Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-05-01
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From the n. Y. Evening Post
SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE.

As late as 1117, the sentiment Of the
English people generally was in favor of
furnishing means necessary to reduce the
American colonies to unconditional submis-
sion. The king had not soitened his iron
determination to make no terms with the
Congress that should even hint at indppen-
dence. Every expenditure was popular,
provided success against the Americans was
very probable. In this state Of feeling, an
army Of ten thousand men was placed un-
der General Burgoyne, with orders for him
to orgaize in Canada, and march down TO
Fort Sir Henry Clinton at Albany, where
il had been arranged these two armies should
meet, and thus divided the southern and
eastern colonies by the Hudson river.
On the 10Th of June, Burgoyne's advance
left Quebec, and arrived at Fort Edward,
August Sd. During his march, roads were
to be made, bridges TO be built or repaired,
and his difficulties increased on every hand,
The Americans poured in from all quarters,
and the British army soon found that any
retreat would De dangerous, and to advance
was next 10 impossible. August II, they
were reduced TO provisions for five days
only; every toragng party sent on: was
sure to oe cut off, and their situation in
every respect was desperate indeed.
When the Indians saw that Burgoyne
was in this trouble, they at once exhibited
signs Of distruSt and treacherv. These al
lies OF the British had been the terror, on
the march, of the Americans, particularly
to deienCeleSs women and children, and
they now determined, IN body, to leave
the British service. On the Sth OF October,
Burgoyne was obliged to leave his hospital
with over three hundred sick and wounded,
to the mercy of the Americans. This clearly
illustrated TO Gates how desperate was the
situation Of the enemy, and he resolved to
press him hard to meet the Americans in
battle. On the 18th, General Burgoyne
made overtureS to Gates, who required the
British to be drawn up in their encampment
and Internationally ground their arms
Burgoyne replied that this would be mad
missable in any extremity, as the British
army, 10 a man, would prefer death to such
diShonor, Gates at last allowed them the
privilege OF marching out, with the honors
of war, and then the terms of the surren-
der were mutually agreed upon; and on
the morning of the 18th OF October, Gen.
Burgoyne, with his general officers, surren-
dered their swords TO Gates. Burgoyne, in
a rich royal uniform, was received by Gates
at the head of the American camp the
former came up within swords length
reinei and halted; Burgoyne, raising hi,
hat most graciously, said "IAe fortune OF
ogar, General Gates, has made me yOur priS-
oaer"-to which the conqueror, returning
a courlly salute, promptly replied Msial
alrcays be ready to bear testimony that At has
not been through any fauH Of your ercellen-
cy" On the 18th OF October, l777, GATES
advised Congress of the surrender; anc
what was remarkable, he wrote not wore
TO Washington upon subject of such vas
importance, leaving the communicating
chief to be informed from common report
Burgoyne's army contained noblemen o
high rank, and several were accompanied
by their families up TO the day of surren
der. From the statements of these accom-
pllshed women, many particulars wer'
learned after they became prisoners. Lady
Harriet Ackland was among the number
and particularly distinguished by her beroi,
fortitude, and devotion to her husband, Ma
jor Ackland, who was severely wounded
and le!t on the field, in the bands OF th
1 Americans, while charging at the head o
his grenaders. As soon as the fate of tn
Major became known, Lady Harriet in