The Bennington daily banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1877-1877, 1877-08-18

/
was Overrun with lOyalists, of whom mum,
| bers had been sent to the New England
States for safe keeping-two hundred az
one time in the jails and houses OF New
| Hampshire. The State of New Hampshire,
so intensely patriotic that only one hundred
and seventy-three out of her whole popula-
| tiOn had, whether from conscientious or
political scruples, refused 10 sign, the pledge
| to resist the foe with arms, at the risque OF
| our lives and fortunes" was yet distracted
with tho magnitude and multitude of her ef-
forts. l NAV not weary you with the long
recital. Enough that when a State militia
enrolment extended from the age OF sixteen
up to fifty and had "alarm hsP to sixty
five; and when at length orders were given
to draft One-half even Of that alarm list, we
may be sure that the strain has reached her
vital forces.
The outlook, also, in these earlier months
Of the year, was fOrbidding. A fearful fleet
lay southwark at the centre of the nation,
ready TO strike ut any part of our vast coast
line. The way was well-nigh clear for early
| invaslons from the North. Canadian sympa-
| thies were lost. The Indian tribes, that SIX
months before had refused to mingle in this
| "Quarrel," as they phrased it, "between two
brothers and one blood" were hastening to
the enemy. Franklin was waiting in vain
at the French Court for recognition OF ou1
country.
And now the plot was deepening. Bur
gOyne in London laid before the King
Howe had sent across the ocean still larger
scheme. Lord Howe proposed to open the
campaign of the Southern army, with $500
men in three army cOrpsj one to cover New
jersey one to act on the side OF Rhode Isl
and with view to isOlating Boston an
81 break down all resistance to his m ajes
tvs troops" Both agreed III this, that one
army should 60 up the Hudson, another de-
scend from the north and west at Albany.
Thev would thus cut the rebel serpent in
twain, and repeatedly crush its New England
head and its Southern body.
The scheme was u good one. IL might have
adjourned our liberties for fifty years. Who
marred that plot I In England, King George
and Lord George German, in America Sir
John BurRoyne and Charles Lee. The dull
king had u way of meddling in detail with
all the business Of his great empire. III the
British Museum you can read in his own
handwriting, hls comments on the plan of
Burgoyne, restricting his forces, Withholding
all discretionary power, aud requiring him
simply to Join Howe at Albany" But that
equally positive orders were not issued TO
Howe, we may thank Lord George Ger
main. The Minister called ut his office.
The dispatch, all written, was not fair
copied.h So Gerinain hurried off heedlessly
70 the country. The unHgned dispatch
was pigeon -hOled and was found again
after the surrender at Saratoga,
Thero haYe been worae eomnanders, and
style than Sir John Burgoyne. man of wit,
fashion and honor. says Macaulay; He
eloped with Lord DeTby's Daughter, and was
forgiven by the family. He wrote elabOiate
letters, genteel comedies, aud flaming proclh-
matiOns,p "The charm Of his manner" Ii
was said, neither man nor woman could re-
sist.n That was left for the Green Mountain
Bows He wore on his finger diamond ring
given him by the king Of Portugal for Ills
gallant dash at Valencia d. Alcantara, and
Burgoyne's Light Horse nv was the favored
regiment that George the Third loved often
to review He was a brave officer, and q
mo derate general. 1t is useless to extOl him
| Justly as q commander. He did three things
that are not done by great commanders. tie
needlessly underrated his enemy. he lost Dis
best opportunity, and N the last resOTt be
declined the responsibility which would
have given up an expedition and saved his
army. Give him credit for a good plan.
Another man should have executed the plan.
That man was Sir Guy Carleton, his last
years commander and the governor Of Cana
da. He knew the country, understood the
people and controlled the preparations. Cau-
tious as well as peaceful, he was all the more
formidable because he was wise, conciliatory
But in the high councils of heaven, and
the small rithmetic of King George, IL ives
ordered otherwise. Burgoyne was followna
Lore sfo Soffh sH iooked fos bs ssbesig qie y
Of the Iebeihon. The Riding OF Alanchester
market. The country gentlemen were
loudly loyal. The opposition in the COM
mons was well,nigh silenoed. Bishops and
clergy breathed out war; the staid pulpit Of
the Establishment rung with exhortations to
smite the rebels, aud even the heart of the
| humane king became ossified till he could
say. Every means of distressing America
| must meet with my concurrence"
BurgoYpe was in Montreal full month
before he appIied Tor means OF trausportai
tioD, and the inadequ1cyot this supply at last
was chief cause Of ms disaster His body
| Of troops, though smaller than he asked, was
| 9 splendid army corps. Burgoyne had asked
for 5000 regular troops exclusive of artillery,
1000 Canadians to act as escorts and work
ing parties, and ono thousand Indians. be-
sides q largo number Of provincials for
transport dude.. tie iepVrs hts actual ioiG
At Z, 25l re-. ulars, one hundred aud forty one
OLuadian militia, and 503 Indians Tbs is
exclusive OF 5l1 artillerymen and the accession
Ji tories IRON the States Bat h9 was ohlige
to leave one thousand men to garrison Slrato.
"a. greatly to his regret. He thought that
OdrlttJn should have furnished ths garrison,
and aiterWdrd complained that il ''dralned
tie hie-blood OF his iorce.) The German
soldiers had learned war when Frederick was
It his best, and the British were veteran
troops of England. A magnificent park ol
artillery, and body OF picked oannonler,
accompanied the march. The officers Phl-
lips anG Riedesel Pnzsr aud Hamilton, King
sto D., BacArras and AcSlsLd were men ol
brilliant aud various distinction. For an
army OF its SIZE no fiuer body could have been
set down on this continent
Tue general knew, or ought to have known,
ais Toe. He was in Boston when the British
.rmy was, US he expressed it, ''unreoovered
rom the CONSERVATION OF Lexington" He
nad directed the firing ol tne batteries against
Bunker Hill, aRd had handsomely commend
ed the obstinate defence and the orderly re-
treat He therefore only imposed on himself
when be proclaimed to his army that the enemy
were 'inhuitely interior to the kings troops
IN open space aud hardy combat" The event
made II even ludiorous 10 him to announce
that they relied only on ntren;hmenis and
{ ae-pisces. aud il will he our glory and pres-
eTVation TO ktirvc." And II was still graytr
folly to threaten that snsmy with devastation
famine and every coucomitant horror" For
ne only sx4sporaled when be sought to terrfy,
Had be had ''thousands" OF Iudians Of wbou,
he boasied, to do this work, instead OF bis
paltry iVe hundIs |, he spoke to men who had
heard louder war vhoop thgn his, They
turned hia hAming proclaim ttion into dogg5r
rhyme, and called min Observation-Disclosures
gos"
Yet there were anxions hearts as be moved
towards LakS Chnmplin, AIen called Tcon-
dsfogA tbs key Of North America" Schuy
Ter bad written to New HampshiTs that "lhe
loss OF il would DO dreadiul Il not altogether
fatal to the liberties OF the country" Wash
ington said that the consequences would be
rrreparabls." MMuWbils the public mind
was fsveIlsh witt excitement and the air thick
With alarms. rbe enemy had eLt.r New.
port, headed for Providence. They had land
ed al Fdirdeld. They had destroyed d injury.
They were expected at Rye. Eighteen ships
we're seen above Peskskill. Carlttlu's boats
were said to be at Split Rock lorty miles from
rieonderoga. cry is raised IN New Hamp
shire and Connecticut OF "diabolioal attempt
by the onemy 10 spread counterfeit money.
Entrenching tools are found under barn in
Hollis, and hre arms at Groton. HALF the
men OF Stratford have joined the regulars.
THE tories, wrote Sullivan, ''ars everJ where
lifting their heads" Secret combinations are