The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-05-16


be ready at any moment 10 retreat. His
detected countenance told the r, st. Soor
after, Lady Ackland was informed of hel
husbands misfortune, and that he was q
prisoner in the American camp.
CoDsoling her distressed companion
and ministering to the wounded gentle.
men-hushing her little ones lest they
should disturb Gen. Frazer. and collecting
her camp-furniture for the anticipated re-
move-thus did the fair Reidesel spend
the long dark night that followed. To-
wards three in the NOR ing, they told her
that the General showed signs of speedy
dissolution; and, lest they should inter-
fere with the composure of the dying man,
she wrapped up her little ones and carried
them into the cellar. He fingered till
eight o'clock, frequently apologlzing to
the lady for the trouble he caused her.
All day long, the body in its winding sheet
lay IN the little room among the sufferers,
the ladies moving about in their charita>
BILE ministries, with these lamentabe sights
before them, and the dreadful cannonade
necessarily in their ears General Gates,
now in possession Of the British trenches,
was assailing the new position of the
troops, which, with the house occupied by
the Baroness, was becoming every hour
more untenable. Burgoyne had decided
upon further retreat but, magnanim-
ously resolved to fulfil General Frazer's
request to the letter, would not stir till six
p'CInCk fEEfc h. 10 nc
the enemy was now advancing, and had
set fire to house not far off, which was
building for the better accommodation of
the Reldesels. At the hour, the corps
was brought out, amid these impressive
scenes of fire and slaughter, and under
the constant roar of artillery. 1t was at
tended by all the Generals to the redoubt.
! he procession not being understood, and
attracting the notice cfthe American gems
eral, was made the mark of the cannon,
and the balls began to fall thick and hea..
Wy around the grave. Several passed near
the Baroness, as she stood trembling for
her husband at the door of the lodge.
Burgoyne himself has described this re-
markable funeral to which, owing to the
intrepIdity of the priest, the rites of the
church were not wanting. The balls
bounded upon the redoubt, and scattered
the earth alike upon the corpse and the
train of mourners; but, with steady
attitude, and unaltered voice" says Bur,
goyne, the clergyman, Mr.. Brudenel,
read the burial service, rendered doubly
solemn by the danger, the booming OF
the artillery, and the constant fall ofshot.
The shades of a clouded evening were
closing upon that group Of heroes, and
they seemed to be standing together in
the shadow of death; but some good ans
gel waved his wing around the holy rite,
and not one of them was harmed.
That night the army commenced its
retreat, leaving the hospital with three
hundred sick and wounded to the mercy
of General Gates, who took charge ofthern
with the greatest humanity. Lady Ack-
land demanded to be sent to her husband !;
but Burgoyne could only offer her an open
boat in which TO descend the Hudson, and
the night was rainy. Nothing daunted,
she accepted the offer, to the establishment
of Burgoyne, who on piece of dirty wet
paper scrawled few words, commencing
her to General Gates, and suffered her to
embark. What voyage in the storm and
and darkness, on those lone waters of the
Hudson. The American sentinel heard
the approach of oars, and hailed the ad.
vancing stranger. Her only watchword
was-a woman! The sentinel may be
forgiven for scarce trusting his senses, anc
refusing TO let such an apparition 90 on
shore, till superior officer be heard from;
but it was cherries delay for the faith
full wife. As soon, however, as it was
known that Lady Ackland was the stran-
ger, she was welcomed TO the American
camp. where, sit is due to Justice" says
Burgoyne, "to say that she was received
with all the humanity and respect that her
rank, her merits, and her fortunes de-
served"
The Hudson girdled the forlorn in
trenchments to which the British general
now retired, and its forts were all in pos
session ofthe American forces. By means
ofthese fords they had regained the forts
on Lake George, and the road to Skenes-
borough, and all retreat was cut off-even
the desperate retreat which Burgoyre had
proposed, of abandoning artillery and bag
gage, and carrying nothing away but boz
dies and souls Yet for six davs his proud
soul stood firm. unable to endure or even
face the thought of surrender. The A
merican batteries were constantly at play
upon his camp. Blood was the price of
the water which they were forced to bring
from the river. The house which con-
tanned the Baroness and her children, hid
ing in the cellar, was riddled with shot.
A soldier, whose leg was under the knife
of the surgeon, had the other carried off
by ball as he lay upon the table. After
six such days, even Burgoyne saw that
there was no hope. He signed "the arti-
cles Of Convention" and the next day
surrendered in the field of Saratoga
From that day." says British writer,
america was a nation"