Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-01-28
CHAPTER |.


story of the Burgoyne affair. Yes, l
oaght to know about it, for it was in
deed the most i'm portant affair OF my
| life. Now, in that camp, I'll confess,
| was a girl oace had made love to, be-
| fore the dissension divided us, before
her brother was killed in the battle
where |, too, was engaged. Kate Essex
ever held this against me, as you Will
zee if you follow me. Well, she was
with Lady Harriet Ackland, the majors
wife, in General Burgoyne's camp. l
had been taken prisoner the day before
me great BATTLE. l nave, as you know,
some experience as a surgeon, which
enabled me to be of small service in
looking after General Burgoyne's
wounded And in all that fight | was
busied prisoner as l was, but enrolled
as British surgeon 8 assistant. for
got that we were fighting them, as my
!, friend Colonel Kenneth forgot it when
prisoner at Yorktown. hardly no
ticed that General Burgoyne was pre-
pairing for a retreat.
But first the general was resolved to
1 -
the night of his wounds d fitting bur-
| ial. The regiments were mustered into
a melancholy procession at shutdown,
$ and the sound of muffled drums mingled
: with the musketry and artillery along
the outposts
. A friendly sergeant put me where
:, could see it all. The chaplain led, WITH
head uncovered, the prayer book OF the
!. church of England in his left hand, ano
4 saw then the girl I've mentioned, Kate
IS Essex, supporting lady scarcely Older
,e than herself, whom l surmised to be
j. Lady Ackland. | was startled at sigh
a of her in that dismal surrounding.
IL The scene grim enough against tbt
Or irregular outline of wooded hills, hat
lie sadder coloring from the soldiers, show
r. ing in all their appearances the hard
re Disseminating service of the yesterday
re the officers With pale, serious, yet de
Is termined faces, many limping or band
~ aged.
es The chaplain paused by the opening
e Drums gave their muffled refrain, ant
all was ready for the service, never
more expressively simple.
Suddenly out of the comparative still
ness came the deafening roar of artillery
- A ball tore the upturned earth at tn
.st chanlain's feet, casting dirt over hi
or vestments, yet he kept on lmpassiVelJ
ly as if be were in church. Several per
IL sons fell.
r. The sergeant, who was still at M
k side cried. "D-n 'eml They'll no
ed lei us bury our general. On EN- J!
ne But suddenly the firing stopped, t
K he followed by the low booming OF
'oe eun at minute intervals, adding to tn
~ solemnity IF the occasion.
= .'Do YOU see, Sergeant White, 20
are mistaken General Gates has foun
that, after all, it's not movement
your troopsl" l said exultantly.
II was wrong" said he. "They I
men,"
of By the time the box had been lowere
n, IL already was dark, and in the retref
.. 90 TO the works lost sight of Kate Esse
10. and Lady Ackland. l had trembled IL
.as them in that rapid firing; for, thong
or the girl was prejudiced against me,
ii. felt | could wish her no hurt.
IN The meantime, many fires were l1gh
av ed-rather more, l thought at ono
,of than the camp required. but l was ne
at long in seeing that these were TENTS
is cover retreat to Saratoga. Hall tn
or army were upperless-weariness an
or despair Law ON nearly every face, an
be vet | was ABUSED to see two young OH
GERS. apparently oblivious at cards 3
n, the freight The enemy's line ma
ew ceased firing, as if they still were apo
opetic for the unseemly shots the n
ouiem of minute guns had followed.
The ensign who had taken me brougt
an order for me to report to Generi
III Burgoyne.
'i | found him in a spot rather apa
"a from the preparations with MIR. Brud
~ nell, the chaplain, who just had sal
,or the service, Miss Essex and Lady Acl
Of land, who was speaking earnestly.
aid | came up with the little officer, ka
su- Essex faced me with that same utt
m lack of recognition, but General Blu
m goyne extended his hand.
hat Mr. Sedley, I'll restore you the oil
ION patch you brought from General Was
ington to General Arnold Here are
isI your papers.
70 must have looked my amazemen
me for he explained bitterly: This is u
usual, and the prisoner may become {
. friend Lady Ackland is ins:s;ent
going down the river to the enem
where her husband, Major Ackland,