Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-05

follow up tnelr advantages. Lie Ih6-
lish newspapers in speaking Of the
battle were indignant and apologetic.
Saratoga.
In an effort to effect a junction OF
his forces with those of Gen. Clinton,
Gen. Burgoyne, on the morning or
Oct. Z, 1777, put his army into action
and determined upon breaking through
the American lines. With $500 picked
men, two howitzers and eight brass
cannon, Burgoyne pressed in person
toward the left wing Of the American
army. The main body of his troops he
left upon Bemis's Heights. while
Canadian rangers, loyalists, British
grenadiers and Indians were sent In
detour to harass the American rear.
The Americans were driven back for
the moment, giving the British line an
opportunity to form in battle order.
Grenadiers under Major Acland, with
artillery under Major williams formed
the left, the centre was composed OF
grenadiers and the right Of infantry
under Earl Balcarras.
Col. Morgan began operations for
the Americans by gaining a good po-
sition fronting the British right. Gen.
Poor and Gen. Ten Brock, with the
New Hampshire and New York bril-
gades respectively, advanced against
the enemy's left. About three O'Clock
the action became general along both
lines. The British troops left the
protection of thick wood and ad-
vanced into the open. Each time, how
ever, that they left their shelter the
American marksmen drove them back
in great disorder. On the other hand'
when the Americans attempted to fol-
low them out from their own vantage
ground the English Immediately raj
lied and forced them to fall back into
their old position. A single battery
was thus taken and retaken score OF
times during the afternoon. At every
charge the British guns were taken by
the Americans, but the wet ground
prevented their being carried of the
field. Nor were they held long enough
by either side to be turned about and
reloaded.
AS soon as Burgoyne's position was
discovered Poor's New Hampshire bri-
gade began a furious attack upon the
British left, while Morgan's rifemen
manoeuvred to cut off the British from
their camp. Gates, the American gen.
eral, did not appear on the field at any
time during the engagement and Ar
mold, impatient at the way things were
going, jumped into the thickest OF
the fighting. His presence seemed to
inspire the half-spirited army The
British right rapidly gave way and the
left Immediately following, commenc-
ed a retreat when overwhelmed by the
superior force which was hurled
against it. Arnold had his horse shot
from under him in an assault upon
the British works and in a shower
of grape and musketry was wounded.
Col. Brooks, at the head of Jackson's
Massachusetts, regiment, leaped the
intrenchments Of the German brigade
and forced them out at the bayonet
point Col. Cilley leaped upon
battery of artillery which had been
captured and ordered that the muz-
zles be pointed at the fleeing Hessians.
AS darkness came down to end the
days fighting the ranks of the Brit
ish were being decimated by their own
guns. The British had lost 700 men
in killed and wounded, their artillery,
ammunition and tents had been cap
tured and their works taken. The
Americans lost in killed and wounded
152 men. After the battle Burgoyne
retreated in a heavy rainstorm to the
Heights of Saratoga and at eleven
o'clock on the morning Of Oct. II laid
down his arms. His vanquished troops
numbered 1889, including 2,412 Ger
mans and 1880 prisoners Of war. Gen.
Gates. returned Burgoyne's sword
when the latter rendered it. The cap
tured troops were given free passage
out of the country.
1t had been a part Of Burgoyne's
plan to take Ticonderoga and Albany
and after seizing the posts in the
Highlands to attack New York and
thus command the Hudson through
out it's whole extent. New England
would thus have been cut off from the
middle states and the southern colo
nies. The disaster to Burgoyne Great
ed a profound sensation in England,
which was intensified by the news that
because of it France intended to ac-
knowledge the independence of the
colonies.
Yorktown.
Lord CORVALLIS, with a force con-
sisting of 1000 soldiers, 1000 sailors.
1900 negroes and 1,5O0 Tories. had in
trenched himself at Yorktown. Va, on
broad plain overlooking the York
river. in the fall of the year, 1881.
Washington, then in New York, re-
ceived word from the Count de Grasse
leave the West Indies and join in an
operation with Rochambeau's French
troops. then at Newport, and Wash
ingtons army, against CORVALLIS. Ac-
cordingly Washington and Rocham-
beau effected a junction of their troops
and completed a first parallel of in
trenchments around the British works.
The French troops occupied the left,
the American artillery and infantry
the right, while the French artillery.
with the quarters of the two COM
manders, occupied the centre. De
Grasse with thirty-seven ships of the
line and nine American frigates, was
posted in Lyn Haven bay to Illustrate
any attempt to relieve CORVALLIS.
On Oct. 10 the French opened fire on
the British vessels in York river. The
red hot cannon balls with which they
loaded their guns caused the destruc-
tion by fire of one forty -four gun ship
and several other frigates. The next
night the allies began the construction
of second line of works still nearer
the British redoubts. The British as
soon as they discovered this manoeuvre
l.. .l. l.