The Americans, greatly elated by these circumstances, had assembled a large body under Major-General Gates at _Stillwater_. Small parties having been detached to Lieut.-General Burgoyne’s[20] rear, were in some measure successful, and his communication being thus threatened, notwithstanding his difficulties, arising from want of resources, he resolved to advance, and at all hazards to attempt a junction with the troops under Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton, taking with him thirty days’ provisions. Lieut.-General Burgoyne crossed the river Hudson on the 13th and 14th of September by a bridge of rafts, which had once been swept away, and on the 18th arrived at _Stillwater_, before the enemy’s position, which he attacked at two o’clock in the afternoon of the 19th of September, when a severe and indecisive action ensued. Both parties held their respective positions, and entrenched themselves within them. The British General, confined between two rivers by a stronger force than his own, continued within his lines and redoubts until the 7th of October, and when nearly destitute of provisions, determined to make another effort to extricate his troops; 1500 British, with twelve pieces of artillery, commanded by Lieut.-General Burgoyne in person, moved in advance towards the American position, and formed his right wing, while a body of light companies and Indians were placed under cover to act upon the enemy’s rear when he should be sufficiently advanced. General Gates, observing this separation of wings, instantly attacked the left wing with a view to cut off all chance of a junction; the British grenadiers were in this wing, and behaved with great gallantry. General Arnold attacked the British right, and Brigadier-General Fraser threw the light companies into a second line, in rear of the right wing, to cover its retreat upon the left. While this movement was taking place, the left of the right wing doubled to the rear. Brigadier-General Fraser led the light infantry to its support, but was mortally wounded; not, however, before his brave troops gave the right wing time to recover, and secured Lieut.-General Burgoyne’s retreat to his camp. The Americans pushed on, and obtained an entrance into the British lines: night put an end to the action.