other, united the advantages of convenience CHAP. V. and security, magazines to a large amount had been collected there. Some of these were removed, but by far the greater part of them were lost. Much labour and money had been expended on the forts, and on the works in the river which had been demolished.

1777.

Though the injury sustained by the United States was considerable, very little benefit occurred to the enemy from this enterprise. It was undertaken at too late a period to save Burgoyne, and though they acquired the passes in the highlands, they were, in the present state of the armies, totally unable to hold them. They had reduced to ashes every village and almost every private house within their power; but this wanton and useless destruction served to irritate without tending to subdue. A keenness was given to the resentment it excited, which perhaps outlasted the contest between the two nations.

The destruction of Burgoyne was in a great measure decided by the battle of the 19th of September, and could only have been prevented by his immediate retreat. The issue of that day had demonstrated to both armies, that the continental troops under the command of general Gates, were more than equal to him in the field; and it was not difficult to predict that New England, more populous, more united, more zealous in the contest, and better armed

CHAP. V. than the middle states, would pour forth such 1777. auxiliary strength as would be irresistible.

That he did not immediately relinquish the enterprise as desperate, and return to the lakes, or their neighbourhood, is perhaps the only error committed by the British general. In the affair of Bennington, there was more of fortune than of ill judgment. The presence of Starke with the New Hampshire militia was purely adventitious. This circumstance, which prevented the success of the expedition against the magazines of that place, and destroyed the party, was prepared by no previous arrangement. Without it, colonel Warner, who commanded about three hundred continental troops, would have been too weak to have defeated Baum, or prevented the execution of his designs at that place. It seems unjust to attribute to a commanding officer the ill success of an enterprise, of which the force was proportioned to the resistance that could reasonably have been expected, and which was defeated by one of those casualties that could neither be foreseen nor prevented. But the perseverance manifested in pursuing his object, after the battle of the 19th had fully disclosed the impracticability of attaining it without the co-operation of other armies, if not to be ascribed to positive orders, must have been occasioned either by that sanguine temper which trusts to fortune against all reasonable calculation, rather

than forego brilliant prospects on which the CHAP. V. imagination had dwelt with delight, or by a 1777. fear of censure from the ill informed. This is a consideration which should weigh in the mind of a general, as dust in the balance.

Burgoyne states his effective force when he capitulated, at three thousand five hundred fighting men. The whole number which surrendered, according to the American computation, amounted to five thousand seven hundred and fifty-two. The one estimate probably excludes persons of every description, other than rank and file fit for duty; while the other, comprehends all persons belonging to the camp. This army was calculated, on marching from Ticonderoga, at a total of nine thousand men. In addition to this very great military force, the British lost, and the Americans acquired, a fine train of artillery, seven thousand stand of excellent arms, clothing for seven thousand recruits intended to be inlisted in the country; with tents, and other military stores, to a very considerable amount.

The capture of an entire army is one of those splendid achievements which always makes on the human mind a much stronger impression than the deduction of the same number of men from a larger army, the remnant of which is still preserved.

The joy which this event produced in America was extreme. The contest was believed

CHAP.V. to be substantially decided. Though the war 1777. might be kept up longer, no further doubt

was entertained of the success with which their struggles would be ultimately crowned. Nor was it among the smallest advantages expected from it, that it would probably decide the uncertain and balancing politics of foreign courts, anxious to separate America from Britain, but apprehensive of the hazards to be encountered by taking open part in the war.

The thanks of congress were voted to general Gates and his army; and a medal of gold, in commemoration of this great event, was ordered to be struck, to be presented to him by the president in the name of the United States. Colonel Wilkinson who served as adjutant general in the northern department, and who was very strongly recommended to congress, was appointed brigadier general by brevet.

In the opinion that the enemy would not immediately abandon the passes in the highlands, the recovery of which was extremely desirable, it was voted in congress that Putnam should join general Washington with a re-enforcement not to exceed two thousand five hundred men, and that Gates should take command of the army on the Hudson, with unlimited powers to call for aids of militia from the New England states, as well as from NewYork, and New Jersey, for the different objects to be recommended to him by congress.

A proposition, to authorize the commander Chap. V. in chief, after consulting with Gates and 1777. governor Clinton, to increase the detachment designed to strengthen his army, if he should then be of opinion that it might be done without endangering the objects to be accomplished by Gates, was very seriously opposed. An attempt was made to amend this proposition by making the increase of the re-enforcement depend on the approbation of Gates and Clinton; but this amendment was lost by a considerable majority, and the original resolution carried. These resolutions were attended with no other consequence than to excite some degree of attention. The passes in the highlands were already in possession of the Americans, and a re-enforcement of about five thousand continental troops had already been ordered to join the army in Pennsylvania.

and mount

evacuated by

The loss of the army commanded by Burgoyne entirely disabled the enemy from detain- Ticonderoga ing the posts of Ticonderoga, and mount Independence Independence. After burning, and otherwise the enemy. destroying the buildings and works, and throwing the heavy stores into the lake, the garrison retired precipitately to Isle Aux Noix, and St. Johns.

The effect produced by this event on the British cabinet and nation, may be readily conceived. It seemed to remove every delusive hope of conquest with which they had so long