The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
BURGOYNE'S SURRENDER.
An Interesting Account OF the .Capitulation
Meeting of Bursoyne and Gates-NIili-
taty Generosity and DelIcacy.


taty Generosity and Delicacy.
At eleven o'clock on the morning of
the 18th of October, 1777, the royal
army left their fortified camp, and form
ed in line on the meadow just north Of
Fish Greek, at its junction with the
Hudson. Here they left their cannon
and small arms. With 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 grenadier stacked
his musket to resume it no more.
Others in their rage knocked off the
butts of their arms, and the drummers
stamped their drums to pieces.
Immediately after the surrender, the
British took up their march for Boston,
bivouacked the first night in their old
where Frazer was buried. AS they de-
posted their arms, they passed between
the Continentals, who were drawn up in
parallel lines. But on no face did they
see exultation. GAS we passed the
American army" writes Lieutenant
Anbury, one of the captured officers,
and bitterly preiudiced against his con-
querors, Il did not observe the least
disrespect, or even taunting look, but
all was mute astonishment and pity I;
and it gave us no little comfort to notice
this civil department to a captured
enemy, unsullied with the exulting aid
Of victors."
The English general having expressed
desire to be formally introduced to
Gates, Wilkinson arranged an interview
few moments after the capitulation.
In anticipation of this meeting, Bur-
goyne had bestowed the greatest care
upon his whole toilet. He had attired
himself in full court dress, and wore
costly regimentals and richly decorated
hat with streaming, plumes. Gates, on
the contrary, was dressed merely in a
plain blue overcoat, which had upon it
scarcely anything indicative of his rank.
Upon the two generals first catching a
glimpse of each other, they stepped for
ward simultaneously, and advanced until
only few steps apart, when they halted.
| The English general took off his hat,
and making polite bow, said "The
fortune of war, General Gates, has made
me your prisoner" The American gen.
eral in reply, simply returned his greet.
ing, and said, "I 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 con-
sideration due to brave but unfortunate
men.
After Riedesel had been presented
to Gates, he sent for his wife and children.
1t is to this circumstance that we owe
the portraiture of lovely trait in Gen.
eral Schuyler's character. "In the
passage through the American camp"
the baroness writes, 81 observed, with
great satisfaction, that no one cast at us
scornful glances on the contrary, they
all greeted me, even showing compass
sion on their countenances at seeing q
mother with her little children i'll such
situation. I confess feared to come
into the enemy's camp, as the thing was
so entirely new to me. When l ap-
preached the tents, 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 General Gates, with whom
l found Generals Burgoyne and Phil.
lips, who were upon an extremely
friendly footing with him. Presently
the man, who had received me so kindly
came up and said to me, 1T may be EN-.
barrassing to you to dine with all those
gentlemen come now with your chill.
dren into my tent, where will give you,
it is true, a frugal meal, but one that
will be accompanied by the best OF
wishes You are certainly answered
/, "a husband and father, since you
show me so much Kindness 1 then
learned that he was the American Gen
eral Schuyler"
The English and German generals
dined with the American commander il
his tent on boards laid across barrels.
The dinner, which was served up in foul
dishes, consisted only of ordinary viands,
the Americans at this period being ac
customed to plain and frugal meals
The drink ON this occasion was cider
and rum mixed with water. Burgoynt
appeared in excellent humor. He talk
ed great deal, and spoke very fatter
ingly of the Americans, remarking
among other things, that he admired tn,
number, dress, and discipline of theil
army, and above all, the decorum and
regularity that were observed. "Youl
fund of men," he said to Gates, " is mex
haustible like the Hydra's head, wher
cut off, seven more spring up in iti
stead" He also proposed toast tc
General Washington-an attention thai
Gates returned by drinking the healtl
| Of the Kinp of ENGLAND The convareo
ton on both sides was unrestrained
affable, and free. Indeed, the conduct
of Gates throughout, after the terms O
the surrender had been adjusted, wal
marked with equal delicacy and magma
niminity, as Burgoyne himself admitted
in letter to the Earl of Derby. Ii
that letter the captive general particular
ly mentioned one circumstance, which
he said, exceeded all he had ever seel
or read of on like occasion. 1t wal
that when the British soldiers ha(
marched out of their camp to the plact
where they were to pile their arms, no
a man of the American troops was to b,
seen, General Gates having ordered hi
whole army out of sight, that not one Q
them should be spectator of the humil
iation OF the British troops. This was
refinement of delicacy and of militar,
generosity and politeness, rejecting the
highest credit upon the conqueror.
AS the company rose from the table
the royal army filed past ON their .marcl
to the seaboard. Thereupon, by precon
certed arrangement, the two general
stepped out, and Burgoyne, drawing hi
sword, presented it, in the presence o