The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for IndependenceLossing, Benson John
History
The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence
Lossing, Benson John
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
We will listen to the story of the sufferings of some of the women of
Burgoyne's camp in that house, as told by the baroness herself: "About
two o'clock in the afternoon we again heard a firing of cannon and small
arms; instantly all was alarm, and every thing in motion. My husband
told me to go to a house not far off. I immediately seated myself in my
caleche, with my children, and drove off; but scarcely had we reached it
before I discovered five or six armed men on the other side of the
Hudson. Instinctively I threw my children down in the caleche, and then
concealed myself with them. At this moment the fellows fired, and
wounded an already wounded English soldier, who was behind me. Poor
fellow! I pitied him exceedingly, but at this moment had no power to
relieve him.
"A terrible cannonade was commenced by the enemy against the house in
which I sought to obtain shelter for myself and children, under the
mistaken idea that all the generals were in it. Alas! it contained none
but wounded and women. We were at last obliged to resort to the cellar
for refuge, and in one corner of this I remained the whole day, my
children sleeping on the earth with their heads in my lap; and in the
same situation I passed a sleepless night. * Eleven cannon-balls passed
through the house, and we could distinctly hear them roll away. One poor
soldier, who was lying on a table for the purpose of having his leg
amputated, was struck by a shot, which carried away his other; his
comrades had left him, and when we went to his assistance we found him
in a corner of the room, into which he had crept, more dead than alive,
scarcely breathing. ** My reflections on the danger to which my husband
was exposed now agonized me exceedingly, and the thoughts of my
children, and the necessity of struggling for their preservation, alone
sustained me.
* The cellar is about fifteen by thirty feet in size, and lighted and
ventilated by two small windows only.
** The place where this ball entered is seen under the window near the
corner, and designated in the picture by a small black spot.
Companions in Misery of the Baroness Riedesel.--Wounded Soldiers.--
Kindness of General Schuyler.
090
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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