New-York tribune., 1911-03-18
THE SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD
Some Sidelights on the History Relar
tive to this Famous Spot.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: I was much gratified to read the
communication OF Charles A. Ingrahani,
dated February 81, In support OF Governor
Djx's proposition for the state to acquire
the site ot the Saratoga battlefield to be set
apart as a public park. and through your
valued columns permit me TO second the
motion.
While It has not been my privilege as
yet to visit this historic ground. I have
warm interest in It's history, through being
descended from or being connected With
some If those who were in the struggle for
american independence on the frontiers of
New York. Ny paternal grandfather, al
though boy of fourteen. was teamster
in General Catess army. but followed Gen
eral Arnold In his impetuous charge on tho
British works, and probably shouldered
,n,Isket lie was at tho surrender OF Bur
goyne and. although too young for an on
listed msn. he had good Dutch blood In his
veins. an1 was probably lusty lad. with
the appearance ot being much older.
". T.. stones Life Of Brant," I'm two vol
umes. contains a mine Of information, gath
cred from many sources, through much Ia
borious research, and In addition 10 his In
valuable records Of the famous captain OF
the Six Nations, Mr.. Stone has rescued from
oblivion n vast amount OF local history OF
tho Mohawk and Hudson valleys IN the
Revolution.
To illustrate his labor In research
would refer 10 Just ono instance. where In
Volume I. page 2o6. in his narrative OF
events incident TO the Saratoga affair, he
mentions Mrs. Ann Eliza Blocker and her
adventures. and In footnote on tho follow
ing page states that the memoirs Of Mrs.
Blocker had been published, but that h"
had sought In vain among the libraries and
the Blocker families TO obtain copy. "
seems passing strange that he should have
failed in this, for there should have been
quite a number in existence. and have be-
fore me copy. the title being THE Post
humous Works OF Ann Eliza Bleecker IN
Prose and Verse" to which is added a
collection of essays and poems by her
daughter Margaret v. Faugeres, printed by
Y. & J. Swords, No 27 William street, New
York, 1898.
This volume was published by subscrp-
ton. and contains a partial list-1sa-o
the subscribers names Some OF Mrs. Fau-
ceres essays and poems We're originally
published In The New York Magazine
under the signature Of Ella Mrs.
Bleeckcr in her letters and memoirs de-
scribes some Of the sufferings she endured
from Burgoyne's invasion Of the beautiful
valley of tho upper Hudson. and later from
incursions by Indians. Tories and British
soldiers AS lato as August, 1871. her de
voted husband was taken prisoner while
engaged in the harvest field. but was hap
PLY retaken few days later by some Con-
tinental militia from Bennington and re
stored 10 his family. She relates in con-
nection with this incident that the British
soldiers were very kind to Mrs. Bleecker.
Mrs. Bleecker was n daughter OF Brandt
Schuyler was born I'm New York In Octo-
bcr. 1852. and died at Tomhanick I'm 1888.
In 1869 she married John T. Bleecker, and
I'm a year or two they settled at Iomhanick,
north OF Albany, and in tho path Of Bur-
coynes army. The date Of her death
November 90, 1TS3--as given by Appleton S
Encyclopedia of American Biography, seems
to be an error as her last letter in the vol
ume before me is dated Tomhanick, Decem-
her 10 1888. Tho same authority states
that new edition was published In 1909.
STEPHEN GRAFF.
Johnstown. n Y. March IA, 1911.