little acquainted with the methods of performing it to advantage, and the effect was in no degree equivalent to the expense of labor and time. With all the efforts that Burgoyne could make, encumbered with his artillery and baggage, his labors were inadequate to the purpose of supplying the army with provisions for its daily consumption, and the establishment of the necessary magazines. And after his utmost exertions for fifteen days, there were not above four days provisions in the store, nor above ten batteaux in Hudson's river.

In such circumstances the British general found that it would be impossible to procure sufficient supplies of provisions by the way of fort George, and determined to replenish his own magazines at the expense of those of the Americans. Having received information that a large quantity of stores were laid up at Bennington, and guarded only by the militia, he formed the design of surprising that place; and was made to believe that as soon as a detachment of the royal army should appear in that quarter, it would receive effectual assistance from a large body of loyalists, who only waited for the appearance of a support, and would in that event come forward and aid the royal cause. Full of these expectations, he detached colonel Baum, a German officer, with a select body of troops, to surprise the place. His force consisted of about five hundred regular troops, some Canadians, and more than one hundred Indians, with two light pieces of artillery. To facilitate their operations, and to be ready to take advantage of the success of the detachment, the royal army moved along the east bank of Hudson's river, and encamped nearly opposite to Saratoga; having at the same time thrown a bridge of rafts over the river, by which the army passed to that place. With a view to support Baum if it should be found necessary, lieutenant colonel Breyman's corps, consisting of the Brunswick grenadiers, light infantry and chassieurs, were posted at Battenkill.

General Stark having received information that a party of Indians were at Cambridge, sent lieutenant colonel Greg, on August the 13th, with a party of two hundred men to stop their progress. Towards night he was informed by express that a large body of regulars was in the rear of the Indians, and advancing towards Bennington. On this intelligence, Stark drew together his brigade, and the militia that were at hand, and sent on to Manchester to colonel Warner, to bring on his regiment; he sent expresses at the same time to the neighboring militia, to join him with the utmost speed. On the morning of the fourteenth he marched with his troops, and at the distance of seven miles he met Greg on the retreat, and the enemy within a mile of him. Stark drew up his troops in order of battle; but the enemy coming in sight, halted upon a very advantageous piece of ground. Baum perceived the Americans were too strong to be attacked with his present force, and sent an express to Burgoyne with an account of his situation, and to have Breyman march immediately to support him. In the mean time small parties of the Americans kept up a skirmish with the enemy, killed and wounded thirty of them, with two of their Indian chiefs, without any loss to themselves.

The

ground the Americans had taken, was unfavorable for a general action, and Stark retreated about a mile and encamped. A council of war was held, and it was agreed to send two detachments upon the enemy's rear, while the rest of the troops should make an attack upon their front. The next day the weather was rainy, and though it prevented a general action, there were frequent skirmishings in small parties, which proved favorable and encouraging to the Americans.

On August the sixteenth, in the morning, Stark was joined by colonel Symonds and a body of militia from Berkshire, and proceeded to attack the enemy, agreeably to the plan which had beer concerted. Colonel Baum in the mean time had entrenched, on an advantageous piece of ground near St. Koicks mills, on a branch of Hoosic river; and rendered his post as strong as his circumstances and situation would admit. Colonel Nichols was detached with two hundred men to the rear of his left, colonel Herrick, with three hundred men to the rear of his right; both were to join and then make the attack. Colonels Hubbard and Stickney, with two hundred more were ordered on the right, and one hundred were advanced towards the front to draw the attention of the enemy that way. About three o'clock in the afternoon the troops had taken their situation, and were ready to commence the action. While Nichols and Herrick were bringing their troops together, the Indians were alarmed at the prospect, and pushed off between the two corps; but received a fire as they were passing, by which three of them were killed, and two wounded. Nichols then began the attack, and was followed by all the other divisions; those in the front immediately advanced, and in a few minutes the action became general. It lasted about two hours, and was like one continued peal of thunder. Baum made a brave defence; and the German dragoons, after they had expended their ammunition, led by their colonel, charged with their swords, but they were soon overpowered. Their works were carried on all sides, their two pieces of cannon were taken, colonel Baum himself was mortally wounded and taken prisoner, and all his men, except a few who had escaped into the woods, were either killed or taken prisoners. Having completed the business by taking the whole party, the militia began to disperse, and look out for plunder. But in a few minutes Stark received information that a large reinforcement was on their march, and within two miles of him. Fortunately at that moment colonel Warner came up with his regiment from Manchester. This brave and experienced officer commanded a regiment of continental troops, which had been raised in Vermont. Mortified that he had not been in the former engagement, he instantly led on his men against Breyman, and began the second engagement. Stark collected the militia as soon as possible and pushed on to his assistance. The action

became general, and the battle continued obstinate on both sides till sunset, when the Germans were forced to give way, and were pursued till dark. They left their two field pieces behind, and a considerable number were made prisoners. They retreated in the best manner they could, improving the advantages of the evening and night, to which alone their escape was ascribed.*

In these actions the Americans took four brass field pieces, twelve brass drums, two hundred and fifty dragoon swords, four ammunition wagons, and about seven hundred prisoners, with their arms and accoutrements. Two hundred and seven men were found dead upon the spot, the numbers of wounded were unknown. The loss of the Americans was but small; thirty were slain, and about forty were wounded."

Siege of Fort Stanwix.-The following account of the defeat of General Herkimer, and the singular circumstances respecting the siege of Fort Stanwix, [fort Schuyler, at the head of Mohawk river,] is from the 3d vol. of Dwight's Travels.

"When General Burgoyne commenced his expedition against the United States, he directed Lieutenant-Colonel Baron St. Leger, with a body of troops, consisting of British, American Refugees, Germans, Canadians, and savages, from 1,500 to 1,800 in number, to proceed from Montreal by Lake Ontario, to attack Fort Stanwix, and after taking that fortress to march down the Mohawk to Albany. St. Leger arrived at Fort Stanwix in the beginning of August, 1777. On the news of his approach, General Herkimer, a respectable descendant from one of the German Colonists, commanding the militia of Tryon County, assembled a body of 800 men, and marched to the relief of the garrison. He arrived within six or seven miles of the fort on the 6th of August. From his scouts he had learned, that a body of troops under Sir John Johnson, had been despatched by St. Leger to intercept him. He determined, therefore, to halt, and choose his own ground for the contest; but his troops, who were raw militia, without any discipline, insisted peremptorily on being led immediately to the attack. The General, after remonstrating with his usual good sense, and telling them roundly, that ardent as they were, they would run at the first appearance of the enemy; and after finding all his efforts vain, resolved to lead them on, although he clearly foresaw the disastrous issue. Accordingly he coolly moved on to what he considered as almost certain destruction. At the very first fire of the enemy a large proportion of these violent men fled instantly; leaving their gallant chief, with the remainder of his troops, to sustain the attack. These men fought like lions; and came to close quarters with the enemy. The

* Gordon. Vol. II. p. 243. Starke's letter to Gen. Gates of August 22, 1777.

firing in a great measure ceased; and the conflict was carried on with knives, bayonets, and the butt-ends of muskets. A considerable number of the Indians were killed. The survivors were, of course, thrown into a rage. The mode of fighting was novel; and the native jealousy of these people started into their minds a suspicion, that their own friends had leagued with the Americans to destroy them. Under its influence they fired upon the British, as well as upon the Americans. The confusion became intense, and universal. Such of Herkimer's troops as had neither fled, nor fallen, had posted themselves behind logs, and trees; and animated by their brave chief, wounded as he was, fought the enemy with such resolution, that Sir John finally retreated, and left them the ground. Herkimer soon after died of his wounds.

The Americans lost in this battle 160 men killed; and about 240 wounded and prisoners. The loss of the British will never be known. The Indians left more than 70 of their number on the field. Among the slain and wounded Americans, were several persons of reputation and influence."

"Sir John had scarcely left the ground, to attack General Herkimer, when Lieutenant-Colonel Willet, at the head of a party from the garrison, made a sortie upon the enemy; and falling upon their camp unexpectedly, drove them out of it almost without resistance. A part fled into the woods, and a part crossed the river while Willet plundered the camp of muskets, blankets, and various other articles of considerable value. A party of the British attempted to intercept his return to the fort; but with a field-piece, and a vigorous musketry, he attacked them with so much spirit, that they fled a second time. Several of the enemy fell; and among them some of the principal Indian warriours. Willet did not lose a man.

At the return of Sir John, St. Leger summoned Gansevoort in a verbal message, sufficiently pompous and menacing, to surrender. Gansevoort refused to receive the message. The next day he received a written demand of the same nature, exhibiting in magnificent terms the successes of General Burgoyne; the strength of the army under St. Leger; the terrible determination of the savages; his own efforts to soften their ferocity; and the hopeless situation of the garrison. The laboured strain of this declamation, instead of producing its intended effect, only persuaded the Americans that St. Leger's affairs were not very prosperous, nor his army very formidable. Gansevoort therefore answered, that, being entrusted by his country with the command of the fort, he would defend it to the last, without any regard to

consequences.

The situation of the garrison, though not desperate, was far from being promising Relief was necessary for them; and

Gansevoort determined to advertise, if possible, the country, below, of his circumstances. Colonel Willet, and Lieutenant Stockwell, readily undertook this hazardous mission. An Indian enemy is in a sense always at hand, and always awake. He is always roaming from place to place; the chance of escaping him scarcely exists; and the consequence of falling into his hands is almost of course fatal. These gallant men, however, crept on their hands and knees through the enemy's encampment; and, skilled in the mysteries of Indian war, and adopting the various arts of concealment, which men, accustomed to forests, acquire with extreme accuracy, they arrived safely at the German Flats; whence without danger they pursued their course directly to the head quarters of General Schuyler, then commanding the American army at Stillwater.

Schuyler immediately dispatched a body of troops to the relief of Gansevoort, under the command of General Arnold; who volunteered his services on the occasion. As he was advancing up the Mohawk, a Mr. Schuyler, who was a nephew of General Herkimer, (but who was a Tory, and accused of being a spy,) was brought into his camp. After examining the circumstances, Arnold wisely determined to avail himself of this man's services. He proposed to him a scheme for alarming the enemy, particularly the savages, by announcing to them, that a formidable army was in full march to destroy them; and assured him of his life, and estate, if he would enter heartily into the interests of his country, and faithfully execute a mission of this nature. Schuyler, who was shrewd, resolute, versed in the language and manners of the Indians, acquainted with some of their chiefs, and therefore perfectly qualified for this business, readily engaged in the enterprise. His father, and brother, were in the mean time kept as hostages for his fidelity; and were both to be hung without mercy, if he proved unfaithful. One of the Sachems of the Six Nations, a friend of the Americans, and of Schuyler also, was let into the secret; and cheerfully embarked in the design. Having settled the whole plan of proceeding with this warriour, Schuyler made the best of his way to Fort Stanwix.

Colonel St. Leger had pushed the siege with considerable activity; and advanced his works within one hundred and fifty yards of the fort. Upon Schuyler's arrival he told a lamentable story of his being taken by Arnold, his escape from hanging, and the danger which he had encountered in his flight. He shewed them also several holes, made by shot in his coat, while he was attempting to escape; and declared at the same time that a formidable army of Americans was marching with full speed, to attack the British. The Americans, he observed, had no hostility toward the Indians; and wished not to injure them; but added, that, if