ed Col. Hill, and the Americans withdrew from the field, abandoned the fort, and retired to Fort Edward to join Gen. Schuyler, July 12th. The whole force at this time under Gen. Schuyler at Fort Edward, did not exceed 5000

men.

Both armies now commenced serious operations. Gen. Burgoyne, in clearing out roads from Skeensborough, that he might advance to Fort Edward; and Gen. Schuyler in obstructing the roads, and destroying the bridges to prevent his approach. During these operations Gen. Burgoyne remained at Skeensborough, waiting for the arrival of his camp equipage; whilst the garrison at Ti were employed in transporting batteaux, gun-boats, &c. over to Lake George.

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Pending these operations, Gen. Burgoyne commenced his march for Fort Edward, where he arrived on the 30th of July but Gen. Schuyler had abandoned the fort on the 27th, with the remnant of his army, then amounting only to about 2700 men of the continentals, and about the same number of militia, and retired to Saratoga, and on the first of August he retired to Stillwater, only 25 miles north of Albany.

The country saw with astonishment this shadow of an army, flying before a victorious enemy, and laying open the whole northern frontier, by abandoning all those fortresses that had cost the colonies so much blood and treasure to erect and secure. The spirits of the states were again as greatly depressed as when Gen. Washington crossed the Delaware the last year, and the spirits of the ene my were as high.

At this eventful moment Sir William Howe sailed with his armament to commence his operations in Pennsylvania, as has been noticed.

Col. Barton on the 10th of July, with 40 volunteers, passed over onto Rhode-Island; surprised Gen. Prescott

in his quarters, and brought him off safe, with one of his aids, which gave some spring to the public feeling.

On the 4th of August, Congress appointed Gen. Gates to succeed Gen. Schuyler, in the command of the army of the north.

On the 22d of August Gen. Sullivan, with Col. Ogden, crossed over from the Jersies, onto Staten Island, in order to dislodge the British stationed there; but by some mismanagement the attempt failed, with the loss of two or three hundred of the American troops, killed, wounded, or taken prisoners.

Pending these movements Col. St. Leger, who had been detached by Gen. Burgoyne from Canada into the country of the Mohawks, to make a diversion in that quarter, commenced his operations against Fort Stanwix, (now Fort Schuyler,) on the 3d of August. Gen Herkimer marched down at the head of about 800 militia, to relieve the fort; but he fell into an Indian ambush on the 6th, and was killed in one of the sharpest and most desperate Indian battles we have noticed. The garrison of the fort sallied out at the same time; decided the bloody contest; drove off the Indians, and relieved the fort. St. Leger proceeded to summon the fort on the 8th, but Col. Gansevort returned a spirited reply, which led St. Leger to withdraw his troops with great precipitation, and retire to the lake.

Pending these operations, Gen. Washington detached Gen. Lincoln to the northward, to take the command of such eastern militia as should join the northern army. Gen. Lincoln arrived at Manchester on the 2d of August, where he took the command of 600 militia, and on the 6th he was joined by Brig. Gen. Stark with 800 more. Gen. Stark was a soldier of merit, and had deserved well of his country by his distinguished services in the famous battle of Bunker's Hill.

Gen. Stark had felt himself wounded by the neglect of Congress, after the battle of Bunker's Hill; and engaged

'at this time in the service of his country upon the express condition that he should not be constrained to serve under a continental officer; but that he might pursue his own measures; he accordingly resisted the pressing invitations of Gen. Schuyler to bring on his troops, and join him in resisting the advance of Gen. Burgoyne.

Pending this controversy in which Congress finally interfered, Gen. Burgoyne detached Col. Baum, with 500 Germans and 100 Indians, to seize on the American stores at Bennington, to enable him to pursue his march. Gen. Stark was apprised of this movement, and sent expresses, and collected the neighbouring militia, and marched to meet the enemy on the 14th, supported by Colonels Warner, Williams, and Brush. The advance parties of the two armies met, and began a skirmishing that continued through the day. On the 15th all operations were suspended, by the excessive rains that fell; but on the 16th Gen. Stark was joined by the Berkshire militia, under Col. Symonds, and he detached Col. Nichols to take post in the rear of the left of the enemy; Col. Hendrick to take post in the rear of his right, to be supported by Cols. Hubbard and Stickley, still further on the right; and about three o'clock in the afternoon he commenced an attack upon the main body of the enemy, strongly intrenched, and supported by two field pieces. The attack commenced upon all sides at the same time; the enemy were firm and valiant, and the action soon became sharp and bloody.

The Indians deserted at the commencement of the action, and made their escape, and the Germans were overpowered, forced from their intrenchments, and put to flight. Flushed with the succèsses of the day, the militia gave themselves up to plunder, and whilst they were rioting in the spoils of the enemy, a reinforcement joined Col. Baum, under Lieut. Col. Breymen, and the enemy rallied to the charge, and renewed the combat; the surprise of

this sudden movement would have proved serious to the Americans in their plundering situation, bad they not been supported by Col. Warner's regiment of continentals, which arrived from Manchester at this critical moment, and supported the action, until the militia could collect and advance to the charge; when the action again became general, and continued through the day. The Germans again gave way, and under cover of the night, secured their retreat, leaving their artillery, baggage, &c. with 200 slain, and 700 prisoners, among which was Col. Baum. This was a valiant action, and proved ruinous to the expedition of Gen. Burgoyne.

The merits of Gen. Stark were applauded by a special resolve of Congress, and they honoured him with the appointment of brigadier general, in the continental army, October 4th.

Gen. Gates, who had been detached by Gen. Washington, to the command of the northern army, arrived at this critical moment and took the command, under the influence of that spirit, and animation, with which the battle of Bennington had inspired the army.

This was the first success the northern army had enjoyed, and it gave them fresh hopes, and fresh courage, and inspired the country with new zeal, which was displayed in the alacrity with which the militia turned out, and joined the army. The presence of the new general, added to the successes at Benington, inspired the northern army with fresh confidence; they shewed a firm front to the enemy, and began to advance to meet him.

Gen. Lincoln at this time, supported by Colonels Brown, Woodbridge, and Johnson, threw himself into the rear of Gen. Burgoyne, and on the 18th, Col. Brown destroyed the British stores at the landing, at Lake George, and released the American prisoners; and commenced opera

tions at the same time against Fort Ti and Skeensborough, with success.

Pending these operations Gen. Burgoyne crossed the Hudson, and encamped with his whole army upon the plains of Saratoga. He next moved forward upon the banks of the Hudson, and took post upon the heights of Stillwater, within three miles of Gen. Gates.

September 18th, General Gates detached about three thousand men to offer the enemy battle; but he declined the combat. On the 19th, the scouting parties of the two armies commenced a skirmishing that led to a general action, which lasted through the day, and was supported with great zeal, and intrepid bravery. displayed the second volume of Bunker's Hill. ardor in combat, on the part of the Americans, and the same deadly carnage on the part of the British; night closed the scene, and the generals. drew off their armies to protect their camps, and waited with impatience the returning day.

Here was The same

The loss of the British in this action was estimated at 500 killed, wounded, and taken prisoners; and the loss of the Americans, about 300, being about one eighth of the whole number engaged.

The army of General Gates at this time was about 7000 strong, exclusive of the troops under General Lincoln, who had not then joined him; but had returned from the lake as far as Bennington.

The Indians mostly deserted the standard of General Burgoyne, after this action, and four of the Five Nations favoured General Gates, and furnished him with about 150 warriors, who joined him on the 20th.

From this time to the 7th of October, the two armies. were within cannon shot of each other, and witnessed frequent skirmishings, both night and day. These harassed the armies with constant alarms. On the 29th of