Burgoyne, the King's commander, From Canada set sail; With full eight thousand regulars, He thought he could not fail; With Indians and Canadians, And his cursèd Tory crew, On board his fleet of shipping He up the Champlain flew. Before Ticonderoga, The first day of July, Appeared his ships and army, And we did them espy. Their motions we observed, Full well both night and day, And our brave boys prepared To have a bloody fray. Our garrison, they viewed them, And straight their troops did land; And when St. Clair, our chieftain, The fact did understand, That they the Mount Defiance Were bent to fortify, He found we must surrender, Or else prepare to die. The fifth day of July, then, He ordered a retreat; And when next morn we started, Burgoyne thought we were beat. And closely he pursued us, Till when near Hubbardton, Our rear guards were defeated, He thought the country won. And when 'twas told in Congress That we our forts had left, To Albany retreated, Of all the North bereft, Brave General Gates they sent us, Our fortunes to retrieve, And him, with shouts of gladness, The army did receive. Where first the Mohawk's waters Do in the sunshine play, For Herkimer's brave soldiers Sellinger ambushed lay; And them he there defeated, But soon he had his due, And scared by Brooks and Arnold, He to the north withdrew. To take the stores and cattle That we had gathered then, Burgoyne sent a detachment Of fifteen hundred men; By Baum they were commanded, To Bennington they went; To plunder and to murder Was fully their intent. But little did they know then With whom they had to deal; It was not quite so easy Our stores and stocks to steal, Bold Stark would give them only A portion of his lead; With half his crew, ere sunset, Baum lay among the dead. The nineteenth of September, The morning cool and clear, Brave Gates rode through our army, Each soldier's heart to cheer; "Burgoyne," he cried, "advances, But we will never fly; No--rather than surrender, We'll fight him till we die!" The news was quickly brought us, The enemy was near, And all along our lines then, There was no sign of fear; It was above Stillwater We met at noon that day, And every one expected To see a bloody fray. Six hours the battle lasted, Each heart as true as gold, The British fought like lions, And we like Yankees bold; The leaves with blood were crimson, And then did brave Gates cry, "'Tis diamond now cut diamond! We'll beat them, boys, or die." The darkness soon approaching, It forced us to retreat Into our lines till morning, Which made them think us beat; But ere the sun was risen, They saw before their eyes Us ready to engage them, Which did them much surprise.