Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-03-21
Meeting Of Gates and BurgOyne.

In Irving's Life of Washington. we
find this interesting chapter: Wilkiu-
son, in his memoirs, describes the first
meeting of Gates and Burgoyne, which
took place at the Amesican camp
They were attended by their stats,
and other general officers Burgoyne
was in rich royal uniform Gates in
q plain blue froek. When they ap-
preached nearly within swords length,
they reined up aud halted: The for
tune of war, General G ties has made
me your prisoner said Burgoyne TO
which the other; returning his salute
replied. Il shall always be ready to tes-
tify that ii has not been through any
fault of your Exccllency.' 'We pass.
ed through the American camp
writes the already cited II ssian officer,
in which all the regiments were drawn
out besides the artillery, and stood un-
der arms. Not one of them was uni
formly clad each had on the clothes
which he wore in the field, the church
and the tavern They stood, however,
like soldiers, well arranged and with
unil tary air, in which there was little
to fad fault with. All the muskets had
bayonels, and the sharp shooters had
riff s. The men all stood so still that
we were all filled with wonder Not
one Of them ma ie a single m ton as if
he would speak to his neighbor. Nay
more, all the lads that stood there in
rank and file, kind nature had formed
SO trim, SO slender, so nervous, that it
was pleasure to look at them, and we
were surprised at such a handsome,
well formed race 1n all earnestness,
he adds, English America surpasses
the most Of Europe in the growth and
looks of its male population The.
whole nation has a natural turn for
war, and a soldiers life. lie made HIM
self somewhat merry, however, with
the equip uenis Of the officers, few
wore regimentals, and those fashioned
to their own notion as to their cut and
color, being provided by them. Brown
coats and sea-gseen facings, white lin
ing, with silver trimming, and gray
coats in abundance, with buff facings
and cuffs, and gilt buttons, in short,
every variety of pattern. The Brga-
diers and Generals wore uniforms and
belts which designated their rank; but
mosi of the Colonels and other officers
were in their ordinary clothes, mus
ket with 4 bayonet IN hand, and car
fridge box and powder-horn over his
shoulder Bat what especially anus
ID him was, the uncoulh wigs worn by
the officers, lngerings of ancient fash
ion. But most of the troops thus no.
ticed were the hastily raised militia
the yeomanry of the country There
were regular regiments alSo,' he said,
which for want OF time and cloth, were
not yet tquipped in uniform. They had
standards with various emblems and
notices, some of which for US had a
very satirical Specification. But I must
say to the credit of the enemy's reei-
ueHtS, C"h'iuecS He, tldt no man
was to be found therein who, as We
marched by made even sign Of taunt.
ing, insulting exultation, hatred or 9th
er evil feeling; on the contrary, they
seemed as though they would rather do
us honor. As We marched by the great
tent Of Gates, he invited in the Briga-
diers and commanders of regiments,
and various refreshments were set be,
fore them. Gen. Gates is between fif-
ty and sixty years Of age, wears his
own thin gray hair, is active and friend
ly, and on account of the weakness Of
his eyes, constantly wears speetaeles.
At head quarters we met many officers
who treated US with all p ssibe polite
ness