within five days after his removal, major Thayer nobly offered to take charge of this dangerous post; but was obliged to evacuate it within twenty-five days. This event did not take place until the works were entirely beat down, every piece of can non dismounted, and one of the British ships so near, that she threw hand-grenades into the fort, and killed the men who were uncovered on the platform. 345. The troops who had so bravely defended fort Mifflin, which was the name given to it, made a safe retreat to Red Bank. Within three days after Mud Island was evacuated, the garrison was also withdrawn from Red Bank on the approach of lord Cornwallis. A great number of the American shipping, now entirely without protection, sailed up the river in the night time. Seventeen however, remained, whose retreat was intercepted by a frigate and some armed vessels; on which the Americans ran them on shore, and burnt them. Thus the campaign of 1777, in Pennsylvania, concluded successfully on the part of the British. CHAPTER V. POINT. CAPTURE OF BURGOYNE.-EVACUATION OF PHILADELPHIA. 346. The expedition in the North had been projected by the British ministry, as the most effectual method that could be taken to subjugate the colonies at once. The New-England provinces were still considered by the British, as the most active in the continuation of the war; and it was thought that any impression made upon them, would effectually contribute to the reduction of the rest. 347. To carry this into execution, an army of four thousand chosen British troops, and three thousand 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 the same. The officers who commanded under general Burgoyne, were general Phillips, of the artillery, generals Fraser, Powel, and Hamilton, with the German officers, Reidésel and Specht. 348. These soldiers were under excellent discipline, and had been kept in their winter-quarters with great care, that they might be prepared for the expedition on which they were going. To insure success to the main expedition, another was formed on the Mohawk river, under colonel St. Leger, who was to be assisted by Sir William Johnson, who had so greatly signalized himself in the war of 1755. 349. On the 21st of June, 1777, the British army encamped on the western side of lake Champlain; where, being joined by a considerable body of Indians, general Burgoyne made a speech, in which he exhorted these new allies to lay aside their ferocious manner of making war; to kill only such as opposed them in arms; to spare the prisoners, and such women and children as should fall into their hands. He afterwards issued a proclamation, in which the force of the British was displayed in strong and nervous language, with a view to intimidate the Americans: but it had a contrary effect. 350. The campaign opened with the siege of Ticonderoga. This place was very strong, and garrisoned by six thousand men under general St. Clair; nevertheless, the works were so extensive, that even this number was not thought sufficient to defend them properly. They had therefore omitted to fortify a rugged eminence, called Sugar-hill, which overlooked and effectually commanded the whole. The Americans imagined, that it was too difficult an ascent for the enemy to take possession of it; on the approach of the first division of the army, the Americans abandoned and set fire to their outworks, and so expeditious were the British troops, that on the 5th of July, 1777, every post was secured, which was judged necessary for investing it completely. 351. A road was soon after made to the very summit of that eminence which the Americans supposed could not be ascended; and they were now so much disheartened, that they instantly abandoned the fort, and made a precipitate retreat to Skenesborough, a place to the south of lake George; while their baggage and military stores, which they could not carry off, were sent to the same place by water. But the British generals were not disposed to let them get off so easily; but pursued and overtook them. 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 Skenesborough. Our army lost two hundred of their boats, and one hundred and thirty pieces of cannon, with all their provisions and baggage. 352. Our land forces, under colonel Francis, made a brave defence against general Fraser; and as they were superior in number, they almost overpowered him, when general Reidesel, with a large body of Germans, came to his assistance. The Americans were now overpowered in their turn; their com * mander being killed, they fled in every direction. In this action, two hundred of our men were killed, as many taken prisoners, and above six hundred wounded: many of whom perished in the woods for want of assistance. 353. During the engagement, general St. Clair was at Castleton, about six miles from the place; but instead of going forward to fort Ann, the next place of strength, he repaired to the woods which lie between that fortress and New-England. General Burgoyne detached thither colonel Hill, with the ninth regiment, to intercept St. Clair's retreat towards fort Ann: on his way he met with a detachment more numerous than his own; but after an engagement of three hours, our army was obliged to retire with great loss. 354. After so many disasters, the Americans, unable to make any stand at fort Ann, set fire to it, and retired to fort Edward. In all these engagements, the loss of the killed and wounded, in the royal army, did not exceed two hundred men. General Burgoyne now suspended his operations for some time; and waited at Skenesborough for the arrival of his tents and provisions. But he employed this interval in making roads through the country about fort Ann, and in clearing a passage for his troops to proceed against his enemy. This was attended with toil: but the resolution and patience of his army surmounted all obstacles. 355. Thus, after having undergone the greatest difficulties, and having made every exertion that man could make, hearrived with his army before fort Edward about the latter end of July. Here general Schuyler had been for some time endeavoring to recruit the scattered American forces, and had been joined by general St. Clair with the remains of his army; the garrison of fort George had also taken shelter there. But on the approach of the royal army they retired from fort Edward, and formed their head-quarters at Saratoga. 356. Notwithstanding these discouraging circumstances, the Americans showed no disposition to submit; but prepared in the best manner they could to make effectual resistance. For this purpose the militia was everywhere raised and drafted, to join the army at Saratoga; and such numbers of volunteers were obtained, that they soon began to recover from the alarm into which their recent losses had thrown them. 357. The forces now collected were put under the command of general Arnold, who repaired to Saratoga with a considerable train of artillery; but receiving intelligence that colonel St. Leger was proceeding with great rapidity in his expedition on the Mohawk river, he removed to Stillwater, a place about halfway between Saratoga and the junction of the Mohawk with Hudson's river. 358. The colonel, in the mean time, had advanced as far as fort Stanwix; the siege of which he pressed with great vigor; and understanding that a supply of provisions, guarded by eight or nine hundred men, was on its way to the fort, he dispatched Sir John Johnson with a strong detachment to intercept it, on the 6th of August. This he performed so effectually, that four hundred of the escort were slain, and two hundred taken; the residue escaping with great difficulty. The garrison, it was expected, would be intimidated by this disaster, and by the threats and representations of St. Leger: on the contrary, they made several successful sallies under colonel Willet, the second officer in command; who, with another gentleman, ventured out of the fort, and eluding the vigilance of the enemy, passed through them, in order to hasten the march of general Arnold to their relief. 359. The affairs of colonel St. Leger, notwithstanding his recent success, appeared in no very favorable situation and they were totally ruined by the desertion of the Indians, who had been alarmed by the report of general Arnold's advancing with two thousand men to the relief of the fort; and while the colonel was endeavoring to encourage them, another report was spread that general Burgoyne had been defeated with slaughter, and was now flying before the Americans. On this he was obliged to comply with their fears, and ordered a retreat; which was not effected without the loss of the tents, some artillery, and military stores. 360. Difficulties and disappointments still continued to press upon general Burgoyne: the roads he had made with so much labor and pains, were destroyed by his enemy, and wetness of the season; so that provisions from fort George could not be brought to his camp without prodigious toil. Having been informed of the siege of fort Stanwix, by colonel St. Leger, he determined to move forward, that he might inclose his enemy betwixt his own army and that of St. Leger; and in hopes of securing the command of all the country between fort Stanwix and Albany. At all events, a junction with St. Leger was likely to produce the most happy consequences. The only difficulty was the want of provisions; and this he proposed to remedy, by seizing the American magazines. 361. For this purpose colonel Baum, a German officer of great bravery, was chosen, with a body of five hundred troops. The magazines lay at Bennington, about twenty miles east of Hudson's river; in order to support colonel Baum's party, the whole army marched up the bank of the river, and encamped almost opposite to Saratoga, with the river between it and that place. An advanced party was posted at Batten-kill, between the camp and Bennington, in order to support colonel Baum. In their way the royal detachment seized a large supply of cattle and provisions, which were immediately sent to the camp; but the badness of the roads retarded their march so much, that intelligence of their design was sent to Bennington. 362. Colonel Baum, understanding the American force at that place was much superior to his own, acquainted his gen. eral, who immediately sent colonel Breyman, with a party, to his assistance: but the same causes also retarded the march of this detachment, which could not arrive in time. General Stark, who commanded at Bennington, determined to attack the two parties separately; and advanced against colonel Baum, whom he surrounded, and attacked with the utmost violence. The German troops defended themselves with great valor, but were to a man either killed or taken. 363. Colonel Breyman, after a desperate engagement, had the good fortune to effect a retreat through the darkness of the night which, otherwise, he could not have done, as his men had expended all their ammunition. Disappointed in his attempt on Bennington, general Burgoyne applied himself with indefatigable diligence to procure provisions from fort George; and having procured a sufficient quantity to last for a month, he threw a bridge of boats over the river Hudson, which he crossed about the middle of September, encamping on the hills and plains of Saratoga. 364. As soon as he approached the American army, which was encamped at Stillwater, under general Gates, he determined to make an attack: he placed himself at the head of the centre, having general Fraser and colonel Breyman on his right, and generals Reidesel and Phillips, with the artillery, on the left. In this manner he advanced, on the 19th of September, towards us. The Americans, confident in their number, did not now wait to be engaged; but attacked his central division with great impetuosity, and it was not till general Phillips, with the artillery, came up, at eleven o'clock at night, that they could be induced to retire to their camp. In this gallant action the British lost five hundred in killed and wounded, and we only three hundred and nineteen. |