Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-02
From tie Salem Gazette j..

the SURRENDER OF the D.iush aiWJs So"'"
by Gen Burgoyne. A more entire tc.io" nc
YER met with, there is not shadow Oh ruin III
il. and il is no, less ridiculous than untrue.
The late Judge Peters having written Sketch
es of Gen. Washing ton's private char ac'er, sent
copy to me, with note, in which he sand,
This is the last revisit will not have il PRINT
ed finally off for few days; any observations
will be thankfully received--as they always
are" This was in January, 1911, when was
in the Senate at the City Of Washington. &C
cordinely made few observations, suggesting
some alterations. But he afterwards enlarged
his Sketches by three pages OF letter press. In
my answer to Mr.. Peters "a copy OF which is
now before mel gave him an interesting anec-
dole, on which he eagerly seized; as ne said' 10
his reply, he Gid on every thing which illustra'-
ed the character Of the Hero.'
THE ANECDoTE.
CATER the battle of Germantown, the army
retired up the Shippack road, IL OF 20 miles
from Philadelphia. was at the head-quar-
terst when letter arrived from the North
ward, addressed to member of Congress at
Yorktown, Col Palfrey, paymaster-general,
was also present. He knew the superscrption
to be in the hand writing of his deputy, iona.
Trumbull, who was at Albany, or in that
neighborhood. We were then in state OF
most anxious expectation respecting Bur-
goyne's army. Palfrey found the letter had
an envelope. Of this he drew out one end :,
and after it the letter itself. 1t announced the
capture ofthat whole army. Pafrey put in in
to the Generals hand, who began to read it;
but he was SO deeply affected as to be unable
to proceed, and he gave back the letter to Pal
frey, to finish it. Here were displayed the
strong feelings of genuine patriotism-of a
mind incapable of envy, transported with JOY
at victory, the honor of which would be an
others, but which gave earnest of eventual
success, in the great object of the war;
Upon the evidence of Trumbull's letter, The
General thought himself warranted to or'er
the common exhibition of JOY on so very inte-
resting an occasion, and in the General Or
ders appointed the day for the army to fire a
feu de joie; expecting before that time to re-
ceive official information from General Gates
himself. But none came. The day for re-
joicing arrived, and some embarrassment en-
sued; for it was possible, though not probable,
that the news received might be incorrect. -
But confident in its truth, we rejoiced.
Gen Washington, writing to Congress on
the Gath of October, at the close Of his letter
said: | am, and have been waiting with the
most anxious Impotence, for confirmation
of Gen. Burgoyne's surrender haze re
Except vague report than the first account
which came to hand so long ago as Saturday
morning. If Congress have had authentic advi-
ces about it, wish to be favored with them
The Saturday morning here mentioned, was
the 18th of October.
On the 3lst of October, Colonel afterwards
GeneraD Wilkinson, delivered to Congress
Gen. Gates dispatches, being letter and the
convention with Gen. Burgoyne, stating the
terms ofthe surrender of his army. The same
day, Congress 'tOrdered, that an express be
Immediately despatched to Gen. Washington,
with copy of Gen. Gates letter and the con-
vention of Saratoga Ut
The Convention between Gates and Bur-
goyne was not signed until the 10th of Octo-
Der; yet the account received at Washington's
head quarters, by Mr. Trumbull's letter, was
on the 18th, at the distance of at least zoo
miles from Albany. This fact may thus be
accounted for-On the 18th of October, Gen.
Burgoyne wrote to Gen. Gates, proposing to
treat for surrender The same day Gates
accepted the offer; and then agents on both
sides were appointed to negotiate the terms.
Information was probably carried to Albany
the same day, (being distant only 80 miles;)
and doubtless was considered as equivalent to
an actaal surrender. From the 18th to the
18th of October, an express despatched from
Albany for Yorktown in Pennsylvania, where
Congress was then sitting, might very we'll
reach Washington's head quarters on the 18th
of October.
1t was certainly incumbent on Gen. Gates
to send 10 Gen. Washington the earliest infor-
nation Of Burgoyne's surrender; both because
Gen. Washington was Commander in Chief,
and because, from his situation, that surrender
might materially affect the operations of the
army under his immediate command
1t would seem that Gen. Washington had
been desired by Congress to appoint General
Officer to command in the Northern Depart
ment:-from which, desiring to be excused,
Congress appointing Gen. Gates; and at the
same time directinu Wosh;nrton xu