing, that continued through the day.

On the 15th, all operations were suspended by the excessive rains that fell; but on the 16th, General Stark was joined by the Berkshire militia, under Colonel Symonds, and he detached Nichols to take post in the rear of the enemy, on the left; Colonel Hendrick to take post in the rear of his right, to be supported by Colonels Hubbard and Stickley, still further on the right. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, General Stark commenced an attack upon the enemy, strongly intrenched, and supported by two field pieces. The attack became general, and was valiantly supported on both sides; the Indians fled; the Germans were overpowered, forced from their intrenchments, and put to flight. The militia, flushed with the successes of the day, abandoned the pursuit, and gave themselves up to plunder.

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At this eventful moment, Lieutenant-Colonel Breyman joined Colonel Baum with a reinforcement; they rallied to the charge, and renewed the combat. Colonel Warner led on his regiment of continentals, at this critical moment, and supported the action until the militia could retheir order, and advance to the charge. The action soon became general, and continued through the day. The Germans again gave way, and secured their retreat under cover of the night, leaving their artillery, baggage, &c. with two hundred slain, and seven hundred prisoners, among whom was colonel Baum. This was an important action, and proved ruinous to General Burgoyne.

This action was highly applauded, and a brigadier's commission was made out for Colonel Stark, in the continental service. This success gave fresh courage to the Americans, and the public pulse beat high with expec tation. General Gates now took command of the ar my, and the militia joined the army with alacrity. On the rear of the British army was an American force under General Lincoln, and on the 18th, General Brown destroyed the British stores at Lake George, releasing a number of American prisoners. Successful operations were also commenced against Ticonderoga, and Skeensborough, now Whitehall. General Burgoyne had crossed the Hudson, and finally took post at Stillwater, but three miles from General Gates.

On the 18th of September, General Gates detached about 3000 men to offer the enemy battle; but he declined the combat. On the 19th, the scouting parties of the two armies commenced a skirmishing, that led to a general action, which continued through the day, and was supported with great zeal and intrepid bravery. Night closed the scene, and the two generals drew off their armies, to protect their camps, and waited with impatience the returning day.

In this action, the American loss was about three hundred, and that of the English about five hundred.

The American strength was now about seven thousand, not including about two thousand under General Lincoln, who were then at Bennington. The Indian allies of Great Britain were deserting the standard of General Burgoyne since the late contest, and four of the six nations favoured the cause of America, and furnished one hundred and fifty warriors. The troops under General Lincoln now added to the force under General Gates, and revived the spirits of the army.

Until the 7th of October, the armies were within common shot, and skirmishes were frequent and severe. The armies were harassed and alarmed. The situation of Burgoyne was becoming critical, and he applied to Sir Henry Clinton for relief. The latter had just received two thousand men from Europe, and commenced operations by the capture of West Point, a strong fortress on the Hudson. He was then enabled to clear the obstructions on the river, and leave a free passage for his shipping. Of all this General Burgoyne had intelligence, but too late to render him any service.

As General Burgoyne determined on a retreat, he sent forward a strong party on one side, while he headed another, supported by General Frazer, and a contest was commenced immediately, and lasted through the day. Victory perched on the American standard, and they were successful at all points. General Arnold fought desperately, and received a wound in the action. General Frazer,* and Sir James Clark, were mortally wounded, and

* In the heat of the action, Colonel Morgan, (the future hero of the battle of Cowpens,) selected several of his sharp shooters, and pointing

the latter became a prisoner. General Burgoyne changed his position in the night, and the Americans spoiled the British camp.

The British now expected a momentary attack, and were under arms all the day on the 8th, and at sunset, the last honours were paid to the remains of the much lamented Frazer. On the 9th, the English army was so closely invested, that the commander resolved on a retreat to Saratoga. This was effected with no other loss than that of his hospital of sick and wounded, which he was compelled to abandon to the mercy of General Gates, who did honour to his character, in the display of his benevolent feelings in behalf of the sufferers.

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General Burgoyne now perceived that all the passes his rear were strongly guarded, and that further retreat was next to impossible. In this difficulty, he called a council, on the 13th. While the council was deliberating, an eighteen pound shot crossed the table, and they resolved unanimously to propose terms with General Gates. The proposals of General Gates were rejected, and General Burgoyne then sent in terms on which the capitulation was finally made.

The news of the capture in the Highlands, is said to have arrived at this juncture, which led General Burgoyne to hesitate, in expectation of relief from Sir Henry Clinton. General Gates, seizing the critical moment, drew up his army in battle array, and sent in a flag, demanding a reply in ten minutes. The responsibility was great, and Burgoyne felt it. The treaty was signed, and returned in due time.

The whole British army marched out of their lines, deposited their arms, and became prisoners of war. General Gates marched in under the tune of Yankee Doodle, and took quiet possession. General Gates ordered supplies to be issued to the British army, who were destitute, and the solemn scene was closed.

them to a British officer who appeared most conspicuously active in his duty, at the head of his division, mounted upon an iron gray charger, thus addressed them: "That gallant officer is General Frazer; I admire and respect him; but it is necessary that he should die; take your station in that wood, and do your duty." It is unnecessary to add, that General Frazer soon fell, mortally wounded.

Such, and so various are the scenes of life, and the fates of men; such, and so fickle is the fortune of war; but firm and unshaken is the providence of God; wisdom, and might, and strength, are His.

Sir Henry Clinton detached Sir James Wallace, and General Vaughn, with a flying squadron, carrying 3600 troops, to penetrate, if possible, to the camp of Burgoyne, or make a diversion in his favour; but learning the situation of General Burgoyne, at Esopus, on the 13th, they set fire to the village, and consumed it. Had they proceeded to Albany, they might have destroyed the place, with the American stores, and Burgoyne might have been relieved. The inquiry has often been made, why this unnecessary delay? But no other answer can be given, than this; it was the special providence of God.

The army of General Burgoyne was marched directly to Boston, where they were detained as prisoners of war. Having thus restored tranquillity in the north, the army under General Gates marched to support General Putnam at Kingston, and guard the country from the incursions of the British. The alarm was taken, and the enemy hastened back to New-York.

We will now take a look at the transactions of the conquering army of New-York. About the time that victory perched on the British standard on Lake Champlain, under the direction of Burgoyne, General Howe embarked with about sixteen thousand troops, with two hundred and sixty sail, and on the 23d of July, went to sea on a private expedition, to make a diversion at the south. General Washington then made a movement towards Delaware, that he might cover Philadelphia. General Howe, manœuvred on the coast some days, and finally entered the Chesapeake. Washington advanced to meet him. The British troops were landed at Elk River ferry, and the two armies met at Chad's Ford, on the Brandywine, where an action was fought on the 11th of September. Victory declared for the English, and Washington retired to the high grounds, to watch the enemy. Philadelphia was entered on the 26th, when Congress retired to Lancaster.

About this time the Marquis La Fayette arrived in the