New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
SARATOGA AND SANTIAGO.
TORALS CAPITULATTON RECALLS BUR
GOYNE'S SURRENDER.
THE "HoNORs or WAR ACCORDED TO THE VAN
QUIsHED ARMY THEY PILED THEIR
ARMS AT THE COMMAND OF
THEIR OWN OFFICERS

General Torars 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 ques-
ton Of the extent Of the sacrifices that van
quished army may make without FORGETTING its
self-respect. The "honOrs Of war are common
ly Understood to mean the privilege accorded TO
the vanquished Of marching out Of camp with
colors flying and drums beating. In capitula-
ton, or treaty Of surrender. the beseged are
sometimes permitted to retain their arms and
military stores and sometimes not-more often
not-tut the concession by the besiegers Of the
arms and stores IS not essential TO the preserva-
ton OF the "honOrs Of war to the vanqushed
a defeated general is always sensitive about
his honor an military diplomacy las provided
various degrees OF capitulation calculated TO
satisfy the most delicate 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
mdest form o. capltuation is called "conven-
ton" and this recalls an interesting event In
American history. sug yestive. in many respects
Of the Santiago capitu.aton. 1t has been said
n some Of the war dispatches that the specta-
Gle to be presented 10y packing the defeated
Spanish Army off home is unparalleled In his
Tory. / he h'iutl transportation OF III" army
may be so. but the proposition to send them
home is not altogether without prece dent. and
thereby hangs tale.
THE CONVENTION OF SARATOGA"
When Burgoyne. after two battles with the
American Army. on September 10 and October I.
III found himself surrounded all sides, he
opened negotiations with General Gates for
capi;ulaton. As at Santiago. there had been
desperate fighting, the enemy had been driven
back and his camp had been completely cir
cumvallatcd by the Americans. Then. az At
Santiago. ensuod interval in which both
armies lay on their arms. and for ten days be
fore the captuiation. on October Il. there had
been no fighting to speak OF. The III al triumph
was obtained by strategy. not by assault Bur
goyne. possibly remembering the soothing
phrase by which the Duke OF Cumberland was
casoi down when he was forced TO surrender at
Kloster-Zeycn twenty years before. stipulated
that his capitulation should he In tho form OF n
convention. and Burgoynes capitulation IS to
this day referred 10 10y British historians as the
"Conventlon q Saratoga
This treaty ~ surrender contained thirteen
articles Thirteen has been favorite number In
American history Tho treaty 81 alliance with
France. few months later. contained the same
significant number q articles. the famous Ar
ticlos 81 Confederation were thirteen in number;
and many other instances Of the American pred
necuon for this TO America lucky number
might 10 cited
The nrst OF the thirteen articles provided that
The troops under Lieutenant General Burgoyne
Cwere) to march out ~ their camp with the
honors OF war. and the artillery II the intrench-
ments 70 the verge Of the river where the old
fort stood where the arms and artillery are 10
be left: the arms to be piled by word Of com
nand from their own officers"
FREE PASSAGE TO GREAT BRITAIN.
The second article provided that tho British
Army should he granted a free passage to Great
Britain on condition that the soldiers should
not serve again In North America in the pend
ing contest and Boston was designated as the
port for the entry Of the transports to receive
the troops or this interesting provision more
anon.
The other articles provided that II a cartel Of
exchange for any o. the troops should he ar
ranged the condition OF non-seryice previously
imposed should 10 that extent be regarded void.
the army was 20 move to Boston at once. being
suhslstcd at tho same rate - rations as the
Americans: officers were permitted to retain
their side arms carriages. horses and cattle. and
their baggage was exempted from examination
upon BurgOync's word OF honor that II CON
talncd no public stores: on the march and while
I'm quarters in Boston the British officers were
not TO he separated from their men. were to be
quartercd according to rank and were not to
be hlndcrcd from assembling their men for roll
call or other purposes ~ regularity; ali Cana
dams were 10 be conducted to the nearest Brit
ish post on Lake George and permitted TO go
home on parole: in lieu Of the cable privileges
which We have granted to the Spaniaris at San
tiago for communication with their hone Gov
Gates was to give Burgoyne passports
for three officers not above the rank OF cap
tain. TO carry dispatches Immediately to Sir
William Howe STR Guy Carleton and Great
Britain by way OF Ncw-York city. General
Gates engaging the public faith that the dis
patches should not be opened: and II Burgoyne's
army found 1t necessary no was 10 be permitted
to send to Canada for clothing and other bag
gage.
So much FOR the conditions OF the capitula-
ton. which Burgoyne carefully superscribed
THE Convention between Lieutenant General
Burgoyne ard MaJor-General Gates" The
terms were generous to the enemy. saved his
self esteem. and did not in the least esscn the
physical moral advantage 81 the surrender
But the manner in which the terms were car
rled out. particularly the second article. was
such that II is 10 be hoped tina; General Toral
will have no occasion 20 recall IT. The provision
for the free passage" Of the British Army to
Great Britain did not mean free transportation |
AT the expense OF the United States. as in the |
case Of the Spanish Army. but unmolested pas |
sage in transports 10 be furnished by Sir Will |
lam Howe. In this respect the terms OF the |
Santiago capitulation are more generous than |
those OF Saratoga. But. unfortunately. this sec
ond article never carried out Sir william |
sent his trans ports TO Boston. but the American |
Conert So intermeddled. and upon one pretext or |
another refused to honor General Gatess en- |
on this point AS consequence. the |
army never sent home. Burgoyne alone |
being permitted to go to England. His troops
were detained at Boston for year ms prisoners
~ ruar and then sent to Virginia. whence they |