New-York tribune., 1877-08-31
THE FIELD OF SARATOGA.
A YIsIr mo- me HISToRIC GROUND. Z

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Aug. 21.-it happened
that should visit the battlefield OF sadowa foot and
alone also Waterloo with companion wlo was ln-
vegled into otjourney by plain recital OF the
delights the first experience But fresh from the h'os
OF Bems Heights aud the envrons of old Saratoga wish
to pit this last experience against that Of sadowa and OF
Waterloo IL 1t be true, historians have said,
that Saratoga the fifteen decisive battles OF his
tory, the field IS certainly worthy OF the lame Here
the American flag, just authorized by Congress- received
its baptism OF fire and victory and the dropping fortunes
OF the Americans took life from the destruction oi
Burgoyne's army.
Invent to the field Of Saratoga foot; II is twenty
nine miles there and back Ny first four-ne pace was
interrupted at the entrance the racecourse by no less
distinguished parsonage than Tom Ochitree, folloWeF
by file of trim racers all moping Ike plow-hoFses ana
going To their morning exercise "What Is the name OF the
little sorrel behind Tom !" asked of the coorv boy
guarding the gate. Don't know" he answered. with
a qulzzical SMILE as much as to say, "h you
are tout epy)-and I guess you are-you
must take me for greenhorn" 1t was SIX
O'Clock when / arrived at Moons, ON the LAKE.
aud found single scuer Courtney cruising arouhd on
shore in the fog impatient over the nonarrva OF Ms
shell boats. / had to compliment him on Dis nhe
physique az" need it all IN this race, he SAID, WIN an
earnest smile In reply to how he felt after Greenwood
Lake he said slight occasional pain in the left side was
the only remaining effect
Mornings are seldom finer, In the country, tnan
this one | had passed the Lake, having already accom-
plished nine miles, II gradual ascent Tor three
miles along sandy, slightly travelled road, skrted py
meadows and fields In places absolutely barren III othes
yellow with stubble oats, white with buckwheat'
Chestnut and maple and spruce wooded the ravines and
great oaks stood az the numerous bends and crossroads
one cannot approach ems Heights from the west with
ont rapturously excaimng the first fun view OF the
valley OF the upper Hudson. And then the progress o1
the two fierce battles easily pictured IN this bril-
liant setting that the American who can VISIT these scenes
without becoming earnestly enthusiastic, is simply
devoid of spark that occasions kndles into patriot
ISM AT fork IN the road entered back yard to farm
house aud found homespun young man kndlng a fire
agn the Sundays dinner" Company Just what he
crayed He offered water pulled the best pear from the
tree and in five minutes master OF the American
position Bemis Heights and III the very centre OF II
for rods from the fence on tine south side OF the
road stood willow tree Ia smooth meadow-whcre the
coming celebration will probably be held-and by Its
base cellar cavity and WELL where stood the house
occupied by Gates as his headquarters lew rods
further south sixty patriots are said to be buried was
AT the Dennison farmhouse, and that part OF The
Heights where the American camp was pitched FROM
the garden looking few rods north, conh sec as
tincty the site OF the American Entertainments following
line Of apple trees and extending in senicircle to
the Wilson FARMHOUSE walking on to winch could fol
low the line OF cartlwOrks through the garden 10 piece
of wood bordernga ray.no, where the inirenonments
curved down the hillside TO She river hidden BY thc
woods The military strength c le position makes H.
self apparent novice Kosciusko is said TO have Sc
lected the position.
4 log barn standing the Nelson house was turned
into defence Atthe house they showed me half dozen
cannon balls picked up the farm, a box Of musket
balls, grape-shot, bayonets and broken sword aud
belt buckles lis not much wonder that the British,
who were encamped mile and half north on Free
man farm scarcely reached the centre OF the American
IL, a.. .srf..f FaftTg ha-
ing safe refuge and excellent base for offensive
erations walked along the road connecting the Neil
son and Freeman farms, taking note OF the two inter
yeung raynes deepening towards tho uyeri and ar
rived In a few moments at a farmhouse, quarter OF
mile from the Freeman house and virtually the focal
point Of the battles The farmer and Stood at the
cate and talked over the fight ne acuo wledgng that lac
had lived there twenty years without taking enough in
the battlefield to read the historic accounts OF
the two engagements
with the main positions located and in view it was
easy 10 clohe them with the they took place
could Just discern the position OF the American in
trenchmens on Boms Heights and II required little
force Of Imagination 10 Arnold and Morgan forming
the American left. posted the plateau to the right
Learned in the centre and Gates with the troops guard
ing the river slopes TO Bemis house. Facing these
sconcs on the mort east mile two distant were
fields where Bmgoyne's splendid army beginning 10
realize the difficulties Of the campaign, were encamped
on the night Of the 18th Of September, 1777 At IL
o'clock on the morning Of the 10Th Burgoyne the
order to advance; Redcsel and Phillips, with the Ger
man regiments and the atters artillery, taking the
road and meeting with opposition Wilbur's Basin;
Frazer and Breyman with two corps. making a circuit
over the hills in hope Of turning the American left,
movement which Burgoyne the sigual would support
from the centre the Canadians and Indians being sent
in advance make fent the centre OF the American
position at the Nelson farmhouse.
lgfI fut 10 tho rftNf
approach but the Americans eager for sally and
II was due to Arnolds forethought and mportuulles
that the American left saved. Arnold got
permission to drive of the Indians than he started with
Morgans 800 rinomen, and charged 20 impetuOusly
that he must have encountered the Canadians and In
dians IN force about whore standing The enc
my were turned, and Arnold eated and comprehending
the British tactics or seeking their right. dashed
across the avine to the lett, and encountered Frazer
few rods OF the Freeman farm, the edge OF Mill
Creek now a ryulet, and near which was standing.
Arnold and Morgan fought with great hcoism for four
hours against unequal numbers, and assisted only by
Learneds brigade Gates Withholding ronfOrcements till
late in the afternoon when Phillips reinforcing the Brit
ish with his artillery, Arnold forced to retire to the
slopes on the south side of Mil Creek The Americans
lost 300 killed and wounded and the British double the
number. Burgoyne, holding the field began the next
day fortified camp, and Frazer built strong redoubt
in what is now the garden OF litte farmhouse the
brow of the hill above Mill Creek. The Americans
turned to their position and the British, between fear and
vacllation remained inactive till the 7th Of October
Gates and Arnold had quarreied aud the latter had
been deprived of his command. On the morning OF Oc
tober T. Burgoyne hesitarug to retreat ordered a
conn0issance in force and with 1900 commanded
by Frazer, Rcdesel and Phillips in person, must have
passed along this very road and got within threequarers
Of mile OF the American left. Wlllamss artillery and
Ackland's grenaders occupied point Of woods, still
seen Just east Of where standing aud rising
ground Morgan os,ailed Frazer with great fury and
pushed him TO the slope just south OF when along came