Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-19
REVOLUTIONARY MEMORANDA.

Gen. Burgoyne, who was no par
tcular friend to the " Rebels" pend
ing debate in Parliament subsequent
to the destruction Of the tea) on the
necessity of raising an ample land and
sea force to subduc his "rcbellious
subjects" as George the Third called
us, rose and said" Mr.. Speaker,
only give me ten thousand men, and !
will march from one end Of the CONT
nent to the other, and no trace of re-
bcllion shall be anown in one year
after shall land.' lie had ten thou
sand chosen troops, composed Of En-
glish, Scotch, Irish and German SOL
ders, who had been long trained in
waging war, and from such myrmidons,
no mercy could be expected. In ad-
dtion to these veteran troops, the saw
ages were enlisted, and a bounty for
scalps was given by this General, al
though he subsequently endeavorcd to
make it appear another mode OF war
fare. more refined, was his intention
when he met the savage warriors and
entered into terms for them to take
up the tomahawk and scalping knife.
The meeting Of Gen. B. and the
Indians, took place at Willsborough,
opposite Crown Point, on the 2lst of
June III; a war feast was given them
by Gen. B. who made speech,
"urgcd them to impetuosily in battle,
but enjoined no scalping, excepting
those who were killed in battle, and a
handsome compensation was promised
for all prisoners they should bring in;"
Gen. b. further observed to these
savages, that in case of acts Of bar
barity on the part Of the Americans,
it shall be yours to retalatc!" !" Bur
goyne found no impcdiment in march
ing from Canada, until at Bennington,
where a part Of his army under Baum
was defeated. On the 3Oth August
he wrote to Gen. Gates respecting the
prisoners taken by Gen. Stark, init
mating that great severity had been
exercised upon them and hinted at re-
talation. Gates, in his answer Sept.
End, invalidatss the charge, and as
cribes the most atrocious cruelties to
the savages who were employed and
paid by the British General. He
wrote
"That the savascs of America
should in their warfare, mangle and
scalp the prisoners they takc,is neither
acw nor extraordinary but that the
famous Lieutenant General Burgoyne,
in whom the fine gentleman is united
with the soldier and scholar, should
hire the savages Of America, to scalp
Europeans and the descendants Of Eu-
ropeans-nay more, that he should
pay price for each scalp, so barbar-
ously taken, is more than will be be-
licvcd in Europe, until authenticated
facts, shall, in every Gazette, confirm
the truth ofthc horrid tale. Miss NJ
! Rea, a young lady, lovely to the sight,
of virtuous character and amiable dis
position, engaged to an officer of your
army, was with other women and
children, taken out Of house near
Fort Edward, carried into the woods
and there scalpcd and mangled in a
most shocking manner. The misera.
bic fate of Miss M'Rea was particularly
aggravated by her being dressed to
receive her promised husband, but
met her murderers, employed by you
The late Col. Baum's servant, who is
at Bennington, would have come to
your Excellcncy's camp; but when
offered him flag, he was afraid te
run the risk of being scalped, and de-
clned."
Burgoync on 9th Sept. replied"
disdain to justify myself against thu
rhapsodics of fiction and calumny
which from the first of this contest j
has been unvaried American policy t.
propagate, but which no longer Cal
impose upon the world: In regard t.
Miss M'Rea, her fall wanted not tn,
tragic display you have labored to Civ
it, to make it as sincerely abhorre,
and lamentcd by me, as it can be b.
the tenderest of her friends. Tn
'. fact was no premeditated barbarity-
on the contrary, two chiefs, who ha
brought her off for the purpose of Sc
curity! not Of violence to her person
disputed which should be her guart
} and to a fit of passion in one, fror
whose hands she was snatched, tn
unhappy woman became the victim
| obliged the Indians to deliver tn
: murderer into my hands, and he shoul
have suffered death, had l not bee