The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-12-23
GALLANT MAJOR SEYMOUR,
a Pleasant Incident of the War os the
Revolution.

Revolution.
After General Burgoyne had aurraD.
oered to General Gates he Yves. as you
Know conducted to Boston, whence he
sailed to his English home. The fail
ure OF the British arms was a terrible
disappointment to him, and although
ne was too proud to show what he
felt the ride from Saratoga to Boston
must nave been a hard journey for
n1m' with days and nights filed with
bitter recollecttons and regrets.
But he was escorted with all the
nonor possible, and every courtesy was
shown to him. General Gates and his
star were gentlemen, and Burgoyne
was treated as little like prisoner as
was consistent with the situation. He
mad good horse to ride, and, wher-
ever the little company of officers
stopped for the night, he was given
the most comfortable room and the
best of everything that the house
could afford.
Naturally General Burgoyne was
grateful for this consideration. and
probably when he sailed from Boston
he carried with him most pleasant
memories Of the men who had been
MS guards and yet friends. Chief
among these was a young officer,
Major Seymour. He was a member of
General Gates staff and a friend of
Washington. Although at the time of
General Burgoyne's surrender he was
not much more than boy, he was al
ready known as a brave and gallant
soldier as we'll as an accomplished
gentleman. In the rotunda of the
Capitol at Washington you will see the
picture by Trumbull, one Of the early
American painters, of THE Surrender
Of Saratoga" In this picture there Ia
just one figure on horseback, and that
is the young Major Seymour.
He 1t was who was given special
charge Of Gen. Burgoyne, and who
brought him safely to Boston. On the
road there were plenty of people to
stare and jeer at the defeated general,
and he was saved from many an in
suit only by the watchfnlness and
care of his young escort. Some time
before there had been a rumor-dou5i.
less false one-that Burgoyne had
said, in jest or earnest, that he would
give rewards for all scalps Of Yankees
brought to him, which remark had
greatly Infatuated the people who
heard Of it. So, as he was riding along
through the country, an old woman
rushed out of a wayside house, and
shaking her fist in the air, shouted
toward him, angrily: Nov, now, now
What will you give for our scalps
now?"
Before Gen. Burgoyne could reply
Major Seymour drew up his stately
young figure, and, with the creates
dignity, faced the excited speaker.
go into your house, MADAME ht
promptly ordered. Then, with a quicl
command to his men, the little caval
cade rode on, leaving the old woman
In dumb establishment
Before Major Seymour and his pris
oner parted company at Boston, Gen
Burgoyne presented him, as mark o
appreciation of his kindness an
courtesy, with the trappings of hi
horse. These were carefully treasure;
by Major Seymour's family for severd
years. But at last, when his younge
brothers were grown up, being fond o
show and gaiety, they frequently Dor
rowed these valued trappings to us
on muster days, and unfortunatei
there is nothing left of them now.
But there exists another relic Of TIL
trip of Burgoyne. They CHANGED t
stop one night at the old town Of Had
| ley. Here, desiring to SHOW his thank
for the hospitality offered him, Bul
goyne uttered a wish that his swor
should be given to his host, which wa
accordingly done. Strange to say, tn
: sword disappeared-at least from tn
knowledge Of the present generato
of the family-until few years ag'
Then, one day, one Of the daughter
found It hidden away in an old ches
J among blankets which had long lai
unused. OF course it was immediate
" brought out and displayed In plac
of honor. And not long ago, whe
e there was at Saratoga a celebrate
e of the surrender Of Burgoyne, thi
, sword was proudly carried in the pr
D cession by the lady to whose grea
grandfather 1t had been given by d
? rection Of the general himself.-S
Nicholas.
]