after, he descended the river to Stillwater; and, the British continuing to advance, he retreated, on the 14th of August, to the islands at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson, a few miles north of Troy. About the same time, intelligence was received that St. Leger, having penetrated from Oswego to the Mohawk, had laid siege to fort Schuyler, situated in the present township of Rome.

The American general, before leaving fort Edward, issued a proclamation calling to his aid the militia of New England and New York. Aroused by the danger, multitudes obeyed his call. Vermont poured forth her daring Green Mountain boys; the other states of New England their hardy yeomanry, ardent in the cause of freedom; New York, her valiant sons, indignant at this invasion of her territory, and determined to protect their property from pillage and destruction. These beset the invaders on every side, impeding their progress, cutting off their supplies, and fatiguing them by incessant attacks.

Burgoyne, finding it difficult to transport his provisions through the wilderness, despatched Colonel Baum, with five hundred Hessians, to seize a quantity of beef and flour which the Americans had collected and deposited at Bennington. Fortunately, General Stark, at the head of a party of New Hampshire militia, had just arrived at that place, on his way to the main army, and been joined by volunteers from the immediate ́neighbourhood. Baum, ascertaining their number to be greater than his own, halted near Ben

nington, erected breastworks, and sent back for a reinforcement.

In several skirmishes between small detachments, the militia were uniformly successful. This sharpening their courage, Stark resolved to attack the main body. On the 16th of August, a fierce and sanguinary battle took place. For two hours, the Hessians fought bravely, but their works, assaulted by braver troops, were at length entered, and most of the detachment either killed or made prisoners.

Just after this action had terminated, Colonel Breyman arrived with the reinforcement sent to Baum. The militia, apprehending no danger, had dispersed in pursuit of plunder or the fugitives. By carelessness was nearly lost all that by valour had been gained. Happily, at this critical juncture, Colonel Warner arrived from Manchester with a continental regiment, and immediately fell upon Breyman. The militia, rallying, hastened to his aid. The battle continued until sunset, when the enemy retreated, and under cover of the night the greater part effected their escape.

The tide of fortune was now turned. The decisive victory at Bennington diffused confidence and joy. The friends of independence, before depressed by disaster and defeat, were now animated by the prospect which suddenly burst upon them, of a glorious victory over an arrogant and once dreaded enemy. The greatest zeal and activity were every where displayed. Again crowds of militia flocked to the republican camp.

In a few days, cheering intelligence arrived from

fort Schuler. The garrison under Colonels Gansevoort and Willet, had, in the midst of the most discouraging circumstances, made a gallant defence against the forces of St. Leger. General Herkimer, marching with eight hundred militia to their relief, fell into an ambuscade, was defeated and slain; but a larger party was speedily collected and immediately despatched, under General Arnold, upon the same service.

The Indians alarmed by their approach, and fatigued and disgusted by the protracted labours of the siege, threatened to abandon St. Leger, if he would not relinquish his enterprise. He reluctantly consented, and with the loss of his baggage and stores retreated to Montreal. Burgoyne was thus deprived of his expected co-operation, and the militia of that part of the state were enabled to join the American army.

The disasters which befell this army at the commencement of the campaign induced congress to recall the generals who commanded it, and to appoint in their places Generals Gates, Lincoln, and Arnold. Having the control of means more efficient, they acted with more energy aud boldness. Gates, leaving the encampment on the islands, to which Schuyler had retreated, advanced in the beginning of September, to the neighbourhood of Stillwater.

Bourgoyne, after the defeat of Baum, was obliged. to have recourse, for provisions, to the magazines at fort George. The laborious task of transporting them through the wilderness to the Hudson being accomplished, he moved forward, and on the 17th

of September, encamped within four miles of the

American army.

The next day, the first battle of Stillwater was fought. It was begun by skirmishes between the scouting parties of the two armies, which were respectively and repeatedly reinforced, until nearly the whole of each was engaged. Both fought with determined resolution; they alternately drove and were driven by each other. A continual blaze of fire was kept up. Men, and particularly officers, dropped every moment and on every side. Night put an end to the conflict.

The American army retired to their camp; the British lay on their arms near the field of battle. The loss of the former was three hundred and nineteen; that of the latter exceeded five hundred. Each claimed the victory; the consequences of the defeat were felt by the British alone. Their hopes of success were diminished, their Indian allies, the Canadians and tories, were disheartened and deserted them.

Pressed on all sides, Burgoyne made frequent and urgent applications to Sir Henry Clinton, at New York, for aid, and informed him, that in expectation of such aid, he would maintain his present position until the 12th of October. He diminished the allowance of provisions to his soldiers, and having waited until the 7th without receiving any intelligence from Clinton, determined to make another trial of strength with his adversary.

He made dispositions to commence the action with the right wing of his army; Gates, discovering

his design, made a sudden and vigorous attack upon the left. In a short time, the whole of both armies was engaged. This battle was furious, obstinate, and more bloody than the other. Arnold was eminently distinguished for his bravery and rashness. Towards night the enemy, who had fought with desperate valour, gave way. A part of their works were stormed and taken, and more than two hundred men made prisoners.

Darkness put an end to this action also. The Americans lay upon their arms near the enemy's lines, intending to renew the battle the next day; but Burgoyne, during the night, withdrew to a stronger position. Gates forebore to pursue, believing that a bloodless victory was now in his power.

In the mean time, Sir Henry Clinton despatched General Vaughan with three thousand men, to endeavour to relieve Burgoyne. He ascended the Hudson, and on the sixth of October, assaulted and took fort Montgomery; but instead of hastening forward, he consumed a whole week in pillaging and burning Esopus, and other flourishing villages on the river. He perhaps expected that this wanton destruction of property would draw off a part of the forces under Gates; but it had no other effect than to exasperate the inhabitants.

Burgoyne, perceiving that his antagonist was endeavouring to surround him, retreated to the heights of Saratoga. The Americans pursued, keeping a sufficient force on the east bank of the river to prevent him from crossing. The situation of the British troops was now distressing in the extreme. Many of their most valued officers