Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-02-19

We fortified hill on the opposite size Vi tHe cIeeA
nearly as high as that occupied by the British, and
frequently went to drive parties from the creek
where they came for water, as it was scarce in their
camn AS we were about to open our fire, flag
Of truce arrived, attended by six very tall richly
dressed men, with very tall caps, the tops OF
which were, l Judged, seven feet high An ar
ro;st;ce of three DAYS, with view to surrender,
was asked Six of the tallest men in our army,
with the best clothes we could procure, and with
caps so high we had to look twice to see their tops
were selected to meet the flag. Terms OF surren-
der were finally concluded. Our brigade was or
dered to march down the hill, and parade on the
road leading south, with all the music of the brl-
gade in the CENTRE playing yankee Doodle. =
We were but just paraded, when the British Cen
eral, officers and staff, and General Gates and
staff, met close by where stood in the ranks, and
so near that could hear all that was said. An
American officer said General Burgoyne-G Gen.
Gates" "Your servant, sir, "-"Your servant,
sir,' passed around. General Burgoyne said,
''Through the misfortune of war, Gen. Gates,
am your prisoner sit is not through any mis-
conduct of yours, Gen. Burgoyne, replied Gates
Then came the British troops in columns, as rich
" dressed, clean, and sizeable men as l ever saw
saw not smile on the face Of American or Brit
ish. Next came the Hessians-and how shall
describe the most miserable filthy, Unlocking be-
! ings | ever saw in human form But the fag-end
was the women, l suppose. Many of them LED
horses, upon the backs of which were thrown large
oblong bags, sewed up at the ends. These bag:
contained provisions, blankets, clothing, utensils
&C., and in many cases were the heads of chill
dren sticking up above the horses backs, through
holes in the bags. Sometimes there were two
smaller children the other side to balance
Our orders were to maintain respectful silence
but this last was too much One ventured to sup
press laugh-his neighbor took the disease in
more violent form, until, in few moments, tn
whole American lines were convulsed with th
most uproarious laughter, and all at the expens
of the poor Hessians, their women, children, 2nt
equPage.
"As soon as they had all passed, we marche
south few miles and halted for the night, but b
sunrise next morning were on our way to Al
bany, and by marching all day and night, the mex
morning found us upon the east side Of the river
opposite Albany, where the bare ground was a
easy bed for a short time. The reason of thi
forced march was that the enemy were ascending
the river to join Bugoyne, but hearing of his de
feat, they returned to New York. In a few day
we went down the river several miles in sleeps
landed the west side, crossed the Jerseys, join
ed Washington in Pennsy lvania, (the British be
ing in possession of Philadelphia and arrived a
Valley Forge in the latter part of December, 1777
Some time previously we had lost our tents, cook
ing utensils, DC, and, did not draw bread
we kneaded our flour in knapsack, kept clean fo
the purpose, and baked it by the fire or in hot EN-
e bers, if we had any. One Of my mess had a sma
copper kettle, which l suppose he stole w
made bush huts and afterwards those of logs
After sleeping during the night on the ground
have awaked in the morning and found myse
covered with snow but did not suffer much fror
: cold.
e my term Of enlistment expired, and
r was dscharg ed 900 miles from home. wthou
d money, as the government had none to pay us
Il Washington sent an officer to draw ratlons fror
; the country stores on the route After a narrov
: escape from drowning in crossing the North river
in twelve days we arried at our homes in Con
necticut.''