The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-21
SARATOGA AND SANTIAGO.
ToRALs CAPITULATION RECALLS
BURGOYNE's SURRENDER.

The oIIonors OF War" Accorded to
the Vanquished Army-They Piled
Their Arms ut the Command of
Their own Officers.
From the New York Tribune.
Gen. ToraTs early contention that he
could not with honor surrender the arms
of his army at Santiago illustrates anew
how uncertain a thing military honor Is,
and raises the question OF the extent of
the SACRIFICES that a vanquished army may
make without FORGETTING its self-respect.
The "honors of war" are commonly I'M
derstood to mean the privilege accorded 10
the vanquished of marching out of camp
with colors flying and drums beating In
captulatlon, or treaty of surrender the
bcsieged are sometimes permitted TO re-
tain their arms and military stores, and
sometimes not-more often not-but the
concession by the besegers OF the arms
and stores is not essential to the preserva-
ton of the "honors of war" to the van,
quished.
A defeated general is always sensitive
about his honor, and military diplomacy
has provided various degrees Of capitula.
ton calculated 70 satisfy the most deli
cate feelings of defeated commander and
ease the road to a surrender which might
otherwise be deferred for want OF some
such Inexpensive but soothing balm. The
Inildest form of capitulaton As called
convention" ana this recalls an interest
ing event in American history, sugges-
tive. In many respects of the Santiago ca
pitulation. IL has been said In some Of the
war dispatches that the spectacle to De
presented by packing the defeated Spanish
army off home IS unparalleled i'm history.
The actual transportation OF the army may
be 50, but the proposition to send them
home Is not altogether without precedent;
and thereby hangs a tale.
When Burgoyne, after two battles with
the American army, on Sept 10 and Oct.
z, Ill., found himself surroundedeon all
sides, he opened negotiations with Gen.
Gates for "a capitulahon. As at Santl-
ago there had been desperate fighting, the
enemy had been driven back, and his camp
had been completely circumVallated by the
Americans. Then, as at Santiago, ensued
an interval IN which both armies lay ON
their arms, and for ten days before the
capitulation, on oct. II, there had been
no fighting to speak Of The first triumph
was obtained by strategy not by assault.
Burgoyne, possibly remembering the sOoth-
ing phrase by which the Duke of Cumber-
land was eased down when he was forced
TO surrender at Kloster-Zeven, twenty
years before, stipulated that his capltula-
ton should be In the form Of a conven.
ton, and Burgoyne's capitulation is to this
day referred to by British historians as
the Convention of Saratoga"
This treaty of surrender contained thir-
teen articles. Thirteen has been a favor
lite number in American history. The
treaty OF alliance with France, few
months later, contained the same signin-
g4esfff mn 1har NJ afti nfa fha w
ucles of Confederation we're thirteen In
number and many other instances OF the
American prediction for this Ito America)
lucky number might be cited.
The first of the thirteen articles provid-
ed that the troops under Lieut. Gen.
Burgoyne (were) TO march out OF their
camp with the honors of war. and the ar
tilery Of the Entertainments, TO the verge
of the river where the old fort stood, Where
the arms and artillery are 10 be left; the
arms 10 be piled by word Of command from
their own officers"
The second article provided that the
British army should be granted a free
passage 20 Great Britain on condition that
the soldiers should not serve again in
North America In the pending contest, and
Boston was designated as the port for the
entry of the transports to receive the
troops. OF this interesting provision more
anon.
The other articles provided that II
cartel Of exchange for any of the troops
should be arranged the condition of nom
service previously imposed should, to that
extent be regarded void; the army was TO
move to Boston at once, being subslsted
at the same rate Of rations as the Amer
leans: officers we're permitted to retain
their side arms, carriages, horses and cat
tie, and their baggage was exempt from
examination upon Burgoyne's word OF
honor that II contained no public stores;
on the march and while In quarters IN
Boston the British officers were not to be
separated from their men, were to be
quartered, according to rank, and were
not to be hindercd from assembling their
men for roll-call or other purposes Of reg
ularity; all Canadians were to be con-
Quoted 10 the nearest British post on Lake
George and permitted 70 go home on pa
role; in lieu OF the cable privileges we
have granted to the Span.ards at Santa
go for communication with their home
government, Gates was to give Burgoyne
passports for three officers, not above the
rank OF captain, to carry dispatches Inn
nediately to Sir William Howe, Sir Guy
Carleton and Great Britain, by way OF
New York city, Gen. Gates engaging the
public faith that the dispatches should not
be opened, and " Burgoyne's army found
Il necessary he was 90 be permitted to
send to Canada for clothing and other bag
gage
50 much for the conditions OF the caplt-
ulaton, which Burgoyue carefully super
acribod "Tae Convention between Lieut. |
Gen. BurgOyne and Maj. Gen. Gates" The |
terms were generous 10 the enemy, saved |
his eelf-ogtecm. and did not in tine least les |
sen the physical or moral advantage Of |
the surrender. But the manner IN which /
the terms were carried out. particularly |
the ace0nd article was such that 90 ~ % |
b. hoped thlt Gen. Toral Will have no oc- 1
eaeion 10 recall d. The provision for the |
free passage" Of the British army 10 I
Great Britain dn not mean frce tranapof-