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committing the fate of America to the uncertain issue of a general engagement.

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300. The Battle of Germantown. - Reinforcements were received from Peekskill, and from Maryland. Cornwallis was at Philadelphia, and Howe in command at Germantown. Washington now determined to give battle. On the 4th of October the Americans attacked the British at Germantown. At first the Americans were successful; but Colonel Musgrave, with six companies of the fortieth regiment, occupied a large stone house near the head of the village, from which he poured such a terrible fire of musketry upon the Americans that they could advance no further. It was found impossible to dislodge the British from this stronghold, and although General Greene had routed the British right wing, yet the delay at the stone house was such that his success could not be followed up, and the issue appeared for some time doubtful.

Prisoners were

301. A British Victory. A dense fog set in. taken and retaken; opposing forces became confused with each other. Additional British troops came up, and the Americans retired. Thus a victory, of which in the commencement of the action they had felt assured, failed of realization. The Americans lost in killed about one hundred, wounded five hundred, and prisoners four hundred. The British loss was over five hundred killed

and wounded.

CHAPTER XLIV.

BURGOYNE'S EXPEDITION.

302. A New Scheme. -The British ministers decided to attempt to cut off the Eastern States from the rest of the country. Burgoyne had gone to England and laid before the ministers his plan for an expedition from Canada to Lake Champlain, and down the Hudson. If the country along the Hudson and the lake could be held by British troops, the forces of the Americans would be so divided that one part could be captured and then the other. Burgoyne arrived at Quebec in May, and soon started on his expedition. He had nearly eight thousand men. One-half of his whole force were German

mercenaries.

He had in addition more than six hundred Canadians attached to the army, who were to scour the woods on the frontiers, and occupy intermediate posts. His army was in the best condition, and the troops in the highest spirits, well disciplined and healthy. General Schuyler had taken possession of Fort Ticonderoga, but the British army so far outnumbered him that he was obliged to abandon it, and he moved his force to Hubbardton. An engagement took place here, July 6, from which the Americans were compelled to retreat with the loss of over three hundred and fifty killed, wounded, and prisoners, while the British loss was over two hundred.

303. Bennington. In August, Burgoyne sent Colonel Baum with about one thousand men to Bennington to seize some stores at that place. On the 16th of August, the British force met a body of Vermont and New Hampshire militia, under command of Colonel Stark. The engagement was a fierce one; the Americans fought with intrepid bravery. The British were totally defeated, and Colonel Baum was mortally wounded. The loss to the Americans was less than one hundred, while the British loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was about eight hundred. The Americans captured much war material. The gallant conduct of Stark was promptly recognized by his promotion to the rank of general.

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304. St. Leger up the Mohawk Valley. ·St. Leger had been sent by Burgoyne to the Mohawk Valley with seven hundred rangers, with orders to call out the Indians and the Tories, overrun the country, and afterwards join Burgoyne at Albany. St. Leger on this expedition increased his force by about one thousand Tories and Indians. He besieged Fort Schuyler, which was situated where the present city

of Rome is. General Schuyler sent General Arnold to relieve Fort Schuyler.

305. Arnold's Stratagem. - Arnold succeeded in raising the siege by an adroit stratagem. A half-witted Tory boy was held as prisoner; Arnold promised him his freedom on condition that he should make the British believe that a large body of Americans was close at hand, ready to capture the entire British force. The boy performed his part with great success. He rushed into

General Burgoyne.

their camp, excited and breathless, showed his coat full of bullet-holes, told them that the great American army was right upon them, and created such a panic, especially among the Tories and Indians, that they were soon in full flight.

306. Burgoyne's Condition Critical. Burgoyne and his army were now in a critical situation. For a long time they had been short of supplies. The force which he had sent to Bennington, in the hope of bringing back large stores, had been utterly defeated. The expedition of St.

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Leger to the Mohawk Valley had been routed, and returned emptyhanded. The great confidence which he had placed in Indian soldiers had proved only a disappointment. His employment of Indian allies was as unpopular in England as it was unjustifiable and barbarous in itself. Edmund Burke pronounced them "not fit allies for the king in a war with his people." These Indians were now rapidly leaving Burgoyne. It was a perilous moment for the

British army; to advance or to retreat was alike dangerous. Burgoyne, however, determined to reach Albany if possible.

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307. Stillwater, or Freeman's Farm. He therefore moved his army across the Hudson, and, September 19th, met the Americans at Freeman's Farm below Saratoga. An obstinate battle ensued. The contest continued until darkness closed in upon the scene. In the afternoon there was one continual blaze of fire for three hours without intermission. Again and again one army drove back the other, and then was driven back in turn. Three British regiments were under close fire for nearly four hours. Several cannon were taken and retaken repeatedly. Few battles have

shown more obstinacy in attack or defence. The British lost in this action more than five hundred in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The total loss of the Americans was three hundred and twenty-one.

308. Two Weeks' watching. For two weeks afterwards the two armies occupied their respective camps, engaged in fortifying and watching for a favorable opportunity to renew the attack. General Arnold was removed from his command. Burgoyne's condition was desperate. His provisions were almost exhausted, and he must either fight or fly.

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309. Bemis Heights. October 7th Burgoyne again marched out to attack the Americans. During the conflict Arnold, though not in command, rushed into the thickest of the fight. Seeing this, Gates ordered him to be recalled, but he was beyond reach. Although he had no authority to command, he led his former troops in a desperate charge upon the British line. Constantly in the midst. of British bullets flying around his head, he delivered his orders in person, impetuously urged on his men, and drove the British to their camp. The frightened Hessians fled. Arnold was wounded. and carried from the field, but he had gained for the cause a great victory. The Americans took more than two hundred prisoners, captured nine pieces of artillery, the entire equipment of a German brigade, and a large supply of ammunition. The British lost many officers, including General Frazer, Sir James Clark, Burgoyne's aide-de-camp, and others.

310. Burgoyne must surrender. - Burgoyne now had no hope of escape. His Indians and Tories were constantly deserting; his

provisions were gone. On the 11th he had but three thousand, four hundred men for duty, and rations for only three days. The American batteries commanded the whole British camp. On the 13th he called a council of war. There was no spot of ground in his entire camp where this council could deliberate without being exposed to cannon or rifle shot. While it was in session an eighteenpound ball crossed the table. Burgoyne immediately decided to capitulate. Terms were proposed and refused. General Gates, fearing that if the surrender were longer deferred, Clinton might reinforce Burgoyne, sent a flag of truce to the British general on the morning of October 17th, 1777, requiring the general to sign the terms of surrender which he had last proposed, within ten minutes, or hostilities would be reopened.

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311. The Surrender. — The papers were signed within that time, and the Americans marched into the British lines to the tune of "Yankee Doodle." Burgoyne surrendered an army of five thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three men. add to this number the prisoners previously taken, and the loss of the enemy at Bennington, the total loss. will reach about one-third of the entire British force in America. Burgoyne's army was quartered for a time at Cambridge and Rutland, but afterwards marched to Charlotte, Virginia, where

The Stars and Stripes. - The Congress had lately adopted the "stars and stripes" as the rational banner. The first flag with the stars and stripes was made by Mrs. Betsey Ross, of Philadelphia, from a pencil sketch drawn by General Washington himself, early in the year 1777. The new flag was used on the occasion of marching off the captured army. General Gates received the credit for the victory, but Benedict Arnold is justly entitled to great praise for his bravery and skill in the engagement.

many permanently settled when exchanged. The palisade which enclosed them was an object of interest for many years after

the war.

312. "Among the Fifteen Great Battles." This battle has sometimes been reckoned as among the fifteen decisive battles that, within twenty centuries, have had a permanent bearing upon the world's history. The defeat of Burgoyne and his army had an important influence upon the public sentiment of both England and America. The expedition had been planned wisely and skilfully. Its success would have gone far toward subduing the rebellious colonies. Its utter failure created a strong reaction in England in favor of the Americans. As, on the one hand, its

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