Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-10-25

| wy VI ILiC alHly w HlC executing
this order, Fraser received ball from a
sharp-shooter, and, fatally wounded, was
led back to the camp. Just then, within
twenty minutes from the beginning of the
action, the British grenadiers, suffering
from the sharp fire Of musketry in front and
flank, wavered and fled. leaving Major
Ackland, their commander severely wound
ed. These movements exposed the Bruins
wickers on both aanks, and one regiment
broke, turned and fled. 1t rallied, but only
| to retreat in less disorder driven by the
| Americans. Sir Francis Clark, Burgoyne's
| first aid, sent to the rescue of the artillery,
was mortally wounded before he could de
liver his message and the Americans
took all the eight pieces In the face of
| the hot pursuit, no second line could be
| formed, Burgoyne exposed himself fearless
| ly; a shot passed through his hat, and an
other tore his waistcOat ; but he was com
PEELED to give the word of command for III
to retreat to the camp Of Fraser, which lay
to the right Of headquarters, Burgoyne as
he entered showed alarm by crying out
''You must defend the post till the very
last man " The Americans pursued with
fury, and unwisely directed by Arnold, who
had ridden upon the field as an unattended
volunteer, without orders, without any
command, without a staff and beside him
self yet carrying some authority as the
highest officer present in the action, they
made an onset on the strongest part of the
British line, and despite an abattis and
other distractions, despite musketry-
fire and grape-shot, continued it for more
than an hour, though in vain. Meantime
the brigade of Learned made a circuit and
assaulted the quarters Of the regiment of
Breymann which ilanked the extreme right
of the British camp, and was connected
with Fra ser's quarters by two stockade re-
doubts, defended by Canadian companies
These intermediate rcdoQbts We're stormed
by Massachusetts regiment headed by
John Brooks, afterwards Governor Of that
State, and were carried with little loss
Arnold, who had joined group in this last
assault, lost his horse and was himself bad
ly wounded within the works. The regi-
ment of Breymann was now exposed in
front and rear It's colonel, fighting gal
lantly, was mortally wounded some of
his troops fled and the rest. about two
hundred in number, surrendered Colonel
Speth, who led up small body Of Ger
mans to his support, was taken prisoner
The position of Breyuann was the key to
Burgoyne's camp; but the directions for
its recovery could not be executed Night
set in, and darkness ended the battle.
During all the fight, neither Gates nor
Lincoln appeared on the field. In his re-
port Of the action, Gates named Arnold
with Morgan and Dearborn and Congress
paid a tribute to Arnold's courage by Civ
ing him the rank which he had claimed
The actioa was the battle Of the husband
men and on this decisive day, men Of the
valley of Virginia, of New York and of
New England, fought together with one
spirit for a common cause. At ten o'clock
in the night, Burgoyne gave orders to re-
treat; but as he took with him his woun-
ded, artillery, and baggage, at day-break
he had only transferred his camp to the
heights above the hospital. Light dawned,
to show to his army the hOpeiessness of
their position. They were greatly outnum-
bered, their cattle starving, their hospitals
numbered with sick, wounded, and dying
and their general, whose courage in battle
could not be excelled, wanted strength of
judgement.
All persons sorTowed over Fraser, so
much love had he inspired. He questioned
the surgeon eagerly as to his wound, and
when he found that he must go from wife
and children, that fame and promotion and
life were gliding from before his eyes, he
cried out in his agony: Damned ambi-
ton !" At sunset of the eighth, as his body,
attended by the officers Of his family, was
borne by soldiers Of his corps to the great
redoubt above the Hudson, where he had
asked to be buried, the three major gene
rails, Burgoyne, Phillips and Riedesel, and
none beside, joined the train and amidst
the ceaseless booming Of the American ar
tillery, the order for the burial Of the dead
was strictly observed in the twilight over
his grave. Never more shall he chase the
red deer through the heather of Srath Err
rick, or guide the skif1 across the tathom-
less lake of central Scotland, or muse over
the ruin of the Stuarts on the moor OF
Drum-mosse, or dream Of glory beside the
crystal waters of the Ness Death in itself
is not terrible but he came TO America
for selfish advancement, and though brave
ly true as soldier he died unconsoled.
In the following night, Burgoyne, aban-
doning the wounded and sick in his hospl-
tai, continued his retreat hut as he was
still clogged with his artillery and bag
! gage, the night being dark, the narrow
road worsened by rain, they made halt two
| miles short Of Saratoga. In the night be-
fore the tenth, the British Army, finding the
passage of the Hudson too strongly guard
ed by the Americans, forded the Elshllll,
and in very bad position at Saratoga
made their last encampment. On the tenth
Burgoyne sent ont party to reconnoitre
the road on the west of the Hudson but
Stark, who after, the battle of Bennington
had been received at home as a conqueror,
had returned with more than two thousand
men of New Hampshire, and held the river
at Fort Edward.
At daybreak of the eleventh, an Ameri-
Can brigade, favored by thick fog, broke
up the British posts at the mouth Of the
Fishkill, and captured all their boats and
all their provisions, except short allow
ance for five days. On the twelfth the
British Army was completely invested, nor
was there a spot in their camp which was
not exposed to cannon or rifle shot. On
the thirteen, Burgoyne, for the first time
called the commanders of corps to council;
and they were unanimous for treating on
/ honorable terms Had Gates been firm,
they would have surrendered as prisoners
lE l.