recall the force engaged with Herkimer to | hastily abandoned his camp, and retreated defend his own camp. The American militia then retreated, carrying with them their commander, who died a few days later. Fort Schuyler was left in a critical condition, and into Canada with the remainder of his force. Burgoyne had now reached the Hudson, and had full command of Lakes George and Champlain; but the people of the country army was beginning to run short of provi- | ing forces. He accepted it promptly, and sions. To obtain horses and provisions, Burgoyne, early in August, sent a force of five hundred Germans and a detachment of Indians and Tories, under Lieutenant-Colonel Baum, to seize the stores collected by the Americans at Bennington, Vermont, and to collect such horses and cattle as they could on the march. He was told that the people GENERAL JOHN STARK. of the neighborhood were largely devoted to the king, and that the stores were unguarded. The news of the approach of this force spread rapidly through the country, and the Green Mountain Boys, as the Vermont militia were termed, flew to arms. Colonel Stark, who had retired from the Continental army on account of having been neglected in the recent promotions, was in the neighborhood, and was offered the command of the gather issued a warning to the people along the route of the British to drive off their horses and cattle, and to conceal their grain and wagons to prevent their capture by the enemy. A messenger was sent with all speed t to Manchester to Colonel Seth Warner, urging him to march at once with his regiment to Bennington, where he was needed. Battle of Bennington. Baum had advanced to within six miles of Bennington when he heard of the approach of the militia under Stark. He halted, intrenched his position, and sent to Burgoyne for reinforcements. Colonel Breyman with five hundred Hessians and two pieces of artillery was despatched to his assistance. Stark was prevented from making an immediate attack upon Baum by a furious rain-storm, which also delayed the march of Breyman and Warner. During the night of the fifteenth of August Stark was joined by the militia from Berkshire, Massachusetts They were anxious to engage the enemy at once, and were impatient at the delay caused by the storm. One of their number, Parson Allen, approached Stark. "General," said he, "the people of Berkshire have often been called out to no purpose; if don't you give them a chance to fight now they will never turn out again." Stark remarked his earnestness, and said, with a smile, "You would not turn out now, while it is dark and raining, would you ?" answered the parson. "Well," said Stark, "if the Lord should once more give us sunshine, and I don't give you fighting enough, I'll never ask you to turn out again." "Not just now," The morning of the sixteenth came bright and clear, and Stark at once began his advance upon the enemy. Arriving in sight of the British works, he pointed them out to his men. "There are the red coats! We and Massachusetts were threatening Ticonderoga, the capture of which post would cut off his communications with Canada. The contrast between the present condition of the British army and that of a few weeks before was marked indeed. must beat them to-day or Molly Stark sleeps | Highlands. The militia of New Hampshire a widow to-night." A spirited attack was made upon the British lines, both in front and in the rear, and after two hours' hard fighting they were carried by storm. Baum fell mortally wounded and his men laid down their arms. The Indians and Tories had escaped to the woods at the opening of the battle. The fighting had scarcely ended when the force under Colonel Breyman appeared and at once engaged the Americans. At the same moment Warner's regiment, which had pushed forward all night in the rain, reached the field. The battle was continued until nightfall, when Breyman abandoned his artillery and made a hurried retreat to Burgoyne's camp on the Hudson. The Americans had fourteen killed and forty wounded. They took six hundred prisoners, one thousand stand of arms and four pieces of cannon. Burgoyne in Straits. Burgoyne now found himself in a most critical condition. He had reached the Hudson, but his troops were short of provisions; his efforts against Fort Schuyler and Bennington had failed, and his force was being reduced by the desertions of the Indians. Burgoyne, who was a man of humanity and true soldierly spirit, had no sympathy with the barbarous policy of his government in employing the savages against the Americans, and had sternly cut short their cruelties. The Indians had taken offence at his course and were leaving his army in great numbers. He made no effort to detain them, preferring to lose their services rather than allow them to continue their atrocities. On the other hand the American army was daily growing stronger. militia were flocking to it in great numbers, and reinforcements were received from the The A Jealous General. Matters were in this state when General Gates arrived, late in August, and assumed the command of the army, which was now six thousand strong, and receiving reinforcements every day. Schuyler, superior to all sense of personal wrong, cheerfully rendered him all the assistance in his power in mastering the question before him; but Gates repaid his generosity with characteristic jealousy. He did not even invite Schuyler to his first council of war held a few days later. He at once left the position at the mouth of the Mohawk, and on the twelfth of September advanced to Behmus' Heights, a spur of hills bordering the Hudson. The army now numbered nine thousand effective men, indifferently armed, but resolved to conquer. "Gates had no fitness for command," says Bancroft, "and wanted personal courage." personal courage." He intrenched his position, and for the defence of his right and left flanks erected strong batteries. Burgoyne by great exertion succeeded in bringing up a month's provisions from Lake George for his army, which was now reduced to about six thousand men. He resolved to adhere to his original plan, and endeavored to force his way to Albany, and on the thirteenth of September crossed the Hudson at Schuylerville, and encamped on the plains of Saratoga, intending to decide the campaign by a general engagement. On the morning of the nineteenth of September he advanced against the American position. Gates wished to await the attack |