Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 6 (of 8): The United States of North America, Part I
History
Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 6 (of 8): The United States of North America, Part I
America -- Discovery and exploration; America -- History; United States -- History
Gates after the war lived for a while on his estate in the Shenandoah
valley (view of his house in _Appleton's Journal_, July 19, 1873, p.
69, and Mrs. Lamb's _Homes of America_), but finally removed to New
York, and lived near what is now Second Avenue and Twenty-third Street.
A view of the house occupied by him as headquarters at Saratoga is in
Lossing's _Hudson River_, p. 94.—ED.]
Each misjudged the other; but the outcome of this feeling between Dutch
and Puritan blood was unfortunate in superseding the soldierly Schuyler
by the intriguing Gates. And it was a cruel reverse to the former, just
as his skilful plans were culminating in the utter discomfiture of
the enemy, and his successes at Stanwix and Bennington were bringing
reinforcements from every quarter to his standard with which to take
the offensive, that he should be shorn of the laurels which were about
to crown him as the brilliant leader in this most important campaign of
the Revolution. If Schuyler had been left in command, probably all the
after-complications connected with Burgoyne's surrender would have been
avoided.
The resolution of Congress superseding Schuyler reached him on the 10th
of August. The noble patriot responded to this ungenerous censure by
renewed efforts for his army till Gates's arrival on the 19th, and then
he extended to his unworthy successor the courtesy of a true gentleman,
for with him the country's welfare was paramount to all personal wrongs.
Gates, clothed with plenary powers and granted by Congress almost
everything denied to Schuyler, moved, after a delay of three weeks,
with his army, 6,000 strong, from the mouth of the Mohawk to Bemis's
Heights, a commanding position on the west bank of the Hudson, which
was selected by Arnold and fortified by the engineer Kosciusko. The
principal hill was occupied on three sides by extensive intrenchments
and redoubts with an abatis. A line of breastworks on the east extended
from the hill to the Hudson, to guard a floating bridge across the
river and to sweep the plain in front; and on the west was a lower hill
which was only partially fortified. The whole position was covered by a
ravine in front, through which flowed a branch of Mill Creek.
Gates took personal command of the right wing of the army, occupying
the intrenchments between the Hudson and the heights to the west;
Learned held the centre; while Arnold had charge of the left wing,
comprising Morgan's riflemen, some Continental troops, and a body of
militia.
To coöperate in checking the advance of the enemy, General Lincoln with
2,000 militia was sent to threaten Burgoyne's communications. Colonel
Brown with 500 of Lincoln's force, on September 18th, surprised the
outposts and key-points of Ticonderoga, destroyed over two hundred
bateaux and gunboats, captured 293 prisoners and 5 cannon, released 100
Americans, and brought away the Continental standard left flying over
the fort when abandoned by St. Clair.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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