11. The British general lost a month in procuring supplies from Canada.
He now found himself hemmed in by nine thousand patriot soldiers.
General Lincoln arrived with the militia of New England. Washington
sent several detachments from the regular army. Morgan came with his
riflemen. General Gates superseded Schuyler in command of the northern
army. On the 8th of September, the American headquarters were advanced
to Stillwater. On the 14th of the month, Burgoyne crossed the Hudson
and took post at Saratoga. The two armies now came face to face. On
the 19th, a general battle ensued, continuing until nightfall. The
conflict, though severe, was indecisive; the Americans retired within
their lines, and the British slept on the field. To the patriots the
result of the battle was equivalent to a victory.
[Sidenote: =Battle of Bemis's Heights.=]
12. The condition of Burgoyne grew critical. His supplies failed;
his Canadian and Indian allies deserted his standard. On the 7th of
October, he hazarded another battle, in which he lost his bravest
officers and nearly seven hundred privates. The brave General Fraser
was killed, and his disheartened men turned and fled from the field.
The Americans were completely victorious.
[Sidenote: =Burgoyne's Surrender.=]
13. Burgoyne now began a retreat, and on the 9th of October reached
Saratoga. Here he was intercepted by Gates and Lincoln, and forced
to surrender. On the 17th of October terms of capitulation were
agreed on, and the whole army, numbering five thousand seven hundred
and ninety-one, became prisoners of war. Among the captives were six
members of the British Parliament. Forty-two pieces of brass artillery,
five thousand muskets, and an immense quantity of stores were the
fruits of the victory.
[Illustration: PHILADELPHIA AND VICINITY.]
14. As soon as the invasion was at an end, a large portion of the army
was dispatched to aid Washington in a great campaign in progress in
the South. On the 23d of July, Howe had sailed from New York, with
eighteen thousand men, to attack Philadelphia. Washington advanced
his headquarters from Philadelphia to Wilmington. The American army,
numbering about eleven thousand men, was concentrated at that place.
The forces of Howe were vastly superior, but Washington hoped to beat
back the invaders and save the capital.
[Sidenote: =Battle of Brandywine.=]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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