Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-05-29
BurgOyne's Surrender.

A lecture by Judge Lourie of Green
wich at Saratoga on the subject of Bur
goyne's campaign gave graphic account
of the most important events connected
with this celebrated campaign, so gener-
ally and justly regarded as the turning
point of the revolution. The concluding
portion of the lecture was as follows:
The retreat of the army was now
ordered. The wounded officers and
soldiers were left to the care and gener-
osity of the Americans. Struggling
along up the banks of the Hudson, they
finally encamped at Saratoga, where
Schuylerville now stands. Gen. Gates
pursued them, and posted his batteries
and sharpshooters in such advantageous
positions that they swept with their balls
and bullets every part of the camp;
eleven round shot tore through the
house which the Americans believed to
be the headquarters of Gen. Burgoyne.
In view of the British lines, on the hill
across the Hudson, were two thousand
Americans ready and eager to dispute
the passage.
At Fort Edward was Gen. Stark with
his hardy New Hampshire mountaineers
to guard against attempted movements
toward the north. Thus hemmed in by
superior forces, with his provisions al
most exhausted, and his army exposed
day andnight to the incessant and furious
fire of the Americans, Gen. Burgoyne
still clung to the hope which had all
along deluded him, that Sir Henry Clin-
ton would advance up the Hudson to
Albany in time for hisrelief. 1.-THE hour
of the inevitable was close upon him.
He called council of his officers, and
without dissenting voice they advised
an honorable capitulation. A truce was
ordered and after conference of officers,
terms of surrender were agreed upon.
On the part of Gen. Gates they were
liberal and magnanimous. The British
army was to march out of its camp with
the honors of war and the artillery to
the verge of the river, where the old
fort stood, where the arms and artillery
were to be left, and their arms piled by
word of command of their own officers;
they were paroled and allowed to go to
England on the condition that they
should not serve again in North America
during the war.
Not an American soldier was present
on the plain when they laid down their
arms to witness their humiliation-a
mark of noble sensibility Characteristic
of brave men. One thousand eight hun
dred and fifty-six prisoners of war, 81
781 paroled men, 1900 muskets, and
forty-two brass cannon were the trophies
of the campaign. The American troops,
with joyous hearts and elastic steps, with
colors flying and drums beating, marched
into the British encampments, to the
tune of Yankee Doodle. Thus ended
this terribly contested campaign-the
turning point of the revolution-the
proudest page in American history. In
the midst of prosperity and happiness,
shall we ever forget its glorious events,
or its brave, it's noble, its self-sacrifcing
heroes2 If there is spot in all this
land of liberty, where time enduring
marble should rear high its tablets of
illustrious names and ofrenowned events,
it is here on the nights of Old Saratoga.
Here-where the flag of imperious Eng
land was lowered, and where the proud
est army she ever sent across the sea
laid down their arms.