While Washington kept up the contest in the middle states, very interesting events were passing in the northern states.

A plan had been formed by the British government, for sending an army to pass from Canada to the Hudson river, by the way of the lakes, and to take possession of all the American forts. General Burgoyne had the command of this army, and he engaged several Indian warriors, who thirsted for blood and plunder, to join him. A fleet was ready on the lakes to assist him. When these preparations were known, the people were filled with terror; the fear of the tomahawk and scalping-knife added greatly to their dread of the power of the English. General Burgoyne made a war speech to his ferocious allies, the Indians; they listened attentively, but his charge to refrain from cruelty was not remembered, when they had the power to indulge their natural dispositions.

Ticonderoga was commanded by General St. Clair. On the 1st of July, Burgoyne prepared to attack the fort, and his force was so powerful, and so well arranged, that Ge

neral St. Clair was convinced that resistance would ensure the destruction of all his troops, and he determined on withdrawing secretly. Orders were given to march out

July 5. quietly, and set nothing on fire; but this order was not obeyed, and a house was soon in flames, which served as a signal to the enemy, who immediately entered the fort, and fired on the retreating troops, and then followed them and attacked them with so much ardour, that they were in a short time reduced to a very small number.

General Schuyler had been advancing from Stillwater with troops, when he heard of the retreat of St. Clair, and he then used great efforts to obtain a larger force, that he might stop the progress of the enemy. St. Clair continued retreating, closely pursued, until at length he joined General Schuyler, who had returned with his troops to Still

water.

When General Washington heard the sad news from the north, he wrote to General Schuyler, "This stroke is indeed severe; but notwithstanding things at present wear a dark and gloomy aspect, I hope a spirited opposition will check the progress of General Burgoyne's arms, and that the confidence derived from success, will hurry him into measures that will in their consequences be favourable to us. We should never despair. Our situation has been unpromising, and has

changed for the better. So, I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new exertions."

After taking Ticonderoga, Burgoyne sent a part of his army up the lake, to Skeensborough, where they destroyed the American flotilla and a considerable quantity of military stores.

The success of Burgoyne had the effect which Washington had hoped for. He was so confident of conquering by his well ordered troops, that he determined on dividing his army, and sending detachments in different directions, that he might overrun a larger portion of the country at once. sent a detachment of five hundred English and one hundred Indians to seize the military stores at the town of Bennington, in Vermont. General Starke attacked and entirely routed these troops; the

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greater part of them were killed Aug. 16. or taken prisoners; a few escaped into the woods. Other troops sent by Burgoyne arrived, and met their flying comrades. They were attacked by the Americans, and obliged to give up their baggage and artillery, and save themselves by retreating under cover of the shade of night.

In this action the Americans gained one thousand stand of arms from the enemy, and the report of their killed and wounded was

seven hundred, and of Americans, one hundred.

These sanguinary battles are not recited to fill the mind with a love of scenes which should strike us with horror at the dreadful result produced by human passions. They are facts, however, connected with our country's struggle for liberty; and, no doubt, such signal success encouraged greatly the hearts of those who stood up for its defence.

General Gates took the command of the northern army. General Washington had sent a detachment of riflemen from his own army, and had directed all the troops that were in Massachusetts, to join them; and General Gates with this force met Burgoyne at Stillwater, where a battle was fought which was very severe, and

neither army could claim the vic- Sept. 19. tory; but it was an action in which the Indians became tired, and deserted in great numbers, so that it was in reality of great importance to the Americans.

General Burgoyne moved on towards Saratoga, and General Gates followed him. Burgoyne, as if disposed to destroy the country which he could not conquer, set fire to all the dwelling houses in his way, and reduced them to ashes,-broke down all the bridges, and endeavoured to stop up the way, to delay his pursuers; but the Americans

were not long in surmounting such difficulties.

General Gates, anticipating the course that Burgoyne would take, placed his own troops in such situations as at length entirely surrounded the army of the enemy. This advantage would have been lost, if it had not been for a remarkable interposition of a favouring providence. General Gates received information, that the main body of the enemy had moved off, and that only a small part remained in their camp, with their heavy baggage, to follow as soon as possible. He resolved directly to attack the camp, and his officers prepared to do so. One division had crossed the Saratoga creek, which ran between the Americans and the camp of the English, and another was just entering the water, when the officer who led it saw an English soldier crossing; he directed him to be brought to him, and found he was a deserter, and learned from him, that all the English army were at the camp, and that troops were placed behind some brushwood, ready to fire on the Americans, who were expected. The division which had passed the creek was immediately recalled, and the orders for an attack countermanded.

Oct. 11.

To deprive Burgoyne of his only hope of escape up the Hudson, General Gates ordered troops to guard all the fords, and de

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