The history of the rise, progress, and establishment of the independence of the United States of America, Vol. 2 (of 3) : $b Including an account of the late war, and of the thirteen colonies, from their origin to that periodGordon, William
History
The history of the rise, progress, and establishment of the independence of the United States of America, Vol. 2 (of 3) : $b Including an account of the late war, and of the thirteen colonies, from their origin to that period
Gordon, William
United States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
expectation of being joined by a much larger number. His force did not
propably exceed 800 men. The main army, under gen. Burgoyne, proceeded
up Lake Champlain, landed, and encamped at no great distance from
Crown-Point, where he met the Indians in congress, and afterward, in
compliance with their customs, gave them a war feast. He made a speech
to them [June 21.] calculated to excite their ardor in the common cause,
and at the same time to repress their barbarity. He enjoined it upon
them, that they should only kill those who opposed them in arms; that
old men, women, children and prisoners, should be held sacred from the
knife or hatchet, even in the heat of actual conflict; that they should
only scalp those whom they had slain in fair opposition; but that under
no pretence should they scalp the wounded, or even dying, much less kill
persons in that condition. They were promised a compensation for
prisoners, but informed that they should be called to account for
scalps. Four days before this speech, gen. Scuyler arrived at Ty; but
did not find the post in so good a state of defence as he expected. He
imagined that the proposed obstructions (which had been ordered by
congress the last December, and which had been backed by his order given
in February, and repeated the fifth of June) would have been completed,
or at least considerably more advanced. That they were carried on with
no more dispatch, was imputed greatly to the late arrival of such troops
as could not be brought to work in spirit; to artificers not coming by
the time they were ordered, and to a want of working cattle. Gen. St.
Clair would before this have called in the militia, but for the state of
his magazine; which made him apprehend, that should they come in fast,
they might eat him out before the arrival either of the enemy or a
supply.
[June 29.] General Burgoyne issued out a proclamation, meant to spread
terror among the Americans who avowedly professed themselves the friends
of congressional measures; and especially to excite in them a fear of
the Indians, whose number was magnified, and eagerness to be let loose
on their prey, described with uncommon energy. Protection and security,
clogged with conditions, were held out to the peaceable, who continued
in their habitations. All the outrages of war, arrayed in their most
terrific forms, were denounced against those who persevered in their
hostility. But the people at large were so far from being frightened,
that they diverted themselves with the proclamation, as a complete model
of pomposity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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