Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-10-21

attacked the right wing of our army. This was
a bloody half day until dark at night and cur
forces lay on the ground ready for the event of
the morning. The British returned to their quar-
ters, rested awhile, and then attacked again ON
the same ground. Here, as in the former en-
gagement, Arnold had command of the fl iehting
forces. lie did not lack skill or courage in this
battle, and would give the ID has due The
enemy fell back, and we took some prisoners and
several pieces of artillery We lay upon our
arms that night, and were so near the British
that we could hear the Hessians relieve their
guards a great mise was kept up in their
camp all night. At daylight we marched for
their camp, but when We got where they were,
they were not there, cXccpt wounded, sick and
doctors to attend them, where they were quarter
"a in large tents We pursued the main body
passing dead horses the wrccks of wagons and
other things burned their rereat and came
up with them at Saratoga Creek, Where they had
planted their artillery. They comRimontcd us
with balls and shells for perhaps two heurs, with
ont benefit to themselves detriment 'ous ex-
cept to one poor fellow, who killeI We
were under a steep HILL and l saw the balm and
shells pass over us, but we lay as easy and q,et
as chickens under hens wings. We iortititl
hill on the opposite side of the creek, nearly as
high as that occupied 10y the British and fire.
Guently went to drive parties from the creek,
where they came for water, as it was scarce III
their camp.
+ As we were about to open our fire, = flag OF
truce arrived, attended by six very tail, richly
dressed men, with very tall caps, the tops Of
which We're, 1 judged, seven feet high. An ar
niistice ofthree days, with view to surrender,
was asked. Six ofthc tallest men in our army,
with the best clothes we could procure, and with
C APPS so high we had to look twice to see their
tops ,lwere selected to meet the flag. Terms Of
surrender were finally concluded. 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 Cen
cral officers 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.
Burgoync-Gcn Gates, Your servant, ST. =
Your servant, ir,-passod around. Gen. Bur
goyne said, Through the misfortune Of war, Gen.
Gates, your prisoner. IL IS not through
any misconduct OF yours, GuIi. Burgoyne, re-
Piled Gates. Then came the British troops i'll
columns, as richly dressed clean and sizable men
as ever saw. l saw not q smile on the face of
Americans or British. Next came the Hessans
and how shall | describe the most miserable,
Gllhy, i'll looking beings ever saw in human
form. But the fag end was the women, sup
pose Many Of them led horses, upon the backs
ofwhich were thrown large oblong bags scwed
up at the ends. These bags contained plovision,
blankets, clothing utensils, &c, and III many ca
scs were the heads Of children sticking up above
the horses backs, through holes in the bags.
Our orders were to maintain respectable 81
: lcncc but this last was too much One ventu-
/ red suppressed laugh-hs nci2hbor took the
disease in q more violent form, until in few mo-
ments the whole American lines were conyulsed
with the most uproarous laughter, and all at the
eXpense of the poor Hcssians, their women, chi
dren and equipage.
+ CAS- soon as they had all passed, we marched
south few miles and halted for the night, but
by sunrise the next morning we were on our way
to Albany, and marching all day and night, the
next morning found us upon the east of the river
opposite Albany, where the bare ground was an
casv bed for short time. The reason Of this
forced march was that the enemy were ascending
/ the river to Join Burgoyne but hearing o. his de
feat, they returned to New York. In few days
f
! landed on the west side-crossed the Jerseys
ioined Washington in Pennsylvania, (the British
being in possession of Philadclphia,) and arrived
at Valley Forge in the latter part ofDeccmber,
! l777 Sometime previously we hid lost our
tents, cooking utensils, &c, and IS we did not
draw bread we kneaded our -four IN knapSack'
kept clean for the purpose, and bazed it by the
fire or in hot embers, if we had any One OF my
mess had small copper tea kettle which suE-
pose he stole We made bush futs, and alter
ward those of logs. After slee'Ing during the
night on the ground, / have aWaked IN the NOR
ming and found myself covered with snow, but
( did not suffer much from cold
..Nv term of enlistment yoon expired and /
was discharged 800 milestTom home, without
money. as Government lad none to Iay u.s.
Washington sent an office to draw rations from
the country stores on tt route. After mar
row rscape from drowning in crossing the North
River, in twelve days W arrived at our homes
in Connecticut.
Mrs. Partington sap, it is great marcy the
President has a cushfo inlis cabinet: he must
want to set down prey often, poor man. But
what ON arth did hedo with old hoss Dobbin!
Did he ride him to tie Texico wars, like General
TavIor did old Whey. 1 wouldn't gone to
North Ca'lina to 6 hoss any how, for they do
have some of theltserablest looking beasts that
ever YOU seed nd that Camel, too-Shat does
he do with hin Is the poor, dear general
coin' to fight Il Arabs :? Or did he get the ca
mel and old DObin after the t'other hoss broke