the terms agreed upon, was as follows: That the army should march out of the camp with all the honors of war, and its camp artillery, to a fixed place, where they were to deposit their arms, and leave the artillery; to be allowed a free embarkation and passage to Europe, from Boston, on condition of their not serving again in America during the present war; the army not to be separated, particularly the men from the officers; roll-carrying and other duties of regularity to be permitted; the officers to be admitted on parole, and to wear their side arms; all private property to be retained, and the public to be delivered upon honor; no baggage to be searched or molested; all persons, of whatever country, appertaining to, or following the camp, to be fully comprehended in the terms of capitulation, and the Canadians to be returned to their own country, liable to its conditions.[1]
Early in October, while Burgoyne's condition was daily becoming more and more critical, Clinton, at New York, was anxiously waiting the arrival of troops, in order that he might proceed up the Hudson, and endeavor to relieve Burgoyne. Providentially, for the American cause, the ships were three months on the passage, and did not arrive till the beginning of October. Clinton then immediately prepared to attack Forts Clinton and Montgomery, in the Highlands, with three thousand men, and some ships of war under Commodore Hotham.
These forts were situated on high ground Of difficult access, on the western bank of the river, about fifty miles above New York. They were separated by a rivulet, which, flowing from the hills, empties itself into the Hudson. Under cover of the guns, a boom was stretched across the river from bank to bank, and strengthened by an immense iron chain in front, as well as supported by chevaux-de-frise sunk behind it. Above this strong barrier, a frigate and galleys were moored, so as to be able to direct a heavy fire against any vessels that might attempt to force a passage. This seemed to present an insuperable obstacle in the way of the British shipping towards Albany. Fort
- ↑ Wilkinson, who was adjutant-general, in his "Memoirs," gives an account of the first interview, between the conqueror and the conquered: "General Burgoyne proposed to be introduced to General Gates, and we crossed the Fishkill, and proceeded to head-quarters on horseback, General Burgoyne in front, with his Adjutant-general Kingston, and his aids-de-camp, Captain Lord Petersham and Lieutenant Wilford, behind him; then followed Major-general Philips, the Baron Reidesel, and the other general officers, and their suites, according to rank. General Gates, advised of Burgoyne's approach, met him at the head of his camp. Burgoyne, in a rich royal uniform, and Gates, in a plain blue frock. When they approached nearly within sword's length, they reined up and halted. I then named the gentlemen, and General Burgoyne, raising his hat most gracefully, said, 'The fortune of war, General Gates, has made me your prisoner ;' to which the conqueror, returning a courtly salute, promptly replied, 'I shall always be ready to bear testimony, that it has not been through any fault of your excellency.' Major-general Philips then advanced, and he and General Gates saluted, and shook hands with the familiarity of old acquaintances. The Baron Reidesel and other officers were introduced in their turn." Doctor Ramsay, also, in his "History of the American Revolution," p. 368, says, that "the conduct of General Burgoyne, in this interview with General Gates, was truly dignified, and the historian is at a loss whether to admire most, the magnanimity of the victorious, or the fortitude of the vanquished general."
