B CHAPTER XVIII. THE BURGOYNE CAMPAIGN. EFORE following further the immediate fortunes of Washington, a short review of movements in the North will be given, as necessary to a just understanding of subsequent events. The final retirement of the Amer ican army from offensive operations in Canada, had left Ticonderoga upon Lake Champlain and Fort George upon the lake of the same name, the northern outposts of the colonial power. The question of precedence between Gates and Schuyler had been for the time accommodated, Schuyler, in command of the Northern department, holding the headquarters fixed for him by Congress, at Albany; while Gates, as second in command, was stationed at Ticonderoga. That an invasion from Canada was more than likely, no one doubted, yet for many months the position on the lakes was rather one of expectancy than of immediate apprehension. During the continuation of this state of affairs, Schuyler, though an able and singularly patriotic commander and a kindhearted and unselfish man, was far from popular, especially with the people of New England, and was made the victim of much unjust and very vexatious criticism and misrepresentation. It was sought to lay at his door all the misfortunes, reverses, and the final failure of the American arms in Canada, to which so great a variety of unavoidable circumstances contributed At last, goaded out of all patience, he forwarded his resigna- · tion to Congress. This Congress refused to accept, at the same time. passing a vote of confidence in his ability and loyalty, and expressing high appreciation of his services. There is no doubt that the assaults made upon Schuyler, from time to time, originated in the ambition and jealousy of Gates, who would hesitate at no treachery or meanness to remove an obstacle from his path, and that this first failure was a most bitter disappointment to him. Schuyler had evidently no suspicion of the duplicity of his subordinate; his letters to Gates show confidence and some of them are almost affectionate. The resolutions referred to, restored matters for a time to the status quo; Gates remained at Ticonderoga, Schuyler returned to Albany. It was not long, however, before the sensitive honor of the latter was again offended. A packet of letters captured by the British and recaptured, was found to contain one from Colonel Joseph Trumbull, commissarygeneral, in which it was insinuated that Schuyler had withheld a commission sent to the brother of the writer, Colonel John Trumbull, to be deputy adjutant-general. Schuyler, who was fiery upon any point touching his honor, at once wrote to Congress, demanding an instant investigation of the matter, also indignantly denying any connection with it. Congress did not at once comply with his demand, and, at the same time when it was received, discharged from the service of the Government an army surgeon whom Schuyler had especially recommended. The effect of this neglect and, as Schuyler regarded it, the deliberate slight offered him in the person of his protege, was to bring the anger of the general to the boiling point. While in this state of mind, he wrote a communication to Congress, which was none of the mildest, reiterating his demand for an inquiry, and asserting that Congress should have advised him of the reason for the surgeon's dismissal. Many members of Congress took great umbrage at this letter; the opportunity was improved by the partisans of Gates, who, finding support from many New England delegates, acting from more honest motives, secured the adoption of a resolution censuring Schuyler for disrespect. Gates was at the time in the shadow of the capitol, having obtained leave, for the purpose of prosecuting his personal schemes with Congress. Almost immediately after the vote of censure, it was determined to appoint a general officer for the northern department, a step which Schuyler had recommended. In accordance with this resolve, President Hancock notified Gates to at once "proceed to Ticonderoga and take command of the army stationed in that department." This language was certainly ill-considered. Upon receiving a copy of the resolutions of censure, and learning of this order to Gates, Schuyler considered himself superseded; while Gates proceeded to his post, filled with exultation at having finally attained his desired independence of command. Yet Congress had no idea, in providing for the appointment of a general officer for the department, that he should displace, or be the equal in command of Schuyler, who was then at its head. Gates received his order on the 25th of March, and immediately set out as desired; on the road he passed Schuyler, who was bent upon. going before Congress to obtain the justice of an inquiry, which should permit him, as he ardently desired, to lay down his command with honor to himself. It was after reaching Philadelphia that he learned of the censure, and of Gates' appointment. Being accredited to Congress as a delegate from New York, he took his seat as a member of that body, and on the 18th, the desired committee of inquiry, consisting of one delegate from each colony, was appointed. In the mean time, Lee being a prisoner, Schuyler was the senior major-general of the army, and assumed command at Philadelphia, strengthening defenses, hastening the recruiting of troops, and greatly aiding in the proper organization of the commissary department of the army. Early in May the committee made a report completely exonerating him from the odium cast upon him by Trumbull's insinuations, and also officially informing him that Congress entertained as high an opinion of him as it did before the letter was written which evoked his censure. This rehabilitation of Schuyler provoked a long and animated discussion in Congress as to the status of Gates, a discussion which resulted in an avowal that it had not been the intention of Congress to advance him to the command of the northern department. Schuyler returned to his command at Albany upon the 3d day of June, and Gates, who had not proceeded farther than that city, obtained leave to return to Philadelphia, while St. Clair took command at Ticonderoga. Though the action of Congress had been simply to define his position, Gates clung to his own interpretation of the matter, and persisted in regarding himself as degraded from command. He proceeded to Philadelphia; obtained admission to the floor of the House, by representing that he was the bearer of important news; then, after some trivial communication regarding Indian affairs, launched into an almost hysterical tirade concerning his treatment. The House was at last compelled to cause his withdrawal, and to give him notice that any future communications in the matter must be submitted in writing. Affairs were in this condition when it was announced that General Burgoyne, who had returned from Canada to England during the previous year, had re-crossed the Atlantic and was preparing for a movement in force, through Lake Champlain and the Hudson, to effect a junction with the army of General Howe. This news reached Washington early in June, and Schuyler at once proceeded to devise means for strengthening the garrisons and defenses at the North. The main hope of the Americans lay in defending Ticonderoga, and in completing and holding Fort Independence, then in course of construction upon a lofty hill, directly across the lake from that fort. The lake is there very narrow and had been spanned by a broad bridge of boats, by a log boom and a heavy chain, which were deemed, in conjunction with the guns from either shore, quite sufficient to prevent a passage by water. It may be stated that these obstructions, which had required nine months of constant and costly labor to stretch across the lake, were cut by the British in about four hours. The principal depot of stores for the army was upon Lake George and the maintenance of communication between the forts upon Lake Champlain, and the base of supplies, was of the first importance. Burgoyne set out from St. Johns on the 16th of June with an army made up as follows: of the British rank and file, three thousand seven hundred and twenty-four; three thousand and sixteen Brunswickers; two hundred |