teenth of August, and prepared for battle on the following morning. The fifteenth proved very rainy, and prevented the intended attack; at the same time enabled colonel Baum to surround his camp with a log breastwork. The weather proving favourable on the sixteenth, the troops were in motion at an early hour, and advanced to search for the enemy. He was found on an eminence forming a kind of sodded bluff, fronted by the Walloomschaick on the south, and a gradual slope to the north and west. His position was reconnoitred at about a mile distance, and the plan of attack arranged. Two detachments, one to the right and the other to the left, were commanded to turn his rear and advance directly to the intrenchment or lines, and to reserve their fire until they were very near. Fortunately they both arrived at their stations almost at the same minute, and by a rapid step, were at the works so soon that the enemy derived no advantage from their labour, and were pushed out of the fort with only firing a few shots, and driven directly on the reserve, who soon decided the battle. The prisoners were collected and hurried off as soon as possible. At this critical moment information was brought that a reinforcement was close upon them. The large portion of the troops taken to guard the prisoners, and the dispersion for refreshments, plunder, and other purposes, left scarcely any men to resist them. At this critical period colonel Warner with a small detachment of his regiment, having heard the guns of the first battle, was hastening to support them, and now was directed to advance directly and commence an attack, while other troops could be collected. These troops had been in service from the beginning of the war, and it was easy for their brave commander to bring them into action. They checked the enemy, and were continually reinforced by small squads until nearly sunset, when the enemy gave way at every point, abandoned their cannon, and were pursued until dark. Many prisoners were taken, but the main body retreated so rapidly, that they escaped by favour of the night. Upon the advance of Burgoyne, general Stark approached near the main army at Behman's heights, and finally entered the camp. On the eighteenth of September the terin of his troops expired. Great manage

ment was used to induce them to tarry a month, or even fortnight; as it was seen that a battle must shortly take place, and general Gatés was strongly impressed with the importance of these victorious troops to his camp; but all to no purpose. They began their march home on the evening of the same day, and on the morn ing of the nineteenth; and his service having been performed, he returned with them, No appearance was perceived of movements in Burgoyne's army until they had passed the North river, when it was seen in motion; and this militia had scarcely marched ten miles, when the battle began. Some of them turned about, but when the firing ceased, they pursued their march homeward. The news of the battle overtook them on the road. General Stark passed one night at home, and then proceeded to Exeter to make report to the council, proclaiming that Burgoyne would certainly be taken if the people would turn out, and announced his determination to return immediately. Volunteers from all quarters flocked to his standard, and he soon joined the army with a more numerous and formidable command than before. He was zealous for attacking Burgoyne in his camp, and for that purpose had placed his little army in the rear, so as to cut off all communication by way of lake George; but perhaps capitulation was a more prudent, and equally certain course.

The war being over in the northern department, hạ returned home, exerting all his influence to induce the people to furnish recruits and supplies for the next campaign. He had hardly reached his house, when congress ordered him to prepare a winter expedition for Canada, and to repair to Albany without delay, to receive further instructions. He was there at the appointed time, and then departed to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, to forward the preparations, and return to the general rendezvous at Albany at a given time. He performed his part, but congress gave up the project.

Early in 1778, he was ordered to proceed to Albany, and assume the command of the northern department. This was the most unpleasant of his public services. Ha had very few troops, two extensive frontier rivers to guard, and to cap his troubles, he was surrounded with

kind of licensed tories, in the midst of spies, pecula tors, and public defaulters. He laboured to reform the abuses in the department, and succeeded like most re formers. Those who were detected, cursed him, and their friends complained; and he gladly received an or der in October, from general Washington, to join general Gates at Rhode Island, who had previously requested his assistance. General Hand succeeded him at Albany, but left the command shortly after for the same reasons, and with the same pleasure.

On joining general Gates's head quarters at Provi dence, he was ordered to take quarters at East Greenwich, principally on account of his popularity with the militia, that he might gain better information of the plans of the enemy on Rhode Island, and guard against any invasion. Here he continued until all opportunity for action was over for the season, when he was ordered to proceed to New Hampshire by way of Boston, to urge at both places the necessity of recruits and supplies.

Early in the spring of 1779, he was ordered back to Providence, and instructed by general Gates to examine with close attention, all the shores and avenues from Providence to Point Judith, as well as all the coast on the east side of the bay as far as Mount Hope. As there were but few troops on the station, more than common vigilance was required to prevent inroads or plunder, and to establish a regular espionage; this being the only instance in which he ever descended to that mode of warfare: : by this means, at the close of autumn, indications were early discovered of a descent, or some other movement. He removed his quarters to Point Judith, but took care not to rest more than one or two nights in a place. Sometime in October, the views of the enemy were unmasked, and for some days his command was on constant duty. About the eighth or tenth of November, the enemy decamped, and early next morning he entered the lower end of Newport, and took possession of the town. Guards were immediately placed in the different streets to prevent plunder or confusion, and preserve order. At this time general Washington was fearful that on the arrival of the reinforcement from Newport at New York, some attempt might be made on his army,

and ordered the troops that had blockaded Newport, (with the exception of a small garrison,) immediately to join him in New Jersey. No attempt being made by the enemy, about mid-winter general Washington requested him to proceed to New England, and back his requisitions for men and supplies. This duty being discharged, he joined the army at Morristown in the early part of May, and was present on Short Hills at the battle of Springfield, but not personally engaged. Soon after this action general Washington required him to proceed with all despatch to Massachusetts and New Hampshire, to urge a supply of men, money, and provision; to muster as many militia as he could by drafts and voluntary enlistments, and to accompany them to West Point. landed them on the Point, while general Washington and suite had passed on to Hartford to confer with count Rochambeau and other French officers, a few days previous to Arnold's desertion, and the day following joined his division at Liberty-Pole, New Jersey. In the latter end of September he was ordered to relieve the Pennsylvania troops under general St. Clair, which, on Arnold's desertion, had been ordered there. St. Clair marched his division the next day to Liberty-Pole.

He

About this time general Washington having formed a project to surprise Staten Island, to mask his intentions, ordered general Stark with a detachment of twenty-five hundred men, with a large train of wagons and teams, to advance near York Island, and bring off all the corn and forage to be found, and to hover about New York until ordered back. Probably the British suspected some masked plan; but, be that as it may, they suffered this detachment to pillage the country to the very verge of Morrisania and Kingsbridge for several days, and then quietly return to West Point and Peekskill with their booty. Soon after this the army withdrew from Liberty-Pole, and went into winter quarters at West Point, New Windsor, and Fishkill. Here general Stark was visited with a severe fit of sickness, which left him very weak, and about the middle of January, 1781, he obtained leave to return to New Hampshire, with the standing order to press for men and supplies. He journeyed by short stages, and arrived at his house

still more weak and feeble. . His health returning with the approach of spring, he was ordered to Albany to take command of the northern department, and establish his head quarters at Saratoga.

Some feeble detachments of militia from New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, were collected to protect the northern frontiers. It was soon discovered that the country was inundated with spies and traitors; houses robbed, (on political principles,) and inhabitants, non-combatants, carried prisoners to Canada. The house of general Schuyler, one mile from the capitol of Albany, was attacked, several articles stolen, and two or three of his servants and labourers carried to Canada. He only saved himself by retreating to a chamber, barricading the door that they could not force it, and firing through it when it was attempted to be broken. The firing raised the military from the city, and the marauders fled with their prisoners and booty.

Bad as the country was in 1778, it was infinitely worse in 1781, Some few days after the military post was esta blished at Saratoga, one of these detachments was arrested within the lines. A British lieutenant's commission was found on the commander. He had been a refugee from that quarter, and was known. A board of officers, summoned to examine the case, pronounced him a spy, and gave their opinion for hanging. He was executed the next day. Complaints were made by his friends and connexions in and about Albany, of the danger of retaliation. General Washington demanded a copy of the proceedings; it was sent, and no further notice taken of it. The cure of the body politic was radical: none of those parties ventured into the country again during the

war.

Immediately after the reduction of Cornwallis, the danger of inroads from Canada was dissipated. Stark dismissed the militia with thanks for their good conduct; secured the public stores, and was ordered to re tire by way of Albany, with instructions to continue his efforts to raise men, money, and supplies, in New Eng land for the next campaign.

In 1782, he was afflicted with rheumatisms, and va rious chronical complaints, all the season, and did not