West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1877-11-17
Meeting OF Burgoync and Gates After
the Surrender.

At eleven O'Clock on the morning of
the 18th the royal army left their fortified
camp, and formed in line on the meadow
Just north of Fish Creek, at its junction
with the Hudson. Here they left their
cannon aud small arms. With long
ing eye the artilleryman looked for the
last time upon his faithful gun, parting
with il as from his bride, and that for
ever. With tears trickling down his
bronzed checks, the bearded grenadier
stacked his musket TO resume il no more
Others, in their rage, knocked oft the
butts of their arms, aud the drummers
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
encampment at the foot of the hill,
where Fraser was buried. As they de
bouched from the meadow, having de-
posted their arms, they passed between
the Contincntals, who were drawn up i'm
parallel lines. But on no face did they
see eNultation. "As we passed the
American army" writes Lieutenant
Anbury, one of the captured officers,
and bitterly prejudiced against his con
querors, 81 did not observe the least
disrespect, or even taunting look, but
all was mute astonishmcnt and pity, and
ii gave Us no little comfort TO notice
this civil deportment to captured
enemy, unsullied with the oxulting air
OF victors."
The English General having expressed
a desire TO be formally introduced To
Gates, Wilkinson arranged an interview
n 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 plumcs. Gates, ON
the contrary, was dressed merely i'm
plain blue overcoat, which had upon il
scarcely anything indicative of his rank.
Upon the two Generals first catching a
glimpse of each other, they stepped for
ward simultaneously, and advanced un-
I'll they were only "A 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 General, i'm reply, simply
returned his greeting, and said 81 shall
always be ready to testify that il has not
been through any fault of your Excel
lency." AS soon as the introduction
was over, the other captive Generals re-
paired 10 the tent of Gates, where they
were received with the utmost courtesy,
and with the consideration due to brave
but unfortunate men.
After Riedesel had been presented to
Gates, he sent for his wife and children.
IL Is TO this circumstance that we owe
the portraits of lovely traitin General
Schuyler's character. "In the passage
through the American camp" the baron
ess writes, 81 observed, with great salts
faction, that no one cast at us scornful
glances; on the contrary, they all greeted
me, even showing compassion on their
countenances at seeing a mother with
her little children in such a situation.
/ confess ] feared TO come into the
enemy's camp, as the thing was so en-
urely new to me. When ! 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 i'm his eyes, helped me
also TO alight. He then led me TO the
tent Of General Gates, with whom /
found Generals Burgoyne and Phillips,
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 embarrassing
to you TO dine with all these gentlemen +;
come now, with your children, into my
tent, where ! will give you, it is true, n
frugal meal, but one that will be accom-
panied by the best Of wishes you are
certainly answered I, a husband and
a father, since you show me 20 much
Kindness / then learned that he was
the American General Schuyler"
The English and German Generals
dined with the American commander i'm
his tent on boards laid across barrels.
The dinner, which was served up in four
dishes, consisted only of ordinary yiands,
the Americans at this period being nc
custOmed TO plain and frugal meals
The drink on this occasion was cider
and rum mixed with water. Burgoyne
appeared in excellent humOr. He talked
a great deal, and spoke very hatteringly
OF the Americans, Temarkng, among
other things, that he admired the num-
Der, dress, and discipline of their army,
and, above all, the decorum and regu-
larity that were observed. "YOur fund
OF men," he said 10 Gates, "is mex
haustible; like the Hydra's head, when
cut of, seven more spring up in its
stead" lie also proposed toast 20
General WashingtOn-an attention that
Gates returned by drinking the health
Of the King Of England. The convcrsa-
tiOn on both sides was unrestrained.
a1able, and free. Indeed, the conduct
Of Gates throughout, after the terms Of
the surrender had been adjusted, was
marked with equal dclicacy and mag
nanimity, as Burgoyne himself admitted
in letter 10 the Earl Of Derby. In that
letter the captive General particularly
mentioned one circumstance, which, he
said exceeded all he had ever seen or
cad Of on a like occasion. u was that
when the British soldiers had marched
out Of their camp 10 the places where
they were to pile their arms, not a man
Of the American troops was to be seen.
General Gates having ordered his whole
army out Of sight, that no ono Of them
should be n spectator Of the humiliation
Of the British troops This was a re-
hnemcnt Of delicacy and military gener-
osity and pOliteness rejecting the high
est credit upon the cOnquerOr.
As the company rose from the table.
the royal army filed past on their march
70 the seabOard Thereupon, by pre-
concerted arrangement, the two Cen
erals stepped out, and Burgoyne, draw
ing his sword, presented il, in the pres