Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1853-02-17
The Surrender Of RuFsOyne.
By AN EYEWITNESS.

We recently had the pleasure o
perusing a letter written by the ven
cradle Samuel Cody, Of Vernon Cen.
tre, in this county, now in his nine.
. ty-third year, il " hich he describes
many Of the incidents connected witt
1.-THE surrender Of Burgoyne, on the
18th CT October, 1777, Of which he
was an eye witness. The writing is
even and regular "plain as print,
and the lines SO compact that six
ty-two are written upon a pag C
Of common le etter-paper. Congress
had ordered the deficiencies in the
continental regiments TO be made up
I.by drafts. but says the venera-
bic patriot,
My father said he. would take the
place of one, and ! should that OF
another. This was ia the spring Of
1777, and our term. Of service was
10 expire the 10th Of January, 77S.
We Nqrc placed in Capt. Keeps com
pany, Col. Shepherds regiment, and
Gen'l Glovers brigade. We march
ed to Claverback, on the Hudson,
where we endured the greatest suf-
teings from disease, want of provis-
ions, clothing, G3c. We. soon learned
! that Gnn SchIIyler was retreatino be-
fore tile British We were ordered
northV yard, and joined Gen. Schuyler
near S Saratoga. The Indians picked
off our sentries at night, and great
dissatis sEetion existed until Gen.
Gates took command, when new splr-
/ its were instilled into our soldiers,
our IA lions became ample and good,
with a gill of New England rum each
man per day. Gates says: "My
Uoys, we win nov go back and meet
tlem- no m ore retreating." @Amen,
SAID very heart. We recrossed the
sprout (str9am) and met the Bsl tish
near Slillwa ater- told them by our
lortifqations 5 they could come no far
ther. Her they were strong i6rti-
fed, but must lave known they we're
il a bad situation. | suppose they
thought of Bennington, and that the
Green Mount;Cn Boys would be at
tI,a;r hacks Soon they chose to
risk !; battle, and attack the right
wing of'our army This was a bloody
halliday until dark at night, and our
forces lag on the ground ready for
the events of the morning. The Brit
iSh returned 10 their quarters, rested
awhile, and then attacked US again
on the same ground. Here, as IN
the former engagement, Arnold had
command of the fighting forces. lie
did not lack skill or co bragg in this
battle, and | would ''gid dc' the d -,
as due." The enemy. fell back, and
we took some prisoners and several
pieces of ar rtilIery, We lay upon
our arms that night. and were 50 near
the British that we could hear Hes
slams relieve their guards. A great
noise was kept up in the camp all
night. At daylight We marched for
theis camp, but when We got there
where they were, they were not there
except the wounded, sick, and doc
tors to attend them, where they were
quartered, in large tents. We pur-
sued the main body, passing dead
horses, the wrecks Of wagons, and
other things on their retreat, and
came up with them at Saratoga, up
on a high hill north of Saratoga creek,
where they had planted their artil-
lery. They compliIh hented US with
balls and shells, f5r perhaps two
hours, without benefit to themselves
or detriment to us, except to one
poor fellow who was killed. We
were under steep bill, and ] saw
the balls and Shells pass over US, but
we lay as easy and quiet as chickens
under IA hens wings, We fortified
hill on the Opposite side Of the
creek, nearly as high as that oecu-
pied by the British, and frequently
went to drt I've parties from the creek,
where they came for water, as it was
scarce ii their camp. As we we're
about to open our fire, q flag Of truce
arrived, attended by six very tall,
richly dressed men, with very tall
caps, the tops of which we're, !uag-
ed, seven feet high. AN arms Ilee
Of three days, with a view 10 surFen-
der, was asked. Six OF the tailes'
men in our army, with the best clothes
I've could procure, and With caps 50