Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-02-10

Ish, and frequently went to drive parties from
the creek, where they came for water, as il
was scarce in their camp. As we were about
TO open our fire, flag OF truce arrived, at
tended by six very tall, richly dressed men !,
with very tallcaps, the tops of which were,
Judged, seven feet high. An armistiee 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 10
see their tops, were selected TO NEE. lhe
flag.
Terms OF surrender were finally conclud.
ed. Our brigade was ordered to march
down the hill and parade on The road leading
South with all the music of the brigade in
the centre, playing Yankee Doodle We
were but just paraded when the British Gen.
eral, officers and staff, and Gen. 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: Gen. Bur
goyne-Gen. Gates your servant, SIR
Your servant, sir'-passed around Gen.
Burgoyne said, Through the misfortune of
war, Gen. Gates, am your prisoner III is
not through any misconduct of yours, Gen.
Burgoyne,' replied Gates. Then came the
British troops in columns, as richly dresse d,
cleaQ and siZeable men as ever / saw. !
saw not a smile on the face of Americans or
British. Next came The Hessians-and how
shall ! describe the most miserable, filthy,
Unlocking beings ever saw in human form.
But the fag>end was the women, suppose.
Many of them led horses, upon the back Of
which were thrown large oblong bags sewed
up 81 the ends. These bags contained pro-
visions, blankets, clothing, utensils, &C., and
IN many cases were the hea Of children
sticking up above the horses backs, through
holes in the bags. Sometimes there were
two smaller children on The other side TO
balance. Our orders were to maintain a re.
spectlul silence, but this last was too much!
One ventured suppressed laugh his
neighbor took the disease in more violent
form, until in few moments the whole
American lines were convulsed with the
most uproarious laughter, and all at the ex.
Pense of the poor Hessians, their women,
children and equipage.
AS soon as they had all passed, we march
ed south few miles and hailed for the
night, but by sunrise the next morning we
were on our way TO Albany, and marching
all day and all night, The next morning found
US upon the east bank Of the river opposite
Albany, where the bare ground was an easy
bed for short time. The reason of this
forced march was that the enemy were as
cending the river TO join Burgoyne, but hear
ing OF bis defeat, they returned TO New York.
In few days, we went down the river sew.
eral miles in sloops-landed on the west
s'de-crossed the Jerseys-joined Washing
ton IN Pennsylvania, The British being in
possession of Philadelphia and arrived at
Valley Forge in the latter part of December,
l|17. Sometime previously we had lost onr
tents, cooking utensils, &C., and as we did
not draw bread, we kneaded our -four in
h"dPsdch, kept cIean Tor the purpose, and
baked il by the fire or in hot embers, if we
had any. One ofmy mess had a small cop
per tea-kettle, which | suppose he stole. -
We made bush huts, and afterwards those
Q: logs. Alter sleeping during the night on
the ground, | have awaked in the morning
and found myself covered with snow, bur
did not suffer much from cold
Ny term of enlistment soon expired, and
was discharged 300 miles from home, with
out money, as Government had none TO paw
US. Washington sent an officer 10 draw ra-
tons from the country stores on the route
After narrow escape from drowning in
crossing the North River, in twelve days we
arrived at our homes in Connecticut.