Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-10-05
Burgoyne's Surrender.

At eleven o'clock on the morning of
the 18th the royal army left their forti-
fed camp, and formed in line ON the
meadow Just north of Fish Creek, at its
junction with the Hudson. Here they
left their cannon and small arms. With
a longing eye the artillery-man looked
for the last time upon his faithful gun,
parting with it as from his bride, and
that forever. With tears trickling down
his bronzed cheeks, the bearded grena-
dier stacked his musket to resume it no
more. Others, in their rage, knocked
off the butts of their arms, and the drum
mers stamped their drums to pieces.
Immediately after the surrender the
British took up their march for Boston,
whence they expected to embark, and
bivouacked the first night at their old en-
campment at the foot of the hill where
Fraser was buried. AS they debouched
from the meadow, having deposited their
arms, they passed between the Continen-
tails, who were drawn up in parallel lines.
But on no face did they see exultatIon.
"As we passed the American army"
writes Lieut.. Anbury, one of the capt.
ured officers, and bitterly prejudiced
against his conquerors, 81 did not OBJ.
serve the least disrespect, or even
taunting look, but all was mute astonish-
ment and pity; and it gave US no little
comfort to notice this civil department
to captured enemy, unsullied with the
exulting air of victors."
The English General having expressed
desire to be formally introduced to
Gates, Wilkinson arranged an interview
few minutes after the capitulation. In
anticipation of this meeting, Burgoyne
had bestowed the greatest care upon his
whole toilet. He had attired himself in
full court dress, and wore costly regi-
mentals .and richly-decorated hat with
streaming plumes. Gates, on the con-
trary, was dressed merely in plain blue
Overcoat, which had upon it scarcely
anything indicative of his rank. Upon
the two Generals first catching glimpse
of each other, they stepped forward sim.
ultaneously, and advanced until they
were only few steps apart, when they
halted. The English General took off
his hat, and, making polite bow, said:
The fortune of war, Gen. Gates, has
made me your prisoner" The American
General, in reply, simply returned his
greeting, and said: :" shall always be
ready to testify that it has not been
through any fault of your Excellency."
AS soon as the introduction was over,
the other captive Generals repaired to the
tent of Gates, where they were received
with the utmost courtesy, and with the
consideration due to brave but unfortu-
nate men.
A nod 81.
Gates he sent for his wife and children.
1t is to this circumstance that we owe the
portraiture of lovely trait in Gen.
Schuylers character. "In the passage
through the American camp" the Baron
ess writes, i observed, with great sat
isfaction, that no one cast at US scornful
glances; on the contrary, they all greeted
me, even showing compassion on their
countenances at seeing mother with her
little children in such situation. i con-
fess feared to come into the enemy's
camp, as the thing was so entirely new
to me. When l approached the tents a
noble'looking man came toward me, took
the children out of the wagon, embraced
and kissed them, and then, with tears In
his eyes, helped me also to alight. He
then led me to the tent of Gen. Gates,
with whom l found Gems. Burgoyne and
Phillips, who we're upon an extremely
friendly footing with him. Presently the
man who had received me so kindly came
up, and said 10 me; II may be embar-
RAISING to you to dine with all these gen.
tlemen; come, now, with your children
into my tent, where will give you, it is
true, frugal meal, but one that will be
accompanied by the best of wishes.