History of Montgomery & Fulton Counties by F. W. Beers & Co. Ch 11

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

CHAPTER XI.

THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON--ST. LEGER'S FAILURE AT ORISKANY AND FORT SCHUYLER--BURGOYNE'S DEFEATS AND SURRENDER.

Burgoyne remained at Skenesborough nearly three weeks while detachments were building bridges and repairing the road to Fort Anne. This delay greatly diminished his supplies, and on arriving at Fort Anne he sent a detachment under Colonel Baum to surprise and capture a quantity of stores which he had heard was collected at Bennington, and with the expectation of receiving material aid from the loyalists in that quarter, General Schuyler had not sufficient force to defend Fort Edward, and throwing all the obstructions possible in Burgoyne's way from there to Fort Anne, retreated down the valley of the Hudson. Colonel Baum on his march to Bennington, reached Cambridge on the 13th of August. The American General Stark in the meantime had repaired to Bennington, and was collecting the militia to join his brigade in opposing any invasion in that direction. Hearing that a party of Indians were at Cambridge, he detached Colonel Gregg to attack them; and shortly after, learning that a large body of the enemy were in their rear marching on Bennington, he moved immediately to the support of Gregg. After going about five miles he met him retreating, and Colonel Baum not more than a mile in the rear. Stark at once disposed his army for battle, and Baum perceiving its strength began to intrench, and sent to Burgoyne for reinforcements. The next day some skirmishing took place, and on the following day, August 16th, Stark arranged his army for an attack. Two detachments were sent to flank the enemy, while another was attracting their attention in front. As soon as the attack on the enemy's flank began the main body pressed forward, and after two hours fierce conflict, gained a decisive victory. The remnant of Colonel Baum's force in its flight was met by Colonel Breyman with reinforcements, who pressed forward with the combined force to regain the abandoned intrenchments. Stark was also reinforced, and the conflict was renewed with vigor. The enemy at length giving way were pursued until darkness came to their rescue and enabled them with their thinned and broken ranks to escape to the main army. Colonel Baum was mortally wounded and taken prisoner. The total loss of the enemy was, in killed, wounded and prisoners, nine hundred and thirty-four, and all their artillery and military stores. Up to this time all had gone well with the boastful Briton, and his path had been illuminated with victory, but with the failure of this expedition his glory began to wane and his sky to grow dark and threatening, where hitherto it had been bright and serene.

While these events had been taking place with the main division, the expedition under Colonel St. Leger had invested Fort Schuyler, (earlier and even now more commonly called Fort Stanwix) on the site of Rome. A movement of the Mohawk valley militia to its relief, was arrested by the bloody battle of Oriskany, but while most of the beseigers were engaged in this conflict, their camp was sacked by the garrison ; and learning that a more formidable provincial force was on its way to raise the seige of the fort, which had held out tenaciously, St. Leger abandoned his undertaking and returned to Canada.

Schuyler, with his army, marched down the Hudson to Stillwater, and finally to the mouth of the Mohawk, still keeping his headquarters at Stillwater and exerting all his energies for the augmentation of his force, preparatory to a conflict with Burgoyne. On the 19th of August, at the instigation of his enemies he was very unjustly superseded by General Gates. On the 8th of September, the American army advanced to Bemis's Heights, above Stillwater, which had been fortified under the superintendence of Kosciusko. The British detachment sent to Bennington, instead of bringing back any plunder had lost largely of what they already had, as well as most of the force, and Burgoyne had hardly recovered from this unexpected shock when the news was brought him of the defeat of St. Leger at Fort Schuyler. These disasters had a very depressing effect upon his army and the Indians and loyalists began to desert, while the Americans were greatly inspirited. In view of these difficulties the British commander deemed it expedient to halt at Fort Edward. Stores having been brought forward from the posts on Lake Champlain, he proceeded down the Hudson, and on the i8th of September encamped at Wilbur's Basin, two miles from the American position, and prepared for battle, and the next day advanced to the attack in three divisions. General Riedesel commanded the left column, which with the heavy artillery moved down a road along the margin of the river. The centre was commanded by Burgoyne in person, and the left by General Fraser, The front and flanks of both the centre and right, were covered by Indians, Tories and Canadians. The American right, which was the main body of their army, was commanded by Gates, and the left by General Arnold. Colonel Morgan was detached from Arnold's division and encountered the Canadians and Indians in the advance and drove them back; but they being reinforced the contest resulted in both parties finally falling within their respective lines. The action soon became general and the combined force of Burgoyne and Fraser was engaged with Arnold's division. Arnold called upon Gates for reinforcements but they were refused, and he, resolving to do what he could with the force at his command, continued the contest with the most obstinate and determined resolution, both armies alternately advancing and retreating without a decisive victory for either. The conflict did not cease until the shades of night fell upon the combatants. The Americans then retired to their encampment unpursued by the enemy. The British forces bivouacked on the field of battle. The total loss of the former was three hundred and nineteen, and that of the latter, more than five hundred. Few actions have been more remarkable for determined bravery on both sides than this. The number of the British in the engagement was about three thousand, and that of the Americans five hundred less. Both parties claimed the victory. The object of the British was to advance and gain ground, which they failed to do ; while it was not the intention of the Americans to advance, but to maintain their position, which they accomplished, and it is therefore not difficult to determine on which side the advantage lay. Though the British remained in possession of the battlefield through the night, they retired to their camp in the morning without advancing to renew the conflict. General Gates, in his report of the battle, said nothing of Arnold or his division, to whom .all the honor was due. He was jealous of the reputation that officer had earned, and of his growing popularity with the army, and carried his meanness so far as to take from him the command of his division. Both parties strengthened their positions after the battle, but no general engagement took place for upwards of three weeks.

Burgoyne saw with painful anxiety that the American forces were rapidly increasing, while his own were daily diminishing by the desertion of his Indian allies. His provisions began to fail, and the vigilance of the Americans not only prevented any supplies reaching him, but deprived him of all communication with Sir Henry Clinton for assistance. At length he was obliged to put his troops on short allowance, and hearing nothing from Clinton, who was to make a diversion in his favor, became seriously alarmed. Amid the thickening perils, he found himself reduced to the alternative of fighting or retreating. The latter was not only inglorious but difficult, and he resolved to make a reconnaissance in force, for the twofold purpose of ascertaining definitely the position of the enemy, and of collecting forage to supply his camp, of which it was in pressing need. On the 7th of October he, at the head of fifteen hundred men, and accompanied by Generals Riedesel, Phillips, and Fraser, advanced toward the left wing of the American position. The movement was seasonably perceived by the Americans, and the enemy were repulsed and driven back to their lines by Morgan, who, at his own suggestion, was dispatched by a circuitous route to gain the right of the British, and fall upon the flanking party of Eraser at the same time an attack was to be made on the left of the British. General Poor advanced towards an eminence upon which were stationed the British grenadiers and the artillery of Ackland and Williams. He had given them orders not to fire until after the first discharge of the British guns, and they moved onward toward the frowning battery in awful silence until a sudden volley of grape-shot and musket balls made havoc among the branches of the trees, scarcely a shot taking effect upon the advancing column. At this signal Poor's men sprang forward and delivered their fire, and opening to the right and left pressed furiously upon the enemy's flanks and gained the top of the hill, where the struggle became fierce and obstinate in the extreme. One cannon was taken and retaken five successive times, finally remaining in the hands of the Americans, when Colonel Cilley turned it upon the retreating enemy, and fired it with their own ammunition. Williams and Ackland were both taken prisoners, the latter being severely wounded ; and the grenadiers fled in confusion, leaving the field in possession of the Americans, thickly strewn with their dead and wounded,

As soon as the action was begun at this point Morgan's command rushed down like an avalanche from the ridge skirting the flanking party of Fraser, and assailed them with such a destructive fire that they were hastily driven back to their lines. Then, by a rapid movement, he fell upon the right flank of the British with such impetuosity as to throw them into confusion, and Major Dearborn, coming up at this critical moment, completed their discomfiture. The right and left of the British lines were thus broken, but the centre had remained firm. General Arnold, who had so unjustly been deprived of his command, had been watching the progress of the battle in great excitement, and now mounted his horse and started for the battle-field." Gates sent Major Armstrong to order him back, but Arnold, suspecting his errand, was quickly beyond his reach, and exposed to such perils that the messenger was not anxious to follow him. Placing himself at the head of the men he formerly commanded, he rushed like an unchained tiger upon the British centre, which soon began to give way under his furious assault. General Fraser, who was com manding on the right, seeing the centre in such a critical situation, brought up reinforcements, and by his courage and skill restored order. He soon fell mortally wounded ; dismay seized the British soldiers, and a panic spread all along the line, which was increased by the appearance of General Ten Broeck with a reinforcement of New York militia. Burgoyne finding himself unable to keep up the sinking courage of his men, abandoned his artillery and ordered a retreat, and the whole force fell back precipitately to their intrenchments. The Americans pursued them, and scarcely were they within their fortifications when, under a terrific shower of grape and musket balls, Arnold assaulted them from right to left, forcing the outworks, and driving the enemy to the interior of their camp. Here he was overtaken by Major Armstrong, who delivered to him Gates' order to return to camp, fearing he "might do some rash thing." He returned, but not until he had achieved a glorious victory, and put his life in great peril without a command, while Gates had remained in camp, receiving the honors that justly belonged to others. Night came on and the conflict ceased, and before dawn Burgoyne abandoned his encampment, now rendered untenable, and the Americans early in the morning took possession of it.

Burgoyne, who in the beginning of the campaign had boastfully exclaimed, in general orders, " Britons never retreat," now found that there was no alternative for him but retreat, and when night came on again he began his retrograde movement in the midst of a drenching rain. This had been anticipated, and General Fellows, previous to the action on the 7th inst., had been sent with a detachment to take a position opposite Saratoga ford, on the east side of the Hudson. Another detachment of two thousand men, was now sent to occupy the heights beyond Saratoga, to prevent Burgoyne's retreat upon Fort Edward ; and still another was stationed at the ford above. On the evening of the 9th Burgoyne halted for the night at Fish Creek. The main portion of his army forded the creek and encamped on the opposite bank, while he, with a brigade as a guard, passed the night rather merrily with some companions in a house belonging to General Schuyler. This delay lost him his army. Finding the ford across the Hudson strongly guarded by the detachment under Fellows, he concluded to continue his retreat up the river to Fort Edward. He sent forward a party to repair the bridges, and a detachment to take possession of the fort, but finding the Americans stationed in force upon the heights, they fell back to the main army. In the afternoon of the l0th General Gates came up with the bulk of the American army in pursuit, and occupied the high ground on the south side of Fish Creek, opposite the enemy's encampment. The detachment sent forward to Fort Edward led General Gates to believe the rumor that the main army of Burgoyne had retreated, and he resolved to fall upon what he supposed was the rear guard. Burgoyne was aware of Gates' error, and hoping to profit by it, concealed his troops for the purpose of falling upon the Americans as soon as a favorable opportunity should be afforded. Early the next morning, and in a thick fog, which both parties considered favorable to their respective designs, the army of Gates advanced. Morgan was ordered to cross the creek and begin the action, and at once fell in with the British pickets, who fired upon him and killed several of his party. His reception led him to believe that the rumor of the enemy's retreat was false; that the main body of Burgoyne's force was still near, and that the position of his own corps was critical. Another brigade had already crossed and captured a picket-guard, and another was about to follow, when a deserter from the enemy came in, reporting that the entire British army was at hand, and prepared for battle ; which statement was shortly after confirmed by the capture of a reconnoitering party. As the fog cleared away and exposed the position of both armies, a retreat was deemed advisable by the detachments that had crossed the creek. As soon as they turned about, the British, who were watching their movements and awaiting their advance, opened fire upon them, but they made their retreat with the loss of only a few men.

Burgoyne was now completely environed. On the opposite bank of the Hudson, Fellows was entrenched, with heavy batteries to open on him if he should attempt to cross the river. Fort Edward was held by an American force of two thousand men. On the south and west the main body of the Americans was posted, while small detachments were in all directions watching his every movement, and continually harrassing his outposts. His provisions were almost exhausted, and none could be obtained, and it was extremely hazardous to attempt to get water from the river or creek. There was no place of safety for the sick and wounded, and the women and children, as well as soldiers and officers, were constantly exposed to the cannon balls that were flying about the encamp- ment. On the l2th he held a consultation with his generals, and it was decided to retreat that night, but the returning scouts brought such discouraging intelligence that the movement was postponed till morning. During the night the Americans crossed the river on rafts, and erected a battery on Burgoyne's left flank. Retreat was now hopeless. The next morning a general council was called, when it was unanimously decided to open negotiations with General Gates for an honorable surrender. This conclusion was hastened by the passage of a cannon ball across the table at which Burgoyne and other generals were seated.The negotiations were not completed until the 16th, when the terms of his surrender were agreed upon, and were to be signed by the commander on the following morning. During the night a Tory succeeded in reaching the British camp, from down the river, who reported that Clinton had taken the forts on the Hudson and ascended the river as far as Esopus. This news so excited Burgoyne's hopes that he resolved not to sign the articles of capitulation, and to gain time he wrote Gates that he had been informed that a part of his army had been sent toward Albany, which, if true, should be considered a breach of faith, and that he could not give his signature until convinced that the strength of the Americans had not been misrepresented. He was informed by Gates that his army was as strong as it had been before these negotiations took place, and unless the articles were signed immediately, he should open fire upon him. Burgoyne thereupon reluctantly signed the articles of capitulation.

The surrender of Burgoyne was of the utmost importance to the Americans in their struggle for independence. The preponderance of success, up to this time, had been on the side of the British. The reverses on Long Island and at New York in the previous year, together with the recent defeats in Pennsylvania, had darkened the military horizon with thick clouds of doubt and dismay. All eyes were now anxiously watching the army of the north, which had also been forced to relinquish Ticonderoga and Fort Edward at the commencement of the campaign, and shaded the prospect of successful resistance in that direction. The news of a complete victory filled the patriots with joy and hope, and appalled the Tories, who now began to tremble.