New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-17

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goyno's first aid sent to the of the artillery
was mortaly wounded before he could deliver his
message The Americans captured eight pieces.
Burgoyne is said to have behaved with
great fearlcssncss. shot passed through his
hat. another pierced ms walstcoat. lie gave
the command for all to retreat to the camp OF
Fraser at the right Of headquarters, and sld, rs he
entered it "You must defend the post till the very
last man. Arnold, who was in the field as vOun-
tcer assaulted the strongest part of the British line
bravey but in vain regiment of Massachusetts
men, under Colonel Brooks, stormcd two stockade
redOubts and carried them. Arnold, joining TINS
group. was badly wounded Breymanus regiment
was put to flight and ITS commander killed.
Colonel Spetts, who led a small party OF Ger
mans, was taken prisoner. Night came and
ended the strife. This action is also erro-
neousy called "The Battle of b muss Heights
1t has been remarked that during tins most impor-
tant action neither Gates nor Lincoln appeared upon
the field. In the dispatches to Congress, Arnold,
with Morgan and Dearborn, were honorablv meu-
toned. Ii was 10 o'clock at night when Burgoyne.
finding his position entirely untenable we orders
to retreat but encountered by the wounded, and by
his artillery and baggage, he merely moved his camp
TO the heights above the hospital. he Americans
Immediately moved forward and occupied the
abandoned camp. Skirmishes between detach-
ments Of the two armies continued through the
day, and in one of them General Lincoln was badly
wounded in the leg Wnen the losses in the actions
were ascertained, 1t was found that the Amerl-
can killed and wounded dld not exceed $50,
while that of the British was about 700,
including Fraser, Sir Francis Clarke, Brey-
man and Lieutenant Beynrll. The affecting
story of Frase's death, narrated by the Baroness
Riedesel. is well known, and BurgoyLe afterward
a. lof1 off. fiOpa ta
and affecting terms.
BurgOyne halted two miles short of Saratoga. He
had found the passage of the Hudson too strongly
guarded by the Americans, and was compelled TO
make the best of very bad position. He had reconnoi
tered the road Oh the West side of The nver, but
found stark holding it with 1000 of bis New Hamp
shire men. The INDIGESTION and delay of BurgOyne
have been severely ceusured, but they appear to be-
long to series OF blunders, and to be
quite in keeping with the whole. HIS
own officers seem 10 have been thoroughly Disguised.
The Baroness Ricd'sel asked General Phillips why
General BurgOyue did not continue the retreat and
the answer was: He halts because he is tired. and
intends to spend the night here aud give MS sup
per-" He was comfortably housed in the mansion OF
General Schuyler, which, with the barns and nj Is
he burned the next day. After this. he continued
the effort to reach Fort Edward.
Meanwhile Gates was not inactive. He had be-
gun pursuit at noon on the lOh, reaching Fish
Creek the same afternoon. He broke mp The British
posts at the mouth of the Fshkill, capturing al
their boats and most Of their supplies. BY tie 10Th
the British army was completely invested. their
Whole camp beng exposed 90 the ire Of thc Amer
leans. On c. l2th BurgOync summoned couucl
of his officers. winch attended by Riedc-
sell = ilhps and the Brigiders llami-
ton and Gale. A retreat was proposed, by
the west bank OF the river to be crossed
four miles above Fort Edward but after the plan
was determined upon Burgoyne, with his usual tick-
leness changed hi, mind, and postponed the move
ncnt until the next lay. wGea It was found 10 he
impossible, in consequence of the erection by the
Americans Of "a heavy battery on the cf flank of
the army. second general council, the 18Th.
advised thar NEGOTIATIONS should be opened with
General Gates, for an honorable surrender. Whii.
the council was IN session, an eighteen pound ball
entered the tent ID which the officers were seated
SURRENDER OF BuRGoYNE.
On the moni of the 18th, the proposition for
cessation of hosriities came hon Bureoync. in the
following form &" After having fought you twice,
Lieutenant General Burgoyne has waited some days
IN his present position, determined to Try a third
conflict against any force you bring INST him.
Tie is appnsed OF the superiority of your numbers,
and the disposition Of vOur troops to impede his sup
plies and render his retreat scene Of carnage on
both sides In lhis situation, he IS uupecd by hui
mlnity, and thinks IN nsef justified by established
principles and precedents of state and Wal,
to spare the lives OF brave men on hon
orabe terms. Should Maio. General Gates be
inclined to treat upon that idea General
BHIEOyue would propose a cessation Of arms during
the time necessary to communicate the preliminary
ot
mean to abide This note is worth quoting at
length as curiosity. It is questionable whether
Y commander, in difficulties. ever maintained lis
dignity more lulicrousl OF pretended TO be near.y
nvincible while asking for terms and proposing a
capitu'ation. Gates at first demanded an mcondI-
riona surrender of the British army as prisoners Of
Burgoyue. pluclNng up spirit, refu ed the
proposition that his men should lay down
their arms III tnclr own camp Negoi-
ations were continued until the 10th. The
surrender was formally ratified on the 18th.
Ii WAS stipuatc that the British troops should be
permitted to return by way If son To Great
Britain. condition of not serving again during the
war in North America IL i, said that Gates made
tie terms easy. because he was alarmed by the ex-
petition of Vaughan and Wallace far up the
river Esopus. BurgOync. on the same account,
felt inclined to withhold his signature from the
conventions paies' Oh Tue morning OF tHe l"h,
drew up his forces in order If battle, and
sent to Burgoyne a percmptOry message, that II
the articles were not signed by him Immediately. he
would open fire upon him. Upon this Burgoyne sub
;, rlCcd his name, aId preparations made for
formal surrender To the tune of " Yankee Doodle"
a body of the Americans marched into the iiues Of
the British while they marched out. General Gates
had ordered all hIsany out of sight of the conquered
The number of prisoners, mcluhng officers.
> 7g1, OF whom 2,4i2 were Germans and II ~ ans.