Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-04-20

the fort against an expected direct assault,
and would not listen 30 a demand 10 sur
render but when, in the course Of few
days, II was found that the British had
planted battery Of heavy guns on the
mountain yonder- Mount Defance-from
which they could send plunging shot into
the fort the general saw that he must lose
his army or evacuate the post lie chose
the latter way, and at midnight on July
SO we left the fort as silently AZ possible.
the bulk Of the garrison crossing over to
Mount independence, yonder, and march
ing rapidly toward Skenesborough, now
Whitehall At the same time about 200
bateaux, laden with baggage, ammunition
and stores, guarded by armed galleys, were
sent up the lake toward the same place
We were pursued in Vermont by the Brit
ish, overtaken among the hills at Hubbard
ton where we were compelled 10 fight, and
we're dispersed. The hotilla was also pur-
sued and was destroyed Many Of St
Clar's men finally joined General Schuyler
at Fort Edward My brother was slightly
wounded in his leg at Hubbardtou, and
bullet took off one Of my fingers, as you
see, and made hole in my drumhead "
"You say you saw General Burgoyne
surrender his sword to General Gates y
81 did, and felt very happy" said the
old man.
"Did that surrender take place when the
British army laid down their weapons on
the fiat at Saratoga, near the river ''
asked
NO said the guide. "Wben the arms
were all laid down, General Burgoyne and
his principal officers rode toward General
Gates's headquarters. They we're met by
Gates and his staff at the head of his camp,
where the officers of both armies were in
trOduced to each other. Burgoyne wore
rich coat Of scarlet and gold. Gates wore
q modest blue frock coat The whole par
ty then went to headquarters and dined
After dinner the American troops we're
drawn up in two lines, between which the
British army passed, escorted by cavalry
with the American flag, and band Of mu-
sic playing Yankee Doodle Then the
two generals came out of Gatess marquee
and faced the halted procession. when Bur.
goyne stepped back a pace and presented
his sword to Gates before the two armies
Gates bowed, took the sword and immedi-
ately handed it back to Burgoyne. Then
the British army filed off and started for
Boston to embark for home. | was a drum
mer in the escorting band, and stood not
more than three rods from the generals
Burgoyne was large, stately man Gates,
who was about the same age was smaller
and less dignihed in appearance and man
ner.
The sun was now passing behind the
great hill on which the British planted
their menacing cannon, and named the en-
inence in consequence Mount Defiance -
As the aged cicerone sat leaning against a
ruined wall l made a pencil sketch of his
form and features, under which, with a
trembling hand, he wrote his name and age
As we walked slowly together toward
the Pavilion in the evening twilight in
quired ~ venerable instructor if he
was in the military service of our country
after the surrender of Burgoyne.
For a while, he answered 81 enlist
ed as private in a company of which my
brother was captain, and was stationed in
Eastern Massachusetts, We went with
General Sullivan TO Rhode Island to drive
the British away, and were in the battle on
Bunker Hill Ny father, an aged man. dy-
ing in the spring of 70, left the army
and went back to Vermont TO manage our
little farm for my mother Misfortune
overlook US and we lost the land. had
married but had no children Ny wife
died, and have been alone in the world
ever since, laboring with my hands for dai-
ly bread. The good Lord is kind to me,
for have never been seriously sick in my
life. | believe he will care for me to the
end, which cannot be far off. "
BENSON j. LOSING, LID.