The campaign of LieutGenJohn Burgoyne : and the expedition of LieutColBarry StLeger . en of the opinion, that the army would make but ashort stand, merely for its better concentration, as allsaw that haste was of the utmost necessity, if they wouldget out of a dangerous trap. At this time the heights of Saratoga, commanding theford across Fish creek, were not yet occupied by theAmericans in force ; and up to seven oclock in the morn-ing, the retreating army might easily have reached thatplace, and thrown a bridge across the Hudson. GeneralFellows, who, by the orders of Gates, occupied theheigh
The campaign of LieutGenJohn Burgoyne : and the expedition of LieutColBarry StLeger . en of the opinion, that the army would make but ashort stand, merely for its better concentration, as allsaw that haste was of the utmost necessity, if they wouldget out of a dangerous trap. At this time the heights of Saratoga, commanding theford across Fish creek, were not yet occupied by theAmericans in force ; and up to seven oclock in the morn-ing, the retreating army might easily have reached thatplace, and thrown a bridge across the Hudson. GeneralFellows, who, by the orders of Gates, occupied theheights at Saratoga opposite the ford, was in an extremelycritical situation. On the night of the 8th, Lieut. , who had been sent forward to reconnoitre,crossed Fish creek, and guided by General Fellowss fires,found his camps so entirely unguarded, that he marchedround it without being challenged. He then returnedand, reporting to Burgoyne, entreated permission to attackFellows with his regiment, but was refused. Had notBurgoyne halted at Dovegat, says Wilkinson, he must. GENERAL RIEDESEL. 82 Campaign of General John Burgoyne. have reached Saratoga before day, in which case Fellowswould have been cut up and captured or dispersed, andBurgoynes retreat to Fort George would have been un-obstructed. As it was, however, Burgoynes army reachedSaratoga, just as the rear of our militia was ascendingthe opposite bank of the Hudson, where they took postand prevented its passage. Burgoyne, however, althoughwithin half an hours march of Saratoga, gave the surpris-ing order that the army should bivouac in two lines,and await the day. Mr. Bancroft ascribes this delay to the fact that Bur-goyne was still clogged with his artillery and baggage,and that the night was dark, and the roads weakened byrain. But according to the universal testimony of allthe manuscript journals extant, the road which up tothis time was sufficiently strong for the passage of thebaggage and artillery trains,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectburgoynesinvasion177
