THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 COMMODORE BYRON MCCANDLESS 
 
 RS//
 
 MAJ. GN. PHILIP SCHUYLLR. 
 
 G.PT-TITI^W i CO
 
 THE 
 
 SEXAGENARY: 
 
 OB, 
 
 Qtminmtntt* of ijje American 
 
 Old age prates willingly, as well you know, 
 And loves to talk about the strange old times 
 That are no more .-. . WIBLAND. 
 
 ALBANY. N. Y. : 
 
 J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. 
 
 1866.
 
 LETTER TO THE PUBLISHER. 
 
 J. MUNSELL Esq.: 
 
 Many years ago, when I resided in the city of Albany, I was 
 frequently attracted to your office, where I found you, combining 
 with the practical industry of printer and publisher, an antiqua- 
 rian spirit, intent upon the rescue of the traditional and document- 
 ary history of that old town. It excited my respect and attention, 
 which have followed you through all your subsequent literary la- 
 bors. I, too, had been an explorer in the same direction, and you 
 had all the encouragement I could give, to induce you to continue 
 in your career. Since then you have preserved from neglect, if 
 not from oblivion, its very interesting annals, and many local 
 incidents illustrating its progress from its commencement as an 
 outpost of the New Ketherland down to its becoming the popu- 
 lous and enterprising capital of s a state now containing more 
 inhabitants than the father land. I do not know whether your 
 labors have been appreciated by the people of Albany as fully as 
 they deserve to be, though it is certain they owe to you the 
 rescue of their most interesting monuments, well preserved 
 and cared for, with the inscriptions restored and legible. No one 
 can ever write its history without the careful study, and large use of 
 the Annals. More than this, with much originality of design and 
 execution, you have collected a series of curious, valuable, ele- 
 gantly printed works, illustrating the history of the revolution, 
 snatching from under the crushing footsteps of time, many precious 
 relics which otherwise would have been scattered and lost. As
 
 iv LETTER TO THE PUBLISHER. 
 
 the editor of this remarkable series of works you have gained an 
 enviable reputation. 
 
 In complying with your request to furnish you with a copy of 
 Tlie Sexagenary to become a part of that series, I do so under the 
 impression that it contains some interesting personal statements, 
 throwing light on the condition of our northern borders during 
 the revolutionary struggle ; and it, so far at least, may be a guide to 
 the future writer who shall seek to portray the social aspect of 
 that time. Unfortunately there are but few personal narratives of 
 the period extant, for those were not the days for writing or pub- 
 lishing. 
 
 This little work was untertaken at the suggestion of Governor 
 DeWitt Clinton, who, at the same time, placed at my disposition 
 his family manuscripts, for the illustration of a part of the narra- 
 tive. So, too, those of General Van Schaick were put in my 
 ) hands for a similar purpose ; some of the most curious of which 
 will be found among the notes. 
 
 In revising the original of this work I discovered the marks of 
 haste, but nevertheless I have concluded to leave the text of the 
 work as it was, as artists sometimes do their early productions, 
 their very faults and slips attesting their authenticity. It was 
 prepared for the personal benefit of the narrator, but now that 
 you adopt it as a part of your later publications, I shall secure 
 for it, what it otherwise might not have attained, the advantage of 
 becoming a portion of your valuable series. It has long been out 
 of print, and is only now to be had occasionally by collectors who 
 are ready to pay for it a high price, and one much beyond its value. 
 
 The present edition, with some notes and letters never before 
 published, may give it more consideration than it had before. 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 S. DE WITT BLOODGOOD. 
 ^TEW YORK, Sept. 1, 1865.
 
 THE SEXAGENARY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 JL AM aware of the difficulties which beset the 
 author of a personal narrative. His opinions are 
 almost always tinged with prejudice, and his sketches 
 often distinguished by their mannerism. His efforts, 
 be they ever so well intended, contribute rather to 
 the gratification of individual taste than to the 
 benefit of science at large. But as a vast proportion 
 of readers prefer amusement to philosophy, the 
 autobiographer escapes from the charge of being 
 uninstructive, if he contrives to make his story 
 interesting. Since I first determined to publish 
 these reminiscences I have taken some pains to 
 learn the character of this species of authorship. 
 I stumbled, as it were, upon the memoirs of Gibbon, 
 and the reading of his elegant compositions has 
 somewhat damped the ardor of my zeal. But he 
 observes that if " they are sincere, we seldom 
 complain of the misfortunes or prolixity of these 
 personal memoirs." Under this safeguard I shall
 
 6 KEVOLUTIONARY EEMINISCENCES. 
 
 attempt tlie humble narrative of a life chiefly spent 
 in the neighborhood of our northern armies. The 
 principal events of the war of independence are 
 well known, and their happy conclusion has made 
 us justly proud of that remarkable era. Yet who 
 does not regret that so few of the actors on that 
 busy stage have left behind them the written records 
 of their various fortunes ? "We have now but a 
 little company left of all those heroic battalia. One 
 by one the leaders in the cabinet and the warriors 
 of the field desert the scenes of their renown. 
 "What a rich treat would even the "trivial fond 
 records" of their personal history afford to those 
 who seek to rescue their motives, their actions and 
 their characters from the biting tooth of time ! The 
 memoirs of some of those sagacious old men who 
 formed our committees of safety, the correspondence 
 of the most intelligent of the Whigs of our own 
 state, would be rich in those incidents by which we 
 judge of men and things, now rapidly vanishing 
 from the view. Such details every reflecting mind 
 would relish ; for what are the events of life, the 
 epochs of history, and the' annals of nations, but 
 exhibitions of the powers of the human mind dis- 
 played in the multifarious forms of its own strange 
 embodying ? These are the gems of its casket, or 
 the poison of its laboratory.
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 7 
 
 Biography, however, which is to history what 
 groups are to the canvass, is more directly addressed 
 to our individual sympathy, since it narrows 
 the view of the observer to some particular point, 
 and appeals to every class and condition, by the 
 presentment of some trait, some resemblance which 
 becomes the more striking, the more irresistible, 
 as it conforms to circumstances which have befallen 
 ourselves. 
 
 It was the opinion of Dr. Johnson that there has 
 rarely passed a life, of which a judicious and faithful 
 \ narrative would be without advantage. It was he 
 who also asserted that the motives of great or little 
 actions were founded alike in the depths of the 
 human heart; upon this principle, the biography 
 of the humblest individual might be fraught with 
 as much advantage to mankind, as that of the high 
 born, the beautiful and brave. " The prince," said 
 he, " who loses his empire, feels no more indignation 
 in proportion to his consequence, than the luckless 
 farmer, at the wretch who steals his cow." 
 
 Fortified by authority so respectable, and more 
 than all induced by the cares of poverty which now 
 press upon me with a weight unfelt in happier years, 
 I have at the instance of a gentleman, who has 
 befriended me in adversity, consented to entrust to 
 his hands, the incidents of my life for publication.
 
 8 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Old age is garrulous, but the grain of wheat often 
 lurks in the bushel of chaff, and a piping voice, be 
 it never so musical, may convey a lesson replete 
 with the wisdom of experience. 
 
 I am by no means a veteran I never was in 
 actual combat, but I can shoulder my crutch, exult- 
 ing at the remembrance of the fight, and show how 
 fields were won. I was neither continental, nor 
 levy. I served in the unpretending, but not useless 
 character of a wagoner, in the quarter master's 
 department, at one time actively employed in for- 
 warding cannon, and laboring with my own horses ; 
 at another carrying the relief which saved a post. 
 My station in life was that of a farmer in respectable 
 circumstances, and rather above that which furnished 
 the usual recruits for the regular army. In the 
 course of numerous journeys, I had the opportunity 
 of seeing and hearing much more than if I had 
 been a common soldier. I shall confine myself 
 principally to those incidents which I witnessed, 
 or which were naturally the subject of conversation 
 among my own connections. My view of things 
 may be somewhat novel on this account. Many 
 persons at the present day would be pleased to 
 know, and, if possible, to realize the feelings and 
 reflections of even ordinary individuals during our 
 revolution. "We are familiar with the contemplation of
 
 REVOLUTIONARY EEMINISCENCES. 9 
 
 the brilliant achievements of our distinguished 
 officers. We scarcely admire any other scenes 
 than those dignified by the presence of our heroes 
 and sages. We gaze on them as on a splendid pano- 
 rama, over which we follow with delight the lights 
 and shades of the great events in which they bore 
 a part. "We watch with admiration the processions 
 of pomp and circumstance in which they figure, 
 as they glide over the scene. On the other hand, 
 of the details, the secret springs, the characters of 
 the humble assistants of the machinery, we are too 
 often left in ignorance. I propose, therefore, to 
 show, in the instance of my own household, how 
 we bore our share of the troubles of the times, how 
 they affected our comfort, or disturbed our repose. 
 Thousands, like my own father and his family, 
 suffered and lamented, rejoiced and exulted, un- 
 known to any beyond their immediate neighborhood, 
 yet doing their duty zealously and faithfully in 
 their proper spheres. If the illustration of such 
 principles, and the examples of such persons are 
 worthy of a place in the corner of my readers' 
 memories; if amid the splendid achievements of 
 art, of education, and of commerce, now dazzling 
 our eyes, a recurrence to other days shall not prove 
 tedious or obtrusive pardon an old man's garru- 
 lity and read on.
 
 [10] 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 IK 
 AM fast losing my claim to the title I have as- 
 sumed at the head of this reminiscence. In four 
 years more I shall have reached the age of three 
 score and ten. I was born in Schoharie, and my father 
 was a farmer in independent circumstances, at least 
 for those days. The fields he tilled were his only 
 patrimony, and he found them still rich and fertile, 
 as they were represented to have been when culti- 
 vated by his ancestors. The year of my birth was 
 that of the introduction of the stamp act. What 
 advantage a piece of paper possessed, because it 
 bore certain marks upon it, more than any other 
 piece without them, seemed quite a problem with 
 the honest yeomanry of the day. This absurdity, 
 as it appeared, roused the spirit of the people, and 
 though the population of the province was only 
 90,000, yet their resentment rose to a pitch of vio- 
 lence quite disproportioned to the actual means of 
 resistance. My father often told me that I had 
 commencedmy career in a stormy period, andthatthe 
 unsettled state of the times would probably have 
 an injurious effect upon my prospects, as well as the
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 11 
 
 means of advancement of every young man of my 
 age. And so I, have found it. The opportunities 
 of mental improvement were almost of necessity 
 denied to us. Newspapers we had none, and the 
 simplest compilations of grammar and arithmetic 
 were scarce and almost unattainable. "When I now 
 contemplate the paternal care of the state, extended 
 to its numerous youth, and its noble appropriations 
 to sustain the cause of education, I feel at what a 
 vast distance the young men of my tune were from 
 such enviable advantages. The whole country was 
 disturbed, and continued so until after the revolu- 
 tion. The introduction of the stamp paper seemed 
 to be the signal of disorder. The bells were tolled 
 throughout the states. The mobs were violent. 
 My father often spoke of them, and I heard him 
 say that even Lieut. Govenor Colden's life had been 
 threatened at ISTew York; that his stable was broken 
 into and his carriage carried off and burned is well 
 known. A gentleman's residence, called Vaux- 
 hall, was rifled and destroyed, and many valuable 
 articles of a tasteful and scientific character, the 
 laborious collection of years, were made into a bon- 
 fire and burned, upon the bare presumption that 
 the owner, Major James, was in favor of the obnox- 
 ious law. It is scarcely possible for this generation 
 to understand the state of feeling prevalent at this
 
 12 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 time. I will assert what I believe is now little 
 known, that many of our most wealthy and influen- 
 tial "Whigs were at the bottom of these disorders. 
 The colonial journals of that year will show an 
 active hostility to the government, that became at 
 length too strong for the arm of colonial authority. 
 After the Earl of Loudon had resigned to General 
 Abercrombie the command of the army which had 
 reduced Oswego, my father, then a young man, was 
 called to Sohenectady, by sudden business. He 
 drove his own horses before his own wagon. That 
 place was then fortified. It had the shape of a 
 parallelogram, with two gates, one opening to the 
 eastern, and the other to the northern road, and was 
 garrisoned by about 50 or 60 soldiers. It was 
 planned by Philip Yerplank, an engineer, in the 
 year 1755, and for his services at this post, Albany 
 and Redhook, where also there was a battery, he 
 received thirty pounds currency. The substantial 
 look of my father's farm equipage engaged the 
 attention of a wagon master, who, without any cere- 
 mony, pressed him into the service. Instead of 
 returning home he was compelled to proceed to 
 Albany, where a load was placed upon his wagon, 
 and he was directed to take up his line of march 
 for the north. The army stores were then deposited 
 in the warehouse of Mr. Ten Eyck, and the load he
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 13 
 
 was compelled to take consisted of dry goods that 
 were wanted at Fort Edward. A large number of 
 persons was engaged in the same business ; most 
 of them against their wishes and interests. The 
 train of wagons was urged forward, and the cele- 
 brated Colonel Bradstreet had charge and direction 
 of the convoy. At this time General Abercrombie 
 was preparing for an attack on Ticonderoga, with 
 an army superior to any that had ever taken the 
 field in Jforth America. My father told me, that 
 though unwilling to be employed in other people's 
 business to the injury of his own, he was anxious to 
 be present at the expected battle. In order to 
 accomplish his purpose he turned his horse loose 
 into the fields, and took the place of a provincial 
 soldier, in a company to which was attached Lieut. 
 Van Schaick, of Albany, afterwards colonel in the 
 continental service. The circumstance, from its 
 novelty, attracted the attention of the officer com- 
 manding the wagon corps, and he interfered to 
 prevent his design, upon the plea that the army did 
 not want soldiers so much as it did wagoners. Foiled 
 in this attempt, he still resolved to go down to 
 the lake with the troops, to witness the attack, and, 
 the better to escape detection, he stole off to a party 
 of Indians, assumed the dress of a warrior, and so well 
 disguised his person, as to be undistinguished from
 
 14 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the savages themselves. This attempt also leaked 
 out, and came to the ears of Col. Bradstreet, who 
 went among the Indians to detect the delinquent. 
 This was impossible, for the Indians were too 
 much pleased with such a compliment to their fash- 
 ions in dress and warfare to betray the young vol- 
 unteer. The colonel then addressed the savages, 
 and said that he knew that the young man from Scho- 
 harie was amongst them, and, unless he threw off his 
 disguise and returned to his duty, he would sequester 
 his wagon and horses, and deprive him of his pay 
 for his services. My father, who had no idea that 
 his freak would draw upon him such consequences 
 as these, stepped out of the group, much to his own 
 mortification, amid roars of laughter from his com- 
 panions, who began to strip him of his blankets and 
 feathers. Even the savages joined in the laugh 
 against him, as he stood before them, like the daw 
 stripped of his borrowed plumage.
 
 [15] 
 
 CHAPTER m. 
 
 JViLY father had no reason to regret the interference 
 of Col. Bradstreet. He escaped much personal 
 danger by being thwarted in his designs. The 
 complete discomfiture of the army followed the 
 attempt on Ticonderoga. Gen. James Abercrombie 1 
 seemed incapable of command. If I mistake not, 
 he had seen service in the West Indies, and until 
 his defeat was thought to have been an able officer. 
 The death of Lord Howe, whose fine personal 
 appearance my father often described to me, occurred 
 in this unfortunate battle. His body was brought 
 down to Albany by his sorrowing friends, and 
 deposited under or near the pulpit of the English 
 church. A monument to his memory was erected 
 in Westminster Abbey, at the expense of the colony 
 of Massachusetts. 
 
 When the army fell back to its former position, 
 at the head of Lake George, the wagoners were 
 
 1 It has been quite a common error, to consider the General 
 Abercrombie of our early historians the same person who was 
 mortally wounded at Alexandria. The only account we have 
 seen of the personage referred to here, is in the late American 
 edition of Lempriere's Universal Biography. Mrs. Grant, in her 
 Memoirs, alludes to him very favorably.
 
 16 KEVOLUTIONARY KEMIXISCENCES. 
 
 ordered to return to the city. I have already men- 
 tioned that my father's horses, like the rest, had 
 been turned out to forage for themselves regular 
 supplies of hay and grain were out of the question. 
 It was, as may be presumed, no easy matter to find 
 them again. Some of them indeed were never 
 found, while others were discovered at a distance 
 of many mil es on their way homewards. This gives 
 a slight idea of the confusion attending the move- 
 ments of armies on similar occasions. 
 
 The main body of wagoners returned by the 
 west side of the river, but my father and his friends 
 kept on the east side, and when they reached the 
 Batten kil, which empties into it, they discovered, 
 on crossing the bed of the creek, the wet print of 
 a mocasin upon one of the rocks. They were con- 
 fident from this circumstance that hostile Indians 
 were near them, and that one must have passed 
 that way but a few minutes before. To go back 
 seemed as dangerous as to go forward. They there- 
 fore pushed on towards the river, but had scarcely 
 reached its bank when the distinct report of a 
 musket in their rear brought with it the confirma- 
 tion of their danger. 
 
 I should have mentioned, however, that a small 
 escort was marching down the west side of the 
 river opposite, to protect the wagoners that had gone
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 17 
 
 home in that direction. When this firing was heard, 
 therefore, a detachment immediately came across 
 to ascertain the cause. They were not unsuccessful. 
 In a garden belonging to a Mr. De Ruyter the body 
 of a dead man was found, which was still warm. 
 His scalp had been taken off, and, from appearances, 
 he seemed to have been shot while in the act of 
 stooping to weed ono of the beds. This established 
 the alarming fact, that the savages in alliance with 
 the French had boldly extended their incursions 
 within the line of the English posts. 
 
 It was the fashion in those days, as it has been 
 since, to make as much money as possible out of 
 the public. My father related one incident which, 
 though trifling in itself, elucidates my meaning. 
 One Dirk Van J e, who had accompanied the 
 army to Lake George, after turning out his horses, 
 pretended that they were lost, and went off ostensi- 
 bly to look for them. Instead of doing this he 
 secretly departed for Schoharie, where he lived, and 
 when the time was nearly out for which he engaged 
 himself, he returned to head quarters without being 
 suspected, and received the full amount of his 
 stipulated wages. The wagoners were usually 
 very indifferent to the fate of their horses, particu- 
 larly if they were not of the best kind. The 
 
 government paid very well for losses of this sort, 
 3
 
 18 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 although the colonial assembly was far from follow- 
 ing the example, in cases where they had raised 
 levies, or received the assistance of laborers or 
 farmers, by virtue of the government press war- 
 rants. If a horse was found with his throat cut or 
 his skull cloven by the tomahawk, the owners with 
 great philosophy received the compensation pro- 
 vided for such casualties, and went home quite 
 reconciled to their misfortune. An amusing in stance 
 of their general dislike to the service was observed 
 when Col. Bradstreet mustered the wagoners on 
 their return from the lake. He thanked them for 
 their fidelity and services, and gave them notice he 
 should want their further aid in forwarding troops 
 to the Mohawk river, on their way to Fort Stanwix. 
 An expedition against Oswego being contemplated, 
 the hint was not lost upon those interested. The 
 principal part of them drove their wagons into the 
 pine bush behind the fort, unharnessed their horses, 
 and rode off in the night to their respective 
 homes. The discovery was not made until the 
 ensuing morning, and it so effectually disconcerted 
 the colonel that he discharged the few who remained 
 without any ceremony. 
 
 My father returned home, and saw nothing fur- 
 ther, which I recollect to have heard him speak of, 
 until the following year, when he was called into
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 19 
 
 service as a militiaman, and proceeded as far west 
 as Fort Stanwix. The losses of the English had so 
 animated the enemy as to bring them into the 
 neighborhood of the Mohawk country. On his re- 
 turn home the party with which he was descending 
 the river was fired upon by the Indians, in the 
 neighborhood of Fort Plain. Fortunately for the 
 attacked, it was a wet day, and the savages had 
 great difficulty in discharging their pieces. The 
 bateaumen were not slow in perceiving this, and 
 with redoubled efforts soon pulled away out of reach 
 of their fire. The subsequent successes of Sir Jef- 
 frey Amherst relieved the inhabitants of the pro- 
 vince from further inquietude. My father, to better 
 his situation, removed to the neighborhood of Sara- 
 toga, and there he remained pursuing his agricul- 
 tural avocations for several years, until the approach 
 of more troublesome times.
 
 [20] 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 J.HE first intelligence which gave alarm to our 
 neighborhood, and indicated the breaking asunder 
 of the ties which bound the colonies to the mother 
 country, reached us on a Sunday morning. We at : 
 tended at divine service that day at Schuyler's Flats. 
 I well remember, notwithstanding my youth, the 
 impressive manner with which, in my hearing, my 
 father told my uncle, that BLOOD had been SHED at 
 Lexington. The startling intelligence spread like 
 fire among the congregation. The preacher was 
 listened to with very little attention. After the 
 morning discourse was finished, and the people were 
 dismissed, we gathered about Gen. Philip Schuyler 
 for further information. He was the oracle of our 
 neighborhood. We looked up to him with a feel- 
 ing of respect and afifection. His popularity was 
 unbounded; his views upon all subjects were consid- 
 ered sound, and his anticipations almost prophetic. 
 On this occasion he confirmed the intelligence 
 already received, and expressed his belief that an 
 important crisis had arrived which must sever us 
 forever from the parent country.
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 21 
 
 I remember afterwards hearing my father remark, 
 that among the most influential and the best edu- 
 cated part of the community great anxiety was felt as 
 to the termination of the struggle, for a conviction 
 seemed to prevail, that we were unable to sustain 
 ourselves against the armies and navies of England, 
 if brought to bear together and with promptness. 
 I have also heard, that among the unenlightened 
 and uneducated portion of the public, an undoubted 
 apathy in relation to the contest prevailed. 
 
 The most common topics of complaint were, that 
 the colonies were taxed as well beyond the neces- 
 sity of the times, as their ability to pay, and the 
 belief that individuals might be carried to England 
 to be tried for criminal offences, although it was not 
 attended, generally, by the fear of any such occur- 
 rence. Very soon, however, the militia began to 
 organize in every part of the country. Our own 
 neighborhood, like others, was divided into dis- 
 tricts, and these into beats of companies, and though 
 we did not see any of the display, we saw much of 
 the inconvenience of war. The people of our 
 vicinity assembled together at Batten kil, and as 
 the companies chose their own officers, it so hap- 
 pened that a Mr. T t and my father were re- 
 spectively named by their friends for the office of 
 captain. The latter was elected almost unanimously,
 
 22 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 but he modestly declined the appointment, alleging 
 his want of education and experience for a station 
 involving so much responsibility. He proposed a 
 Mr. Lake, as every way fit for the station ; and as 
 he possessed one great advantage over Mr. T., in 
 being entirely free from all suspicion of being 
 disaffected, he was elected by a large majority. Mr. 
 Lake had also great resolution and presence of 
 mind, and was a man of unspotted character. The 
 militia being in some measure organized, began to 
 be exercised in the use of arms, and those persons 
 who had seen service in the French war were 
 particularly engaged in giving instruction and 
 advice. The drum and fife resounded on all sides, 
 and persons of reflection began to consider the 
 consequences that would follow an appeal to arms.
 
 [23] 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 _L HE blood shed in the neighborhood of Boston, 
 which in those days seemed to be the centre of 
 motion, and conferred its name on every thing con- 
 nected with our colonial resistance, gave a new 
 impulse to our cause. Arnold, who commenced 
 his career as a captain of a volunteer company in 
 New Haven, proposed to the Massachusetts com- 
 mittee of safety to proceed and capture Ticonderoga 
 and Crown Point. His offer was accepted, and 
 success crowned his efforts. During the French 
 wars Crown Point or Fort St. Frederick was 
 considered the most formidable post during the 
 revolution Ticonderoga was the most so. Crown 
 Point has been so often described by modern tour- 
 ists, that it would be quite useless in me to attempt 
 a description, and yet I may say that there are some 
 
 peculiarities about its former appearance, not so 
 
 I 
 
 generally known. It was a very strong fort, built 
 of stone, with four bastions, a dry ditch, and a cov- 
 ered way to the lake. In the north-west corner of 
 the fort stood the citadel, also built of stone, and 
 in shape an octagon, four stories in height. This 
 was erected on arches, and was mounted with 20
 
 24 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 pieces of cannon. Around this was also a dry ditch, 
 and the entrance was secured by a draw bridge. 
 Its walls were ten feet thick, and the roof was 
 shingled. The fort also contained a chapel, and 
 several wooden buildings. In 1755 the French 
 had put it in complete repair. In 1775 it was quite 
 defenceless, and was supplied with but one sergeant 
 and twelve men, and easily fell before the enter- 
 prise of Colonel Warner, the comrade of Arnold. 
 In the fall of that year my father went up to the 
 north f6r some loading, consisting of the spoils of 
 the enemy, taken by these gallant officers. He 
 took me with him, and he drove one wagon, while 
 I had charge of the other. On our return a French- 
 man and two Indians were placed under our care. 
 They had been taken prisoners, and for some purpose 
 or other were sent down to Albany. The Indians 
 were very sulky. They did not or could not speak 
 the English language, and appeared unwilling to 
 make the attempt. The Frenchman claims a place 
 in my memory, from being one of the lowest class 
 of habitans, as well as the filthiest. At a place now 
 called Washington we lodged on our way down, 
 and the Frenchman soon fell asleep before the fire. 
 In the progress of his "nid, nid, nodding," his hat 
 fell oft' and displayed to our view countless myriads 
 of nameless animals. The Indians seemed as much
 
 REVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 25 
 
 astonished as ourselves, and broke into loud grunt- 
 ings at the disgusting sight. I mention the circum- 
 stance chiefly for the purpose of stating, that sava- 
 ges are in this particular very cleanly, and to show 
 that the extremes of civilization and barbarism very 
 often meet. The inn-keeper vented his undisguised 
 rage at the Canadian, and told him with many impre- 
 cations that it was lucky for him he was a prisoner. 
 
 Our loading consisted of British military camp 
 equipage, pans, flints, and other articles, which, to- 
 gether with the post from which they came, had been 
 captured in behalf of the " Lord and the continental 
 congress." 
 
 The weather was cold and disagreeable, the roada 
 were bad, and the whole business to me vexatious. 
 A luckless urchin I considered myself, to be thus 
 perched on top of a wagon, jolted to death, with 
 the air penetrating to my very vitals. Yet we tra- 
 veled at the rate of twenty miles a day, and after 
 bestowing our cargo at Albany, we turned our faces 
 towards Saratoga and our own firesides. Ere we 
 arrived a snow storm commenced, and covered the 
 ground to the depth of several inches. 
 
 I had forgotten to mention that a small detach- 
 ment of continentals accompanied us down from 
 Fort George, a post which was designed by Col. 
 
 Montresor, and called his Folly. I shall not in this 
 4
 
 26 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 place describe it; but of the garrison, of which this 
 detachment had been a part, I would mention that 
 they were downright oddities. Their blue coats 
 with white facings were tarnished by the smoke of 
 the pine knots, which it was the fashion in Fort 
 George to use in the double capacity of fire and 
 candle. A more sombre family I think I never saw. 
 We were not, however, permitted to enjoy our 
 homes. My father having a good share of the pat- 
 ronage, as well as confidence of the leading men in 
 our neighborhood, with a snug property of his own 
 and a good number of horses, was very much in de- 
 mand when any urgent and rapid movement of stores 
 and supplies was to be effected. The cannon cap- 
 tured from the enemy were next to be brought down 
 from the north, and as many as one hundred and 
 twenty, besides howitzers and swivels, had fallen 
 into our hands with the two fortresses before 
 mentioned. They had been in part removed to the 
 head of Lake George, and thither we were directed 
 to proceed for them. Col. Knox, afterwards the able 
 chief of our artillery, undertook to superintend their 
 removal in person. He had very heavy sleds pre- 
 pared for the occasion, and a numerous train set out 
 from our neighborhood to bring down the cannon. 
 "We reached Glen's Falls the first night, even then 
 celebrated as an object of curiosity.
 
 [27] 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 before daylight we were on the move. I 
 had trouble of managing an extra pair of horses. 
 We had taken on many more than the usual num- 
 ber in consequence of the service in which we were 
 engaged. My father was some distance in the rear, 
 while by accident I was considerably in advance 
 of him. The road was dreary, the darkness great, 
 and I anything but comfortable during the morn- 
 ing drive. We were approaching the bloody pond 
 and the scene of some terrible slaughters. My 
 imagination peopled every bush with ghosts. In 
 this pond hundreds of those slain in the battles 
 between Sir William Johnson and the French 
 Baron Dieskau were carelessly thrown, the hurry 
 and distress of the hour permitting no other re- 
 ceptacle for the dead. My nervous excitement 
 increased every instant. I anxiously turned my 
 ear to listen to the sounds of the voices behind 
 me, which came along in melancholy intervals, and 
 would then be lost for apparently an interminable 
 period. While I was thus in spite of myself giving 
 way to the most unpleasant feelings, my leading 
 horses, which had been jogging along on a pace
 
 28 BEVOLUTIONARY BEMINISCENCES. 
 
 quite inconsistent with my views of propriety, made 
 a sudden halt and fell back upon the pair next the 
 sled. This sudden stop only increased my confu- 
 sion. I could not help thinking that the animals 
 saw something which I could not. I remembered 
 an old superstition that dogs can see ghosts, and I 
 now fancied that horses might have the same facility. 
 I did not, however, forget myself. I made a most 
 rapid and liberal use of my whip, when, with first a 
 recoil, then a plunge and a desperate scramble, the 
 horses leaped over something which seemed to be in 
 their way, and went on at full gallop for some dis- 
 tance. I at length succeeded in arresting their flight 
 and began to bawl lustily to those who were far 
 away in the rear. After making the woods resound 
 with my halloos, I had the satisfaction of hearing a 
 reply. My father came swiftly up, when I informed 
 him of what had occurred. A diligent search was 
 then made along the roads by the persons in our 
 company. "What should the cause of my anxiety 
 prove to be, but a drunken soldier, who had, in 
 some unaccountable way, fallen asleep on the road, 
 overcome by fatigue and intoxication. We disco- 
 vered no very great injury on his person, and we 
 carried him with us to Fort George, where he was 
 taken care of by his comrades. From that time I 
 never saw him more.
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 29 
 
 This occurrence drew forth several interesting an- 
 ecdotes, in relation to the conflicts which had taken 
 place in the neighborhood, and as I have not seen 
 them in any of our histories, I will venture to give 
 them a place, with the remark that they were re- 
 ceived as authentic at the time. 
 
 Dieskau was rather an old man ; he was wounded 
 in his legs and both his hips. He was brought to Sir 
 "William Johnson's tent at about six o'clock in the 
 evening, just at the moment as that officer had his 
 wound dressed, caused by a bullet lodged in his 
 thigh. 
 
 The French commander, it was said, brought his 
 troops up in a very imposing manner, with bayonets 
 fixed and glittering, and continued the engagement 
 with a firmness that made Sir Willam's troops often 
 waver. But a very expert gunner, Mr. Boyle, threw 
 some shell and 32 Ib. shot among the Frenchmen, 
 which made them at length give way. This retriev- 
 ed the fortunes of the day. The Mohawk Indians 
 lost their great chief, King Hendrik, in the early part 
 of the day, and took an unusual number of scalps 
 in consequence eighty were brought in after the 
 engagement. Hendrik was killed in the first of the 
 conflicts, and when his son was informed of his 
 being slain he gave a loud groan, and then placing 
 his hand on his heart exclaimed, Ah, ha ! Hendrik
 
 30 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 alive here yet I A report prevailed very currently 
 among the provincials that the French soldiers 
 chewed the balls which they used on this occasion, 
 because when extracted they had a green color, and 
 were very ragged. Baron Dieskau, on being, told 
 of this, said that if such was the case it was entirely 
 without his knowledge, and that he was sure none 
 of the veterans he had brought with him from 
 Europe would be guilty of conduct so unsoldierlike. 
 This person recovered partially of his wounds, was 
 taken to England, and there died. 
 
 Our business, as I have already mentioned, was 
 to transport the captured artillery. It was a sea- 
 sonable supply, and we felt an unusual degree of 
 interest in fulfilling our contracts. The pieces 
 were apportioned to our respective companies. 
 My father took in charge a heavy iron nine pounder, 
 which required the united efforts of four horses to 
 drag it along. Others had the heavy resistance of 
 18s and 24s to overcome, which required the exer- 
 tions of at least eight horses. "We had altogether 
 about forty or fifty pieces to transport, and our 
 cavalcade was quite imposing. "We traveled back 
 towards Albany without accident, until we reached 
 Lansing's ferry, on the Hudson. As the ice was 
 not uncommonly strong some precautions were 
 taken to get across with safety. The method
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 31 
 
 adopted was this : A rope forty feet long was fast- 
 ened to the tongue of the sleigh, and the other end 
 was attached to the horses. The first gun was 
 started across in this way, and my father walked 
 along aside the horses with a sharp hatchet in his 
 hand, to cut the rope, if the cannon and sled should 
 break through. In the centre of the river the ice 
 gave way, as had been feared, and a noble 18 sank 
 with a crackling noise, and then a heavy plunge to 
 the bottom of the stream. With a desperate hope 
 of overcoming its downward tendency, and just as 
 the cracking of the ice gave the alarm, the horses 
 were whipped up into a full jump, but to no pur- 
 pose. 
 
 The gun sank, fortunately, not in very deep 
 water. The horses kept their feet, and the rope 
 was used to secure a buoy over the place where the 
 cannon was lying, and afterwards materially aided 
 its recovery. In this dilemma we had no alterna- 
 tive but to abandon the idea of getting on the east 
 side of the Hudson. It began to rain, the weather 
 was changing, and we were forced to retrace our 
 steps in some measure, and seek a passage across 
 the Mohawk. We reached the ferry of Mr. Glaus 
 the same day, and crossed in safety. The next day 
 we entered Albany. Our appearance excited the 
 attention of the burghers. They were accustomed,
 
 32 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 it is true, to seeing fine artillery, as some well 
 appointed armies had been encamped within the 
 city. But this was the first artillery which con- 
 gress had been able to call their own, and it led to 
 reflections not in the least injurious to our cause.
 
 [33] 
 
 CHAPTER VH. 
 
 JL HE weather now became colder, and we crossed 
 at the south ferry, without difficulty, or even appre- 
 hension. Some of the party here bought out, 
 from some of their friends, the right, as they termed 
 it, of carrying over the eighteen pounders, and it was 
 considered a good speculation. We received for 
 drawing such, one and four pence a mile, and when 
 we were detained by breakages or other accidents, 
 and laid by for repair, we received 15 shillings a 
 day. As we reached the shore at Greenbush, a 
 tongue of one of the sleds, which was loaded with 
 a smaller gun, struck and perforated the side of a 
 very handsome pleasure boat, and made a breach 
 in it of rather a ruinous character. The driver 
 seemed to have no alternatfve but to keep moving; 
 he drove fairly over it, and the boat was made a 
 complete wreck. The idea that congress would 
 pay all damages was the only sympathy that we 
 had then time to bestow on the owner. "Whether 
 congress responded to the sentiments of our corps 
 we never learned. We made the best of our way 
 to Claverack, and there the breaking down of a 
 
 sleigh detained us two whole days. The depend- 
 5
 
 34 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ence we were under to each other for assistance, 
 in case of accident, made it neccessary for us to 
 move in a body. "We then reached Westfield, Mas- 
 sachusetts, and were much amused with what 
 seemed the quaintness and honest simplicity of the 
 people. Our armament here was a great curiosity. 
 We found that very few, even among the oldest 
 inhabitants, had ever seen a cannon. They were 
 never tired of examining our desperate "big shoot- 
 ing irons," and guessing how many tons they 
 weighed ; others of the scientific order were mea- 
 suring the dimensions of their muzzles, and the 
 circumference at the breech. The handles, as they 
 styled the trunnions, were reckoned rather too short, 
 but they considered, on the whole, that the guns 
 must be pretty nice things at a long shot. "We 
 were great gamers by this curiosity, for while they 
 were employed in remarking upon our guns, 
 we were, with equal pleasure, discussing the quali- 
 ties of their cider and whiskey. These were 
 generously brought out in great profusion, saying 
 they would be darned if it was not their treat. One 
 old mortar, well known during the revolution as 
 the old sow, and which not many years since was 
 the subject of eulogy on the floor of our own 
 legislature, by no less a personage than Gen. Root, 
 was actually fired several times by the people of
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 35 
 
 Weatfield, for the novel pleasure of listening to its 
 deep toned thunders. Col. Knox was surrounded 
 by visitors at the inn that evening. And the in- 
 troductions that took place, gave to his acquaintance 
 hosts of militia officers of every rank and degree. 
 Every man seemed to be an officer. What a pity, 
 said Colonel Knox to some of us who stood near 
 him, what a pity it is that our soldiers are not as 
 numerous as our officers. But the happiness of 
 these people was not to last forever. We moved 
 on to Springfield, and they had nothing left but 
 the remembrance of what they had seen, to console 
 them for our departure. 
 
 We reached Springfield (the great place of 
 deposit for arms), but could get no further. The 
 sleighing failed, and we had to leave our cannon 
 lying ingloriously on the road side, in the mud. I 
 cannot give any further account of their travels. 
 I believe they afterwards were not without effect 
 in various bloody fights, and from having been 
 intended by their first owners as the ultima ratio 
 regum, they settled down on their beds the plain 
 and forcible advocates of the doctrines of the conti- 
 nental congress. We returned to Albany in much 
 quicker time than it took us to get to Springfield. 
 Here our services were again imperiously required 
 by the exigency of our northern affairs. Supplies
 
 36 BEVOLUTIONARY EEMINISCENCES. 
 
 were wanted at our northern posts, and among 
 them strong waters were not an inconsiderable 
 item. Happy would it be for the world if the use 
 did not lead to the abuse, and the remedy for human 
 suffering became not worse than the disease. At 
 that time, however, I was any thing but a contem- 
 plator of human affairs in the abstract, and I was 
 soon seen with a heavy load of the bane of human 
 kind, following in the train as unconcerned as any 
 other of my companions. We now took the road 
 to Montreal. On our way up we availed ourselves 
 of every opportunity to travel on the ice. "We 
 arrived at Fort George (February, 1776), and 
 crossed the lake, once so celebrated as Lake St. 
 Sacrament by Canadian devotees. Its crystal 
 drops were thought so pure as to be eagerly sent 
 for by the priests, to be used as holy water, and to 
 fill the founts employed in their offices of the 
 sacrament of baptism. "We arrived at Ticonderoga, 
 which presented but a sorry sight ; the glories of 
 Ti were rather on the wane ; the fortune of war 
 and a change of masters had not in the least bene- 
 fitted its military appearance. Its ditches were 
 nearly filled with rubbish, and its ramparts were 
 dismantled and ruinous. It was here I heard of 
 the circumstance never yet explained by any of 
 the numerous journalists and historians who have
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 37 
 
 filled their pages with its eventful story. I allude 
 to a plate of copper or brass, which was found 
 here on the capture of this post, and was inscribed 
 with these words: "Pone Prindpes Eorum Sicut 
 Oreb et Zeb, Zeba et Zalmanna." The expression itself 
 is taken from the Psalms of David ; but, to whom 
 it was meant to apply, or what precise import was 
 intended to be conveyed by it, is a question yet to 
 be answered. From Ti we proceeded northwardly 
 on the ice. Sixty-two sleighs on this occasion 
 were under the care of my father, and he pushed 
 forward with great diligence. We considered the 
 events of the approaching campaign as probably 
 depending upon our individual efforts. Montreal 
 was in our possession, Quebec closely besieged, and 
 we were impressed with the necessity of doing 
 every thing in our power to keep them in supplies. 
 On our way up we passed an island called Schuy- 
 ler's Island. It was what in modern times would 
 have been called our bivouac. Our sleighs were 
 all driven together in a row. Our horses were 
 rubbed, fed and blanketed, and tied to the sleighs. 
 We were divided into messes of six men each, and 
 went to work quite systematically to secure our- 
 selves a comfortable night, notwithstanding the 
 snow was three and a half feet deep. We dug it 
 away in different places in the manner of the
 
 38 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Esquimaux, and in our frozen apartments we 
 likened ourselves to lodgens in a lower story. Some 
 diligently collected fuel for the fires, and others 
 stripped the walnut tree of its bark, which to the 
 voyager is so well known in its quick kindling, and 
 for its resemblance to pitch pine. Our bags, con- 
 taining the oats for our horses, were snugly stowed 
 around our sleeping apartments, which were also 
 made comfortable by a well replenished fire. After 
 eating a hearty supper, which, if not distinguished 
 for its cookery, was well relished for its flavor, 
 we sank on our beds, and soon forgot our troubles 
 and our toils. Had they been of down we could 
 not have slept more sweetly and refreshingly so 
 strangely do circumstances control our feelings 
 and moderate our desires.
 
 [39] 
 
 CHAPTER VDI. 
 
 W E continued our journey without any very 
 striking incidents, but were glad to pass the next 
 night under a comfortable roof, instead of the 
 canopy of the skies. In the course of the next day 
 several of our sleighs fell through the ice, but they 
 were recovered without loss to their owners. Our 
 rendezvous was the next night at La Cole river, 
 the banks of which have witnessed the pertinacity 
 of a certain stone mill, in later times. We had 
 scarcely made ourselves snug in our quarters 
 before a regiment of Pennsylvania troops overtook 
 us, having traveled in sleighs. Our track in the 
 snow facilitated their progress. They were a long 
 desired reinforcement, with which it was expected 
 to carry Quebec. It was my opinion at the time, 
 which was afterwards justified by the result, that 
 Quebec was not to be taken by such troops. They 
 were the most quarrelsome, and I regret to say, 
 profligate set of men I had ever seen together. 
 They had plenty of money with them and spent it 
 profusely. The vices of insubordination, gamb- 
 ling and rioting, marked their battalia, and we 
 ourselves had great trouble with them, notwith-
 
 40 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 standing our pacific character. It was not surprising 
 that their subsequent behavior in Lower Canada 
 produced disaffection among the very inhabitants, 
 on whose friendship our success was chiefly to 
 depend. Indeed, it is recorded by all the histories 
 of that campaign, that after the death of Mont- 
 gomery the conduct of our troops was absolutely 
 shocking. If they purchased any thing they paid 
 in certificates, which the quarter master general 
 rejected for informality, often indeed for the want 
 of a signature. The houses of the country people 
 were plundered, their religion was abused. The 
 inhabitants were fired at as they went to mass. The 
 priests themselves were robbed, and outrages of 
 every description were committed. In this way 
 even the best friends of congress were discouraged, 
 and it actually became necessary for that body to 
 pass a resolution in April of that year, ordering our 
 commissioners to cause justice to be done them, 
 and to inflict exemplary punishment on those who 
 violated their military regulations. 
 
 But it is a further fact, that even this resolution 
 was without its effect, notwithstanding the exertions 
 of that amiable man, Gen. Thomas, the American 
 commander, who afterwards died of the small pox 
 while on his return from Quebec. It is also a mat- 
 ter of fact, that the notorious Arnold, whose gallant
 
 KEVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 41 
 
 conduct in arms seemed to be clouded by a dispo- 
 sition which partook as well of the love of plunder 
 as the love of glory, carried away with him from 
 Montreal a large quantity of goods, taken from the 
 very people that congress had made a show of 
 protecting. When he ordered Colonel Hazen to 
 take charge of them on crossing the river he met 
 with a decided refusal and an expression of disap- 
 probation. "When General Arnold reached Crown 
 Point, and found some of his plunder missing, he 
 was followed by the owners with their accounts, 
 who demanded payment. Arnold vented his rage 
 on Col. Hazen, by having him brought before a 
 court martial for his neglect of the goods. Col. H. 
 was of course honorably acquitted, while Gen. A. 
 was personally so disrespectful to the court, chal- 
 lenging the members to fight him, and abusing 
 them without any justice, that they demanded his 
 arrest, and nothing but the extreme necessity which 
 existed of employing his talents on Lake Cham- 
 plain at that time prevented his disgrace and ruin. 
 Gen. Gates dissolved the court martial, and Arnold 
 was made a commander pro tempore. It may 
 not be amiss to state, that Colonel Hazen, as it 
 is said, was originally an officer in the British 
 army, a captain of rangers under Wolfe, and a 
 
 favorite officer of that general. He raised a regi- 
 6
 
 42 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ment principally of Canadians, and was an active 
 and useful commander. His widow, Madame Hazen, 
 a French woman, died a few years since in the city 
 of Albany, where fhe had lived for many years in 
 great privacy. But to return to my narrative ; we 
 preceded these turbulent Pennsylvanians in order to 
 keep out of their way, traveling late and early. We 
 next reached St. Johns, and passed a night within 
 the fort. My curiosity being roused, I hastened to 
 examine the works considered almost impregnable, 
 until General Montgomery captured them, about 
 five months previous. He had actually expended 
 all his ammunition before it, without making any 
 impression. And the result would have been very 
 dubious, had not the capture of the fort at Cham- 
 blee and the arrival of six tons of excellent powder 
 
 
 
 enabled the American, general to push his attack 
 with increased hopes. A battery within two hun- 
 dred and sixty yards of the fort, mounting four 
 guns and six mortars, was erected under a heavy 
 fire from the garrison. The failure of Sir Guy 
 Carleton to relieve them, the pertinacity of the 
 besiegers and the shortness of the provision of the 
 besieged, compelled Major Preston to surrender. 
 An original note, written during the siege by the 
 aid of General Montgomery, is now in my posses- 
 sion, and is couched in the following language :
 
 REVOLUTIONAKY REMINISCENCES. 43 
 
 " The enemy having discovered our north-west 
 work, are firing upon it. The general therefore, 
 desires you will order the gunners at the east bat- 
 tery to pay attention to the north-west side of the 
 fort. I am, sir, your humble servant, 
 
 JOHN M'PHERSON, 
 
 Aid-de-Camp." 
 
 Although but about twelve years of age, I have, in 
 relation to the capture, a vivid recollection of my 
 inquiries and researches, which, coupled with the 
 infomation of after life, has made an indelible im- 
 pression on my memory. Arrived at Laprairie, we 
 crossed to Montreal on the ice, and the crossing was 
 difficult and dangerous. The river was frozen in 
 huge waves, over which we had to pitch and plunge 
 along. And I distinctly remember, the story which 
 circulated amongst us at the time was, that there was 
 a premium of fifty pounds given by the government 
 every winter, to the first man who drove over the 
 frozen billows to Laprairie. 
 
 * My recollections of Montreal are not very flatter- 
 ing to that place, and although I have visited it fre- 
 quently since, I never saw any thing very prepos- 
 sessing in its narrow streets and gloomy houses. 
 Our supplies were deposited in a store, and we 
 remained there for four days, during which time I 
 examined every part of the town. Very few of our
 
 44 KEVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 troops were then there, and the inhabitants disco- 
 vered great diversity of feeling on the subject of 
 the war. The most, however, were friendly, as was 
 afterwards proved by their kindness and hospitality 
 to those poor wretches whom the small pox and 
 other diseases forced upon their charities, during 
 the retreat of our troops from Canada. 
 
 Before I proceed with my personal narrative I may 
 be excused for referring to one or two original let- 
 ters, now before me, which carry back the mind to 
 the scenes of other days. Colonel Clinton, after- 
 wards well known in our revolution as a gallant 
 general officer, and now not less remembered as the 
 father of the illustriousDe Witt Clinton, commanded 
 a battery at Point Levi. An original letter from. 
 General Arnold to Colonel Clinton, now before me, 
 contains these words : 
 
 " You will please compleat the battery as soon 
 as possible, and when it is done to heat shot. You 
 will begin firing on the town. Begin moderately 
 until you have the distance well. Let the shot be 
 well heated. I think we had best aim at the town 
 and leave the. sniping for the present. With your 
 shot, heave now and then a shell. 
 
 B. ABNOLD." 
 April 1, 1776.
 
 KEVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 45 
 
 Colonel Clinton afterwards commanded at Mont- 
 real, and besides having orders to destroy the towns 
 if the enemy approached, and the inhabitants were 
 hostile, had also instructions from Samuel Chase 
 and Charles Carroll, of Carrolton, which are now 
 before me, in their handwriting, to seize the inhabit- 
 ants of Montreal as hostages, and send them over 
 to Longueil or Laprairie. 
 
 The following is copied verbatim, from the 
 original, written by a Roman catholic priest at 
 Point Levi, during the siege of Quebec : 
 
 Domine mi, falsa testimonia contra me sunt facia sed 
 parvi refert. Deus scit me esse innocentum. Rogo te 
 ut placeat tibi hanc epistolam mittere statim ad Dominum 
 Arnold in Castris. Gratias tibi habebo. Vale Bene 
 valeasque doleo propter te quia sis dtgrotus. Semper fai 
 sincerus et mihi non videturjustumferre judicium contra 
 me, qua tantum parte adversa exaudita, me nen audite 
 ullo modo. 
 
 BERTHIAUME, PRETRE.
 
 [46] 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Montreal, where the French language or a 
 corruption of it was universally spoken, I found 
 myself compelled to resort to the universal language 
 of signs. By these and the shrugs, which are as 
 important in the conversation of a Frenchman as 
 his words, I managed to make myself understood. 
 Our continental money required a good deal of ges- 
 ticulation to make it go. It was not much relished 
 by our Canadian friends, at its par value. One of 
 my amusements was to play tricks upon an old 
 market woman, who retailed articles out of a dog 
 cart, still a vehicle in great repute in Canada. Her 
 shrill voice, and exclamations of Vola (voila) mau- 
 vay (mauvais) Bostony ! still haunt my memory. I 
 mention this to confirm the statement I have often 
 since read, that the Americans were then almost uni- 
 versally called Bostonians in Europe and Canada, and 
 our revolution, now the theme of swelling eulogy, 
 was then known as the "Bostonian affair." 
 
 Our business was soon dispatched, and we turned 
 our faces homewards. On our return, a prisoner, 
 Captain Swan, of the British army, and an Irish- 
 man, was permitted to go home, on his parole, by
 
 KEVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 47 
 
 the way of New York. "We carried him with us. 
 He was a fine looking man, and resembled General 
 Burgoyne. He had been made a prisoner near or at 
 Quebec. An arrangement was entered into for his 
 conveyance as far as Ponghkeepsie, and to my 
 father was committed the trust of conducting him 
 there safely. His red coat and laced cocked hat became 
 him, but his manners were reserved and sour. In- 
 deed we were but plain people, and perhaps it was 
 not in our power to have become very agreeable to 
 him, so we did not attempt any thing more than to 
 make him comfortable. He had his son with him, 
 a pert, mischievous boy, seven or eight years of age, 
 who was dressed in regimentals, and had been with 
 him jn camp ; a servant in undress completed his 
 suite. This latter was an extravagant talker about 
 the country he had left, and dear Erin was the 
 theme of his unaffected praise. Horse racing was 
 his passion, and many fine stories he told us of a 
 celebrated Irish colt called the Potheen mare, which 
 outran every thing in the world. As we were 
 crossing Lake George we met further reinforce- 
 ments, going on to Montreal. I saw thirty men 
 traveling in one sleigh. Several short planks were 
 placed across the sleigh, and on them the men stood 
 up to catch the stiff breeze blowing from the south. 
 These human sails carried them along at a rapid
 
 48 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 rate, and the horses, so far from feeling the weight 
 behind them, were going at some speed so as not 
 to be run upon by the sleigh. It had a singular 
 appearance, but was not without merit in idea and 
 usefulness in its effect. Capt. Swan was safely taken 
 to Poughkeepsie, and my father returned home, 
 where the labors of his farm occupied him for the 
 remainder of the year. It was distinguished, how- 
 ever, .by a most remarkable event, not only worthy 
 of individual remembrance, but of public eulogy 
 to the latest times. The declaration of independ- 
 ence the declaration that we were, and of right 
 ought to be, free and independent, was published 
 throughout the country with great rejoicings. It 
 was read at the head of our brigades, and in this 
 part of our country casks of liquor were opened, 
 and liberal potations were made to the " honor and 
 glory" of the continental congress. At Stillwater 
 a large collection of people were assembled, as 
 soon as the news arrived, and General Schuyler 
 among the number. This patriot and soldier, by 
 his presence and exertions, contributed not a little 
 to keep up the glow which was necessary to add 
 spirit to our sentiments and boldness to our actions. 
 It may not be amiss to state that it was about 
 this time that General Sullivan passed down to 
 Albany from the north, having been superseded by 
 General Gates. Our army there had suffered much,
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 49 
 
 and we daily saw its remnants on their way home, 
 worn down with hardships, if not disabled by dis- 
 ease. The general hospital was at Fort George, 
 and upwards of three hundred invalids had from 
 time to time been placed there. 
 
 In the fall we heard of the great fire at ISTew 
 York, but we did not regard it so much from the 
 reflection that the enemy, who were in possession 
 of it, would be the chief sufferers. Our time had 
 not yet come. The hardships and calamities of 
 war were not yet brought to our own homes and 
 firesides.
 
 [50] 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 JljARLY in the year 1777 my father and I were 
 again in active employment. Large quantities of 
 
 ^1 
 
 provisions had been accumulating at Benuington 
 for the use of our northern armies, and the New 
 England people had been quite industrious in fur- 
 nishing their quota of supplies. It was their 
 fashion in those days o use oxen almost entirely 
 for draught, and horses were scarcely seen among 
 them. The New Yorkers have been always noted 
 for the prevailing use of horses, and the assertion 
 may be hazarded, that at that day, as well as now, 
 they possessed a greater number of these animals 
 than any other state. As there was always some 
 contention about getting a job, as it was called, my 
 father took the precaution to bring the loads con- 
 tracted for, down to his own farm, and then he 
 carried them to the north afterwards, as he had 
 leisure. "We went with them to "Whitehall, then 
 known as Skenesborough, the residence of Colonel 
 Skene, a noted tory, whose residence and old stone 
 barn were at this time in the quiet possession of 
 a few troops as a garrison, under the command of 
 Colonel Livingston. "We traveled down Lake
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 51 
 
 George to Ti, and there delivered our loads. On 
 our second trip we had scarcely unloaded our 
 sleighs when Colonel Hay, well known as an active 
 and efficient quarter master general, informed us 
 that we must stay and commence dragging timber 
 for the bridge which was about to be constructed 
 by order of congress between Ti and Mount Inde- 
 pendence. The object was to strengthen the posts, 
 and the bridge was a floating ^structure stretching 
 over between them, and was protected by a boom 
 thrown across the lake below. Above, large cais- 
 sons were sunk to obstruct the navigation. As we 
 had not yet fulfilled our contract in regard to for- 
 warding the supplies, my father remonstrated, and 
 mentioned that if he was not allowed to bring on 
 the remainder as he had contracted, before the lake 
 opened, it would after that become impracticable. 
 Colonel Hay, however, said that it was far more 
 important for him to assist in the construction of 
 the works than to transport the supplies, although 
 the troops had, for months previously, been living 
 from day to day on precarious and scanty rations. 
 My father, on this occasion, gave a specimen of his 
 boldness and ingenuity, and it illustrated the man- 
 ner in which every thing was managed in those 
 days. An officer was dispatched to take charge of 
 our party, and my father then requested permission
 
 52 BEVOLUTIONARY EEMINISCENCES. 
 
 to cross over to Mount Independence to deposit his 
 load. He gave me private instructions to follow 
 him at all hazards. The officer jumped into my 
 sleigh and stood up in it. My father led the way, 
 and drove down hill at full speed in another direc- 
 tion than the one intended. I followed him as fast 
 as possible, when the officer cried out, where are 
 you going to ? I replied, after my father, and a 
 fresh application of the whip made the horses dash 
 on in the most furious manner. The officer in full 
 dress, and not relishing the strange manoeuvre, nor 
 even understanding it, thought proper to jump out 
 of the sleigh, and in doing so, described a parabolic 
 curve, or rather a long ellipse, which gave him 
 time to turn heels upward, and descended with 
 velocity, head foremost in the snow. I gave him 
 one look over my shoulder as he was flying through 
 the air, and then another', when I perceived him 
 stuck upright in the snow, like a guide board, one 
 foot pointing to Mount Independence, and the 
 other to Ti. But I was too happy at the thought 
 of again rejoining my father to indulge in any 
 other sentiments than those of exceeding joy. 
 
 "We very soon got under the brow of the hill, 
 and on the lake shore, where, to our surprise, we 
 found many others of our companions before us, 
 parleying with a sentry, who guarded the roads to
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 53 
 
 the lake, and who required them to show a permit 
 before he could allow them to pass. It was a crit- 
 ical moment for us, as we expected an alarm and 
 pursuit. One John Mahony, a neighbor of ours, 
 had previouly drawn out of his pocket an old certi- 
 ficate, and though unable to read himself, endea- 
 vored from memory to mutter out the words of a 
 permit. Nor was the sentry any wiser, for he could 
 not read, and Mahony had declared that it was a 
 pass for nine sleighs, the exact number that was 
 already there, before we arrived. My father, with 
 great presence of mind corrected him, and read the 
 paper so it appeared a permit for eleven sleighs. 
 The sentry took all for granted as he saw the paper 
 before his eyes, and we came off together in high 
 glee. "We were then safe, for however within the 
 line of sentinels we were liable to detention, be- 
 yond them we knew we were not to be overtaken 
 either by their fire or by pursuit on any of the 
 worn out horses of the garrison. 
 
 Some others of our companions were not so fortu- 
 nate. Coming down the wrong road, with similar 
 intentions of escaping from impressment, like that 
 which my father had determined not to submit 
 to, they crossed the very same sentinel, though 
 under circumstances which showed confusion at 
 seeing him : still they determined to force their
 
 54 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 way past him. He hailed them. They pretended 
 not to hear him. He hailed again. They were 
 deaf. He hailed again. They kept their horses 
 at full speed. The sentinel fired, and as they were 
 exactly in range of his fire the ball struck the 
 nearest sleigh, passed between the legs of the 
 driver, between the horses in front, and struck 
 the next sleigh, where it lodged. They were out 
 of reach before he could fire again. The occurrence 
 was one of notoriety at the time, and we all saw 
 the marks of the sentinel's intentions. When we 
 arrived at Fort Anne we had another similar at- 
 tempt at coercion to resist. A sentinel there also 
 stopped us, and we were ordered to remain and to 
 load with hides, to be carried down to Albany for 
 the purpose of being manufactured into shoes for 
 the army. As it was getting late in the season, and 
 we were anxious to finish our contract before it was 
 impracticable, objections were made to going on to 
 Albany at that time. Mahony endeavored to force 
 the guard, but a scuffle took place, and he was over- 
 powered. An officer came up, and as he was in- 
 clined to use compulsion, we hit upon the expedient 
 of giving one of our companions, an honest, good 
 natured milita oflfcer, the title of colonel; and, in a 
 measure, placed ourselves under his protection. 
 William Van W., although acting in a capacity not
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 55 
 
 very military at the time, was a respectable man, 
 infinitely more so than hundreds who had obtained 
 rank in. our continental and militia service, notwith- 
 standing their total incapacity, moral and intellect- 
 ual. The mention of his title had considerable 
 effect upon the press-gang. By mutual agreement, 
 a further arrangement was to be made in relation 
 to the business, at the fort, which was on a piece of 
 rising ground. The sentinel himself, far from being 
 boisterous, civilly pointed at the road which went 
 across the creek and round a point of land, while 
 he took a short cut across the point to be there as 
 soon as we. The colonel forgot his rank and his 
 promise, and so did we. The moment we were out 
 of view, under the rise of ground, we left the officer 
 to imagine what he pleased. We drove oif towards 
 home at full speed, and were soon out of his reach. 
 These circumstances are related with some minute- 
 ness, in order to give a faithful picture of the time.
 
 [56] 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 -LETS post was in fact a mere block-house sur- 
 rounded by palisades. It was near the creek, which 
 poured down the rocks into the basin below, and in 
 its passage turned the wheel of a saw-mill. We 
 escaped from the block-house and its occupants, 
 and reached our home without further molestation. 
 We took up our last load, and again set out for Ti- 
 conderoga, which we reached without incident. But 
 when we arrived there some apology was indispen- 
 sible for our previous conduct. My father, albeit 
 unused to play the orator, acted as spokesman for 
 the delinquents. As I have a full recollection of 
 the interview with Colonel Hay, I will give the 
 particulars. Wiping his forehead with the back of 
 his hand, handkerchiefs being rather scarce in those 
 days, and then straightening his locks over his 
 forehead, he gave a hem, and a nod, and then ob- 
 served briefly, and to the point, "Well, here we 
 are again, Colonel Hay." "Yes, so I perceive," 
 said the colonel, " and the public interests have 
 suffered severely by your late conduct. I must 
 hold you responsible for the consequences." My 
 father instantly replied : "I have no objections to
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 57 
 
 be held responsible, my urgent business is now 
 finished. My word is kept, my contract is finished. 
 You can take any course the law will warrant" 
 Colonel Hay knew his man. He immediately 
 observed, " Give me your word that the sleighs in 
 your company shall remain to assist us for a few 
 days, and I am satisfied." My father did not hesi- 
 tate to give the required promise, as he was always 
 willing to aid the service, and he well knew the 
 necessity of completing the works of defence, 
 then in a state of preparation, to resist the approach- 
 ing enemy. 
 
 The great bridge was not yet finished, and on 
 the morrow and three successive days our whole 
 party was most assiduously employed in drawing 
 timber. It was a bridge of communication, built 
 of wood, which was supported by twenty-two 
 sunken pieces of large timber at nearly equal dis- 
 tances. The spaces between them were filled by 
 separate floats, each fifty feet long and twelve wide, 
 strongly fastened by chains and bolts, and affixed 
 to the sunken piers. In front of this was a boom 
 made of large round pieces of timber, secured by 
 riveted bolts and double chains of inch and a half 
 iron. It was a strong work. 
 
 The rapid change of the weather soon rendered 
 our sleighs awhile useless, and our return home 
 
 necessary. My father was again the organ of 
 8
 
 58 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 communication, and Colonel Hay agreed to dis- 
 charge the whole party if three pairs of horses 
 could be purchased at fair prices for the service. 
 My father readily undertook to obtain them, and a 
 general muster of all our cattle immediately took 
 place. The object was then explained, and, as he 
 had from the first anticipated, all were willing to sell. 
 The three pairs were selected with sleighs and 
 harness. The highest price paid was two hun- 
 dred and seventy dollars. The money was counted 
 out to them from a store of continental currency 
 that afterwards gave great comfort to the officers 
 of Burgoyne's army as they traveled through 
 ISTew England, particularly those old campaigners 
 who had anticipated some such exigency as that 
 which made them the guests rather than the masters 
 of the people they had expected to subjugate. The 
 purchase being thus effected, we came away, right 
 glad to be released from the laborious operation of 
 dragging over hill and dale the immense pieces of 
 timber which were to become integral parts of the 
 defence of Ticonderoga. 
 
 I remember that as our provisions grew scarce 
 during this period of our probation, we were 
 served with the same food which was dealt out to 
 the garrison. My organs of digestion were not 
 quite equal to the task imposed upon them by our
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 59 
 
 new diet. I became most deplorably sick, and 
 often wished myself home that I might share in the 
 daily comforts of a well stocked larder and cleanly 
 board. I really thought my last hour was come. 
 "Brandy and burnt sugar" were scarcely a pallia- 
 tive. But " Time and the hour run through the 
 roughest day," and I recovered almost as expedi- 
 tiously as I became indisposed. The detention of 
 a few days was not regretted by those who had 
 occasion for the services of our party. At length 
 we sat out for Skenesboro', and there fresh trouble 
 awaited us. The commanding officer remembered 
 the trick we played him, but had not ventured to in- 
 terrupt us on our way north, loaded as we were with 
 important supplies for Ticonderoga. ISTow, how- 
 ever, a sergeant and file of men took possession of 
 our " pale caravan." We were compelled by the 
 law of the strongest to go to work drawing sawlogs 
 for the confounded little sawmill I have before 
 mentioned. Here we tugged away in no good hu- 
 mor for several days, when my father's generalship 
 again brought us off with flying colors.
 
 [60] 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 _L HE escape from our new tormentors was brought 
 about in the following manner. A day was fixed 
 on which to make the attempt. On that day I was 
 told by my father to take charge of the pair of horses 
 I had usually under my care, and lead them into the 
 woods, where, in a certain place, covered up with 
 branches of wood, I would find my sleigh, and that 
 done to follow, by a given route, the party who were 
 to take an early start. I did so, leading one horse 
 and riding the other, under the excuse that I was 
 well enough now to go to the woods. "When I 
 reached the forest I could not at first discover the 
 place where our sleigh was concealed. I looked 
 and looked in vain. Every moment I feared the 
 long absence of the company would lead to inquiry 
 and detection. They were well all gone, and I was 
 left alone to bear, perhaps, the weight of increased 
 resentment. My father gone too ! The idea was 
 absolutely frightful. Overcome by the most pain- 
 ful recollections I sobbed, I wept aloud. In the 
 moment of this anguish my eyes caught a glimpse 
 of the place of concealment. My tears ceased to
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 61 
 
 flow. I moved off at a brisk pace to the spot, 
 and found the object of my search. It was but a 
 minute's work to adjust the harness. It took but ano- 
 ther to get my horses at full speed. I drove them 
 for eight miles as fast as they would go, and a joyful 
 meeting it was when I overtook my friends. They 
 had left me behind for the purpose of making good 
 their retreat, well knowing that if I had been de- 
 tected my youth would have saved me from any 
 difficulties, and have prevented my detention. My 
 escape, however, was foremost in my own mind, and 
 I considered myself almost a hero, in consequence of 
 the adventure. 
 
 It formed the subject of an animated description 
 to my mother, when I once more came within the 
 purview of her domestic circle, and home was never 
 more agreeable to me than when I reached it at 
 this time. 
 
 It was generally understood that Ticonderoga 
 would have held out against the enemy. But St. 
 Clair had under his command only a force of three 
 or four hundred men, not all effective, and was not 
 very well supplied with the means of subsisting 
 them. This able and patriotic individual, after 
 serving under Wolfe, and gaining a high character 
 for his military services, even as a subaltern, obeyed 
 the call of his country at the very commencement
 
 62 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 of the revolution, and abandoned affluence, a happy 
 and interesting family, and the charms of Ligopier 
 valley, to serve the cause of freedom and of man. 
 At the battle of Trenton he had contributed essen- 
 tially to the glory and success of that enterprise, 
 and is even said to have originated it. 
 
 Unfortunately for him, as the event proved, he 
 was selected to oppose an army which Burgoyne 
 was leading on, flushed with the victories it had 
 achieved in the old world. The loss of the Ameri- 
 can flotilla on Lake Champlain increased the diffi- 
 culty of his position, and he found himself unable 
 to maintain a post requiring a force much larger 
 than he possessed. Under all these embarrassing 
 circumstances the enemy approached they ex- 
 pected a bloody fight, but at the same time were 
 prepared to open on Ti from the higher ground on 
 Sugar Hill, a fire which would have made its further 
 defence impracticable. The celebrated evacuation 
 of the post followed, and through the indiscretion 
 of General Fermoy, who set fire to his dwelling, 
 the' enemy had sufficient light thrown on the move- 
 ments of St. Clair to make instant preparation for 
 pursuit. The result, however, set the whole coun- 
 try in confusion, and we now began to look forward 
 to scenes of distress and suffering. 
 
 My father had succeeded this season in raising
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 63 
 
 the finest crops on his farm he ever had. His 
 wheat and rye were abundant, and in fine order. 
 He now began to think, as the rumors of Burgoyne's 
 approach increased, that he had raised them for the 
 use of the enemy. The news of our losses at Ti- 
 conderoga and Hubbardton had spread like wild 
 fire among all classes, and we expected nothing else 
 than the rapid approach of Sir John, as he was 
 then called. 
 
 In the bitterness of disappointment the unfortu- 
 nate St. Clair received a full share of denunciation, 
 and we forgot that he had saved an army, which 
 was far more important to us than a post. All im- 
 partial observers have acquitted him of blame ; but 
 the justice of his country never restored him to the 
 situation in which it found him, when it first 
 demanded his services. Abandoned to poverty and 
 neglect, the veteran lingered out a wretched exist- 
 ence, forgotten by the young and fiery politicians 
 of later times, whose only object seems too much 
 to consist in gratifying the lust of office. This may 
 seem a harsh judgment, but the feelings of an old 
 man, who knows what sacrifices were made in the 
 times that tried men's souls, must be an apology 
 for the expression of his indignation at the policy 
 of later periods. 
 
 General St. Clair, with the remnants of his force,
 
 64 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 joined General Schuyler at Fort Edward, who, on 
 this occasion, as every other, was firm, cool, reso- 
 lute and undismayed. My father was in the habit 
 of familiar intercourse with him, and being a mem- 
 ber of the committee of safety was often on the 
 most confidential terms. I cannot avoid here again 
 paying my feeble tribute to the memory of this 
 good and great man. I will not enter into an 
 account of his military character ; it would be 
 unnecessary at this time, when ample justice is done 
 him by his countrymen. But I can say of him, 
 what it gives me pleasure to assert, that he was 
 the idol of the inhabitants of Saratoga. He was 
 looked upon as a sound, judicious man, patriot a 
 and a statesman, and one whose influence had a 
 most salutary effect at this crisis of our northern 
 campaign. During this time, while he was at the 
 north, I remember a simple present was sent him 
 by his rustic neighbors, in the shape of a musk- 
 melon, which reached him safely, and, being uncom- 
 monly fine, afforded a luxurious repast to him and 
 his military suite. He used to write frequently, 
 nay, constantly, to his family, giving the account 
 of Burgoyne's movements, which information was 
 communicated as regularly to the people in the 
 neighborhood. He assured my father he should 
 have the earliest information of every thing import-
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 65 
 
 ant, and requested him to remain at home as long 
 as possible, for the sake of setting an example 
 of confidence to his neighbors. He did not know, 
 however, how few were left to follow such an exam- 
 ple. Almost every body who could do so, moved' 
 off, and these were the first to invent and propagate 
 slanders against St. Clair and Schuyler. 
 
 It is a fact, that a story circulated at this time, 
 which had some influence upon the discontented 
 and ignorant, that these two generals had been 
 bought up by Burgoyne, who had actually fired 
 silver balls into their camp, and that in a few days 
 more they would join the enemy. Our personal 
 danger was first realized by us, in the following 
 manner.
 
 [66] 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 JD OE some days no information was received from 
 our troops, who were supposed to be entrenched at 
 Mosses creek for the purpose of making a stand. 
 "We had no idea that they were so dispirited by 
 their retreat as we afterwards found them to be, and 
 not being apprised of the exact state of affairs, we 
 were wrapped in fond security until our danger was 
 suddenly brought home to us by one of the start- 
 ling incidents attendant upon an enemy's approach. 
 It was in August, and we had just risen from din- 
 ner, rendered doubly grateful from an appetite 
 gained in "the field at harvest home." My father 
 had remained in the neighborhood of the invaders' 
 army much longer than most of his friends, and 
 relying upon the advantages of early advice from 
 our army, pursued his agricultural avocations with 
 his usual diligence. It was then, as I have before 
 mentioned, that we were just risen from the dinner 
 table, when one of my uncle's negroes came running 
 to the house with eyes dilated in direct proportion 
 to the danger, or, perhaps, more mathematically, 
 as the square of the distance. It was some time
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 67 
 
 before our Mercury could recover sufficient breath, 
 to confirm the horrors that played in his eyes. 
 After waiting for a few moments for the return of 
 his natural functions, we learned from him that an 
 Indian had been discovered in the orchard near the 
 house, evidently intending to shoot a person belong- 
 ing to the family, who was at work in the garden ; 
 the blacks, however, had given the alarm, and the 
 man escaped into the house, while at the same 
 moment six other savages rose from their place 
 of concealment and ran into the woods. This was 
 on our side of the river. The savages that remained 
 with Burgoyne were continually for miles in ad- 
 vance of him, on his flanks, reconnoitering our 
 movements and beating up the settlements. Their 
 cruelty was not to be restrained, and after the death 
 of Miss McCrea, whom I have often seen, they 
 were not at all checked by the animadversions and 
 threats of Sir John himself. My father, on learn- 
 ing the fact of their approach, went immediately 
 over to his brother's house, which was about one 
 fourth of a mile off, to ascertain what was to be 
 done for the safety of the families. He found him 
 making every exertion to move away, and the 
 domestics busily engaged in getting $very thing 
 ready. During my father's absence my mother, 
 who was a resolute woman, one fitted for the times
 
 68 [REVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 in which she lived, was industriously placing the 
 most valuable of her clothing in a cask ; and at her 
 instance I went out with some of our servants to 
 catch a pair of fleet horses and harness them as fast 
 as possible to the wagon. To those who now sit 
 quietly in their own shady bowers, or by the fire- 
 side long endeared by tranquility and happiness, I 
 leave it to be imagined with what feelings we 
 hastened to abandon our home and fly for safety, we 
 knew not whither. The men of this generation 
 can never know what were the sorrows of those 
 fathers that saw their children exposed to dangers 
 and to death, and what the agonies of those mothers 
 who pressed their offspring to their bosom, in the 
 constant apprehension of seeing them torn from 
 their embraces to become the victims of savage 
 cruelty. 
 
 I can never forget, and I feel it now impossible, 
 with sufficient force to describe, the distress of our 
 family at this moment of peril and alarm. The 
 wagon was soon at the door, and as my father came 
 up he directed us to carry a few loads down to the 
 river, and place them in a light batteau which be- 
 longed to us, and was fastened to the shore at the 
 meadow's bank near the ferry. The first time I 
 went down alone and soon unloaded the contents 
 of the wagon. The distance I had to go was about
 
 KEVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 69 
 
 a quarter of a mile. The road ran down the meadow, 
 and was cut through the bank on the river side, 
 in order to make it easy of ascent. Between the 
 upland and lowland of our farm there was a board 
 fence, and a few bars were usually placed across the 
 road. The second time having some heavier arti- 
 cles to carry, I was accompanied by my father. As 
 we approached the fence, which he had left down, 
 we saw the third bar across the road so as effectu- 
 ally to prevent our passing through. What does 
 this mean, exclaimed he. I was breathless with agi- 
 tation, and stopped the horses. My father sprang 
 out, making an expressive motion with his hand to 
 keep back for a few moments. "Warily and carefully 
 turning his eye in every direction, he approached 
 the bar, and let it down. I drove on, he jumped 
 in, and we lost no time in hastening home. The 
 circumstance gave us great uneasiness. When we 
 reached home he made minute inquiries among 
 his laborers and blacks if any of them had been 
 down to the meadow. He found that none of them 
 had been away from the house. He then formed 
 the conclusion that some Indians had passed along 
 that way, and supposing we had crossed the river, 
 and got beyond their reach (for we were hid from 
 their observation by being under the bank at the 
 river side), had gone away. The danger was so near
 
 TO REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 as to induce him to make more speed and use greater 
 precaution. A gun was loaded and placed in my 
 hands and I patrolled about the house with a feeling 
 of some responsibility. I strained my eye to detect 
 the least appearance of motion, presented my piece 
 at every waving bush, but was not under the 
 necessity of discharging it. A friendly neighbor, 
 who was also anxious to ascertain the state of things, 
 came up at this time, and assisted me in keeping 
 guard my father, in the interim, placed the family 
 in the wagon among other precautions, he had 
 opened his pens and let loose upon the world six 
 noble porkers, whom he had assidiously been feed- 
 ing, determined that the enemy should, at least, 
 have the trouble of catching before they should 
 cook them he also buried, in the road, some 
 valuable domestic utensils, which we recovered, 
 some years afterwards, in perfect preservation. At 
 last we bade adieu to our homestead, and arrived 
 safely at the river. At about 5 o'clock p. M. my 
 father crossed over with the family at the ferry, 
 while I and one of the blacks were put into a small 
 canoe, and we proceeded down the stream as fast 
 as we could ply our paddles. We joined the family 
 at Vandenbergh's, eight miles down the river, where 
 we obtained further information we learned that 
 a party of Indians had been going from our neigh-
 
 KEVOLUTIOXARY EEMINISCENCES. 71 
 
 borliood to the south-east, after surprising a farmer 
 by the name of Lake. While working at his trade 
 as a carpenter, in an out-house near his dwelling, 
 he was surprised by the salution from the savages 
 of sago. With great presence of mind he said 
 sago, in reply to them. He saw that resistance 
 would be vain, and therefore continued quietly at 
 work ; they looked at him a few moments, and then 
 went towards his house, but took nothing from it. 
 On coming out they discovered an oven which 
 gave signs of having just been heated ; they opened 
 it, arid finding it full of bread, took each of them 
 a loaf. In a field adjacent a sheep came straying 
 near them ; one of them instantly shot it, and in a 
 few moments it was cut into quarters and carried off. 
 Lake was a resolute man, and observed, if he could 
 only have had any chance with them he never 
 would have suffered them all to escape alive. At 
 Vandenbergh's we found my father, who had arrived 
 there first, and was keeping an anxious lookout 
 for us on the shore.
 
 [72] 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 found, on landing, a number of people, who, 
 like ourselves, had been driven from their homes. 
 I scarcely ever witnessed a greater scene of hurry 
 and confusion than was now presented to our 
 view. I had been amused by the novelty and pleased 
 with the variety of incidents which attended our 
 own flight, but the distress of the groups around us 
 changed the current of my feelings, and excited my 
 deepest sympathy. "We passed the night amongst 
 them. Some of them obtained accommodations 
 within doors ; some were happy to be under the 
 cover of the cattle sheds, while others stretched 
 themselves in their wagons, and endeavored to 
 snatch a few moments of repose. Early in the morn- 
 ing the sleepers were awakened, and no fresh ru- 
 mors alarmed them to any very hasty movements. 
 Indeed, my father rather rashly resolvd to return 
 home, accompanied by a few congenial spirits, to 
 get further information of the enemy, and, if possi- 
 ble, to save some of his cattle and farming stock 
 I say rashly, as Burgoyne was expected down with 
 his army every hour. Soon after he was gone the
 
 LT GEN. BUROOYNE.
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 73 
 
 whole body of the people at Vandenbergh's moved 
 off' towards Stillwater ; a general panic now pre- 
 vailing among them, -which seemed every hour to 
 increase. My father, however, safely reached his 
 house, and succeeded in getting off part of his stock. 
 He immediately pushed for the Hoosick river, whch 
 he intended to cross, and then pass over into New 
 England. Corresponding arrangements had been 
 made on our part, when he left us, to rejoin him 
 there. Our procession of flying inhabitants wore 
 a strange and melancholy appearance. A long 
 cavalcade of wagons, filled with all kinds of furni- 
 ture, not often selected by the owners with reference 
 to their use or value on occasions of alarm, stretched 
 along the road, while others on horseback, and 
 here and there, two mounted at once upon a steed 
 panting under the double load, were followed by a 
 crowd of pedestrians, sed longo intervallo. These 
 found great difficulty in keeping up with the 
 rapid flight of their mounted friends. Here and 
 there would be seen some humane person assisting 
 the more unfortunate, by relieving them of the 
 packs and bundles with which they were incum- 
 bered; but, generally, a principle of selfishness" 
 prevented much interchange of friendly offices. 
 Every one for himself was the constant cry. After 
 
 my father's departure he committed to me the care 
 10
 
 74 KEVOLUTIONARY BEMINISCENCES. 
 
 of his wagon and houses, and the safe conduct of 
 my mother and the family. Unfortunately for me, 
 when we left home, I had selected the most valua- 
 ble and spirited horses, and so restive did I now find 
 them that they completely overcame my strength 
 and wearied my patience. They were continually 
 attempting to run past the wagons ahead of me, 
 and were every instant making an effort to get off 
 the road. My chafed and blistered hands could no 
 longer restrain them. I saw that in a few moments 
 more I should be unable to prevent the lamentable 
 consequences. My mother was then nursing a 
 young infant which she now held in her arms, and 
 felt an indescribable anxiety on that account. She 
 succeeded in making a person, who came alongside 
 of us, sensible of our distress, and hired him to 
 drive the horses at the then, dear rate of a shilling 
 a mile, but he soon gave up from inability to con- 
 trol them, having far less skill than myself. In this 
 dilemma, with tears in her eyes, and despair in her 
 looks, she got out of the wagon, and picking up a 
 stout club ID the road, walked on for many miles 
 at the head of 'the unruly animals, and with her 
 infant on one arm, actually kept them back and 
 restrained them from breaking the line by strik- 
 ing them over the heads with the stick she held in 
 the other. And so great was each individual's
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 75 
 
 anxiety for himself, that not a person in the throng 
 offered to assist her. I knew of but one other mo- 
 ther who, in our part of the country, endured 
 greater hardships than mine. And I shall, doubt- 
 less, be understood, when I refer my readers to the 
 fair and intelligent heroine of Tomhannock, who 
 has left behind her an account of her flight from 
 home, about the same time, with a young child she 
 dearly loved, unprotected, friendless, and exposed 
 to danger at every step of a most perilous journey. 
 "When we reached Stillwater it was evident that 
 our retreat was well timed, for the advance guard 
 of Gen. Schuyler's army arrived almost as soon as 
 we did. They encamped there, and the increasing 
 confusion and noise, every moment, added new diffi- 
 culties to those we already were doomed to encoun- 
 ter. We remained here all night, as it was our 
 intention next day to cross the river and overtake 
 my father, who, by this time, we supposed several 
 miles on his way to Massachusetts. Some of his 
 brothers also agreed to take the same direction, and 
 early in the morning we crossed the river and 
 traveled a whole day through a penetrating rain 
 and over the worst of roads. We had gone about 
 fifteen miles when darkness overtpok us, and we 
 were far from any place of shelter. We had no 
 alternative but to remain there till morning, and
 
 76 KEVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 selecting the driest place in the marsh where we 
 were fairly stuck fast, some beds were taken out of 
 the wagons and laid on the ground. On these my 
 mother reposed, if the wakeful and comfortless 
 hours could be said to have been repose. "We were 
 afraid to light any fire, for we knew the woods were 
 filled with tories and Indians. To our hard fate 
 necessity, therefore, compelled us to submit. Cold, 
 wet and dreary was the night, yet it was not without 
 its consolation, for before morning broke upon our 
 wretched bivouac my father arrived, to our great 
 astonishment and pleasure. He had sent off his 
 cattle to the eastward and then he returned to 
 Stillwater finding us gone, he followed our track, 
 and at length overtook us at this spot. We started 
 as soon as it was light enough to travel, and that 
 day reached San Coick, in the south part of Cam- 
 bridge, where we were received by some distant 
 connexions with much hospitality.
 
 [77] 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 VV E afterwards learned that at a place called lull's 
 Mills, upon the very route we had taken, a man had 
 been killed only two hours after we had passed. 
 We were now resting ourselves at San Coick ; but 
 as the bird which lights upon the waving branch, 
 rather than in the denser foliage of the trees, that 
 it may more easily wing its flight, so we hovered 
 upon the borders of the army, that we might again 
 disengage ourselves upon the approach of the enemy, 
 and escape to some other place of security. The 
 second day after our arrival my father went back to 
 Stillwater to secure or bring away another wagon 
 and pair of horses. The whole army were now there, 
 unable to maintain themselves in their former posi- 
 tion, and indeed being on the retreat. On his re- 
 turn he was startled at hearing a heavy discharge of 
 musketry. He fancied, as many others did, that a 
 general engagement had commenced, but it proved 
 to be only a preparation for cleaning muskets that 
 had grown foul and almost useless during the rainy 
 weather, and for which General Schuyler with his 
 
 ; 
 
 ual prudence saw a favorable opportunity.
 
 78 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The noise was distinctly heard for many miles. 
 As my father approached within a few miles of San 
 Coick, a person who was riding with him in his 
 wagon, and whose fears gave a telescopic accuracy 
 to his vision, discovered at the foot of the hill they 
 were descending, a party of men crossing the road at 
 about one hundred and fifty yards distance before 
 them. They were moving off to the north with 
 great rapidity in single file, and were at least forty 
 in number. It was about dusk when this unpleas- 
 ant vision occured. It was doubtful whether they 
 were on the retreat or proceeding to set an ambush 
 for the two travelers. 
 
 My father took counsel of his courage, and with a 
 dash of resolution, peculiar to himself, determined 
 to make the most of his perilous situation. He gave 
 the whip to his horses, put them to their full speed, 
 while at the same time he and his companion 
 shouted as loud and as fast as possible: Hurrah! 
 come on men, here, here, hurrah ! ! making the 
 woods reecho to their cries. "What precise effect 
 this stratagem had could never be ascertained, for 
 certain it is the forty were no more seen, and the 
 travelers reached their place of clestination in 
 safety. 
 
 A circumstance took place at this time within my 
 knowledge which caused much conversation among
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 79 
 
 those of us acquainted with the facts. There was a 
 schoolmaster by the name of Frazer, who had been 
 employed by our neighbors to teach their children, 
 and by my father and uncles in particular. He 
 used to say he was a nephew of Capt. Frazer, who, 
 I believe, had charge of Burgoyne's Indians, and 
 had been his secretary, or perhaps his servant at 
 Quebec. He was a pensioner of the British gov- 
 ernment in consequence of a wound he had received 
 in its service. About the time that Burgoyne was 
 drawing so near, us this man proposed to me to go 
 to the enemy, stating that when he reached them he 
 could get 1,800 which was due him from the crown. 
 I presume he wanted me as a witness to prove that 
 he had never taken up arms against his country. 
 I declined going ; hut he succeeded in enticing the 
 very person who was with my father during the 
 scene above mentioned. These deserters had not 
 proceeded far, however, from San Coick, before both 
 the knight errant and his squire were taken prison- 
 ers by an American patrol, and under circumstances 
 showing their intentions too plainly to be misunder- 
 stood. My father was astonished at Frazer, but 
 nevertheless offered to become security for his good 
 behavior. At first it was refused, but after some 
 trouble they consented, and Frazer was relieved 
 from the threatened horrors of confinement, and be-
 
 80 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 came a sort of hanger-on of our family until better 
 times. "We soon discovered that our proposed re- 
 treat into New England would not do, for provisions 
 were scarce and fodder for cattle was not to be had 
 there. We then turned our faces towards Albany, 
 and our friends at San Coick came along with us. 
 The restive horses were now driven by another 
 hand, and I rode on horseback in the character of 
 a drover, or cattle driver. We went through Tom- 
 hannock to Lausingburgh, where another adventure 
 occurred of a similar nature.
 
 [81] 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 we went through the settlement of Lansing- 
 burgh some of the cows of my uncle's drove had 
 strayed away from the main body, and, leaving the 
 road, had entered some of the adjacent fields, 
 tempted, no doubt, by the appearance of some- 
 thing eatable in that quarter. A few of us entered 
 a ravine in hopes of finding them there. Hallooing 
 like drovers we soon got them out of the gully, 
 and came out at the lower part of the town towards 
 Mr. Lansing's. Here we all huddled under a large 
 barn to escape a heavy shower, and were scarcely 
 ensconced when an old man came tottering up to us 
 with his face covered M 7 ith mud, and his clothes 
 stripped from his back ; a more distressed object 
 could scarcely be imagined. My father, however, 
 
 recognized him as Squire ,who informed him 
 
 that he was just liberated in the condition we saw 
 him, by a party of tories and Indians, upwards of 
 200 in number, by whom he had been taken pri- 
 soner. He informed us that he was with them in 
 the very gully through which we passed in search 
 
 of the cattle. Said he, " You had a narrow escape, 
 11
 
 82 KEVOLUTIONAKY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 but they were too busy in examining me as to the 
 number of our troops, the places of rendezvous, 
 and state of public feeling." They were therefore 
 silent as we passed. They had robbed the old man 
 of a beaver hat, his silver shoe buckles and most of 
 his clothes, and then sent him away. This was all 
 done in broad daylight. We could scarcely credit 
 his story, but his respectability and actual appear- 
 ance left us no room to doubt. Burgoyne always 
 moved with great precaution was always seeking 
 intelligence ; and if ever a general was well served 
 by his scouts, or an invading army assisted by dis- 
 affected inhabitants, his was. Rank toryism and 
 " infamous venality " fought against us on his side, 
 and I am persuaded our cause was sustained by the 
 Lord of battles, or we should have sunk under the 
 difficulties which beset us. It is well known that 
 the ancestors df some of the most respectable families 
 now in the city of Albany were actually confined 
 or sent out of the state in consequence of their 
 secret exertions in favor of Burgoyne. From Lan- 
 singburgh we hastened to Troy, and while at the 
 ferry waiting our turn for crossing the report of a 
 rifle was heard just back of us in the hollow now 
 filled with thriving factories. "We soon learned that 
 a man had been shot and scalped by the Indians, 
 who were lurking in the vicinity. My mother was
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 83 
 
 alarmed, and though accustomed to hair-breadth 
 escapes, desired to incur no more of them. She 
 urged my father to cross as soon as possible, which 
 he did. It was dark, however, before we made 
 good our passage. We drove our wagons and stock 
 into a barn, where we were happy to be sheltered 
 from a heavy rain. We were not there long before 
 a detachment of troops on their way to join the 
 camp came up and entered the barn pell mell. "We, 
 who had escaped from our enemies, had now as 
 much as we could do to protect ourselves from our 
 friends. They went about in the dark feeling in 
 the wagons, and taking every thing they could lay 
 their hands on. The doctrine of meum and tuum 
 was not recognized by the marauders, and we were 
 obliged to stretch ourselves at full length over our 
 goods in order to frustrate their attempts at pilfer- 
 ing. The night was passed in this way, and it 
 was only in the morning when they went off that 
 we were enabled to get a little sleep. We then 
 came on to Albany. The roads were filled with 
 people flying like ourselves, who feared all was 
 lost ; a general despondency prevailed. As we came 
 near the residence of the Patroon, as the head of 
 the Rensselaer family is still termed, we were in- 
 vited by some person of his establishment to remain 
 and recruit ourselves at the old brick house now
 
 84 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 occupied as his office, on the right hand side of the 
 road, shaded with venerable trees. For a fortnight 
 we remained there, being allowed a room for our 
 family. We were here treated in the kindest man- 
 ner; our stock was permitted to graze in the 
 adjacent fields. I should do injustice to the feelings 
 of our grateful hearts if I did not take the opportu- 
 nity of expressing a sense of our obligations for 
 this kindness, although fifty years have elapsed 
 since we received their attentions. It gives me 
 pleasure to think that amidst the vicissitudes which 
 have overtaken other distinguished families of that 
 day, this has not only sustained its character for 
 virtue, benevolence and philanthropy, but for well 
 deserved wealth. "While it makes no claim on the 
 public for ostentatious actions, it silently performs 
 its duty to society in such a manner as to win the 
 respect and regard of all. The present proprietor 
 of the immense estate of that family is universally 
 beloved, and wears the palm decreed to modest and 
 unassuming merit, to benevolent and patriotic 
 worth. If this should ever, come under his eye, let 
 not the honest compliment of an old friend cause 
 him a single blush. The world decrees him the cele- 
 brity due his amiable character, and the concurrence 
 of individual opinion is but a leaf in his chaplet. 1 
 1 The late Stephen Van Rensselaer.
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 85 
 
 Having recruited ourselves after our fatigue and 
 anxiety we proceeded to Bethlehem, and were there 
 kindly received by our relations. This I think pro- 
 per to mention, for I may state that as distrust and 
 selfishness often characterized the times which I am 
 describing, many, in referring back to that period, 
 can remember but too well the coolness which was 
 shown to them by persons in whose friendship they 
 expected to find sympathy and relief. Too many in 
 looking back to those days of peril and alarm find 
 cause to regret the suspicion which seemed to color 
 every transaction. It was a critical period, and 
 every one seemed to imagine his own danger and 
 difficulty as great as it was possible to encounter; 
 and under this impression ties the most natural 
 and affecting were like ropes of sand, broken at the 
 very touch.
 
 [86] 
 
 CHAPTER XVH. 
 
 .E ROM Bethlehem we made a visit to another 
 relative of my father's, from whom we also received 
 much kindness and some assistance. Here the 
 family remained until they returned home. About 
 the time that the hostile armies at the north began 
 to approach each other, and our forces left their 
 encampment at Van Schaick's island, which still 
 remains in possession of the descendants of the 
 then owners, and moved back again to Stillwater, 
 towards the enemy, my father had a great curiosity 
 to be present at some of the expected battles. 
 After the British had destroyed all the crops about 
 Gen. Schuyler's farm, and reduced a beautiful spot 
 to a scene of distress and poverty, they moved on 
 to a place called Doyacote, before they crossed the 
 river, opposite to which one spot was rendered 
 interesting by an accident of a singular kind. I 
 have often stood upon the very place where Major 
 Ackland's tent took fire, and where Lady Harriet 
 and himself were nearly lost in the flames. As 
 this is a reminiscence not generally known, I will 
 state what I believe the fact was. The Major being 
 with the advance guard, and obliged to be very
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 87 
 
 diligent in attending to his command, in conse- 
 quence of the difficulty and danger of his position, 
 kept a candle burning in his tent. A Newfound- 
 land dog, of which they were very fond, unfortu- 
 nately pushed the candle from a table or a chair, 
 where it was standing. It fell against the side of 
 the tent, and instantly the whole was in a blaze ; a 
 soldier who was keeping guard near them rushed 
 in and dragged Major Ackland from the flames, 
 while Lady Harriet crept out almost unconsciously 
 through the back part of the tent. When she 
 looked round she saw with horror her husband 
 rushing into the flames in search of her. Again 
 the soldier brought him out, though not without 
 considerable injury to both. Every thing in the 
 tent was consumed ; but the lovers were too happy 
 to see each other in safety to regret the loss of their 
 camp equipage. It may not be amiss to state, that 
 this admired and beautiful w r oman had already 
 been subjected to great inconvenience and distress 
 before the army arrived at Saratoga. She had 
 been distinguished by her devotion and unremit- 
 ting attention to her husband, when he lay sick at 
 Chamblee in a miserable hut, encountering every 
 inconvenience and subjected to every privation. 
 She was indeed not only the idol of her husband, 
 but the admiration of the army, continually making 
 little presents to the officers belonging to her hus-
 
 88 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 band's corps, whenever she had any thing among 
 her stores worthy of acceptance. She experienced 
 in return from them every attention which could 
 mitigate the hardships she daily was obliged to 
 encounter. 
 
 When her husband was wounded at Hubbard- 
 ton, she again, like a guardian angel, hovered 
 round him and watched him until restored to 
 health. The moment she heard of his being 
 wounded she hastened from Montreal, where she 
 had intended to remain, and crossed the lake in 
 opposition to her husband's injunctions, resolved to 
 share his fate and be separated from him no more. 
 
 My father's first visit to the camp was on the 
 evening of the day of battle, which occurred on 
 the 7th October. The troops were very much 
 elated with their success, although having so 
 decided a superiority in numbers. It was a cur- 
 rent saying among the men, that the battle had 
 been brought on by the enemy's attempting a for- 
 age, and that "Wilkinson, then a major, informed 
 Gen. Gates they offered him battle. His reply 
 was, "Send the old wagoner to see." This name, 
 given to Col. Morgan, was a cant phrase in the 
 army. Gen. Gates, relying on Morgan's great 
 intrepidity and good sense, kept him usually in 
 advance. It was eleven o'clock at night before all 
 our troops got back to the camp. Such noise and
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 89 
 
 i 
 confusion were new to my father. He often 
 
 mentioned the impressions he received upon this 
 occasion. The noise of drums, the cries of the 
 wounded, the hailing of sentinels, the moving 
 lights, the groups of soldiers all eager for another 
 contest, gave animation and spirit to the scene. 
 Among the losses of the enemy was Sir Francis 
 Clarke, aid to Burgoyne, a young man of brilliant 
 talents, mortally wounded and a prisoner. Major 
 Ackland was wounded and again separated from 
 the woman he loved, who during the action had 
 remained within reach of our cannon, listening to 
 every sound with heart breaking emotions. 
 
 12
 
 [90] 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 IT was on the 8th of October, if I am not mis- 
 taken, that Burgoyne's retreat was first discovered. 
 The news created an intoxication of joy in the Ame- 
 rican camp. My father being well mounted, and 
 anxious to see every thing that could be seen, and 
 also having a thorough knowledge of the country 
 roads, proposed to two friends, Mr. Swart and Mr. 
 Schuyler, to go forward for the purpose of obtain- 
 ing intelligence. They started, taking a private 
 road which came out at Saratoga opposite the 
 church, and there, at a short distance from them, 
 actually saw the British troops passing by. In 
 consequence of their excessive fatigue, and a tre- 
 mendous rain and thunder storm, they were all day 
 getting there. My father always claimed the credit 
 with his companions, of having saved the old church 
 from being burned. A soldier was seen approach- 
 ing it with fire, when they immediately shouted to 
 the man with all their might. He dropped the 
 brand and ran off they in the same instant turned 
 their horses into the woods, and made off at full 
 speed. My father, although he arrived late that 
 afternoon in the camp, obtained a fresh horse, and
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 91 
 
 reached Albany at 11 o'clock that night, bringing 
 the joyful news of Burgoyne's retreat. 
 
 I ought not to forget that Lady Harriet Ackland 
 was written to by her husband after his capture, and 
 Major Wilkinson attempted with a flag to carry the 
 letter to the enemy's camp. He was repulsed at 
 every quarter. "When the enemy retreated to Sara- 
 toga she asked permission of General Burgoyne to 
 go to her husband, leaving it, however, at his option 
 to decide against her application, if he thought it 
 would be contrary to propriety under existing cir- 
 cumstances. It is represented that the British 
 commander was thunderstruck at the application, 
 but gave her leave to proceed, although he was 
 utterly unable to afford any assistance. After her 
 fatigue, and after being drenched in a heavy rain 
 of twelve hours, she instantly proceeded on. The 
 celebrated letter of Gen. Burgoyne to Gen. Gates 
 on the occasion has often been admired as a speci- 
 men of that talent for composition which afterwards 
 distinguished the author of the Narrative, and seve- 
 ral elegant comedies well known to the literary 
 public. 
 
 From the wife of a soldier she obtained a little 
 spirit and water, and with this to sustain her she 
 set out in an open boat, accompanied by the British 
 chaplain Brudenell, her own waiting maid, Sarah 
 Pollard, and her husband's valet de chambre, who
 
 92 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 had been severely wounded in searching through 
 the field of battle for his master when he was first 
 missing. 
 
 An impression has gone abroad, sanctioned not 
 only by gentlemen belonging to Burgoyne's army, 
 but by that general himself, that this ill fated a,nd 
 amiable female was kept all night in the boat, and 
 not permitted to land until morning. This is not 
 the fact. In ten minutes after the boat was hailed 
 by the sentinel of the advance guard she was 
 invited to the quarters of Major Dearborn (after- 
 ward so distinguished as a general officer), where 
 she received every attention in his power to bestow, 
 and was made happy by the intelligence of her hus- 
 band's safety. In the morning before sunrise she 
 was on her way down the river to Albany, under 
 the guidance and protection of some of our friends." 
 The resolution and firmness of this lady excited a 
 great sensation throughout our camp, while the 
 tender devotion which she displayed towards her 
 husband, "won her golden opinions of all sorts of 
 people." 
 
 The maid who attended her has very lately died, 
 and her devotion to her mistress was made the sub- 
 ject of an engraving which was published in 1784. 
 
 Lady Harriet joined her husband at Albany, and 
 remained with him till he was enabled to be re-
 
 BEVOLTJTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 93 
 
 moved to the city of New York, whence he sailed 
 for England. 
 
 The sequel of hef story is worth remembering. 
 Major Ackland, soon after his return to England, 
 became involved in a quarrel at a dinner table, 
 from the circumstance of his defending the bravery 
 of the Americans. 
 
 A duel ensued, and the major was killed at the 
 first fire. Lady Harriet for a time lost her senses 
 through grief, but after a time accepted the hand 
 of the reverend chaplain whose fate had so strongly 
 been linked with hers in descending the Hudson 
 together. 1 
 
 I have in vain attempted to trace the subsequent 
 history of this admirable woman. 
 
 error, see note in appendix.
 
 [94] 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 A CIRCUMSTANCE took place about this time 
 which made considerable noise amongst our friends. 
 It was the death of Major Van V., a very brave man, 
 who was killed by the enemy in an attempt to visit 
 his farm at Schaghticoke. His family had been 
 sent to Albany at an early day; but when Burgoyne 
 was on the retreat he could not repress his desire 
 to visit his former home. Unfortunately he took 
 no guard with him, and was accompanied by but 
 one person, who was a neighbor. They both car- 
 ried rifles. After crossing the river at Yates's they 
 took a road that wound up round a field to the fort, 
 which was on the rising ground beyond. Scarcely 
 had they reached the turn of the road before a vol- 
 ley was poured in on them from the right: Major 
 Van V. instantly fell, but recovering himself rose 
 on his knees, and he and his companion fired to- 
 gether. They loaded as rapidly as possible, but 
 before they were ready to fire a second time another 
 volley was poured in upon them by their assailants. 
 The major then fired and fell, crying out to his 
 companion, "I am a dead man, save yourself if you
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 95 
 
 can!" His companion leaped the fence, passed 
 through a cornfield, and taking a marsh, leaped 
 forward from bog to bog in order to leave no track 
 behind by which Ke could be pursued. In this 
 way he reached the river side, and ran up the banks 
 under cover of the rocks to the upper end of Van 
 Antwerp's reefs, through which he waded to the 
 island in the river at that place, and thence crossed 
 to the west side. He reached the American camp 
 unhurt. A party was sent from thence to bring 
 Major Van V. in ; they found him at the place de- 
 scribed, hacked to pieces and scalped. But they 
 also found three Indians dead in the adjacent field; 
 an extraordinary circumstance, which showed that 
 the major and his companion behaved with courage 
 and coolness, notwithstanding their surprise and 
 the disparity of force. His body was brought to 
 Albany and buried ; but his unfortunate wife was 
 not permitted to see the corpse, it was so sadly 
 mutilated by his savage enemies. 
 
 I mentioned that my father had arrived with the 
 news of the retreat. The intelligence was joyful 
 to us. He ordered the black to get three horses 
 ready early in the morning to take us back to Sara- 
 toga. Our sleep, though not sound, was filled with 
 pleasant dreams. Early as the day dawned all 
 were on the move but my mother, who rem ned
 
 96 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 behind. "We met on the road great numbers of 
 wounded men belonging to both armies. A great 
 many were carried on litters, which were blankets 
 fastened to a frame of four poles. I never saw the 
 effects of war until now. In camp there was some- 
 thing of "pomp and circumstance," which rather 
 animated than depressed the spirits. But the sight 
 of these wretched people, pale and lifeless, with 
 countenances of an expression peculiar to gunshot 
 wounds, as the surgeons have truly informed us, and 
 the sound of groaning voices, as each motion of 
 the litter renewed the anguish of their wounds, filled 
 me with horror and sickness of heart. And is public 
 happiness then bought at the price of individual 
 wretchedness ? Must blood and tears and sorrow be 
 the result of even the most just and righteous contro- 
 versies ? The human heart, "a tangled yarn, "brings a 
 curse on its own plans. Even its virtues are allied to 
 the demons of its fallen nature, and will never be sepa- 
 rated until humanity shall wear a brighter form in 
 days of millenial glory. We were much affected 
 with what we saw on our short journey ; and the 
 remembrance cannot be effaced. 
 
 "We reached the American camp and drove 
 through it to the bank of the river opposite my 
 uncle's farm. We got out and walked along the 
 bank to see if there was any thing to aid us in get-
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 97 
 
 ting across. My father luckily recognized a Capt. 
 Kuute, of the bateau men, who kindly offered us 
 the use of a scow, and, indeed, saw us safely over the 
 river. We drove that night to our own home. But 
 oh, how much changed ! It looked like a military 
 post, to which use it was actually converted. A 
 thousand eastern militia were quartered around 
 the premises. We began to think we had not 
 gained much by coming on at this juncture. My 
 father, however, entered the house in the dark, and, 
 being familiar with the passages and rooms, made 
 his way into the stove room, which he naturally 
 thought would be most comfortable. Having 
 brought a candle from the wagon with him, he 
 deliberately lighted it at the stove. The moment 
 it glimmered a person jumped off his bed, and ob- 
 served to my father with as much twang as was 
 agreeable, " You seem to be considerable acquainted 
 here." My father's reply was, " I used to be." 
 The stranger rejoined, "You are the owner may 
 be." My father answered "No ! I find some here 
 before me." "0, well," continued the speaker, 
 "you shall be accommodated." At this instant the 
 steady blaze of the candle showed the room to be 
 occupied by a number of persons, and there 
 appeared no probability of our receiving the pro- 
 mised accommodation. But he spoke as one having 
 13
 
 98 KEVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 authority, wlien he exclaimed. " Stir boys, stir ; 
 clear the way, here is the owner come !" They 
 yawned and grunted, and got out of the way with 
 unexpected good nature. He also placed a guard 
 over our wagon to protect it from invasion. My father, 
 in order to return his civilities, brought in some 
 spirits to the officer, and a social glass was handed 
 round. It was an unexpected happiness to the 
 kind hearted Yankee. The draught was repeated 
 until sleep came to refresh us after our fatigues. 
 Stretched on pallets of straw, we laid ourselves 
 down ; and after strange vicissitudes of hope and 
 fear we sunk to rest once more in our own house, 
 every ill and every fatigue forgotten.
 
 [99] 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 JL HE next day brought its variety ; we discovered 
 that our fellow lodgers were troops from Sheffield, 
 Mass., and, if I remember right, were some of those 
 militiamen who refused to stay with the army until 
 Burgoyne should be compelled to surrender. Next 
 morning I accompanied my father to the camp, 
 where all was excitement and animation. It is a 
 fact, that the troops did not eat in the ardor of pur- 
 suit with that appetite which is the soldier's charac- 
 teristic. The demands of nature were forgotten. 
 A floating bridge was constructed during this day 
 over the river opposite Gen. Gates's quarters. It 
 was made of boards, and was a kind of raft secured 
 by cables and ropes on both shores. Over this 
 floating structure a brisk foraging was kept, and it 
 was our fate to lose something more in consequence. 
 "When we had deserted our home we left our crops 
 standing in the field. During our absence they 
 had been kindly cut and piled in shocks, as we 
 termed them, by the English and Tories. A bridge 
 of boats had been constructed by Burgoyne's army, 
 for the convenience of foraging, in the same way
 
 100 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 as was now done by our troops. Our wheat having 
 thus been prepared for use, circumstances alone 
 prevented them from completing their harvest. 
 Our commissaries found it all ready at their hands. 
 Bundle after bundle was pitched into the wagons, 
 and it was carried over to the camp for the use of 
 the horses as it was fit for nothing else. The wheat 
 was taken without a word being said. My father 
 waived his own rights entirely, but when he saw 
 the wagons returning to the farm after the wheat 
 was gone, he suspected his rye was about to share 
 a similar fate. A wry face was very natural. He 
 immediately crossed over to the farm, and by going 
 through the fields, he succeeded in getting ahead 
 of the wagons just as they were about to enter the 
 enclosures ; at this instant he seized a long stake 
 from the fence, and took post near the bars, where 
 the wagons must necessarily pass. The commissary, 
 a continental oflicer, and in full dress, ordered the 
 driver in front to take down the bars. My father 
 said he should resist the effort at the risk of his 
 life. The wagoner had no wish to attempt the 
 passage. The commissary dismounted, drew his 
 sword, and approached the spot as if he at least 
 was not to be intimidated. The stake was raised 
 in a most unequivocal manner. One instant more 
 and the officer's brains, if he had any, were iii danger
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 101 
 
 of a concussion. " Touch those hars at your peril." 
 The officer called the wagoners to his assistance. 
 They declined interfering, stating that they did not 
 wish to get themselves into difficulty. The officer 
 behaved with discretion. He did not touch the fence, 
 but remounting his steed, drove off the ground, 
 followed by a train of empty wagons. When they 
 were fairly gone, my father again headed them, and 
 crossing the bridge, which was constantly crowded 
 with persons, he arrived in camp and stationed 
 himself near the head quarters, waiting the result. 
 The commissary, as he anticipated, instantly went 
 to Gen. Gates, taking his empty wagons with him. 
 The general asked him the reason why he returned 
 empty. The officer replied that the owner forcibly 
 resisted him. "Did you attempt to take lawfully? 
 Did you take appraisers with you?" "No sir," 
 drawled out the subaltern. "You blockhead," 
 said the general, with more warmth than regard to 
 etiquette, " he would have been justified had he re- 
 sisted you to the last extremity." While this was 
 going on some one hinted that my father was the 
 owner, and he was recognized by the general. 
 " We must have the grain for our horses," said he. 
 His manner was, however, mild and conciliating. 
 My father instantly replied, " My necessities are 
 greater than yours, general. You have taken all
 
 102 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 my wheat : it is hard that my last grain should be 
 taken from me." General Gates seemed touched 
 with the reply, but added, " My dear sir, I respect 
 this necessity as much as you do, but it is easier for 
 an individual to provide for his wants, than me to 
 manage for a whole army. This is the crisis of our 
 fate. The salvation of this country rests on the 
 issue of events now taking place, and in the result 
 you and all of us are deeply interested." My father 
 "thought like a sage, though he felt as a man." 
 " Then take it, sir, but let it be done in the manner 
 prescribed by law ; my country demands the sacri- 
 fice, and cheerfully will I make it/' 
 
 Appraisers were then appointed on the spot, and 
 they proceeded together and asssessed the loss sus- 
 tained by us. A nominal advantage it proved to 
 be in the end, for after taking every thing, my 
 father never even got a certificate of the quantity 
 carried away, nor any voucher whatever from the 
 commissaries. The quantity taken was so consid- 
 erable as to induce my father afterwards to go to 
 Poughkeepsie to obtain some recognition of this 
 sacrifice, supported by the necessary papers to es- 
 tablish the fact; the quartermaster general declined 
 doing any thing in relation to it. This is one of 
 the thousand instances of the petty tyranny and 
 injustice of public agents in the days of the revolu-
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 103 
 
 tion, and is given to corroborate the facts set forth 
 in our most authentic histories. My father died a 
 creditor to the government in more than this one 
 instance. His posterity have never gained any 
 thing by his devotion to the cause.
 
 [104] 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 W E remained busily at work on our farm, sur- 
 rounded by all the circumstance of war. The 
 enemy at length, overcome by the difficulties of an 
 untenable position, had retreated to Fish kil, and 
 crossing the creek, took possession of the heights 
 beyond, with an intention of retreating to Fort 
 Edward. I made an excursion with a neighbor, up 
 the west side of the river to see what was going on. 
 At one place I was witness to the military achieve- 
 ments of militia that lay concealed along the bank, 
 and waylaid every thing that promised them any 
 plunder. Burgoyne's bateaux and scows during 
 these his retrograde movements were busily engaged 
 in moving up with his baggage and provisions as 
 well as they were able. The militia took possession 
 of all they could lay their hands on, but were at 
 length menaced by the general order of the 12th 
 September, with the utmost severity of the law, " for 
 the many mean and scandalous transactions of per- 
 sons who seek more after plunder than the honor 
 of doing their duty in a becoming soldierlike man- 
 ner." Nay, the officers themselves were alluded to
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 105 
 
 in the same order. "Officers who know their duty 
 and have virtue to practice it, will not be seeking 
 plunder when they ought to be doing their best 
 service in the field." 
 
 As I have intended to give a faithful description of 
 the scenes which were witnessed by us all, I hope 
 I shall not be considered as having "aught set down 
 in malice." 
 
 A few bateaux and scows were passing along as 
 I arrived they were loaded with military stores, 
 the baggage of the officers, and the women who 
 followed their "soger laddies." A few well directed 
 shots brought them to the bank. A rush took 
 place for the prey. Every thing was hauled out 
 and carried back into a low swampy place in the 
 rear, and a guard placed over it. What was not 
 convertible to money or necessary for use was 
 burned, and when the plunder was divided among 
 the captors, the poor females, trembling with fear, 
 were released and permitted to go off in a boat to 
 the British army, a short distance above, on the 
 other side of the river. Such a collection of tanned 
 and leathern visages was never before seen. Poorly 
 clad, their garments bearing the marks of hard- 
 ships, and their persons war-worn and weary, the 
 women were objects of my sincere pity. The wife 
 
 and bairns of the soldier have often excited the sym- 
 14
 
 106 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 pathy of the poet, and have been pointed in the 
 sweetest language of the muse to their only con- 
 solation. 
 
 " When the vengeful strife is over, 
 Then ye'll meet nae mair to sever, 
 Till the day ye die, lassie." 
 
 But I believe even the less sentimental and 
 desponding followers of the camp, though not ele- 
 vated to any rank in the imaginations of the bards, 
 are deserving subjects of pity, if not of poetry. I 
 could not help looking at these women without 
 involuntarily thinking of their long distance from 
 their native villages in England and in Germany, 
 the dangers they had passed, and all the hardships 
 they must have encountered, not forgetting their 
 exposure a few moments before to the fire of our 
 eager marksmen, and the random shots that might 
 have terminated their miserable existence. Indeed, 
 while we were all together on the bank, some con- 
 test of a similar kind had created a sharp firing 
 across the river near us, and the shot came rattling 
 over our heads in the trees and bushes like rain pat- 
 tering on the pavement. 
 
 Near the marsh my companion and I had occa- 
 sion to assist one of the very kind of persons pro- 
 bably alluded to in the general order of Gen. Gates. 
 
 As we approached a small creek we saw a horse
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 107 
 
 and his rider lying floundering in the mud, in 
 apparent inextricable confusion. On coming up 
 we ascertained that his immobility was partly owing 
 to his having a bag about his person full of musket 
 balls, which he had picked up he said, in a shallow 
 place in the river, and which now hung like a mill- 
 stone round his neck. We, however, assisted him 
 to quit the slough, and remount his steed with the 
 bag of bullets, and he slowly trotted away.
 
 [108] 
 
 CHAPTER XXIH. 
 
 moment the scene was growing more 
 interesting. As we came near the main b*ody of 
 the enemy, which we approached within three 
 fourths of a mile, and while we were looking round 
 to observe the movements of different detachments 
 about us, which we could do very distinctly, we 
 observed a flash from a cannon, and almost instantly 
 saw a ball come out of the Saratoga church, 
 apparently deadened by the resistance it had met. 
 It passed over our heads with a slight whizzing, 
 and struck in the bank behind us, at the distance 
 of three hundred yards. In a few moments another, 
 its fellow, passed through the church in the same 
 manner, and struck in the same bank beyond us. 
 I judged that the range of these shots was about a 
 mile. The church long exhibited the marks of the 
 balls ; but it was pulled down some years ago, and 
 another of more modern appearance is now devoted 
 in its place to religious worship. "We did not 
 remain in our position any longer. "We were well 
 satisfied that we had exposed ourselves sufficiently 
 for the present to gratify our curiosity. An anec-
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 109 
 
 dote recurs to my recollection which shows the 
 daring of our soldiers. It is well known that the 
 east side of the river was lined with militia. One 
 of them discovered a number of the enemy's 
 horses feeding in a meadow of Gen. Schuyler's, 
 opposite ; he asked permission of his captain to go 
 over and get one of them. It was given, and the 
 man instantly stripped, and swam forward across 
 the river. He ascended the bank, and selecting a 
 bay horse for his victim, approached the animal, 
 seized him, and mounted him instantly. This last 
 was the work of a moment. He forced the horse 
 into a gallop, plunged down the bank and brought 
 him safely over to the American camp, although a 
 volley of musketry was fired at him from a party 
 posted at a distance beyond. His success was hailed 
 with enthusiasm, and it had a corresponding effect 
 on his own adventurous spirit. After he had rested 
 himself he went to his officer and remarked, that 
 it was not proper that a private should ride while 
 his commander went on foot. So, sir, added he, if 
 you have no objections I will go and catch another 
 for you, and next winter when we are home, we 
 will have our own fun in driving a pair of Bur- 
 goyne's horses. The captain seemed to think it 
 would be rather a pleasant thing, and gave a ready 
 consent. The fellow actually went across a second 
 time, and with equal success brought over a horse
 
 110 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 that matched exceedingly well with the other. The 
 *men enjoyed this prank very much, and it was a 
 circumstance familiar to almost every one in the 
 army at that time. 
 
 Another circumstance also occurs to me, which 
 happened at the same period, and shows that fami- 
 lies were not only divided in feeling on the subject 
 of the war, but that the natural ties which bind the 
 same "kith and kin" together were not always 
 proof against the political animosities of the times. 
 "When Burgoyne found that his boats were not safe, 
 and were in fact much nearer the main body of our 
 army than his own, it became necessary to land his 
 provisions, of which he had already been short for 
 many weeks, in order to prevent his being actually 
 starved into submission. This was done under a 
 heavy fire from our troops. On one of these occa- 
 sions a person by the name of Mr. , well 
 
 known at Salem, and a foreigner by birth, and who 
 had at the very time a son in the British army, 
 crossed the river at De Ruyter's, with a person by 
 the name of M'Neil ; they went in a canoe, and 
 arriving opposite to the place intended, crossed 
 over to the western bank, on which a redoubt called 
 Fort Lawrence had been placed. They crawled up 
 the bank with their arms in their hands, and peep- 
 ing over the upper edge, they saw a man in a blanket
 
 ' REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. Ill 
 
 coat loading a cart. They instantly raised' their 
 guns to fire, an action more savage than commend- 
 able. At the moment the man turned so as to be 
 
 more plainly seen, when old M said to his 
 
 companion, " Now that's my own son Hughy, but 
 I'm clom'd for a' that if I sill not gie him a shot." 
 He then actually fired at his own son, as the person 
 really proved to be, but happily without effect 
 Having heard the noise made by their conversation 
 and the cocking of the pieces, which the nearness 
 of his position rendered perfectly practicable, he 
 ran round the cart, and the ball lodged in the felly 
 of the wheel. The report drew the attention of 
 the neighboring guards, and the two marauders 
 were driven from their lurking place. While 
 retreating with all possible speed, M'Neil was 
 wounded in the shoulder, and, if alive, carries the 
 wound about with him to this day. Had the ball 
 struck the old Scotchman, it is questionable whether 
 any one would have considered it more than even 
 handed justice commending the chalice to his own 
 lips.
 
 [112] 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Burgoyne had been obliged to remove his 
 goods from his bateaux to the shore, and that under 
 a heavy fire. As the property taken from the 
 bateaux was often left near the water, it was 
 rumored among our people that large quantities of 
 powder were slightly guarded, and easily accessible. 
 My father was a keen sportsman, and he resolved 
 to go up the river and obtain some, be the risk what 
 it might. He started with two companions on 
 horseback at about 11 o'clock at night, and forded 
 the river. When they reached the shore they tied 
 their horses together and went up the bank, near 
 which, it was, the articles were left. The guard was 
 stationed a short distance from them, as the fire of 
 our troops from across the river was too heavy to 
 permit them to remain within its range. Their po- 
 sition being fixed, it was not changed at night to 
 prevent confusion in their own camp discipline. 
 They were so near as to make it exceedingly diffi- 
 cult and dangerous to approach the stores. How- 
 ever, the three adventurers crept up the bank as 
 silently as they could, approached some barrels
 
 KEVOLUTIONARY EEMINISCENCES. 113 
 
 which contained powder, the heads of which were 
 loose. As they commenced the work of filling 
 their bags they wereliailed, and making no answer, 
 were fired on by the guard. They retreated in- 
 stantly down the bank, mounted their horses, and 
 got safely oiF, each with about five pounds of the best 
 British powder. It was hardly enough to have jus- 
 tified the attempt, but my father always prized his 
 share of the spoil as valuable beyond price. Indeed, 
 long after the war he- retained a portion of it, and its 
 excellent qualities were appreciated by all the Leath- 
 er-stockings of our neighborhood. The adventurers 
 reached home safely in a few hours after they started. 
 I will not describe what has so often been the 
 subject of able writers, the negotiations that took 
 place between the two commanders in relation to 
 the surrender. The leading facts are well known. 
 Suffice it to say, the British army was distressed 
 beyond measure, for want of provisions and water. 
 It was at last at the risk of life itself that a drop of 
 it was to be had. The poor soldiers' wives alone 
 ventured within reach of the American rifles, to 
 snatch a few cups full from the river, which to them 
 seemed watched by attendant furies. In the cele- 
 brated memoirs of the Baroness Bledesel she men- 
 tions that to one poor female who ventured her life 
 in this way, to obtain water for her, some other 
 15
 
 114 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 females, and wounded officers, they expressed their 
 gratitude by giving her twenty guineas as soon as the 
 surrender took place, and there was a probability 
 of her living to enjoy the donation. 
 
 While the negotiations were going on I saw 
 Major Wilkinson go out with a flag to the enemy 
 on the memorable occasion, when Burgoyne impru- 
 dently requested permission to ascertain whether 
 the militia had gone off the field, a mere excuse for 
 breaking off the treaty if he had dared. He was a 
 fine looking young man, but plainly dressed on the 
 occasion. As he left Gen. Gates's head quarters 
 I happened to be present, being constantly (when I 
 could be so) loitering about the camp. I heard the 
 general say distinctly, "Tell Burgoyne if you are 
 not back in an hour and a quarter I'll open every 
 battery I have upon him." It is well known that 
 the time elapsed, and two hours besides, which had 
 been asked for by the British general, to take the 
 opinion of his officers. The capitulation took place, 
 or rather the convention, and I went home to a late 
 dinner. The expectation of this desirable event 
 had filled both armies with a disinclination for any 
 further bloodshed. Any other termination of nego- 
 tiations was to have been dreaded. It was hailed 
 with universal joy, and produced the happiest con- 
 sequences to our cause.
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 115 
 
 On the morning of the 17th the manner of the 
 sun-render was adjusted. The American troops 
 were kept within their lines, out of motives of deli- 
 cacy, while the British troops left their encamp- 
 ment, marching out with the honors of war, and 
 forded the creek on their way to the verge of the 
 river where their arms were to be piled. They 
 were obliged to march through the water for the very 
 good reason that they had destroyed the only 
 bridge, as well as the houses and mansion of Gen. 
 Schuyler in the neighborhood. The light infantry 
 waded through first, and their clean white kersey- 
 meres were soon soiled with mud and water. They 
 made the best of their way with their music play- 
 ing a British march to the very place now occupied 
 by the canal basin in Schuylerville. Among other 
 things, I asked a British officer where Burgoyne 
 was. He very politely noticed me, although I was 
 a boy, and under circumstances that did not pro- 
 mise any civility from the mortified English. "He 
 is with your general, I believe." At this time my 
 father, near whom I was, and a Capt. Knute, ap- 
 proached very close to the British columns. A 
 British officer, as they came nigh him, drew his 
 sword, which was a very handsome one, and in the 
 most pettish manner possible, presented it to my 
 father, saying, "You damned rebel, take this, I have
 
 116 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 no more use for it !" Surprised at the suddenness 
 of the movement, and scarce knowing what he did, 
 my father kept it in his hand for an instant, and 
 before he recovered himself the officer was gone. 
 He felt extremely awkward with it, and much more 
 so, as he doubted the propriety of keeping it a 
 moment. His companion advised him to put it in 
 some secure spot until he could place it in proper 
 hands, or secure it as a memorial for himself and 
 his posterity. He did, as he supposed, place it in 
 security, but in a short time after he went to get 
 the trophy, but it was gone, and he never heard any 
 thing more of it.
 
 [117] 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 W HEX I heard that Burgoyne was at head quar- 
 ters I waited no longer to observe the march of 
 the light infantry, but ran as fast as I could to reach 
 the marquee of Gen. Gates, now doubly interesting 
 by the presence of the captured general. Xear 
 head quarters I met an uncle of mine, for all our 
 family and all the neighbors round were present 
 on this memorable occasion. I stopped a moment 
 with him to see the light horse that were now parad- 
 ing for a review, preparatory to the entry of the 
 British within the lines. They wore blue coats 
 with white facings, their heads were covered with 
 bear skin caps and long white hair streaming in 
 the wind. They were, on the whole, well dressed 
 and well mounted. My uncle bade me stop. " Re- 
 main here, there is mischief doing here, I have just 
 heard one of the men say, that if General Schuyler 
 shows his face here, he will put a brace of balls 
 through him." Indeed, he was so much alarmed, 
 not only by the threat, but by the general appear- 
 ance of things in the corps, that he had resolved to 
 go and apprise the general of the circumstances.
 
 118 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 f Although young, I gave my opinion at once, that 
 
 1 -^ Ms going would be unnecessary, for the man would 
 
 not dare to fire. And so the event proved. General 
 
 /; Schuyler and an officer with him approached them on 
 his favorite white horse in very handsome style, and 
 them gave the passing review, as military etiquette 
 
 , prescribed. He then commenced addressing the men; 
 
 < 
 
 but what he said I did not stay to hear, as I was sensi- 
 ble only to the overwhelming interest attached to 
 the person of Burgoyne. I never ascertained what 
 
 x. Was the occasion of the threat just related, but 
 /there was some dislike to General Schuyler among 
 jsome of the eastern troops, that neither his charac- 
 
 <.ter, conduct nor military services could overcome. 
 I never can believe that he was in fault. As I 
 approached General Gates's tent I perceived three 
 sentinels in front ; I asked them if General Bur- 
 goyne was there. They said yes, he was dining 
 with General Gates. I then asked permission to 
 pass within the lines. They gave me leave with 
 the addition of a compliment for my being a little 
 "Whig. Eager beyond expression for a glimpse of 
 the man, I stood at the side of the tent door which 
 now and then opened as a servant passed in and out. 
 I was soon gratified by closer observation. !N"ear 
 me there was an officer who was mounted and sta- 
 tioned a little higher up, and stood ready to receive
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 119 
 
 the British troops. As they approached the lines 
 of our camp, and were coming down the road to 
 pass through them, our men were paraded, if I 
 remember right, opposite the place where they were 
 to enter, and the moment they stepped foot upon 
 our line our drums and music struck up Yankee 
 Doodle. At this moment the two generals came 
 out of the marquee together. The American com- 
 mander faced the road, and Burgoyne did the same, 
 standing on his left. Not a word was said by either, 
 and for some minutes, to the best of my recollection, 
 they stood silently gazing on the scene before them. 
 The one, no doubt in all the pride of honest suc- 
 cess ; the other, the victim of regret and sensibility. 
 Burgoyne was a large and stoutly formed man, his 
 countenance was rough and hard, and somewhat 
 marked with scars, if I am not mistaken, but he 
 had a handsome figure and a noble air. Gates was 
 a smaller man with much less of manner, and des- 
 titute of that air which distinguished Burgoyne. 
 Presently General Burgoyne, as by previous under- 
 standing, stepped back, drew his sword, and in the 
 face of the two armies, as it were, presented it to 
 General Gates, who received, and instantly returned 
 it in the most courteous manner. They then 
 returned together to the marquee. Having been 
 fully gratified with the exhibition, I then ran up
 
 120 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the road to which the British troops were filing off, 
 and I saw the whole body pass before me. The 
 light infantry, still in advance, were extraordinary 
 men. Finer and better looking troops I never 
 saw. They were not seen to much advantage, how- 
 ever, for their small-clothes and gaiters having been 
 wet in the creek, the dust adhered more readily to 
 them in consequence. Some of the officers were 
 very elegant men. Captain Lord Petersham, aid 
 to General Burgoyne, Major Kingston, adjutant 
 general, Brigadier General Hamilton, of the Eng- 
 lish, were pointed out to me. 
 
 The Hessians came lumbering in the rear. When 
 were they ever in advance ? Indeed their equip- 
 ments prevented such an anomaly. Their heavy 
 caps were almost equal to the weight of the whole 
 equipment of a light infantry soldier. I looked at 
 these men with commiseration. It was well known 
 that their services had been sold by their own petty 
 princes, that they were collected together, if not 
 caught at their churches while attending religious 
 worship, and if we may credit the account given us, 
 they were actually torn from their homes and 
 handed over to the British government at so much 
 a head, to be transported across the ocean and wage 
 war against a people of whose history and even of 
 whose existence they were ignorant. They were
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 121 
 
 found almost totally unfit for the business they were 
 engaged in. They were unable to march through 
 the woods and encounter the difficulties incident to 
 movements in our then almost unsettled country. 
 Many of them deserted to our army before and 
 after the convention of Saratoga. Fifty have been 
 known to come over in one party before the sur- 
 render. 
 
 A very remarkable disease prevailed among 
 them, if the accounts of some respectable officers 
 attached to Burgoyne's army may be credited. 
 While on their way down from Canada a presenti- 
 ment would take possession of twenty or thirty at 
 a time that they were going to die, and that they 
 would never again see their fatherland. The im- 
 pression could not be effaced from their minds, 
 notwithstanding every exertion of their officers and 
 the administering of medical remedies. A perfect 
 maladie du pays, a home sickness of the most fatal 
 kind, oppressed their spirits and destroyed their 
 health; and a large number actually died of this 
 disorder of the heart. This is a fact too well estab- 
 lished to be denied, and equals anything I ever 
 heard related of the Swiss. Among the Germans 
 that now passed before me were the Hesse Hanau 
 regiment, Riedesel's dragoons, and Specht's regi- 
 ment, the most remarkable of the whole. The offi- 
 16
 
 122 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 cers of distinction who accompanied them were 
 Major General Riedesel, Quartermaster General 
 Gerlach, Adjutant General Poelnitz, Secretary 
 Langemegen, Brigadier Gen. Specht, Brigadier 
 General Gall, and some others. The Hessians were 
 extremely dirty in their persons, and had a collec- 
 tion of wild animals in their train the only thing 
 American they had captured. Here you saw an 
 artilleryman leading a black grizzly bear, who every 
 now and ther> would rear upon his hind legs as if 
 he were tired of going upon all fours, or occasionally 
 growl his disapprobation at being pulled along by 
 his chain. In the same manner a tamed deer would 
 be seen tripping lightly after a grenadier. Young 
 foxes were also observed looking sagaciously at the 
 spectators from the top of a baggage wagon, or a 
 young racoon securely clutched under the arm of a 
 sharp-shooter. There were a good many women 
 accompanying the Germans, and a miserable look- 
 ing set of oddly dressed, Gipsey featured females 
 they were. 
 
 It is said that no insults were offered to the prison- 
 ers as they marched off, and they were grateful for 
 it. However, I state it as a fact, that after they got 
 out of the camp many of the British soldiers were 
 extremely abusive, cursing the rebels and their own 
 hard fate. On the other hand, at the extreme end
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 123 
 
 of the line, among the spectators and camp fol- 
 lowers, there was some reciprocating of these 
 remarks with an accompaniment of tin pans. This, 
 however, was not sufficiently loud to be much 
 remarked. The troops were escorted by some of 
 our eastern militia, and crossed the river at Still- 
 water.
 
 [124] 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 the evening of the surrender a number of 
 Indians and squaws, the relics of Burgoyne's abo- 
 riginal force, were brought over for safe keeping 
 to my uncle's farm, and quartered under a strong 
 guard in his kitchen. Without this precaution 
 their lives would not have been safe from the exas- 
 perated militia. The murder of Miss M'Crea was 
 but one of a number of their atrocities which har- 
 dened every heart against them, and prevented the 
 plea of mercy from being interposed in their behalf. 
 Among these savages were three that were between 
 six and seven feet in height, perfect giants in form, 
 and possessing the most ferocious countenances I 
 ever saw. They were afterwards sent on to the 
 northward, and discharged upon a promise not to 
 take up arms again. With what fidelity they kept 
 their word I never learned. 
 
 After the British army had gone detachments of 
 our army were sent on to the south to prevent the 
 continuation of those marauding expeditions on the 
 Hudson, of which Esopus will long be the sad 
 memorial. It was three days after the surrender
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 125 
 
 that our camp began to be broken up. The militia 
 were assiduous in exploring the fields for plunder 
 and the concealed treasures of the vanquished. 
 Immense quantities of camp furniture and frag- 
 ments of every description were strewed about, and 
 they spoiled the Egyptians. 
 
 Opposite our own house my father found a large 
 number of hides, and a considerable quantity of 
 tallow. This, however, neither graced his store nor 
 greased his boots. Our friends, the irregulars, 
 spared him the trouble of carrying them home. 
 They obligingly took all oif with them, out of 
 friendship. In this way closed the evenffcul history 
 of Saratoga. Blood and carnage were succeeded 
 by success and plunder. The clouds of battle rolled 
 away, and discovered hundreds of earnest searchers 
 after the relics of the tented field. My father once 
 more commenced the labors of husbandman, and 
 after preparing his ground in a great hurry, and 
 sowing his winter wheat, went away to Albany to 
 bring his wife home. 
 
 I will mention an incident that occured in 
 relation to the memorable siege of Fort Stanwix, 
 which shows General Schuyler's fortitude and prow- 
 ess in moments of difficulty. When Colonel Wil- 
 lett and his companion, Lieutenant Stockwell, left 
 the fort and got beyond the investing party, which
 
 126 KEVOLTJTIONAKY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 was not done without passing through sleeping 
 groups of savages, who lay with their arms at their 
 side, they crossed the river, and found some horses 
 running wild in the woods. They were soon 
 mounted, and with the aid of their bark bridles 
 stripped from the young trees, they made consider- 
 able progress on their journey. It is well known 
 that they reached Saratoga and begged a reinforce- 
 / ment. General Schuyler called a council of his 
 / officers, and asked their advice. It is not generally 
 known that he was opposed by them. As he walked 
 about in the greatest anxiety urging them to come 
 to his opinion, he overheard some of them saying 
 " he means to weaken the army." The emotions of 
 the veteran were always violent at the recollection 
 of this charge, and years afterwards I have seen him 
 ehed tears as he related the incident. At the instant 
 when he heard the remark, he found that he had 
 bitten a pipe, which he had been smoking, into 
 several pieces, without being conscious of what he 
 had done. Indignantly he exclaimed, " Gentlemen, 
 I shall take the responsibility upon myself; where 
 is the brigadier that will take command of the relief? 
 I shall beat up for volunteers to-morrow." The 
 brave, the gallant, the ill-fated Arnold started up 
 with his characteristic quickness, and offered to 
 command the expedition. In the morning the drum
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 127 
 
 beat for volunteers, and two hundred hardy fellows 
 capable of withstanding great fatigue, offered their 
 services and were accepted. The result of his 
 efforts is well known, a stratagem was played off 
 upon the Tories and Indians, which left St. Leger 
 no alternative but a hasty retreat. To General 
 Schuvler's promptness and fearlessness, therefore, 
 due credit should be given. 
 
 I will here relate an anecdote in relation to this 
 siege which I heard at the same time, and which 
 was quite current among our people. A man by 
 the name of Baxter, who resided in the vicinity of 
 the fort, being a disaffected man, had been sent to 
 Albany to be watched by the committee of safety. 
 Two sons of his remained behind, and were 
 extremely industrious, taking every opportunity to 
 keep their farm in order, notwithstanding its being 
 in the vicinity of the hostile parties. They were so 
 successful and so little disturbed by the British, 
 that the Americans began to suspect that they were 
 on too good terms with the enemy. Their father's 
 character increased the suspicion. One day, as it 
 subsequently appeared, one of the sons who was 
 working with a wheel plough in cutting his furrows, 
 would every few minutes approach a fence which 
 was between him and the enemy. After several 
 turns as he was making his last cut across the field,
 
 128 ^REVOLUTIONARY EEMINISCENCES. 
 
 he felt his hands suddenly grasped with violence. 
 Impelled by a natural desire to escape, he jumped 
 forwards, and seizing his plough cleaver, he turned 
 at his antagonist, who was an Indian, and felled him 
 to the ground. But a second approached, and with 
 equal dexterity and nerve, he dealt a second blow, 
 which levelled the savage. Both were stunned, 
 their heads being too obvious to escape the terrible 
 blow of the plough cleaver. As they lay on the 
 ground, he alternately struck them over their heads 
 with all his might, and then setting his horses clear 
 from the plough, he ran to the fort and told there 
 what had happened. His tale was not believed, and 
 when he offered to lead them to the spot, they sus- 
 pected further treachery. They detained him to 
 abide the event, and sent out a detachment to ascer- 
 tain how the fact was : and these found two savages 
 lying dead at the place he mentioned. This brave 
 feat procured the release of the father, and indeed 
 rescued the whole family from the imputation of 
 toryism forever. 
 
 But to return to our domestic movements. Our 
 family was once more reinstated on the farm. "We 
 cut the grain that had been left in some of the fields 
 untouched, and foddered our cattle on it during the 
 winter. My poor mother was quite unhappy at the 
 loss of our doors and windows, and the sad ruin
 
 * 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 129 
 
 discoverable in everything which a selfish or reck- 
 less soldiery could convert into fuel, or carry off on 
 either side. Still it was our home, and there with 
 
 " Content, our constant guest," 
 
 we were happy for a while in the social connections 
 of a family, tenderly attached to each other, and in 
 the cheerful pursuit of avocations to which we had 
 long been accustomed, and which had ever been 
 the means of rewarding us with health, peace and 
 competence. 
 
 17
 
 [130] 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 the winter, notwithstanding the utter 
 annihilation of any thing like a regular and effec- 
 tive force by the capture of Burgoyne. yet the coun- 
 try was considered liable to the incursions of small 
 parties of the enemy. Among other things the 
 church at Saratoga was occupied as a public depot, 
 and the commissary in addition had it partitioned 
 off inside and lived in it. Many a time have I 
 seen barrels of pork and beef rolled in at the sacred 
 porch, which so often had been proclaimed the gate 
 of Heaven. One of the evils of war is the prever- 
 sion of the most sacred things to the necessities of 
 the moment. In Boston the famous Old South 
 Church was converted into a riding school by the 
 British officers. A church in New York was made 
 a prison for our sick and captured countrymen. 
 The conversion of the church at Saratoga into a 
 commissary's store was the only instance within 
 my knowledge of a similar voluntary abuse by the 
 Americans. During the same winter General 
 Schuyler had twenty four men who were called his 
 life 'guard constantly in attendance at his residence ;
 
 EEVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 131 
 
 and if I am right in my recollection, during the re- 
 mainder of the war. 
 
 The winter passed away without incident, save 
 one or two feats of skill as a huntsman, shown by 
 my father. He loved to range the woods with his 
 rifle in hand, and all who ever knew him gave him 
 great applause for his dexterity. One evening dur- 
 ing this time of quiet he had been induced to set a 
 wolf trap in consequence of some suspicious tracks 
 in the snow, and certain sounds which made our 
 hill sides vocal. In the morning we went out to 
 ascertain the result. Behold ! a stout wolf was in 
 the trap, and when we approached he cowed before 
 us, evidently aware of his own defenceless situation. 
 My father succeeded at some risk in muzzling him, 
 and I joyously lifted up trap, wolf and all on my 
 shoulders, and walked off home with them to the 
 great amusement of all who saw me. But this was 
 the first and last ride of the wolf on any body's 
 back. He was condemned to death, and after a 
 short respite, rather for the benefit of our curiosity 
 than to give him any chance of escape, he was 
 placed in a proper position, and at the first fire fell 
 dead on the trap. 
 
 In the spring following these events we went 
 down to Bethlehem and brought home our cattle 
 that had wintered there. As we were driving them
 
 132 KEVOLUTIONAKY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 slowly back, and as we entered Albany on our 
 return, we met in State street a procession of novel 
 character moving slowly up the hill. "We perceived 
 seven persons dressed in white, and soon learned 
 they were of that unfortunate class of disaffected 
 men, who to bad political principles had added 
 crimes against society, which even a state of war 
 would not justify. At Schodack they had distin- 
 guished them selves by a series of desperate acts not 
 to be patiently endured by the community, and 
 when they were taken prisoners their fate seemed 
 inevitable. These men had been confined for some 
 time in the city prison, afterwards known as the 
 Old Museum, and had once made their escape, but 
 only to enjoy their liberty for a few hours. Indeed 
 the whole city was under"arms when we saw them 
 moving to the fatal spot where they were to suffer. 
 The public indignation was also much excited by . 
 their conduct in prison, and the circumstances 
 attending their being brought to suffer the sentence 
 of the law. They were confined in the right hand 
 room of the lower story of the prison. The door 
 of their appartment swung in a place cut out lower 
 than the level of the floor. "When the sheriff came 
 to take them out he found the door barricaded. 
 He procured a heavy piece of timber, with which 
 he in vain endeavored to batter down the door,
 
 REVOLUTIONAHY EEMINISCENCES. 133 
 
 although he was assisted in the operation by some 
 very athletic and willing individuals. During the 
 attempt the voice pf the prisoners were heard 
 threatening death to those who persevered in the 
 attempt, with the assertion that they had laid a train 
 of powder to blow up themselves and their assailants. 
 Indeed it was well ascertained that a quantity of 
 powder had passed into their possession, but how, 
 could not be known. 
 
 It was afterwards found placed under the floor 
 and arranged to produce the threatened resuljt. The 
 sheriff could not effect his entrance, while a crowd 
 of gazers looked on to see the end of this singu- 
 lar contest. Some one suggested the idea of getting 
 to them through the ceiling, and immediately went 
 to work to effect a passage by cutting a hole through. 
 While this was going on the prisoners renewed 
 their threats, with vows of vengeance speedy, awful 
 and certain. The assailants, however, persevered, 
 and as I was informed, and never heard contra- 
 dicted, procured a tire-engine, and placed it so as 
 to introduce the hose suddenly to the hole in the 
 ceiling, and at a signal inundated the room beneath. 
 This was dexterously performed. The powder and 
 its train were in an instant rendered useless. Still, 
 however, to descend was the difficulty, as but one 
 person could do so at a time. The disproportion
 
 134 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 of physical strength that apparently awaited the 
 first intruder, prevented for some time any further 
 attempt. At last an Irishman, hy the name of Mc- 
 Dole, who was a merchant, exclaimed, " Give me 
 an Irishman's gun, and I will go first." He was 
 provided instantly with a formidable cudgel, and 
 with this in his hand he descended, and at the same 
 moment in which he struck the floor, he levelled 
 the prisoner near him, and continued to lay about 
 him valiantly until the room was filled with a 
 strong party of citizens who came to his assistance 
 through the hole in the ceiling. After a hard 
 struggle they were secured, and the door which 
 had been barricaded by brick taken from the fire- 
 place was opened. 
 
 They were almost immediately taken out for 
 execution, and the mob was sufficiently exasperated 
 to have instantly taken their punishment into their 
 own hands. The prisoners seemed to me when 
 moving up the hill to wear an air of great gloom 
 and ill nature. No one appeared to pity them, and 
 their own hopes of being released by some for- 
 tunate circumstance, as by the intervention of the 
 enemy, was now banished forever. 
 
 They arrived in a few minutes at the summit of 
 the hill, near or at the very place now covered with 
 new and elegant edifices, north and east of the
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 135 
 
 Academy, and there upon one gallows of rude con- 
 struction they ended their miserable lives together. 
 This scene is indelibly impressed upon my memory. 
 "What I saw I can vouch for, and I believe the cir- 
 cumstances I have related are correct. The trans- 
 action created great excitement, and was consid- 
 ered by the Tories as a cruel and unnecessary waste 
 of life, and a sacrifice to the unnatural feelings 
 which had dictated the unhappy rebellion. By 
 the "Whigs it was considered as a necessary example 
 demanded by the nature of the times and the 
 enormity of the offences they had committed, and 
 they considered it not only a justifiable, but an 
 imperious necessity to inflict upon the offenders the 
 full penalties of the law. "We witnessed the execu- 
 tion, and then set out for home.
 
 [136] 
 
 CHAPTER XXVHI. 
 
 JJL AVIISTG returned home, we continued our agri- 
 cultural labors with unceasing diligence. During 
 the season we were continually harrassed by alarms 
 our days were filled with care, and our nights 
 were passed in anxiety. A part of the First New 
 York (Van Schaick's) regiment, if I remember 
 right, was sent for our protection. The troops were 
 under the immediate command of Lieutenant Col- 
 onel Van Dyke. Colonel Van Schaick was in com- 
 mand at Albany, and not in the field. A cancer in 
 his face, which was in consequence of a wound 
 received in the French war, confined him at this 
 time to garrison duty. He always sincerely regret- 
 ted this misfortune, not so much for its personal 
 inconvenience, as on account of its obliging him to 
 be sometimes absenlfrom his regiment. This gen- 
 tleman I well knew. He had at an early period 
 made the camp his school ; and at the age of nine- 
 teen he was appointed a lieutenant by Sir Jeffrey 
 Amherst, who was the personal friend of his father, 
 the then mayor of Albany. He went through his 
 full proportion of active and dangerous service
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 137 
 
 during the celebrated expedition of that general. 
 When the revolutionary war commenced, and the 
 first Albany militia- were called out to organize, 
 there was a general request made to him by the 
 citizens of Albany to take command of them and 
 direct the drill. When the New York regiment 
 was raised he received the command with univer- 
 sal approbation. He was ordered by General Schuy- 
 ler to take command of Fort George in 1775. He 
 was present at the battle of Monmouth, one of the 
 most warmly contested actions of the revolution. 
 His subsequent command was at Fort Schuyler in 
 1778, when it was in constant danger. His con- 
 duct in his expedition at the head of five hundred 
 men into the Indian country, which I shall again 
 allude to, crowned with the most complete success, 
 and without the loss of a single man, has always 
 been considered a masterly movement, and by none 
 more so than by those who were with him and wit- 
 nessed his soldierlike movements. He was also 
 commanding officer at Albany in 1779. A patriot 
 as well as a soldier, he often supplied the wants of 
 his men from his private purse to his own injury. 1 
 Many testimonials of high respect and considera- 
 tion coming from the first men of those times are 
 yet preserved in his family. He was promoted at 
 
 1 See appendix. 
 
 18
 
 138 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the close of the war to the rank of brigadier, with 
 the public approbation of Washington. 
 
 During this summer Colonel Quackenboss, of 
 the quartermaster's department, came up to Sara- 
 toga with boats and proper equipments to search 
 for cannon, which Burgoyne was supposed to have 
 sunk in the river between Saratoga falls and our 
 farm. My father assisted on this occasion. The 
 sight was a picturesque one. A little squadron of 
 boats well manned, and communicating with the 
 quartermaster general every few minutes, gave life 
 and animation to the scene. The search proved 
 fruitless, no cannon rewarded their toil. One of 
 the men in the boat, of which my father was cap- 
 tain, discovered that his pole touched something 
 round and large. Every eye was stretched to look 
 at it as the water was not deep at the spot. In a 
 few moments several men were stripped and wading 
 about the supposed treasure, and the proper ropes 
 Boon adjusted. It was hauled up into the bateau, 
 and proved to be a barrel of smoked hams of the 
 best quality, and not injured in the least, being 
 packed in a tight vessel. They were carried to the 
 house for further examination. One of them was 
 prepared for our dinner, but some of the family 
 were very much afraid of eating it. Burgoyne's 
 hams were thought as hostile as his troops ; and
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 139 
 
 they considered it a hazardous attempt to eat what 
 might have been poisoned. At dinner it was served 
 up, and when Colonel Quackenboss had eaten of it, 
 and was told it was one of Burgoyne's hams, his 
 knife and fork dropped from his hands. However, 
 the ham was soon demolished, and the gratification 
 of the eaters was not diminished by any further 
 alarms as to its quality. Before I dismiss the sub- 
 ject of the cannon I ought to mention that a militia 
 captain from Schenectady, by the name of Clute, 
 while swimming near the very same place, the same 
 summer, discovered a small brass howitzer. With 
 the aid of some of the neighboring farmers he had 
 it drawn on terra firma, and found that his prize 
 was valuable. He immediately sold it to the gov- 
 ernment for a handsome sum, and it was forthwith 
 dragged to the barracks. 
 
 One of our neighbors, a Colonel Van Yechten, 
 who lived about three miles below the barracks, had 
 a narrow escape about the same time. He was in 
 the habit of riding from his own house up to General 
 Schuyler's and to the barracks, in order to receive 
 and communicate intelligence. Those acquainted 
 with the road well remember the ravine and creek 
 just before you reach the church. In this ravine, 
 concealed behind the trees, a Tory placed himself to 
 shoot Van Vechten as he passed, who had rendered
 
 140 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 himself obnoxious to the partisans of the English, 
 by his constant assiduity in the service of his 
 country. As he approached, mounted on his favor- 
 ite grey, the assassin raised his gun to fire. His 
 finger was on the trigger, when, as he afterwards 
 confessed, the bold and manly air which Van 
 Vechten possessed, joined to his unsuspecting man- 
 ner, unnerved his arm. The weapon of death fell 
 from its position, and Colonel Van Vechten rode 
 by unharmed. It so happened, however, that an 
 alarm which was given while he was at Saratoga in 
 relation to a body of Indians and Tories who had 
 arrived in the neighborhood, induced him to take 
 the river road on his way home, and to give it the 
 preference always afterwards. I mention this anec- 
 dote to show the individual danger incurred in those 
 times in particular places, which seemed in no way 
 to subside with the removal of the seat of war.
 
 [141] 
 
 CHAPTER "renr. 
 
 J- CAXN"OT omit on this occasion to avail myself 
 of the opportunity offered by circumstances of a 
 peculiar kind, of relating in detail the particulars of 
 Colonel Van Schaick's expedition against the Onon- 
 dagas, derived from a source which I know to be 
 correct, and by access to private papers of a most 
 interesting kind. My readers may put full confi- 
 dence in the narrative. 
 
 As I have already mentioned, the defeat of Bur- 
 goyne did not free the frontier of this state from 
 the most harrassing alarms. Sir John Johnson and 
 the famous Brant, assisted by the Senecas and the 
 upper nations, were constantly, during this year 
 and the following, engaged in the detestable pursuit 
 of plunder, in firing settlements, in taking scalps, 
 and murdering defenceless women and children. 
 So complete was the terror excited by their move- 
 ments that at one time our disheartened citizens 
 were on the point of abandoning their homes for- 
 ever. In the words of Colonel Van Sohaick, in an 
 official letter to General "Washington, " Schenectady, 
 under present circumstances, must inevitably become
 
 142 [REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 our frontier settlement." The expeditions of Gen- 
 eral Sullivan and General James Clinton, one of 
 the bravest and most resolute of soldiers, had their 
 effect in one quarter, while that of Colonel Van 
 Schaick was also productive of the best con sequences 
 in another. The Onondagas had become so faith- 
 less as to act in alliance with the English, and from 
 their position were of immense detriment to our 
 cause. On the morning of the 19th April, 1779, 
 Fort Schuyler was a scene of busy preparation. 
 After long continued inaction, which was only inter- 
 rupted by partial skirmishes between our foragers 
 and the Indians that continually hung about the 
 fort, orders were given to the men to prepare for 
 their departure. It was an early hour, while the 
 fog and grey mist of the morning in some measure 
 concealed their movements, that the detachment 
 sallied forth, consisting of 558 men, including 
 officers. Colonel Van Schaick, the gallant Mar- 
 inus Willett, then lieutenant colonel and Major 
 Cochran, were the field officers of the detachment. 
 They were accompanied by 29 bateaux, into which 
 were placed provisions for eight days, and which 
 were on the previous night cautiously and skillfully 
 removed over the carrying place into "Wood creek. 
 A sufficient number of soldiers with five officers 
 were left in charge with them to assist the bateau
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 143 
 
 men and hurry them on. The others pushed on 
 smartly to the old scow place, as it was called, twenty- 
 two miles by land from the fort. They reached 
 this place at three o'clock in the afternoon, hut the 
 distance being greater by water, the boats did not 
 all arrive until 10 o'clock at night. Indeed, the 
 numerous obstructions offered by the trees which 
 had fallen into the creek were of themselves very 
 formidable difficulties, overcome only by the deter- 
 mined spirit of the men. As soon as the boats 
 reached the place of rendezvous the troops were 
 all instantly embarked, and the flotilla moved 
 toward Oneida lake. Once in the night the boats 
 in front were ordered to lie too while those in the 
 rear came up. A cold dreary head wind made their 
 progress slow and tedious, but the oars were plied 
 with unremitting diligence. It was not until eight 
 o'clock in the morning that they arrived in Desser's 
 bay, where the bateaux were again to rendezvous. 
 The detachment then moved forward with as much 
 expedition as possible for the Onondaga landing at 
 the head of the lake and opposite old Fort Brewer- 
 ton, where they arrived at three o'clock p. M. The 
 boats were then left at that place under a proper 
 guard, and the detachment pushed forward toward 
 the enemy. Nine miles, however, was all the dis- 
 tance achieved during the remainder of the day.
 
 144 B EVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The night was a dark and cold one the heavens 
 gathered blackness, and the men could fancy with- 
 out the aid of very lively imaginations, that the woods 
 teemed with savages, ready to fall upon them. In- 
 deed, the movements of the hostile Indians, aided 
 by powerful bands of Tories and refugees under the 
 command of Johnson and Brant, had been marked 
 by such fatal celerity, as to leave room for appre- 
 hension at every assailable point throughout the 
 western wilderness. The troops, therefore, lay on 
 their arms all night, and were not permitted to light 
 their evening fires. Silently were the watches 
 kept, and with but few words the wearied soldier 
 partook of his evening meal. Silence and secrecy 
 were indeed indispensible to the success of the ex- 
 pedition, and the soldier of two wars, who was 
 responsible for its success, made every arrangement 
 with j udgment. 
 
 Early the next day, as soon as it was practicable 
 to proceed, the detachment moved on to the Salt 
 lake, since so celebrated for the villages that adorn 
 its shores, the wealth poured into the coffers of 
 individuals, and for its salines more precious than 
 mines of gold. At nine o'clock they reached an 
 arm of the lake. This was forded at a place where 
 the distance was two hundred yards across, and the 
 depth of the water was for most of the distance four
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 145 
 
 feet. The men, however, marched in good order 
 through, and pushed on with redoubled speed to 
 the Onbndaga creek. " Here it was that a warrior 
 of that celebrated tribe was captured by Captain 
 Graham, who commanded a light infantry company. 
 He was the first Indian discovered, and was instantly 
 taken. Had he escaped the result of the expedi- 
 tion would have been somewhat uncertain. At this 
 point it was that arrangements were enade to effect 
 a complete surprise. Captain Graham was ordered 
 on in advance to attack the nearest settlement of 
 the Indians only two miles distant, while the old colo- 
 nel hurried his men by companies as fastas they could 
 cross a creek on a log (which fortunately served as 
 a bridge), where the stream was not fordable. One 
 by one the troops passed over in safety. The cir- 
 cumstance of this log remaining in its place over 
 the stream is a remarkable one ; it was of immense 
 service, and obviated the delay of seeking a place 
 to ford at a critical moment. It was the redman's 
 Thermopylae. On this occasion a few could have 
 kept off our troops, for a time at least, which might 
 have enabled their warriors to rally if not to defeat 
 the expedition. It allowed the commander to get 
 into the heart of the enemy's country before they 
 were apprised of his coming. The careless shout- 
 ing of soldiers on similar occasions, and the heed- 
 19
 
 146 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 less discharge of fire arms would have led the wary 
 and powerful Onondagas to a knowledge of their 
 impending danger. 
 
 The advance of Captain Graham could, however, 
 be no longer concealed, when in the vicinity of the 
 castle he was employed in making prisoners. When 
 the whole detachment arrived at this place, which 
 was the principal town, situated in the hollow, and 
 was large and well peopled, the alarm spread. Con- 
 cealment of their purpose was no longer possible. 
 The Indians gave away on all sides, making for the 
 woods. Colonel Van Schaick then dispatched dif- 
 ferent parties by different routes to get in the rear 
 of their other settlements, which were scattered 
 over in different directions eight miles, and they 
 were ordered to move on with the greatest dispatch. 
 The alarm spread, however, in spite of every pre- 
 vious precaution, but such was the haste in which 
 they fled, and such was the ardor with which they 
 were pursued, that they had not time to carry off a 
 single article. Thirty-three savages were captured 
 and twelve killed in the melee. One white man 
 was also taken prisoner. The whole of their settle- 
 ments were destroyed, and upwards of fifty of their 
 best houses burned. A large quantity of corn and 
 beans was also given to the flames. A hundred 
 English muskets, a few rifles and some uncommonly
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 147 
 
 fine horses, together with other animals, were 
 among the booty. Hard as was the task, and severe 
 the punishment, yet it was judged necessary to put 
 the cattle to death, and the horses were shot with- 
 out hesitation. This act of severity was a blow 
 which the Onondagas long remembered. A con- 
 siderable quantity of ammunition was found at the 
 council house. After the men had loaded them- 
 selves with as much spoil as they could carry, the 
 residue was doomed to destruction and 
 
 " The wide field, a waste of ruin made/' 
 
 The detachment then drew off and commenced 
 their return. In crossing the creek, however, a 
 party of Indians, who had arrived there during 
 their absence, fired upon them unexpectedly from 
 the opposite side. Lieutenant Evans was ordered 
 to beat them off with his riflemen, which he effected 
 in very gallant style without any loss. 
 
 The weather, during this day, was propitious. 
 The next day the troops reached the place, and, 
 finding theirboats in good order, sailed to the Seven- 
 mile island, where the troops encamped, and had 
 time to rest themselves after their great fatigue. A 
 more picturesque bivouac never was witnessed. 
 The lake was quiet. Its calmness was in keeping 
 with the hour, the gratification of success and the
 
 148 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 anxiety for repose. The evening fires threw their 
 blaze of light over the waters, and communicated 
 warmth and comfort to the sleeping groups around. 
 There was one who surveyed the scene with unmin- 
 gled satisfaction. He had accomplished the desira- 
 ble object for which he had been selected, and by 
 a bold stroke had broken down the strength of the 
 most powerful tribe of all the Indian nations. 
 Numerous and warlike, they had filled the country 
 with alarm, and the cabins of the white men with 
 blood. It was the opinion of General Schuyler, 
 that had not something been done at this crisis we 
 should not have had a settlement beyond Schenec- 
 tady. Nor were the emotions which belonged to 
 the hour, those of the more obvious feelings of 
 conquest. The recollection that all had been 
 accomplished without the loss of a single man was 
 a source of pleasure that surpassed the excitement 
 of pride and the flush of victory. The next day 
 the detachment crossed the lake and landed two 
 miles from the mouth of "Wood creek, at two 
 o'clock in the afternoon, and while two companies 
 were left to guard the bateau men in their naviga- 
 tion up the creek, the remainder of the detachment 
 marched eight miles further and encamped for the 
 night on the banks of Fish creek. The next day 
 several showers of rain impeded their progress to
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 149 
 
 the fort, but notwithstanding, the troops arrived 
 there at noon, after an absence of five days, and a 
 journey of 180 miles. 
 
 The thanks of congress were voted to Colonel 
 Van Schaick on this occasion, and to his brave 
 companions, to whom, in his official report, he de- 
 clared he was " under peculiar obligations " for their 
 cheerfulness " throughout a severe and laborious 
 march, and for the truly determined spirit " shown 
 by them on the occasion.
 
 [150] 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 JL.T was but a short time after Colonel Van 
 Schaick's expedition that the Oneidas appeared in 
 all the pomp and circumstance of an embassy at 
 the fort, to enquire into the reasons of the expedi- 
 tion, and perhaps with secret instructions from the 
 Onondagas, to threaten or conciliate the Americans, 
 as circumstances should permit. Their orator was 
 Priest Peter, as he was then called ; and the famous 
 Skenandoah, the principal sachem, was present. 
 The interpreter, Mr. Dean, followed the speaker 
 with these words : 
 
 "Brother, you see before you some of your friends, 
 the Oneidas; they come to see you. The engage- 
 ments that have been entered into between us and 
 our brothers, the Americans, are well known to you. 
 
 ""We were much surprised, a few days ago, by the 
 news which a warrior brought to our castle with a 
 war shout, informing us that our friends, the Onon- 
 dagas, were destroyed. 
 
 " We were desirous to see you on this occasion, as 
 they think you might have been mistaken in de- 
 stroying that part of the tribe.
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 151 
 
 " We suppose you cannot answer us upon this 
 subject, as the matter was agreed upon below. But 
 perhaps you may know something of this matter. 
 
 " When we heard of this account we sent back 
 word to our friends remaining among them, telling 
 them not to be pale hearted because some of them 
 were destroyed, but to keep up with their former 
 engagements. 
 
 "We sent off some of our people to Canasaraga, 
 to invite them to our village, but they returned an 
 answer that they had sent some of their own run- 
 ners to Onondaga to learn the particulars, and they 
 waited for their return. 
 
 " Our people brought for answer, that they were 
 much obliged to their children, the Oneidas, for 
 attending to them in their distresses, and they would 
 be glad if they would speak smoothly to their breth- 
 ren, the Americans, to know whether all this was 
 done by design or by mistake. 
 
 " If it was a mistake, say they, we hoped to see our 
 brethren, the prisoners if by design, we still will 
 keep our engagements with you, and not join the 
 king's party. But if our brethren, the Americans, 
 mean to destroy us also, we will not fly we will 
 wait here and receive our death. 
 
 "Brother, this was the answer of the Onondagas. 
 As for us, the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, you know
 
 152 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 our sentiments. We have supposed we knew 
 yours. 
 
 "The commissioners promised us that when they 
 found any thing wrong they would tell us and 
 make it right. 
 
 " Brother, if we have done any thing wrong, we 
 shall now be glad if you will now tell us so." 
 
 The grunt of the sachems echoed back their ap- 
 probation to the speaker, as he gracefully threw his 
 mantle over his arm and sat down. 
 
 Colonel Van Schaick then arose, and stepping 
 forward, replied as follows : 
 
 "I am glad to see my friends, the Oneidas and 
 Tuscaroras. I perfectly remember the engagements 
 the Five nations entered into four years ago, and 
 that they promised to preserve a strict and honora- 
 ble neutrality during the present war, which was all 
 we asked them to do for us. 
 
 " But I likewise know that all of them, except our 
 brethren, the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, broke their 
 engagements and flung away the chain of friendship. 
 
 " But the Onondagas have been great murderers ; 
 we have found the scalps of our brothers at their 
 castle. 
 
 "They were cut off, not by mistake, but by design. 
 I was ordered to do it and it is done. 
 
 " As for the other matters of which you speak, I
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 153 
 
 recommend a deputation to the commissioners at 
 Albany. I am not appointed to treat with you on 
 those subjects. 
 
 " I am a warrior my duty is to obey the orders 
 which they send me." 
 
 My readers will perceive that the answer was as 
 judicious as the appeal had been artful. 
 
 The next season the troops at Saratoga were 
 ordered to move to Albany, and I was once more 
 employed in assisting them to remove. Prepared 
 with a good lunch and recommended to the colonel's 
 protection, I fell in as near him as my baggage 
 wagon was permitted, which did not suit the ideas 
 of the wagon master. Why this petty tyranny was 
 exercised over me I never knew, but he endea- 
 vored to throw me out the line by every mano3uvre 
 that his abilities were equal to. One morning, 
 after vexing me by every means in his power, he 
 came near enough to me to enable me to retaliate, and 
 I lost no time in executing my intention. One of the 
 horses which I drove had been taught to rear, when- 
 ever commanded to do so in the name of congress. 
 As the wagon master approached, I cried out, "Do 
 you exercise your authority in name of congress?" 
 giving the sound its usual emphasis. In an instant 
 the sagacious animal reared up and struck my per- 
 secutor a blow with his fore feet which sent him 
 20
 
 154 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 staggering away, and left me for some hours in peace 
 and quietness. 
 
 It was on our way down when we reached the 
 place now - known by the name of Gibbonsville, 1 
 where we waited the crossing of the troops who had 
 marched down on the east side of the river, for we 
 had crossed the sprout of the Mohawk, I observed 
 the infliction of corporeal punishment. One of the 
 men who had disobeyed some particular order was 
 struck by his commanding officer, a Capt. Leonard 
 B. The soldier resisted, and defended himself 
 quite valiantly with his musket. Capt. B. lost all 
 command of himself, and snatching the gun out of 
 the man's hand, beat him about the head until the 
 soldier sank to the ground. It excited the univer- 
 sal indignation of the men. Indeed I am confident 
 that the punishment neither benefited the delinquent 
 nor any of his comrades. The universal experience 
 of military men will testify to the truth of my 
 remark. 
 
 At one of our stopping places my budget of eata- 
 bles was placed, at the request of Colonel Van 
 Dyke, on his table, and we partook of it together, 
 with great satisfaction. I mention this merely as a 
 
 1 This village in the town of Watervliet, six miles above Albany, 
 and opposite the city of Troy, is not now known as Gibbonsville, 
 but was in 1836 incorporated under the name of West Troy.
 
 KEVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 155 
 
 trait of the times, and of the little regard paid to 
 the mere distinction of rank. At the crossing of 
 our troops before mentioned, some of us got per- 
 mission to go on ahead for a few miles towards 
 Albany, where we were to await the arrival of the 
 regiment.
 
 [156] 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 W E then proceeded onward to the buttonwood 
 tree, two miles from Albany, well known at that 
 day for the delightful shade it afforded to the heated 
 traveler. Here our horses were well washed and 
 cleaned, and the same operation we performed on 
 ourselves. By and by, my enemy, the wagon mas- 
 ter, came down the road on a continental horse 
 without the equipage of an equestrian, but with the 
 ensigns of authority. He brought a guard with 
 him, and we were arrested on the spot. Mortified 
 at this, but aware that we should be revenged, we 
 waited patiently until the regiment came along, 
 when we complained to the colonel. "We were 
 instantly liberated, while the wagon-monster, 
 accoutred as he was, received a pointed rebuke, and 
 was disgraced before the whole line. 
 
 The troops entered the city in handsome style, 
 drums beating and colors flying. They were 
 marched to the hill a*nd there encamped. "We were 
 next dismissed, and we endeavored to get our 
 friend, the wagon-master, to return with us in the 
 wagons, as he intended to go back. We concealed
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 157 
 
 under this invitation our intention to give him a 
 basting for his previous conduct to us. He did 
 not accept our offer, "but withdrew himself out of 
 our way as soon as possible. 
 
 In the beginning of 1780 we were employed in 
 drawing boards and provisions to Fort Anne. It 
 is well known that an expedition was contemplated 
 against Canada in the preceding year, and, if I 
 remember right, Gen. Lafayette, who was expected 
 from France early in this year, was to have had the 
 command. Indeed the plan of operations is fully 
 detailed by Marshall. Fort Anne was then nothing 
 but a rough block house with a picket around it. 
 It had, however, been distinguished for several 
 gallant actions performed before and within its 
 precincts. It was one thing to be employed by con- 
 gress, and another thing to be paid by them. It was 
 our fortune on this occasion, as on former ones, to 
 know the difference : we drew the boards but never 
 drew our pay. 
 
 While we held undisturbed possession of the 
 posts at the north, it was a very common thing for 
 the different commanders to exchange visits. Col- 
 onel Warner of Fort Edward occasionally visited 
 Fort George. On one of these occasions he was 
 returning with two officers, all of them mounted 
 on horseback. As they were passing the bloody pond,
 
 158 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 where some hostile Indians had hid themselves 
 behind an old tree, they received a volley of mus- 
 ketry from their concealed enemies. The two 
 officers fell lifeless to the ground, and Colonel 
 Warner was wounded, as was the horse he rode. 
 He put spurs to the bleeding animal and endeavored 
 to escape. One of the officers' horses followed him 
 and the Indians pursued. As he rode on his horse 
 occasionally seemed ready to fall under him, and 
 at other times would revive and appear to renew 
 his strength. The other horse kept up with them, 
 alternately increasing and relaxing his speed to 
 keep pace with his wounded companion. The 
 colonel in vain endeavored to seize the bridle which 
 hung over his neck, an expedient which promised 
 to save him if his own steed should fail. In this 
 manner, and with all the horrid anticipation of a 
 cruel death before him, he managed to outstrip his 
 pursuers until he reached Wing's corner at Glen's 
 falls. There, as the uninjured horse came along 
 side, he made another attempt to seize his bridle, 
 and succeeded. He instantly dismounted, unslung 
 the saddle, threw it over the fence, mounted the 
 horse and rode off at full speed. He saw no more 
 of his pursuers from this moment, but reached Fort 
 Edward in safety ; overcome, however, by his exer- 
 tion, fatigue, and the loss of blood. What was
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 159 
 
 also singular, was the arrival of his wounded horse, 
 which lived to do good service in the field. 
 
 The individual suffering of our western brethren 
 was never greater than at this time. I was so sit- 
 uated as to observe many circumstances of the 
 kind alluded to, and the flight of some of our rela- 
 tives from Schoharie to my father's house at this 
 time was the reason why many anecdotes connected 
 with the incursions of the savages are remembered 
 with facility. The harvests were never more pro- 
 mising than at this time, and, for the sake of obtain- 
 ing food for their suffering families, the people of 
 Schoharie returned to remain on their farms almost 
 
 V 
 
 among the last. There were block houses near 
 the settlements, to which, in case of alarm, the 
 inhabitants fled, and, as a part of the system of 
 defence, they in turns went out as scouts, in order 
 to discover any threatened danger, and to give the 
 alarm. On the morning of the day which Schoharie 
 will long remember, John Vrooman, well known 
 as old rifle, and two others were out upon duty. 
 They were in the woods, about eight miles distant 
 from the settlement, anxiously reconnoitering every 
 suspicious object, and ready to fight or fly, as was 
 most necessary, when Yrooman caught a glance of 
 an Indian, who appeared engaged in a business 
 similar to their own. " See there," cried he to his
 
 160 KEVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 companions, " there is one of the black devils, as I 
 live !" The next instant he raised his rifle to his 
 face, and with a rashness that he afterwards"rued, 
 he fired and the savage fell. Another Indian dis- 
 covered himself, and Vrooman's companion fired 
 at him. This one also fell, apparently dead. A 
 third rose, as if to give them each a chance of firing, 
 but the third scout became alarmed at this third 
 vision, and refused to fire. Vrooman snatched the 
 rifle from his hand, and shot this one also. Instantly 
 a group of Indians and Tories rose from the ground 
 near them with a yell, and in a manner that clearly 
 indicated that they were disturbed in finishing their 
 breakfast. "Did you see that flock of crows?" 
 said Yrooman, " we shall have a warm day of it, 
 let every one take care of himself !" 
 
 He was an old woodsman, and as the three scouts 
 separated he immediately made a tack and dashed 
 into the thickest of the forest. The enemy pur- 
 sued him, and it was only by a series of zig-zag 
 flights that he reached the fort at Vrooman's flats 
 at noon, breathless, exhausted, and completely worn 
 out by fatigue. He was scarcely there before the 
 flames of the dwellings at the settlement were visi- 
 ble. Brant at the first alarm pushed for the 
 settlement, by an old road, and was already doing 
 his work of devastation.
 
 [161] 
 
 CHAPTER JKITXTT. 
 
 JL HAD an aunt living at the place, whose husband, 
 at the moment of Brantte arrival, was engaged in 
 loading his barn with hay, and was himself on the 
 load with the pitchfork in his hand, while his sons 
 were in the barn stowing it away. As he acci- 
 dently looked around he discovered the Indians 
 between him and the house. At the same instant 
 he heard his wife scream. He had presence of 
 mind, however, to cry out, "My boys, the enemy!" 
 He jumped from the load with the apparent inten- 
 tion of making for the cornfield. As he struck the 
 fence a ball went through him, and he fell dead on 
 the spot. His wife was coming out of the garden, 
 where she had just parted with a female friend, a 
 neighbor, when she saw the savages, and gave the 
 shriek which had alarmed her husband. The 
 wretches seemed dead to all the claims of sex or 
 age, and she was instantly tomahawked. The three 
 oldest of the sons were made prisoners, while the 
 youngest brother, of about five years of age, who had 
 been playing about the wagon in the field, came 
 running to the house. At the sight of his mother 
 21
 
 162 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 weltering in her blood, lie gave away to agony of 
 grief, and screamed as loud as his voice per- 
 mitted. For a moment they endeavored to stop 
 his cries, but not succeeding in their attempt to 
 pacify him, they knocked him on the head also, 
 and he fell at the door by the side of his unfortu- 
 nate mother. Thus, in a few moments, with circum- 
 stances of hellish barbarity, was a family put to a 
 cruel and savage death. The three captives were 
 carried away to Canada. They did not obtain 
 their liberty until nearly two years afterwards. I 
 well remember their return. My father obtained 
 information of it, and went to the north to meet 
 them. He brought them home to his own house, 
 and there learned the story of their sufferings and 
 exile. From their long captivity, and their con- 
 tinued labors in the field without hats, both in the 
 service of the savages and the Canadians, they were 
 burned very black, and presented a woful appear- 
 ance. 
 
 It was during the same incursion that, as the 
 wife of John Vrooman was alone in her house, an 
 Indian by the name of Hendrik, a Mohawk, who 
 had lived near Schoharie, and knew all the inha- 
 bitants, came in. As he entered the dwelling his 
 eyes were attracted by a brown coat which hung 
 up there. "Whose coat is that?" said he. On
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 163 
 
 being told by her with a trembling voice, he re- 
 plied, " If the owner were here, he would never 
 wear another." Both she and her mother were 
 carried off' and kept one night in duress. The ensu- 
 ing morning they were sent back by the ferocious 
 Brant, and were the bearers of a letter written on 
 birch bark, explaining his reasons for so doing. 
 
 The Vrooman family were peculiarly unfortunate. 
 One of its members, by the name of Ephraim, ran 
 into his house to get his gun and powder horn, 
 determined to sell his life as dearly as he could ; but 
 as he was in the act of taking them from the wall 
 where they hung, he was clenched by a savage 
 who followed him in, and was made prisoner. 
 This was not less aggravating from witnessing the 
 unavailing attempt made by his wife to escape at 
 the same moment. She darted towards the road, 
 where the ground descended rapidly, and where 
 she hoped to have got out of their sight. She was 
 shot dead ere she reached the road. Nor is this all. 
 A daughter whom she fondly loved, of the age of 
 eleven years, had laid hold of her clothes, and ran 
 with her. An Indian came up to them, and ob- 
 serving the child lying close to her mother, as if 
 seeking her protection, he snatched up a stone from 
 the ground and dashed out her brains. Such were 
 some of the incidents of that horrid scene.
 
 164 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Some of the inhabitants, however, escaped under 
 circumstances very .extraordinary, and worthy of 
 reminiscence. The road which led from the upper 
 to the middle fort ran across the hill. At the time 
 of the enemy's approach two men were in the field 
 with a wagon and horses, busily engaged in work. 
 They were at least two miles and a half from the 
 fort. They heard the noise of the engagement, and 
 instantly attempted to escape. One of them stood 
 up and drove, while the other, with his pitch-fork, 
 goaded the horses to their topmost speed. No less 
 than seven swing-gates interposed themselves, as 
 barriers on the road, but, as most miraculously they 
 vwere made to swing either way, they were forced 
 open by the horses running against them. During 
 this terrible race against time, several persons suc- 
 ceeded in getting into the wagon from behind, and 
 these laid hold of every person who came near 
 enough to attempt the same exploit. As they 
 passed a point where an old person by the name of 
 Swarts resided, who was unloading some corn from 
 a wagon, they gave him the alarm, and being near 
 the goal they wished to arrive at, slackened their 
 pace. He told them not to wait for him. He sent 
 one of his men to his house to call his wife, while 
 he reharnessed his horses to the wagon. His poor 
 wife came running out, the picture of distraction,
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 165 
 
 and in her fright forgot her child, that was sleeping 
 in a cradle. She was surprised at her forgetfulness 
 and ran back for it. The three were then hauled 
 into the wagon as quick as possible. The horses 
 were forced into a gallop down the hill and through 
 the creek. Notwithstanding they were pursued by 
 the savages the whole of the distance, they escaped, 
 reaching the fort in safety, with eleven persons in 
 the wagon, picked up in this singular manner. 
 The harness was covered with clotted blood, and 
 the poor animals were completely exhausted. 
 Another person escaped across the flats in this way. 
 Whenever he found his pursuer gaining on him, 
 he would turn round and point something which 
 he carried towards the savage, as if he was about 
 to fire. This occasioned a halt, and with a fresh 
 breath drawn at those intervals, he .completely suc- 
 ceeded in getting safely into the fort. 
 
 This excursion cost Schoharie twelve houses 
 burned, and nearly a hundred people massacred and 
 made prisoners. The whole of their labor was lost 
 for the season, and one of the finest crops that ever 
 graced the fertile plains of Schoharie was destroyed. 
 One house, amid this general devastation, escaped 
 from the circumstance of its being the place where 
 treaties had been held on former occasions.
 
 [166] 
 
 CHAPTEE xxxrn. 
 
 _L HIS celebrated excursion, as I before mentioned, 
 was conducted by Sir John Johnson and Brant. 
 The force which they had with them ^ias always 
 been said to have been 1,150, counting red and white. 
 A part of their plan was to have attacked the mid- 
 dle fort at Middleburgh. Many a time and oft, 
 as I have crossed the kil at this place, and saun- 
 tered along its pleasant banks, forming, as it were, 
 a natural street for the quiet village, have I looked 
 in vain for the traces of that horrid assault which 
 destroyed the settlement in 1780. Yet there is a 
 stone dwelling house, standing between the hill and 
 the creek, and well known by the appellation of 
 Becker's stone house, which then served as a* rally- 
 ing place for the fugitive settlers, and by the aid of 
 a picket and some minor defences was thought 
 worthy of the title of fort. I might have been a 
 little more systematic in the relation of the events 
 of which I am now reminiscent, but I am sure 
 the excuse of old age will save me from the criti- 
 cisms of mere chronologists. 
 
 The rear of the enemy, while on their march to
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 167 
 
 the middle fort, was discovered by the lookouts at 
 the upper fort, and immediately three guns were dis- 
 charged as a signal to the neighborhood. As I 
 have before mentioned the inhabitants were engaged 
 in their usual business, for they always hoped to be 
 able to retire to the fort before the danger became 
 imminent. When the alarm was given my grand- 
 father was in the fort, and his son was in a mill which 
 belonged to the family, about one mile from the 
 place. The former immediately went down to the 
 mill, and the two shut it up and stopt its motion. 
 This was considered very venturesome in the old 
 man, but he was not immediately exposed through 
 his rashness. Besides., the life of a favorite son was 
 not the least incentive on the occasion. He and 
 his son mounted two horses that were there, while 
 the miller trusted to his legs for security. As the 
 fugitives approached the fort on their return they 
 discovered the enemy within a hundred yards of 
 them. They immediately changed their course, 
 and got in at the rear of the fort without further 
 risk. This was early in the morning. After sun- 
 rise Sir John Johnson surrounded the middle fort, 
 and sent a flag demanding its surrender. Exaspe- 
 rated by the sufferings they had already undergone, 
 and perhaps by a knowledge of the mischief already 
 done at the flats, and incited to hostility by the 
 remarks of some old people, that they wanted no
 
 168 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 red-coats in the fort, they told the sentry to fire at 
 the flag and drive it off. A Major ~W., a contin- 
 ental officer, who was stationed there, endeavored 
 to prevent this outrage of military etiquette, and 
 commanded the sentry not to fire. The militia 
 officer overruled him, and gave peremptory orders 
 to the man to fire. This dispute was not without 
 interest. A group of controversialists were as- 
 sembled on the occasion, and furnished a scene 
 which the painter might seize on to transfer to his 
 canvass, worthy of the humorous pencil of Hogarth, 
 if not rivaling his famous tribute to the hostile 
 properties of roast beef before the gates of Calais. 
 I can imagine the moment when the willing sentry, 
 looking beyond the rude palisade which skirted 
 the fort, saw the white flag drawing nearer with 
 that uncertainty of manner which indicates the 
 doubt of a favorable reception. Raising his mus- 
 ket to his shoulder, he looked around for some 
 approving look from his comrades in arms. The 
 distant smoke which he well knew was from the torch 
 of the incendiary, and the glitter of the red-coats 
 just within sight of him, gave a sort of tremor to 
 his hand, and he thought of the fate which perhaps 
 awaited them all. Just behind him stood the 
 extremes of continental etiquette and militia subor- 
 dination, personified in the one instance by a sharp
 
 ^REVOLUTIONARY EEMINISCENCES. 169 
 
 and huge cocked hat, trimmed profusely with gold 
 lace, surmounting a well powdered head. The 
 lips of the officer firmly set, and his right hand 
 resting on a cane with which he now and then laid 
 down his argument, and somewhat roundly too, on 
 the toes of his unlucky listeners around him. A 
 long waisted blue coat turned up with buff, that 
 met and parted at the same time on his breast, and 
 a black silk kerchief drawn tightly round his 
 throat, completed the upper part of our major. 
 A pair of small clothes drawn tightly over a muscu- 
 lar thigh were met at the knee by a pair of straight 
 sided boots that doubtless by their stiffness and 
 want of pliability prevented any thing like an 
 attack upon the limb inside. A white belt thrown 
 over the whole man, and a heavy sabre with a 
 leathern scabbard completed the Ajax of the coun- 
 cil, the son of chivalry and the regularly fed friend 
 of the continental congress. But the nicely drawn 
 arguments taken from the rules of war, and ever 
 and anon supported by the dicta of the Prussian 
 Baron Steuben, who had brought order into the 
 disorderly ranks of our armies, were lost upon the 
 rude minds of his unlettered, but exasperated 
 companions. Their embrowned visages, but illy 
 protected by their ancient hats, which had served 
 
 at least during war, declared that revenge and an 
 22
 
 170 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 obstinate defence were all they wished, and that 
 the means which were to lead to these were not 
 to be invaded by rules to which they, at least, had 
 never subscribed. Besides, there was a feeling 
 almost of animosity against congress and the regu- 
 lar army, on account of the indifference with which 
 their cries for assistance had apparently been heard. 
 It is well known to those persons who were in the 
 confidence of General Schuyler and Colonel Van 
 Schaick that strong and repeated applications for 
 reinforcements had been denied, though for reasons 
 imperious in their nature, and such as admitted of 
 / no compromise. It is well known that even a few 
 barrels of flour and beef which now and then were 
 dispatched from the magazines in the highlands, 
 when arrived at Schenectady, laid there for weeks 
 before a sufficient guard could be mustered to pro- 
 tect it to the river forts. Recollections like these 
 were not likely to give success to the opinions of 
 the continental major. In such a group of combat- 
 ants just escaped from the tomahawk, hastily 
 equipped for defence, and bearing a grotesque 
 appearance, the name of Steuben was of no more 
 weight than the feather which waved in the breeze. 
 Brown shirts were the panoply of the farmer 
 soldiers, over them hung powder horns and shot 
 bags, manufactured during the winter nights, and
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 171 
 
 now and then stopped up with a corn cob which 
 had escaped the researches of the swinish multi- 
 tude. Muskets were rather uncommon. Long 
 fowling pieces were more in fashion in Schoharie. 
 Sometimes the rank of the individual led him to 
 greater expense in equipment. A sparse sprinkling 
 of gold lace in places best calculated for display, 
 a long feather and a thin epaulette were indicative 
 of the superior pretensions of the man who wore 
 them.
 
 [172] 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 OCCASIONALLY in the interstices of the dispu- 
 tants an old man or two would be listening with that 
 peculiar expression of countenance which argues 
 the possession of hard hearing. These, who 
 had generally known something of service in the 
 French war, would occasionally chime in with yes 
 or no, as the controversy came within the range of 
 their memories. There was another argument 
 used, which, after all, was perhaps the most power- 
 ful of any; and this was the fact, that however 
 etiquette might be regarded by the besieged, it 
 certainly was not likely to produce a correspondent 
 feeling on the part of the enemy. Already they 
 had experienced the truth of the position, in the 
 murders committed upon the unsuspecting inha- 
 bitants, and these, too, after they had surrendered. 
 The savages and their companions the Tories, still 
 more savage than they, had shown no respect to 
 age, sex or condition, and it was with force the 
 question was repeated, "are we bound to exercise 
 a forbearance totally unreciprocated by the enemy ? 
 Besides, let us show that we neither give nor take 
 quarter. They will discover our desperation and
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 173 
 
 withdraw." On the whole, the friends of etiquette 
 were overpowered. The order to fire was repeated, 
 and the close shot of the sentinel drove away at 
 full speed the bearer of the flag of truce. The 
 major, however, unwilling to be responsible for 
 the consequences, retired to his pallet, and excused 
 himself from any further command at present, 
 alleging his indisposition. A Captain Vrooman 
 was invested with the honors of the command, and 
 at the head of 350 men, besides women and child- 
 ren, resolved to fight while there was a combatant 
 of either sex left alive. After the violation of the 
 flag Sir John brought up his artillery, and fired 
 upon the fort. The fire was promptly returned. 
 Having a few light howitzers with him, he threw a 
 few shells, of which only two struck the building. 
 One of them entered the roof of a small building in 
 the pickets and fell through the roof into a room where 
 two sick women were lying. It was arrested in its 
 fall by a feather bed, where it exploded and scat- 
 tered a gale of feathers about the apartment. No 
 serious injury, however, occurred. An effort was 
 made to set fire to the pickets and out houses, by 
 loading a wagon with dry wheat, and after firing 
 it, to shove it as close to the place as possible. This 
 attempt also failed. Either the sharp shooting of the 
 riflemen, or the short lived flames of the material
 
 174 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 which was used, prevented any injury. The prin- 
 cipal part of the day was occupied in operations 
 of this kind, when the sentry again discovered the 
 approach of a white flag. In an instant the news 
 was about, and a crowd again assembled to watch 
 its coming. Major "W , with the rest, deter- 
 mined to make his last stand against the invasion 
 of military law. A Captain Reghtmeyer, however, 
 was on the platform where the soldier stood, and 
 he gave him the order to fire. The major, exaspe- 
 rated at this, drew his sword, and seemed about to 
 run the delinquent through. The little captain, 
 who carried a fusee in his hand, instantly clubbed 
 it, and made an impressive motion with its breech, 
 which again drove the major back to his retreat. 
 
 During this petty siege the ejiemy would draw 
 off their forces, and burn and destroy dwellings in 
 the neighborhood. At these intervals our men 
 would succeed in killing numbers of them, but the 
 moment any thing like a show of force took place, 
 the latter would run back, repass the gate under 
 the protection of a heavy fire from their comrades, 
 and the small artillery, within the walls. During 
 this desultory warfare, which lasted from morning 
 to night, the females within our fort displayed a 
 heroism worthy of commemoration. They were well 
 provided with arms, which they intended to use if
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 175 
 
 the English attempted to take the place by storm. 
 Their services were not required by such an extrem- 
 ity. One of these, then an interesting and hand- 
 some young female, whose name is still mentioned 
 with respect by the people of Schoharie, displayed 
 a good deal of courage on this occasion. Perceiv- 
 ing that one of our men, who went to draw water 
 from a well within reach of the enemy's fire, scud- 
 ded into the fort as fast as he could to escape it, 
 she gallantly went out herself and drew water for 
 the men in the fort as long as any was required. 
 "Without changing color, she carried bucket after 
 bucket to the thirsty combatants, and providentially 
 she escaped without the slightest injury. 
 
 Finding the fort too strong for them, the enemy 
 drew down to the lower fort, and after skirmishing 
 until sundown, without much effect, drew off 
 towards the Mohawk river. By this time, however, 
 the alarm had spread through the neighboring 
 settlements, and a body of militia of sufficient force 
 to become the assailants, arrived, it is said, within 
 a short distance of the enemy near the river, and 
 
 M 
 
 Sir John Johnson, in consequence, had actually 
 made arrangements to surrender. The Americans, 
 however, at this moment, fell back a short distance, 
 for the sake of occupying a better position during 
 the night. The interval was improved by the
 
 176 REVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 enemy, and by great exertions on their part, floats 
 and rafts were constructed, upon which they passed 
 over before the Americans came up in the morn- 
 ing. There is a tradition among the Schoharie 
 people, however, that as the last float was going 
 over, a British officer who was on it, offered a fair 
 mark for the rifle, in consequence of the glitter of 
 his dress in the light of the morning sun. A 
 friendly Oneida asked permission to fire at him, 
 and on its being given, he took a rest for his rifle 
 in order to take a good aim, fired and shot the 
 officer instantly.
 
 [177] 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 -L THINK it was upon this occasion that Gover- 
 nor George Clinton, to whose indefatigable exertions 
 the state of New York owes more than she could 
 repay, ordered out the militia of the different 
 counties, and at their head proceeded to the north- 
 ward, in hopes to cut off" the retreat of the enemy. 
 With the greatest activity his men were collected 
 and dispatched to Lake George. No tidings being 
 gained of them, however, the governor determined 
 to proceed, and having boats at Caldwell, he pre- 
 pared to embark for Ticonderoga. It so happened 
 that my father was selected to take charge of the 
 barge in which the governor embarked. He imme- 
 diately made a selection of the best oarsmen he 
 could find, and all being ready the flotilla moved 
 to the lake. Is was a doubtful voyage. The 
 governor was one of those men, who, not at all 
 elevated by the high dignity and responsibility of 
 his station, knew how to please every class of citi- 
 zens by making himself cheerful and familiar. 
 They had a fine passage down the lake. The 
 enemy, however, was not to be found. Governor 
 
 Clinton then resolved to push on to Crown Point. 
 23
 
 178 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 A scouting party of three men was selected to 
 explore the country. One very intelligent man was 
 chosen, who, among other things, was known for 
 his singularity in refusing to wear shoes. He abso- 
 lutely refused to go, unless he had permission to go 
 alone. This excited Governor Clinton's curiosity. 
 He requested the man to come to him. He was 
 astonished at the grotesqueness of his appearance, 
 and at first doubted his capacity for the intended 
 business. He enquired why he demanded to go 
 alone. The man replied that his companions would 
 only have to wait for him in the woods. He was per- 
 mitted to adopt his own measures, and was ordered 
 to push ahead for fifteen miles, and return again as 
 soon as possible. He left the governor's head 
 quarters at three in the afternoon, and at half past 
 nine next morning had returned, after having 
 traveled thirty mil^es during thatperiod, but observed 
 nothing suspicious. It was pretty well ascertained 
 that the enemy had not retreated in that direction, 
 and the governor gave up all hopes of intercepting 
 them on this occasion, and returned home. It was 
 at this time that the governor, pleased with my 
 father's conduct and discretion, told him that he 
 would see him the next day at an hour which he 
 fixed, to converse with him upon a subject of some 
 interest. Unfortunately for me, my father forgot
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 179 
 
 the appointment, for it afterwards turned out that 
 the governor intended to have given me a lieuten- 
 ant's commission. The delay, however, lost all. 
 After waiting two hours for my father's arrival the 
 governor returned to Albany, and the golden oppor- 
 tunity was lost. 
 
 In Saratoga we continued constantly exposed to 
 the harrassing incursions of the Tories and Indians. 
 Almost the whole country was alarmed by them, 
 and with the subtlety peculiar to the savage intel- 
 lect, they seemed to escape every attempt at capture. 
 Often we have seen them running across the fields 
 upon the. opposite side of the river, now stooping 
 behind fences which afibrded them a partial cover, 
 and now boldly running across the open ground, 
 where the fences were down, to some other enclosed 
 field, along which they skulked as before. During 
 these alarms our neighbors used to come and live 
 with us for weeks together until the danger was 
 over, and then they would return home. The prin- 
 cipal men of the county had guards stationed at 
 their dwellings. Gen. Schuyler had usually twenty- 
 four at his house. Some of the militia colonels 
 who had become obnoxious to the enemy were pro- 
 tected by smaller guards of five and six men about 
 each house. Minor precautions were also taken, 
 and the relation of some of them will show my
 
 180 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 readers how wearisome was the life we led. My 
 father was in the habit of stacking his corn in the 
 field, and indeed all his grain, placing it as far as 
 possible from the fences, for in case of surprise, and 
 if his dwelling should be burned, he knew what 
 was scattered through the fields would in a mea- 
 sure be safe. It was a common thing in those days 
 for the farmers with us to transport their grain to 
 Albany during the winter, and keep it stored there 
 for protection. In the snmmer it was carried back 
 load by load, as it was wanted for use. 
 
 In the fall alarms still continued, and every pre- 
 caution, as was usual, was taken by us. "We used 
 to stack our straw in the field, near the house, and 
 so erect the pile, as to leave at the top a conical 
 hole, in which two persons kept watch during the 
 alarms, this way, every night. A ladder was placed 
 for us to mount with our guns, and when we were 
 ensconced, it was withdrawn. One slept while the 
 other watched, and though our elevation was not 
 more than ten feet, it gave us a great advantage in 
 detecting the approach of the enemy. Perched in 
 these eyries we passed night after night, while our 
 sleepless eyes strained their vision to catch the 
 least appearance of the foe. Indeed we com- 
 manded a full view of the river, and to the north 
 and west for a great distance. Nor was this the only
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 181 
 
 method which caution induced us to take. The 
 horses were frequently harnessed to our sleds at 
 night, which made, of course, less noise than the 
 
 wagons, to transport our baggage down to a ravine 
 
 
 
 for the sake of preserving it from an expected 
 incursion. 
 
 I well remember when my father was obliged to 
 leave home in company with the neighboring mili- 
 tia, and leave it too, with the impression that it 
 would be burned before he returned to his family. 
 My poor mother has been so alarmed at night, as to 
 hasten, with her children, down to the ravine I 
 have mentioned, and there pass the night in the 
 open air. In the morning she would cautiously 
 approach the house, scarcely knowing whether it 
 yet afforded a shelter. 
 
 These alarms were harassing in the extreme, 
 and they kept us unquiet while the war continued. 
 I will relate one or two circumstances which came 
 within my personal observation, and which will 
 impress my reader with a more lively idea of what 
 we were doomed to undergo.
 
 [182] 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 Sunday night, after all the family had 
 retired to their bed, it being a still, clear night in 
 the fall of the year, we heard our dogs barking 
 violently in the front of the house, while a con- 
 fused sound of voices accompanied the deep mouthed 
 baying. In an instant my father was out of bed, 
 and ready for action, when my prudent mother 
 checked his impetuosity by saying, he was not a 
 match for the persons without, that if he went out 
 he would be taken, and that perhaps, if all was kept 
 still within the house, the enemy would not think 
 it necessary to commit any violence, for the sake 
 of securing their own safety, and go off. Gradu- 
 ally the noise of the dogs became fainter and more 
 distant, and before many minutes passed away it 
 was as still and tranquil as ever. It was not long 
 afterwards ascertained, that the cause of the dis- 
 turbance was the approach to the house of a party 
 of Tories with fire-arms, led on by a fellow by 
 the name of Lovelass. "When all was quiet, my 
 father, with his gun in his hand, stole cautiously 
 out of the house, and followed in the direction of 
 the noise when last heard. It led him to the river,
 
 KEVOLUTIONARY KEMINISCENCES. 183 
 
 and he had scarce reached the bank, when he dis- 
 tinctly heard the noise of a canoe pacfdle as it 
 touched the sides of the sonorous machine. Every 
 one who has noticed the sound of the oars of a 
 boat or the paddles of a canoe will readily recollect 
 the hollow tone which they make, and which, on 
 some occasions, has an unnatural effect upon the 
 ear. My father, by long use,had become accus- 
 tomed not only to distinguish these peculiar sounds, 
 but knew his own canoe by the tones its hollow 
 trough gave out at the touch of the rower. On 
 this occasion his acute ear told him that his canoe 
 was nearly across the river. For a moment he 
 hesitated whether he should not fire in the direction 
 of the noise, but on reflection he thought the risk 
 too great, and the advantage too remote to be ha- 
 zarded by the discharge of his rifle. Slowly he 
 turned his back homewards, while his faithful curs 
 at his first approach, having discovered their master, 
 followed at his heels with a whine, which almost 
 spoke their uneasiness and alarm. In the morning 
 the canoe was discovered on the other side of the 
 river, and the circumstances led to suspicion that 
 all was not right. My father, as the sequel will 
 show, had been in great danger, and his neighbors 
 felt very unpleasantly about it; and Colonel Van 
 Vechten, our vigilant friend, was constantly on the
 
 184 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 alert to "discover who those persons could have 
 been, and whether they were in the vicinity of 
 Saratoga. There was a Captain Dunham, who 
 commanded a militia company in the neighborhood, 
 a great "Whig, and a firm friend of ours, who also 
 exerted himself to trace the marauder, and was in 
 frequent consultation with Colonel Van Vechten 
 on the subject. One evening, as they were together 
 at a place of public entertainment, if such a thing 
 could be such in those times, a boy was seen emerg- 
 ing from the woods in the neighborhood on horse- 
 back, and presently approaching the place where 
 they were, asked if he could purchase a little rum. 
 When he was answered, "No," he immediately 
 mounted, returned a considerable distance, and then 
 was seen galloping down the main road by the 
 river side. On seeing this Dunham exclaimed, 
 " This means something, I am sure of it !" They 
 then watched for the boy's return, and in a few 
 minutes he repassed at full speed. He then ree'n- 
 tered the wood, and was gone from their sight in 
 an instant. Dunham's penetration induced him to 
 say, " Van Vechten, the enemy is near us ; the 
 Tories are in our neighborhood and not far oif." 
 They separated with a determination to act imme- 
 diately. 
 
 Dunham, when he reached home, immediately
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 195 
 
 went to a person by the name of Green, who was a 
 son of Vulcan, an able-bodied, bold and persevering 
 fellow. He was the pride of his settlement and the 
 safeguard of the people around him always ready 
 for action, never desponding, and fearless to an 
 extent that was remarkable. He was always relied 
 upon in trying emergencies by the leading men in 
 the vicinity, and what completed his merit was, he 
 was never dilatory. Dunham related the circum- 
 stance to him, and declared his belief that there 
 was a party of Tories in the neighborhood. Three 
 other persons were called upon the same night for 
 their assistance, and when the rest of their neigh- 
 bors were asleep these hardy men commenced. their 
 reconnoissance. Every suspected spot was carefully 
 approached in hopes to observe the objects of their 
 search. Every hollow that could contain a hiding 
 place was looked into; but in a more particular 
 manner the out-houses and barns of those persons 
 who were suspected for their attachment to the 
 enemy were examined by them. It seemed all in 
 vain. No traces of a concealed foe were discovered, 
 when towards daybreak it was proposed to sepa- 
 rate and make one final search for that time. Dun- 
 ham took two men with him, and Green but one. 
 The former, as a last effort, returned to the house 
 
 of one Odeurman, who, it was probable, would be 
 24
 
 196 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 in communication with an enemy, if near him. As 
 he approached the house he had to pass a meadow 
 adjoining, and observed a path leading from the 
 house to a small thicket of about three acres extent. 
 Dunham immediately suspected it led to his enemy. 
 He pursued it, and found it passed round the thicket, 
 and when it almost met the place where it turned 
 off, the path entered tlje wood. Dunham paused, 
 and turning to his companions said, "Here they are, 
 will you follow me ?" They instantly agreed to 
 accompany him, and the party moved on in single 
 file, with light and cautious steps. As they got 
 nearly to the centre, Dunham in advance, a log 
 stopped up the path, and seemed to prevent any 
 further approach. With a motion that indicated 
 the necessity of their remaining still, he mounted 
 the log, and looking over, discovered, sure enough, 
 at once a desired and yet imposing sight. Round 
 the remains of a watch fire, which day break ren- 
 dered less necessary, sat a group of five fierce look- 
 ing men, with countenances relaxed from their 
 usual fixedness, but yet betokening boldness, if not 
 savageness of purpose. They were dressing them- 
 selves and putting on their shoes and stockings, 
 which stood by the side of their rude couches. 
 Their clothes were much worn, but had a military 
 cut, which made their stout and muscular forms
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 197 
 
 more apparent, had a peculiar snug fit, and distin- 
 guished them from the loose, slovenly, scare crow 
 figures which the homely character of our country 
 seamstresses imposed upon every thing rural or 
 rusticated among our people. Their hats or caps 
 were set carelessly on their heads, with the air of 
 regulars ; and what made them still more observa- 
 ble was, that every man of them had his musket at 
 his side on the ground, ready to be used at an 
 instant's notice. Dunham surveyed this scene a 
 few moments, and then drew back cautiously to his 
 companions. In a tone not above a whisper, he 
 said, " Shall we take 'em ?" A nod from his compan- 
 ions decided him. Each now examined his musket 
 and reprimed it. The captain took the right of his 
 little band, and they moved forward to the log. 
 They mounted it at the same instant, and, as they 
 did so, Dunham cried out " Surrender, or you are 
 all dead men !" The group that thus found them- 
 selves almost under the muzzles of their enemies' 
 guns were indeed astonished. All but their leader, 
 Lovelass, seemed petrified and motionless. This 
 resolute man seemed disposed to make an effort 
 for their lives. Twice amid the silence and stillness 
 of the perilous moment he stretched out his hand 
 to seize his gun. Each time he was prevented by 
 the nearer approach of the muzzle that pointed at
 
 198 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 his head, and beyond which he saw an unflinching 
 eye steadfastly fixed upon him, at the same instant 
 he was told, that if he touched it he was dead. 
 
 At this critical period of the rencontre Dunham 
 peremptorily ordered the party to come out, one by 
 one, which they reluctantly did, fearing, perhaps, 
 that they were surrounded by and in contact with 
 a superior force. As fast as one came over the log 
 he was secured by the most powerful man of the 
 three, while the other two kept their pieces steadily 
 pointed at the other prisoners. In this way they 
 were secured, and were marched out of the thicket 
 to the adjacent house. The inmates of the dwelling 
 were thunderstruck at perceiving the prisoners. 
 Some young women, who proved to be sisters of 
 some of the party, gave way to the most violent 
 grief. "Well aware of the danger they were in, and 
 of the speedy vengeance inflicted upon Tories and 
 spies, they anticipated the most dreadful conse- 
 quences, to their unhappy brothers, and no words 
 can express the frantic sorrow to which they aban- 
 doned themselves. The young men themselves 
 assumed an air of firmness, but it was easily pene- 
 trated. They were marched off to Saratoga bar- 
 racks, and as they came up the main road opposite 
 to our house we saw them approach, and my father 
 and myself spoke to them. They confessed that
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 199 
 
 they were the persons who had alarmed us on the 
 night to which I have already alluded. 
 
 After crossing in the canoe they had lain two 
 days and nights in ' the bush, a quarter of a mile 
 from the river, looking out for persons alone, and 
 intending to capture the principal and most active 
 of the neighboring Whigs. They did not deny 
 that they had deliberated some time as to the pro- 
 priety of taking my father off with them, but as 
 their main attempt was to have been against Colo- 
 nel Van Yechten, they concluded not to- hazard 
 their ultimate object by precipitation. 
 
 The poor wretches were tried and condemned at 
 a court martial, of which the celebrated Stark was 
 president. Lovelass alone suffered death. He was 
 considered too dangerous a man to be permitted to 
 escape. He complained that being found with arms 
 in his hands, he was only a prisoner, and many 
 thought, that such being the fact, he was scarcely 
 punishable as a spy. Indeed he even bewailed his 
 hard fate, and the injustice done him, but found he 
 had nothing to expect from the judges. In two or 
 three days he was brought out upon the hill, on the 
 south side of General Schuyler's house, and suffered 
 death upon the gallows. Nothing could have been 
 more quiet and unaffected than his manner; the 
 spectators themselves were touched with compas-
 
 200 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 sion, but public policy seemed to require an unbend- 
 ing sternness on the part of the court, and his 
 punishment certainly put an end for that time to all 
 marauding expeditions by the Tories. Lovelass's 
 companions were sent down the river the same 
 day to a depot for prisoners.
 
 [201] 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVH. 
 
 was about the same time I remember, I had 
 been sent by my father from home a considerable 
 distance, in order to obtain the services of a person 
 wanted as a servant in the family ; I did not succeed 
 in the attempt, and was delayed on my return home 
 until dark. When I arrived and had put away my 
 horse, I went into the house, and found my parents 
 gone, and the younger children who were incapa- 
 ble of giving me much information on the subject 
 sitting like statues round the expiring embers of 
 the kitchen fire in solemn and melancholy silence, 
 their countenances expressive of uncertainty if not 
 of dread, and uttering deep drawn sighs, as their eyes 
 wandered round the deserted room. Kot knowing 
 the actual reason of their desertion, yet conformiDg 
 strictly to the commands left with them by their 
 parents, they had scarcely ventured to move from 
 their seats until I came in, and while I was struck 
 with the peculiarity of their behavior, as well as 
 the strangeness of the absence of the family, I bade 
 them remain quiet while I stepped out of the house 
 to see if I could discover any thing. I had scarcely 
 reached the open air when the screaming of a child
 
 202 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 apparently at a distance down the river, fell upon 
 my ear, and made my blood run cold. "What can 
 this mean !" I exclaimed. The cry continued My 
 curiosity increased, and hastily seizing a musket, I 
 told the children to remain where they were, and I 
 would return in a few minutes. I shall never forget 
 the imploring, yet checked expression of alarm, 
 which those .dear little creatures gave me. I did 
 not wait to hear them say a word, but hastened 
 down to the river. The noise plainly increased, 
 piercing the ear of night. I crossed the road which 
 led down to the ferry, and secreted myself behind a 
 fence, where I thought I could make the most of 
 my concealment, while I caught with breathless 
 anxiety the incessant screams of the child. I soon 
 distinguished the hasty plunging of oars, and in a 
 few moments more, a number of persons landed 
 from a boat just under my feet. Scarcely knowing 
 what was best to do, I cried out, " Who goes there ?" 
 I shall never forget the complete felicity I enjoyed 
 on hearing my father's well known reply, "John, is 
 that you, my boy, what are you doing here?" I 
 instantly emerged from my post, and explained the 
 cause of my alarm. I immmediately perceived the 
 party were our friends, consisting of Colonel V., and 
 P., with their families and domestics who were com- 
 ing up to stay*with us on account of the dangers
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 203 
 
 which were supposed to threaten them at home. 
 The men had walked along the river side while 
 their wives came in the boat, rowed by the blacks ; 
 but they were not a little perplexed at the circum- 
 stances of the infant of Mrs. V. having most 
 unaccountably commenced screaming without any 
 cause. No caresses could stop it, and when alarmed 
 at being discovered, they tied a pocket handker- 
 chief about its face, they found its lungs too power- 
 ful for that. They were very thankful for their 
 safe arrival. An enemy could have heard the child 
 cry for two miles, such was the stillness of the night. 
 "We all proceeded in a body up to our dwelling, 
 which for many weeks resembled a garrison rather 
 than a house. 
 
 "While we were all under the effects of the excite- 
 ment of the evening we were quite unprepared for an 
 event which took place somefew hours after. Wehad 
 thirteen guns loaded and in order, and being divided 
 into watches we stood as sentries round the house. 
 It soon came my turn to go out with one of the 
 blacks by the name of Ned, whom on most occa- 
 sions, a pair of fleet heels served a friendly part. 
 
 Rumor addidit alas ! Ned however, talked largely 
 and I felt no backwardness in stating what havoc 
 we would make among the Tories with our thirteen 
 guns. "While every one was fast asleep, about
 
 204 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 midnight, during one of our walks towards a fence 
 which ran down to the river, as the moon was just 
 rising behind us and throwing a faint light on the 
 scene beyond, I perceived with horror the approach 
 of objects whose movements appeared to be go- 
 verned by the most perfect military rules. Every 
 now and then they would halt, and after a short 
 rest would move on with the same precision. They 
 were crossing a wheat-field which lay to the south 
 of the fence I have mentioned, anxious to get under 
 its cover for the purpose of concealing their ap- 
 proach to the house. The rustling of the stubble 
 seemed to be as carefully avoided as possible. I 
 watched them with the deepest interest until they 
 made a deliberate and regular halt when they came 
 to the fence. I was then convinced we were in immi- 
 nent danger, and turning round to give some order 
 to my companion, found he was gone. I hesitated 
 not a moment to follow his example, and hastening 
 to the house, arrived there about the same time 
 with Ned. "We woke up the sleepers with the 
 startling information that a large number of disci- 
 plined men were within a quarter of a mile of the 
 house and approaching it with caution and perfect 
 regularity. 
 
 In an instant all the men were armed and ready. 
 My father volunteered to run down a few rods and
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 205 
 
 reconnoitre. He did so, and came back with the 
 news that they were coming. A brief consultation 
 was held as to the best manner of receiving them, 
 as flight was impracticable under the circumstances 
 without abandoning both wives and children. One 
 was for firing as they mounted a fence that went 
 across at right angles to the house parallel to the 
 river. Another was for opening upon them as 
 they ascended the rising ground that intervened 
 between the house and bank of the river. The last 
 project was approved, and we were cautioned to fire 
 low, and to make every shot tell. The party sta- 
 tioned themselves accordingly and I then volun- 
 teered to go down and take another look. They 
 still appeared in motion, but apparently without 
 caution approached the bank and fence running 
 parallel to it. There they halted for some time, 
 and I hastened back with the intelligence. Their 
 apparent irresolution inspired us with fresh vigor, 
 and we began to grow more resolute as our enemy 
 seemed to hesitate. A half hour passed away when 
 they again moved forward briskly to the north, and 
 this change of plan seemed to be the result of con- 
 sultation, and led us to expect their attack through 
 the hollow, which it seemed their object to gain, 
 and by which the house was more easily assailable. 
 "We now felt confident that some of their party
 
 206 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 must be familiar with the ground, for no stranger 
 would have thought of approaching through the 
 ravine. We shifted our ground a little upon seeing 
 this, and threw ourselves further to the right, where 
 we still maintained the advantage of our elevated 
 position. Learning all this manoeuvring, the wives 
 of our friends, and my mother came out, almost 
 crazy with alarm, yet not daring to make any noise 
 for fear of the consequences. My father peremp- 
 torily ordered* them back without explanation. 
 Our eyes were still intent on our foes, when they 
 suddenly stopped near a spring which gushed out 
 of the hill below us, and there remained until the 
 moon rising higher and higher threw its clear 
 detecting light over the scene, and discovered to us 
 that our enemies were six of our horses that had 
 broken loose from their pasture ! What a change 
 from the sublime to the ridiculous. In an instant 
 we discovered the curious causes which led to our 
 mistake. Six horses belonging to us and our 
 neighbors had been tied together abreast, and hop- 
 pled to prevent their straying. It turned out that 
 they had been without water for two days previously 
 and incited by thirst, had broken into the wheat- 
 field. In this they picked up what they could and 
 finding their thirst increase, had followed the line 
 of fence till they came to the one running across it.
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 207 
 
 Here they had wheeled to the right, and followed 
 the fence until they came to the object of their 
 search, the spring of water, where they halted, 
 for very good reasons. While we all were truly 
 thankful that we had no cause of fear, some of the 
 party were almost disappointed in not being able 
 to exchange shots, after so much excitement and 
 such unremitting vigilance. 
 
 I have before mentioned that my father was one 
 of those people who could be happy in the woods, 
 and with his gun on his shoulder wander for days 
 together in search of game, 
 
 " Fast by the forest and the limpid spring." 
 One morning at the time of the events I have just 
 related, we heard distinctly as from the other side 
 of the river the report of small arms discharged in 
 quick succession. We rushed to the door as if in 
 doubt whether the noise foreboded the approach of 
 an enemy or of huntsmen. A fog hung over the 
 water, and by intervals grew thinner or denser as 
 the breath of morning parted it, or condensed its 
 snowy banks. Through one of these intervals thus 
 ofiered to our vision, my keen eyed mother saw a 
 deer vigorously dashing through the water, and 
 making for our shore. As she exclaimed aloud at 
 what she saw, my father instantly seized his gun 
 which hung pendant from theMtchen wall, and with
 
 208 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the keen anticipation of sport hurried down to the 
 river side. Sure enough he was lustily stemming the 
 torrent, and as expressed in the words of the mo- 
 dern melody, 
 
 " Wide spreading his antlers, erecting his head, 
 A stag all his enemies scorning." 
 
 As he approached, his antlers seemed larger than 
 usual, and it was soon perceptible that he was a 
 full grown, vigorous and powerful animal. As soon 
 as he came near the shore my father fired, but a 
 hesitation in his movements rendered his effort 
 vain. The ball struck his horns, as was afterwards 
 discovered, passed through one of them, and had 
 broken off the prong of the other. It seemed to 
 make no kind of impression upon him. He shook his 
 head once, but still buffeted the waves and made 
 steadily for the shore where my father stood, un- 
 fortunately unprepared for a second shot, and yet 
 determined not to let the deer escape. He threw 
 down his gun and picked up a stake that lay near 
 him, and as the creature left the water raised his 
 arm to give the mortal blow. What was his vexa- 
 tion when his weapon proved perfectly rotten and 
 broke in pieces, without doing any injury to his 
 antagonist, who now boldly pressed upon him, 
 caught him between the horns, and with a desper- 
 ate fury ran him against the bank. It was a criti-
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 209 
 
 cal moment, the least turn of his head would have 
 passed the prongs through his body. My father 
 here discovered his presence of mind by making 
 use of the very instruments of death. He seized 
 them fast at the ends, and converting them into 
 levers, their length giving him power, he succeeded 
 in throwing the animal on his side, and they both 
 fell together both panting and both remaining still 
 as if to gather new strength for the next encounter. 
 At this period of tl^e combat, I came down from 
 our house attended by a hired servant, and our 
 astonishment was not a little excited in beholding 
 the situation of the combatants. "We had brought 
 with us a fresh supply of ammunition, but it seemed 
 to be of little value at the critical moment. My 
 father cried out to his servant to take a knife out 
 of his pocket as he lay there and cut the stag's 
 throat. Unfortunately the boy had a knife of his 
 own, and in spite of its well known dullness, which 
 a sportive kitchen-maid had in pure frolic effected, 
 he seemed intent on making it the minister of death. 
 " Take my knife," cried my father. " I've got one 
 sir," was all the answer, and forthwithhe commenced 
 cutting or rather scratching the throat of the pros- 
 trate deer. It had precisely a contrary effect from 
 what was intended. It produced a tickling sensa- 
 tion in the region of the epiglottis, which aroused
 
 210 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the dormant energies of the intended victim. In 
 an instant he was on his legs, but so was my father. 
 He was too keen to forego the attempt which the 
 stupidity of the servant rendered unavailing. A 
 violent effort by means of the aforesaid levers, 
 was again made, and the deer fearing the result, 
 backed off towards the water, as if determined to 
 make his next place of lying down not so comforta- 
 ble or convenient. In spite of every effort the 
 deer got in deep water, and my father in letting 
 go his hold tumbled backwards on the shore. The 
 noble animal 
 
 " Up the mid stream to waft along" 
 made redoubled efforts, which excited our admira- 
 tion, though it dashed our hopes. My father 
 instantly reloaded his piece and with a trembling 
 hand again raised it to fire. The shot took effect in 
 the nose of the animal, but it was not a mortal 
 wound. !Nb way dismayed the gallant animal 
 pushed for the other shore, where he was received 
 with a new volley from a number of eager pursuers. 
 He then faced about, and attempted to swim up 
 the stream beyond the reach of his relentless foes. 
 My father followed him, and watching his opportu- 
 nity came within gunshot of him, as he turned 
 towards a wood that came down close to the river 
 side. As he touched the shore he received a ball
 
 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 211 
 
 which passed through his heart and with one lofty 
 bound he fell lifeless on the green earth. 
 
 As my father stood exulting over his prize, he 
 was suddenly recalled to a sense of his own injury 
 by observing the blood trickling from his hand, 
 and on examination discovered that it was severely 
 wounded in this singular contest. 
 
 In 1781 troops were still continued at Saratoga, 
 and in the private correspondence of General Schuy- 
 ler and his friends, at that period it was urged as a 
 matter of necessity. I remember a narrow escape 
 I had, with another young person, which to this day 
 is remembered with terror. "We were in the habit 
 of going home from the barracks in the evening, 
 where we then were employed, and after visiting 
 our friends, we used to take our canoe, and cross 
 over from the eastern shore to the point near Schuy- 
 
 ler's flats, and then walk up to the barracks. As 
 
 * 
 
 we were always in possession of the countersign, 
 we had no difficulty in passing the sentinels. On 
 one occasion however during a dark night, as we 
 approached the shore, perhaps with more careless- 
 ness than usual, in consequence of my having been 
 with a social circle, we were hailed from the bank. 
 Astonished at this unusual circumstance, and not 
 being accustomed to find sentinels posted so near 
 
 the water we were silent. We were again hailed 
 26
 
 212 REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 
 
 and were again silent, but in an instant the click- 
 ing of gun-locks announced to us our danger. I 
 cried, "Hold, we are friends." We were instantly 
 ordered to wade ashore from our boat and give our- 
 selves up. Unpleasant as the mandate was, 
 we were glad to secure our personal safety, even at 
 this inconvenience. We were happily relieved 
 from further fears by recognizing our friends from 
 the barracks who were then in pursuit of some 
 deserters, and who fancied they heard in our con- 
 versation the voices of the absentees. From hence- 
 forth we gave up our evening visits. If I remember 
 right a Rhode Island regiment was then doing duty 
 there. 
 
 From this time to the peace, nothing occurred of 
 much moment to our family. I remember the 
 accidental death of a party of soldiers who fell 
 through the ice near our house, and it was the last 
 incident connected with the troops which excited 
 our attention. The man who drove them unfortu- 
 nately directed his course towards an air hole on 
 the west side of the river and the whole party fell 
 in. The driver got out, and with great difficulty 
 crept up to a hay-stack in the field by the river side, 
 where he passed the night without farther injury. 
 The other poor fellows were drowned. When they 
 were taken out of the water a few days after they
 
 [REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. 213 
 
 presented the most horrible appearance. They 
 appeared to have been frozen in all the different 
 attitudes possible to be thought of, and when lying 
 together on the ice, after they were taken out of 
 the river, presented a spectacle which can scarce be 
 described. 
 
 When the war was ended, I married, and 
 with every prospect of happiness before me, re- 
 moved to a beautiful farm upon the Batten kil, that 
 to this day bears my name. Prosperity filled my 
 sails, and when my father died, his blessings seemed 
 to rest upon my head. But alas ! time has proved 
 how vain are our expectations. Investments which 
 promised a certain return, melted away from my 
 grasp. Loans which were based upon the confi- 
 dence of friendship were never repaid. An unfor- 
 tunate brother drew upon me for resources that I 
 had laid up for my own declining years. In a day 
 as it seemed, all my fair prospects vanished away. 
 Even hope deserted me, and I have only a few more 
 days of life to anticipate, which, while they seem a 
 narrow space, bring with them at least the consola- 
 tion of a speedy refuge from poverty and a desolate 
 old age.
 
 [214] 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 U PON a reexamination of the preceding remi- 
 niscences, the editor perceives many inadvertencies, 
 and some inaccuracies, not attributable to himself, 
 might have been avoided if he had had the leisure 
 to examine them more attentively than it has been 
 in his power to do. 
 
 He frankly admits that he sets forth no other 
 claim to indulgence, than that of having preserved 
 some minor materials to be found nowhere else, in 
 relation to the Revolutionary War.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 LADY HARRIET ACKLAND. 
 
 \JTEN. Burgoyne's expedition, resulting in his capture at 
 Saratoga, by Gen. Gates, "was attended by many romantic 
 incidents. Probably the best account of it extant is that 
 of Mr. Street, which appeared a few years since in the 
 Historical Magazine, edited and published by C. B. Richard- 
 son. But the singular fortunes of two distinguished foreign 
 ladies of rank, whose husbands were officers under General 
 Burgoyne, have given an interest to his career in this 
 country which would not have been otherwise as great. 
 The story of Lady Harriet Ackland is perhaps one of the 
 most interesting of any connected with the personal adven- 
 tures of the Revolutionary times, and has been the subject of 
 much comment in this country and others, by biographers, 
 poets and historians. Even the canvass was employed to 
 perpetuate her affection for her husband, and her courage in 
 exposing herself in her attempt to join him while he was 
 wounded and a prisoner. The Gentleman's Magazine for Au- 
 gust 1815, states that a picture of her ladyship standing in a 
 boat, waving her pocket handkerchief as a flag of truce, was 
 exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. Mr. Lossing 
 in his Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution embellishes 
 the 68th page of his first volume with a neat vignette of the 
 same scene. It appears from the researches of Mr. Richard- 
 son, which were very thorough, that the received version of 
 her career after returning home, was entirely different from
 
 216 APPENDIX. 
 
 the true one. That which emanated from Gen. Wilkinson, and 
 is to be found in his curious memoirs, and which was adopted 
 by Mr. Lossing and Mrs. Ellett, hitherto considered to be 
 correct, is far from being so. The following appears to be 
 the facts, and they are worthy of being annotated in this 
 little work. 
 
 Lady Harriet was the fifth daughter of Stephen, the 
 first Earl of Ilchester, and cousin of the celebrated Charles 
 James Fox. Her name was Christina Caroline, and she was 
 born in 1750, married to John Dyke Ackland, eldest son of 
 Sir Thomas Dyke Ackland, and died in 1815 at the age of 
 65 years, surviving her distinguished husband 37 years. 
 The Gentleman's Magazine, in its notice of her death, styled 
 her the Right Honorable Lady Harriet Ackland, sister of 
 the late Earl of Ilchester, and mother of Kitty who became 
 the countess of Carnarvon. This last mentioned lady married 
 her husband when he was only Lord Porchester, probably her 
 cousin, and died two years before her mother. There is a 
 curious fact worth noticing, that her eldest sister was also in 
 the colonies, though long previous to the ad vent of Lady Har- 
 riet. She was the Lady Susannah Sarah, and was the wife 
 of Wm. O'Brien who came out in 1764, and was an actor on 
 the stage in London previously to his appearance on that of 
 Philadelphia. In Graydon's interesting memoirs may be 
 found a notice of this couple, to which those who are curious 
 in biography may easily refer. She died in England, 1833. 
 Lady Harriet's first experience of the hardships of a camp 
 life was when she attended her husband while sick in a miser- 
 able hut at Chambly. Afterwards, when he was wounded at 
 the battle of Hubbardton in July 1777, which was lost by our 
 troops under Colonels Warner, Francis and Hale, and gained 
 by Generals Frazer and Riedesel, she left Montreal where she 
 was staying, to join him at Skenesborough. There after their 
 reunion but a short time, their tent took fire in consequence
 
 APPENDIX. 217 
 
 of the upsetting of a candle by a favorite dog. She resolved 
 to continue with him and share his fortunes, and was within 
 sound of the guns at the battle of the 7th of October when 
 Col. Cilley distinguished himself in a successful charge on 
 the British artillery, and Major Ackland was wounded and 
 conveyed to the rear. The enemy retiring in disorder, Lady 
 Harriet was obliged to take what refuge she could, among 
 the wounded and dying, the tents having all been struck 
 and scarce a shed left to shelter the unfortunate stragglers. 
 When she subsequently discovered that he was a prisoner 
 at the quarters of G-en. Poor, she*resolved to go to him, and 
 asked permission through Lord Petersham, the aid of Gren. 
 Burgoyne, to repair to the American camp. This was readily 
 given, and a note was also addressed by him to the American 
 commander, asking his protection for this heroic woman. 
 Much as General Burgoyne afterwards indulged iu literary 
 composition, he never surpassed the elegance of that com- 
 unication to Gen. Gates, written on a dirty piece of paper 
 and in great haste. It is still existing among the Gates papers 
 in the archives of the New York Historical Society. It 
 reads thus : 
 
 " Sir : Lady Harriet Ackland, a lady of the first distinction 
 of family, rank and personal virtues, is under such concern 
 on account of Major Ackland, her husband, wounded and a 
 prisoner in your hands, that I can not refuse her request to 
 commit her to your protection. Whatever general impropriety 
 there may be in persons in my situation and yours to solicit 
 favors, I can not see the uncommon perseverance in every 
 female grace and exaltation of character of this lady, and 
 her very hard fortune, without testifying that your atten- 
 tion to her will lay me under obligations. 
 
 I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
 J. BURGOYNE.
 
 218 APPENDIX. 
 
 Armed with this note and attended by her maid, Pollard, 
 and Mr. Brudenell the celebrated chaplain who read the fun- 
 eral service of Gen. Frazer under a heavy fire of the Ameri. 
 can artillery, with her husband's valet, to attend them, 
 drenched in a twelve hours' rain, and without food during 
 that time, this brave lady entered a boat on the Hudson 
 at sunset, and facing a storm of wind and waves, after a 
 most perilous voyage reached the outposts of the Ameri- 
 cans. Here being challenged by the sentinels, she replied 
 in her own " clear silvery tones," the purpose of her 
 approach, and was most kindly received by Major, afterwards 
 General Dearborn. At his quarters she was refreshed by a 
 cup of tea and other comforts, and informed, to her infinite 
 satisfaction, that her husband was safe. In the morning 
 Gen. Gates received her with parental affection and sent 
 her to her husband's quarters, where the attached pair were 
 y once more united. After this surrender they were sent to 
 . Albany, where they received every attention from the family 
 / of Gen. Schuyler, at his mansion in the southern part of 
 > the city, which still remains in good repair, and from thence 
 they proceeded to New York, where Major Ackland gratefully 
 employed himself in giving relief to the American prisoners 
 confined there, and which they much needed. Then they de- 
 parted their own country, where Major Ackland was promoted 
 to the rank of colonel and the command of a regiment. He 
 died at his home at Pixton, in Somersetshire, on the 31st Oct., 
 1778, but whether from his wounds received at Saratoga or 
 some other cause, is not clearly stated. Lady Harriet died 
 in the year already mentioned, at her residence, Felton house, 
 also in Somersetshire. It seems she had a son, Sir John, who 
 succeeded to the baronetcy of his grandfather, Sir Thomas, 
 the 7th successor, and a daughter Kitty, already mentioned, 
 whose husband was probably her cousin and the ancestor of 
 her present earl. Her gand-children andgreat-grand-childrent
 
 APPENDIX. 219 
 
 are now living. Apart from the great misfortune of hav- 
 ing lost her gallant husband, she enjoyed for the latter portion 
 of her life great tranquillity, respect and happiness. It 
 would thus seem that the story of Colonel -Ackland's duel 
 and his loss of life in the encounter, and her becoming for a 
 time a maniac, as well as her subsequent marriage to W. Bru- 
 denell are quite apochryphal. Romance as well as our taste is 
 better satisfied with the truth, which is consistent with her 
 previous devotion to her husband and the suffering she 
 endured for him. 
 
 THE CLINTON AND VAN SCHAICK MANUSCRIPTS. 
 
 Governor DeWitt Clinton was not only a statesman, a 
 naturalist and a classical scholar, but an antiquarian, and 
 had a great regard for documents and papers relating to our 
 ante-revolutionary and post revolutionary history. He pre- 
 served with much care the numerous papers of his father, 
 Gen. James Clinton, and his grandfather Col. Charles Clin- 
 ton, all which he had bound in several volumes and were well 
 preserved. In these, the writer of this note found very 
 curious letters from officials of high rank and literary per- 
 sonages. Among these now remembered was an autograph 
 letter of Jane Golden the daughter of Lt. Gov. Golden, one 
 of the most eminent savans of his day. This lady's respect 
 for one of the favorite studies of her father, procured from 
 his friend and correspondent Linneus the celebrated Swed- 
 ish botanist, the honor of her name being given to an annual 
 plant belonging to the 4th order. What became of these 
 valuable manuscripts is not now known. It is to be hoped they 
 are in good hands. Gov. Clinton's diary, continued up to 
 the day of his death, is preserved at the N. Y. Historical 
 27
 
 220 APPENDIX. 
 
 Society, and is said to have been used by the Hon. W. Camp- 
 bell of Cherry Valley in his biography of the Governor. 
 
 The Van Schaick Manuscripts. 
 
 Col. Gozen Van Schaick, afterwards a general in the regular 
 service, which rank he held at the time of his death left a quan- 
 tity of papers, and letters, private and official, a large portion of 
 which were lost or destroyed after his death by accident as 
 is supposed. Those that were fortunately preserved consisted 
 of letters from the Clintons, a large number of autographs 
 from Gen. Washington of the most confidential and flatter- 
 ing character, showing that he held him in high estimation 
 as a man of sound judgment as well as a gallant soldier, 
 and others from officers under whom he served when in the 
 provincial service, such as Sir Jefiery Amherst, which are a 
 beautiful specimen of chirography, and to whom he owed his 
 first commission in the British army. Among them is a charac-' 
 teristic letter from Gen. Montgomery containing the most / 
 humane and generous sentiments and quite a number of / 
 commissions with ponderous seals, with the autograph of \ 
 George 3d, and communications from Generals Gates, Schuy- 1 
 ler Clinton and others. What remain of this once valuable D 
 collection are carefully, reserved by his grandson Henry Van / 
 Schaick and other descendants. The copies of some of 
 them, now for the first time in print, are subjoined. 
 
 By His Excellency Je.ffery Amherst Esq; Major General, 
 & Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in 
 North America. 
 
 To Lieut: Colonel VanSchaick of the New York troops. 
 
 You are hereby Ordered & directed to march Early to- 
 morrow morning, with Lieut: Welsh, and the Sixteen men
 
 APPENDIX. 221 
 
 of the above Troops mustered here this day taking under 
 Your Care the Hospital Stores, &c. belonging to the New- 
 York Regiments, & applying to Colonel Bradstreet, who will 
 furnish You with Waggons to transport them to Schenectady. 
 On your Arrival at Schenectady, You will Apply to Mr. 
 Glenn, for a Batteau, or Batteaus, if necessary, to Transport 
 the said Stores up the River ; and You will then with the 
 Whole, & your Detachment, proceed, with the Utmost Expe- 
 dition to Oswego, by the Route of Fort Stanwix, where the 
 Commanding officer will give you Assistance in getting your 
 stores &c. over the Carrying place. 
 
 You will receive provisions here for Your Detachment, 
 for three days, to Com pleat them to the First of July Inclu- 
 sively, taking a Note from the Commissary to shew to what 
 time You receive said provisions, by which You will be 
 Entitled to Draw for more as they become due, at the several 
 posts on Your Route. On Your Arrival at Oswego, You 
 will shew these Orders to Major Duncan Commanding in 
 Fort Ontario ; and then You will with Your Detachment 
 Join Your Regiment. 
 
 Given under my Hand at Headquarters, in Albany, this 
 
 29th Day of June 1761. 
 
 JEFF AMHERST. 
 
 By his Excellency's Command : 
 
 ARTHUR MAIR. 
 
 ALBANY Aug st 10th 
 Sir 
 
 The Troops are to be forwarded to Ticonderoga as fast as 
 they may arrive or as soon as those under your immediate 
 command can be furnished with such articles as are abso- 
 lutely necessary to enable them to take the field with this 
 limitation not more than 500 men in a division with an
 
 222 APPENDIX. 
 
 interval of three days between each division You will 
 give timely notice to "Walter Livingston Esq. D: C : G : of 
 the Quantity of provision & number of waggons wanted for 
 each division whose activity and zeal for the service will 
 induce him to do all in his power in forwarding this impor- 
 tant Business, the troops to incamp at the Half Moon till 
 
 they are ready to march Eight days provision will be 
 
 necessary from thence to Ticonderoga. The troops will turn 
 off from Fort Edward to Skenesborough where boats will 
 be ready to receive them the Baggage & invalid must go 
 by way of Fort George under a sufficient escort A Field 
 officer of your regt to repair immediately to take the com- 
 mand at Fort George Such sick as it may be improper to 
 move, must remain in this town the Commissary, will have 
 care taken of them when any division marches, you will by 
 that conveyance inform the General, what day another divis- 
 ion may be expected at Skenesborough that Boats may be 
 ordered to attend there Shoud this be uncertain You will 
 advise him by way of Fort George, upon the march of a 
 division from hence 
 
 Upon Colonel M c Dougal's arrival (who will command 
 during his stay here) you will make him acquainted with 
 these instructions & recommend it to him in my name to go 
 by way of Fort George lest his health so precious to the 
 publick shoud suffer by lying in the woods two or three 
 nights without a tent if he march with the men. You will 
 use your own discretion in determining what Companies of 
 your own regt, go first. I entreat you to inforce good order,' 
 that individuals may not suffer in their property 
 
 Let no pains be omitted to impress the men with just 
 notions of our duty to society & how infamous it is in us, 
 who have arms in our hands for the protection of our fellow 
 Citizens to betray that trust, by any violation of their right 
 
 KiCH d MONTGOMERY, 
 LT. COLO. VAN SCHAICK. Brigr Genl.
 
 APPENDIX. 223 
 
 ALBANY 19^ August 1777. 
 Sir 
 
 General Washington, by the Direction of the Honourable 
 the Congress of the United States, having ordered me to 
 take the Command of the Army in the Northern Depart- 
 ment ; I think proper to acquaint you therewith, and also 
 with my Approbation of your Appointment to command in 
 this City As Colonel Cortlandts & Col. Livingston's Regi- 
 ments, are hourly expected here from Peeks Kill ; you will 
 immediately upon their Arrival, inform them, that it is my 
 orders they march as soon as convenient to the Grand Camp 
 at, or near Half-moon; and acquaint the Commanding Officer 
 of those two Regiments, that he apply to the Ass. D. Q. M. 
 General, for Boats to carry the Baggage, who has my order 
 to supply Him The Vicinity of the Enemy to this City, 
 renders it extremely necessary that you should observe the 
 Exactest Discipline, and keep the most Vigilant Guard ; 
 constantly sending Patroles and Out Scouts, to prevent a 
 sudden surprize. You cannot be too frequent in ordering 
 your Rounds to keep the sentrys alert ; carefully attending 
 to those who are plac'd upon the different Stores, and Maga- 
 zines; You will also have a very attentive Eye to the Militia 
 of the City, who will in every thing be directed by the Com- 
 mittee to Cooperate with the Continental Troops You will 
 continually report to me all Extraordinarys and without the 
 least delay forward all Expresses and Intelligence to me at 
 the Grand Camp. The Asst. D. Q. M. General, has my Or- 
 ders to provide Horses and Expresses, whenever you think 
 proper to Demand them from him When any News or 
 matter of Importance, is to be communicated to me, You 
 will be careful to send it by some Officer or Express, in 
 whom you repose the utmost Confidence. Many Misfortunes 
 arise by employing Treacherous Persons to convey Letters 
 As the Militia now upon the March from the Eastern,
 
 224 APPENDIX. 
 
 and Southern States arrive ; You will acquaint them it is 
 my Orders, they do not loiter in Albany, but proceed with- 
 out any unnecessary Delay to the Grand Camp These, 
 with such Orders, and Directions, as you may have hereto- 
 fore received from the Honble. Major Gen 1 Schuyler are to 
 be the rule and line of your present Conduct, as Circum- 
 stances require you will receive further Directions from me 
 I am Sir 
 
 Your most Obedient 
 
 Humble Servant 
 
 HORATIO GATES 
 Col. Goose Van Schaick, Commanding in Albany. 
 
 We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed, do acknowledge 
 to have received of Colo. Van Schaick, the sum set 
 against each of our Names, as part of our pay due from 
 the Publick. 
 
 CAMP CONTINENTAL VILAQE, 9 th Oct' 1778. 
 
 Benjn Hicks Capt 48 
 
 Andrew Finch jr. Capt 48 
 
 JnH. Wendall Capt 48 
 
 Bar. J. V. Valkenburgh Lieut 28 
 
 Adril Therwood Lieut 28 
 
 C Sweet. Mate, 40 
 
 Jn C. Ten Broeck Lt 28 
 
 Wilhelmus Ryckman Ensign 24 
 
 Jacob F. Clark Ensign 24 
 
 Wm. Mead Surgeon 72 
 
 A. Hardenburgh Lieu' 28 
 
 Jeremiah Meller Ensn 2400 
 
 Christopher Miller Lieut 28
 
 APPENDIX. 225 
 
 Benjamin Gilbert Ensign 24 
 
 Barent S. Salisbury Q. M 28 
 
 Natht Henry L' while Sick at Peekskill 40 
 
 Dollars 16 
 
 Nicho' V. Rensselaet Lt 24 
 
 Benj !1 Ledyard Major 44 
 
 In Graham Capt. 45 Dollars 10 
 
 W. Scudder Lieut. 45 Dollars 18 
 
 John Ten Broeck H 60 Dollars 24 
 
 Jacob Wendall Ensign 90 Doll rs 36 
 
 HEAD QRS. MIDDLE BROOK May 9 th 1779 
 Dear Sir 
 
 I have been favored with your Letter of the 29 th Ulto 
 
 The Rifle company is to march with the troops. I did 
 not mention it particularly, as I considered it attached to 
 Colo Butler's Regiment and that the order for their march 
 would comprehend it. 
 
 With respect to artille/y the propriety of taking any, or 
 how much with you, will depend and must be decided by 
 yourself on a consideration of circumstances. If you form 
 a junction with General Sullivan at Tioga He will have 
 as much with him as he shall judge necessary Which 
 may supersede the necessity of your carrying any ; if it 
 should be finally determined that you are to operate up the 
 Mohawk river it may be more material to have some with 
 you. In either case you will consider the practicability or 
 facility and the use of carrying it and the smaller the 
 number and the Lighter the pieces the better. 
 
 The Enterprize commanded by Colo Van Schaick merits 
 my approbation and thanks and does great honor to him 
 and all the Officers & men engaged in it. The issue is very
 
 226 APPENDIX. 
 
 interesting. I have written him a line upon the occasion. 
 With respect to the prisoners I have requested General 
 Schuyler to have such measures pursued for their effectual 
 security as he may deem necessary. Their capture may 
 prove an important event and produce very salutary con- 
 sequences if they are securely kept. Congress have 
 been made acquainted with the whole of the Enterprize and 
 its success. 
 
 I am D r Sir 
 
 With great regard 
 Y r most Obe d Sevt 
 
 G WASHINGTON 
 BniGAD r GEN 1 CLINTON, 
 
 (Copy.) 
 
 ALBANY June 15th 1782. 
 Sir 
 
 I lament the occasion which renders it incumbent on me 
 to afford you a testimonial of the sense I entertain of your 
 conduct. I sincerely wish, I could communicate it in words 
 equal to my feelings, and to my experience of the propriety 
 of it during a series of years. 
 
 The early decisive and active part, which you took in the 
 favor of your country in the present Contest, justly entitles 
 you to the attention of its Friends; we are not less indebted 
 to your exertions as an Officer, your service whilst I had the 
 honor of commanding the military in this Department, were 
 such, as attracted my notice, your close attention to the disci- 
 pline of your Regiment, afforded a beneficial example to 
 officers less experienced in the duties of their offices, The 
 alacrity with which you executed every order, The propriety 
 of your conduct when left to act Independantly, and judge for
 
 APPENDIX. 227 
 
 your self, The prudence which you exhibited on occasions 
 when the line of Conduct to be held was delicate, and 
 important, evinsed a clearness of judgment, and a mind 
 capable of resource, & created a confidence of which I never 
 had occasion to Kepent Upon the whole Sir I esteem you 
 a valuable Officer, and a faithfull servant of the Public, and 
 should have been rejoiced, to have learnt your merit re warded, 
 in a promotion to that military Kank, which you claim as 
 your due. 
 
 Delicacy would have prevented my saying thus much 
 in a Letter to you, but to have said less, when I intend you 
 should exhibit this to any person or persons whom you con- 
 ceive may wish to be advised of the opinion I entertain of 
 you as an Officer, and a Citizen, would have been injurious 
 to truth. 
 
 Wishing you a speedy and tin Honorable extrication from 
 the embarassments which distress you, 
 I am Sir 
 very sincerely 
 
 your obedient 
 Humble servant 
 
 P. SCHTJTLEE. 
 
 COLO V. SCHAICK. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 28
 
 INDEX. 
 
 A BERCROMBIE, Gen., 12, 13. 
 **> defeated, 15. 
 Ackland, John Dyke, 216. 
 Kitty, 216, 218. 
 Lady Harriet, 86, 87, 91, 92, 
 93, 216, 218. 
 died, 218. 
 Major, 86, 87, 89, 217. 
 
 died, 218, 219. 
 Sir John, 218. 
 Sir Thomas, 218. 
 Albany, 12, 13, 24, 25, 31, 35, 
 
 54, 80, 82, 83, 218. 
 city prison, 132. 
 farmers stored grain at, for 
 
 safety, 180. 
 tories, 82. 
 tories, threaten to blow up 
 
 jail, 133. 
 
 troops ordered to, 153. 
 Alexandria, Abercrombie wound- 
 ed at, 15. 
 Amherst, Sir Jeffrey, 19, 136, 
 
 220, 221. 
 
 Apathy of the people, 21. 
 Army peculations, 17. 
 stores, 12. 
 moved south, 124. 
 Arnold, Gen., letter of, 44. 
 love of plunder, 41. 
 volunteer captain, 23. 
 volunteers to lead detach- 
 ment to Fort Stanwix, 126. 
 Artillery, transport of, 26, 30, 
 
 32, 33. 
 Autographs, 220. 
 
 T> ATTEN Kil, 16, 21, 213. 
 - L> Baxter, a tory, 127. 
 
 his sons kill Indians, 128. 
 Bennington, 50. 
 Berthiaume, pretre, 45. 
 
 Bethlehem, 85, 86. 
 
 Cattle wintered at, 131. 
 Block houses, 159. 
 Bloodgood, S. D. W., iv. 
 Bloody pond, 157. 
 Boom at Ticonderoga, 51. 
 Boston, 23. 
 
 church desecrated, 130. 
 Bostonian affair, 46. 
 Boyle, Mr., 29. 
 Bradstreet, Col., 13, 14, 15,18, 
 
 221. 
 
 Brant, 141, 144, 160, 166. 
 Bridge at Ticonderoga, 51, 57. 
 
 floating, 99. 
 British army surrender, 115, 
 
 120. 
 
 hams in river, 138. 
 horses captured, 109. 
 powder taken, 112, 113. 
 soldiers abusive, 122. 
 Brudenell, Rev. Mr., 91, 218, 
 
 219. 
 
 Bullets chewed by French, 30. 
 Burgoyne, Gen. , 63,64, 82, 89,91, 
 92, 94, 99, 104, 110, 112, 
 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 
 120, 121, 124, 130, 138, 
 139, 141, 215. 
 retreat of, 90, 91. 
 letter to Gates, 217. 
 army captures continental 
 
 money, 58. 
 
 surrenders sword, 119. 
 Buttonwood tree, 156. 
 
 pAISSONS sunk at Ticondero- 
 ^ ga, 51. 
 Caldwell, 177. 
 Cambridge, 76. 
 Campbell, Hon. W., 219. 
 Camp followers, 106, 106.
 
 230 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Canada, 44. 
 
 expedition, 157. 
 Canasaraga, 151. 
 Capitulation, 114. 
 Captives, 162. 
 Carleton, Sir Guy, 42. 
 Carnarvon, Kitty, countess of, 
 
 216, 218. 
 
 Carroll, Cbarles, 45. 
 Cliambly, captured, 42. 
 Chambly, Acltland at, 87, 216. 
 Chase, Samuel, 45. 
 Church at Saratoga saved, 90. 
 Cilley, Col., charges British, 
 
 217. 
 
 Clark, Ensign Jacob F., 224. 
 Clarke, Sir Francis, 89. 
 Claus, Mr., 31. 
 Clavcrack, 33. 
 Clinton, Col. Charles, 219. 
 
 Col. James, 44, 45. 
 
 De Witt, 44, 219. 
 
 letters, 219. 
 
 family manuscripts of, iv, 
 219. 
 
 Gen. James, 142, 219. 
 
 Gov. George, 177, 178. 
 
 diary, 219. 
 
 Clute, Capt., finds howitzer, 139. 
 Cochran, Maj., 142. 
 Colden, Jane, letter of, 219. 
 
 Lt, Gov., 219. 
 
 life threatened, 11. 
 Congress, animosity against, 170. 
 Continental money, 46. 
 Continentals, detachment of, 25. 
 
 accoutrements of, 26. 
 Cortlandt, Col. , 2, 23. 
 Creditors to government, 103. 
 Crops destroyed, 86. 
 Crown Point, 23, 41, 177. 
 
 "T)EAN, Mr., interpreter, 150. 
 -^ Dearborn, Gen., 218. 
 
 Mnj. 92. 
 
 Deer, fight with, 207. 
 DeRuyter, Mr., 17. 
 DeRuyter's, 110. 
 Deserters captured, 79. 
 Desser's bay, 143. 
 Dieskau, Enron, 27, 29, 30. 
 Dovacote, 86. 
 
 Dry goods, transport of, 13. 
 Duncan, Maj., 221. 
 Dunham, Capt., 184, 195, 196, 
 197. 
 
 "P ASTERN Militia, 97. 
 -^ Ellett, Mrs., 216. 
 Error in pagination, 184-95. 
 Esopus, 124. 
 Evans, Lieut., 147. 
 
 TfALSE alarm, 201, 202, 203-6. 
 
 Felton house, 218. 
 Female heroism, 174. 
 Fermoy, Gen., 62. 
 Finch, Capt. Andrew jr., 224. 
 Fish creek, 148. 
 Fish kil, retreat to, 104. 
 Flag of truce fired at, 168. 
 Flight of families, 68, 69, 73. 
 Folly, Montressor's, 25. 
 Foraging, 99, 100. 
 Fort Anne, 54, 157. 
 Fort Brewerton, 143. 
 Fort Edward, 13, 64. 104, 157, 
 
 158, 222. 
 
 Fort George, 25, 26, 27, 36, 157, 
 222. 
 
 hospital at, 49. 
 
 officered by Van Schaick 
 
 137. 
 
 Fort Lawrence, 110. 
 Fort Ontario, 221. 
 Fort Plain invaded, 19. 
 Fort Schuyler, 142. 
 
 Van Schaick at, 137. 
 Fort Stanwix, 18, 19, 125, 221. 
 Fort St. Frederick, 23. 
 Fox, Charles James, 216. 
 French habitans, 24. 
 
 incursions, 17. 
 Frazer, Capt., 79. 
 Frazer, Col., 216. 
 Frazer, Gen., 216, 218. 
 
 burial of, 218. 
 
 schoolmaster, 79. 
 
 GALL, Brig. Gen., 122. 
 Gates, Gen., 41, 88, 91, 
 99, 101, 102, 106, 114, 
 117,118, 119,215, 217, 
 218, 220, 224.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 231 
 
 Gates supercedes Sullivan, 48. 
 Gentleman's Magazine, 215, 216. 
 George III, letter of, 220. 
 Gerlach, Gen., 122. 
 German women, 106. 
 Ghosts, 28. 
 Gibbonsville, 154. 
 Gilbert, Ensign Benjamin, 225. 
 Glenn, Mr., 221. 
 Glen's Falls, 26, 158. 
 Graham, Capt., 145, 146. 
 Grain stored in Albany for 
 
 safety, 180. 
 Grand Camp, 223. 
 Graydon's memoirs, 216. 
 Green, blacksmith, 195. 
 Greenbush, 33. 
 Guards to private houses, 179. 
 
 TTALE, Col., 216. 
 A - Half moon, 222. 
 Hamilton, Brig. Gen., 120. 
 Hams taken out of river, 138. 
 Hardenburg, Lieut. A, 224. 
 Hay, Col., 51, 66, 57. 
 Hazen, Col., court martialed, 41. 
 
 Madame, 42. 
 
 Hesse, Hanau, regL, 121. 
 Hessians, description of, 120, 122. 
 
 desertions of, 121. 
 
 singular malady of, 121. 
 Hendrik, 162. 
 
 killed, 29. 
 
 Hicks, Capt. Benj., 224. 
 Historical Magazine, 215. 
 Holy water from lake St. Sacra- 
 ment, 36. 
 
 Hoosick river, flight to, 73. 
 Horses great number in New 
 
 York, 50. 
 
 sold, 58. 
 
 well paid for, 17. 
 Hospitals at Fort George, 49. 
 Howitzer found, 139. 
 Hubbardton, 63, 88. 
 
 battle of, 216. 
 Hudson river, 30, 124. 
 
 TCE, crossing on, 31, 47. 
 * sleighs fall through, 39. 
 
 travel on, 36, 37. 
 Ilchester, earl of, 216. 
 
 Indian expedition, 142. 
 
 disguise, 14. 
 
 marauders, 71. 
 Indians sheltered, 124. 
 
 TAMES, Major, house burned, 
 " 11. 
 
 J e, Dirk Van, 17. 
 
 Johnson, 144. 
 Dr., 7. 
 Sir John, 67, 141, 166, 167, 
 
 173, 175. 
 Sir William, 27, 29. 
 
 T7"INGSTON, Maj., 120. 
 1V Knox, Col., 26, 35. 
 Knute, Capt., 97, 115. 
 
 T ACOLE river, 39. 
 -^ Lafayette, Gen., 157. 
 Lake Champlain, 41, 62. 
 Lake George, 26, 177. 
 
 army at, 15, I'/. 
 Lake, Mr., 22, 71. 
 Langemegen, Sec. 122. 
 Lansingb'urgh, 80, 81, 82. 
 Lansings, Mr., 81. 
 
 ferry, 30. 
 Laprairie, 45. 
 
 premium for crossing at, 
 
 43. 
 
 Lexington, news of battle, 20. 
 Ligonier valley, 62. 
 Litters, how made, 96. 
 Livingston, Col., 50, 223. 
 
 Walter, 222. 
 Longueil, 45. 
 Lord Howe killed, 15. 
 Lossing, B. J., 215. 
 Loudon, Earl, resigned, 12. 
 Lovelass, a tory, 182, 197, 199, 
 
 200. 
 
 Tif'CREA, Miss, 67, 124. 
 "* McDole captures tories, 
 
 134. 
 
 McDougals, Col., 222. 
 McNeil, fires at his son, 110, 
 
 111. 
 
 McPherson, John, 43. 
 Mabony, John, 63, 54. 
 Mair, Arthur, 221.
 
 232 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Manuscripts, Clinton, 219. 
 
 Van Schaick, 219. 
 Market women, 46. 
 Massachusetts, flight to, 75. 
 Mead, Surgeon Wm., 224. 
 Military costume, 169, 170. 
 
 etiquette, 168-174. 
 Militia organized, 21, 22. 
 Miller, Ensign Jeremiah, 224. 
 
 Lieut. Christopher, 224. 
 Middleburgh fort, 166. 
 Mohawk, 154. 
 
 country invaded, 19. 
 
 river, 18, 31. 
 Montgomery, Gen., 42, 220. 
 
 death of, 40. 
 
 Richard, 222. 
 Montreal, 37, 45, 88. 
 
 aspect of, 43. 
 
 market women, 46. 
 
 reinforcements for, 47. 
 
 travel to, on ice, 36. 
 Montressor's folly, 25. 
 Morgan, Col., 88. 
 Mosse's creek, 66. 
 Mount Independence, 51, 52. 
 
 NED, 203. 
 New England, 80. 
 
 flight to, 73. 
 
 Newspapers, rarity of, 11. 
 New York, 47. 
 
 church desecrated, 130. 
 great fire at, 49. 
 noted for horses, 50. 
 Historical Society, 217, 219. 
 population in 1775, 10. 
 regt. commanded by Van 
 Schaick, 137. 
 
 CVBRIEN, Lady Susannah 
 Sarah, 216. 
 
 William, 216. 
 Odeurman, 195. 
 Old scow place, 143. 
 Old south church a riding school, 
 
 130. 
 
 Old sow, 34. 
 Oneidas, 152. 
 Oneida embassy, 150, 151. 
 
 lake, 143. 
 Onondaga, 151. 
 
 Onondaga creek, 145. 
 
 landing, 143. 
 
 village destroyed, 147,150. 
 Onondagas, 141, 146, 150, 151. 
 Ordnance captured, 26, 30. 
 Oswego, 221. 
 
 expedition against, 18. 
 
 reduced, 12. 
 
 TDATROON'S ofiice shelters fu- 
 gitives, 83. 
 
 Pay undrawn, 157. 
 
 Peeks Kill, 223. 
 
 Pennsylvania troops, 39, 42. 
 produce disaffection, 40. 
 
 Peter, priest, 150. 
 
 Petersham, Capt. Lord, 120, 
 217. 
 
 Pictorial Field Book of the Rev- 
 olution, 215. 
 
 Pixton, 218. 
 
 Plunders in Burgoyne's camp, 
 104. 
 
 Poelnitz, Adj. Gen., 122. 
 
 Point Levi, 44, 45. 
 
 Pollard, Sarah, 91, 218. 
 
 Poor's quarters, 217. 
 
 Porchester, Lord, 216. 
 
 Potheen mare, 47. 
 
 Poughkeepsie, 47, 48, 102. 
 
 Powder captured, 112. 
 
 Preston, Major, 42. 
 
 Public agents, injustice of, 102. 
 
 f\UACKENBOSS, Col., 138, 
 ^ 139. 
 Quebec, 45, 47. 
 
 besieged, 37, 39. 
 
 RATIONS bad, 58. 
 ** short, 51 
 Red Hook, 12. 
 Reghtmeyer, Capt., 174. 
 Revolution, known as a Bosto- 
 
 nian affair, 46. 
 Rhode Island regiment, 212. 
 Richardson, C. B., 215. 
 Riedesel, Baron, 216. 
 
 Baroness, 113. 
 
 Maj. Gen., 122. 
 
 dragoons, 121. 
 Root, Gen., 34-
 
 INDEX. 
 
 233 
 
 Ryckman Ensign Wilhelmus, 
 224. 
 
 C ALEM, 110. 
 
 Salisbury, Barent S., 225. 
 Salt lake, 144. 
 San Coick, 76, 77, 78, 80. 
 Saratoga, 25, 87, 121, 125, 126, 
 138, 140, 153, 218. 
 
 barracks, 198. 
 
 battle field, 124, 125. 
 
 church fired at, 108. 
 saved, 90. 
 
 a depot. 130. 
 
 flight from, 68, 69, 70, 73. 
 
 infested by tories, 179. 
 
 return to, 95. 
 
 troops stationed at, 211. 
 Scalps taken, 29. 
 Schaghticoke, 94. 
 Schenectady 139, 141, 148, 170, 
 221. 
 
 a frontier, 141, 148. 
 
 fortified, 12. 
 
 Schodack tories taken, 132. 
 Schoharie, 10, 12, 17, 164. 
 
 burnt, 162, 165. 
 
 refugees, 159. 
 Scotch animosity, 111. 
 Scudder, Lieut. W., 225. 
 Schuyler family, hospitality to 
 Lady Ackland, 218. 
 
 flats, 90, 211. 
 
 Gen. Philip, 75, 77, 125, 
 126, 127, 130, 137, 139, 
 148, 170, 211, 220, 227. 
 
 his life guard, ISO, 179. 
 
 his popularity, 20. 
 
 house, 199. 
 
 idolized by Saratogians, 64. 
 
 influence of, 48. 
 
 motives impeached, 126. 
 
 Mr., 90. 
 
 bridge destroyed, 115. 
 
 crops destroyed, 86. 
 
 island, 37. 
 
 threatened, 117. 
 Schuylerville, 115. 
 Senecas assist British, 141. 
 Sentinels, narrow escape from, 
 
 211. 
 Sentry, black, 203. 
 
 Settlements destroyed, 141. 
 Seven mile Island, 147. 
 Sheffield, troops from, 99. 
 Skenandoah, 150. 
 Skene, Col., 50. 
 Skenesborough, 50, 59, 216, 
 
 222. 
 
 Sleighs, novel motive power, 47. 
 Soldiers drowned, 212. 
 
 rewarded, 114. 
 
 wives bring water, 113. 
 Specht, Brig. Gen., 122. 
 
 regiment, 121. 
 
 Springfield deposit for arms, 35. 
 Stamp paper, 11. 
 Stark, 199. 
 St. Clair, 61, 62. 
 
 denounced, 63. 
 
 slandered, 65. 
 St. Johns, 42. 
 St. Leger retreats, 127. 
 St. Sacrament lake, 36. 
 Stillwater, declaration read at, 
 48. 
 
 flight to, 73, 75, 76, 77. 
 Stockwell, Lieut., 125. 
 Street, account of battle, 215. 
 Sugar Hill, 62. 
 Sullivan, Gen., 142. 
 
 at Tioga, 225. 
 
 superceded, 48. 
 Swan, Capt., 46, 48. 
 Swart, Mr. 90. 
 
 nPENBROECK, John L., 225. 
 x Lt. Jno. C., 224. 
 TenEyck, Mr., storekeeper, 12. 
 Thermopylae, red man's, 145. 
 Therwood Lieut. Adril, 224. 
 Thomas, Gen., 40. 
 Ticonderoga, 23, 51, 52, 56, 58, 
 59, 61, 221, 222. 
 
 abandoned, 63. 
 
 going to decay, 36. 
 
 inscription, 37, 
 
 repaired by the French, 24. 
 
 threatened, 13. 
 Tomhannock, 80. 
 
 heroine of, 75. 
 Tories, desperate acts of, 132. 
 
 executed, 135. 
 Tory rendezvous, 195.
 
 234 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Tory execution, 199. 
 
 Trenton, battle of, originated 
 
 by St. Clair, 62. 
 Trophies, 26. 
 Troy, 82. 
 
 T 1, Mr., 21. 
 
 Tull's Mills, 77. 
 Tuscaroras, 151, 152. 
 
 VTAN ANTWERP'S reefs, 95. 
 
 Vandenburgh, 70, 71, 73. 
 Van Dyke, Col., 154. 
 
 Lieut. Col., 136. 
 Van Rensselaer family, charac- 
 ter of, 84. 
 
 Lt. Nicholas, 225. 
 Van Schaick, Col. Gozen, 141, 
 142, 146, 149, 150, 170, 
 220, 224,227. 
 
 Col., complimented by Gen. 
 Schuyler, 227. 
 
 island, 86. 
 
 Lieut., 13. 
 
 manuscript, iv. 219. 
 
 Henry, 220. 
 
 regiment, 136. 
 
 speech of, 152. 
 Van Valkenburgh, Lieut. Bar, 
 
 224. 
 Van Vechten, Col., 139, 140, 
 
 183, 184, 199. 
 Van V, Major, 94, 95. 
 Van W , William, 54. 
 Vauxhall destroyed, 11. 
 Verplank, Philip, 12. 
 V., Mrs., 203. 
 Vrooman, Capt., 173. 
 
 Ephraim, 163. 
 
 Vrooman's flats, 160. 
 John, 159, 160, 162. 
 
 T^TAG ONERS' bivouac, 37. 
 
 discharged, 18. 
 
 escape impressment, 54. 
 
 fraud of, 17. 
 
 impressed, 12, 13. 
 Warner, Col., 157, 158, 216. 
 
 captured Ticonderoga, 24. 
 
 trophies of, 25. 
 
 a lodging place, 24. 
 Washington, Gen., 138, 141,223. 
 Watch, mode of, 180. 
 Watervliet, 154. 
 Welsh, Lieut., 220. 
 Wendall, Capt. John H., 224. 
 
 Ensign Jacob, 225. 
 Westfield, first cannons at, 34, 35. 
 West Indies, 15. 
 West Troy incorporated, 154. 
 Wilkinson, Gen., 216. 
 
 Major, 88, 91,114. 
 Willett, Col. Marsinus, 125, 142. 
 Wing's corner, 158. 
 Whitehall, formerly Skenesboro, 
 
 50. 
 
 W., Major, 168, 174. 
 Wolf caught, 131. 
 Wolfe, Gen., 41, 61. 
 Women, followers of British 
 
 army, 105, 122. 
 Wood creek, 142, 148. 
 
 YANKEE accommodation, 97, 
 98. 
 
 Yankee Doodle, 119. 
 Yates's, 94.
 
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