[Red Squirrels.] SQUIRRELS. credible; but I can vouch for the truth of it on my own personal experience, as I not only saw but felt it: the black squirrels are most lovely and elegant animals, considerably larger than the red, the gray, and the striped: the latter are called by the Indians "chitmunks." These little animals are very fond of the seeds of the pumpions, and you will see the soft creatures whisking about among the cattle, carrying away the seeds as they are scattered by the beasts in breaking the pumpions: they also delight in the seeds of the sunflowers, which grow to a gigantick height in our gardens and clearings. The fowls are remarkably fond of the sunflower-seeds, and I saved the plants with the intention of laying up a good store of winter food for my chicks. One day I went to cut the ripe heads, the largest of which was the size of a large dessert-plate, but found two wicked red squirrels busily employed gathering in the seeds, not for me, be sure, but themselves. Not contented with picking out the seeds, these little thieves dexterously sawed through the stalks, and conveyed away whole heads at once: so bold were they that they would not desist when I approached till they had secured their object, and, encumbered with a load twice the weight of their own agile bodies, ran with a swiftness along the rails, and over root, stump, and log, till they eluded my pursuit. Great was the indignation expressed by this thrif ty little pair on returning again for another load to find the plant divested of the heads. I had cut what' remained and put them in a basket in the sun, on a small block in the garden, close to the open glass door, on the steps of which I was sitting shelling some seed-beans, when the squirrels drew my attention to them by their sharp scolding notes, elevating their fine feathery tails and expressing the most In the warm summer day, the red squirrels may lively indignation at the invasion: they were not be seen skipping around the trees and fences, gather-long before they discovered the Indian basket with ing their winter's store of nuts and acorns. The vis- the ravished treasure; a few rapid movements iter may amuse himself for hours in watching their active gambols, but to the farmer their visits are by no means pleasant; a late writer states the following particulars in regard to them : ; During our voyage, just at the head of the rapids, our attention was drawn to some small object in the water, moving very swiftly along; there were various opinions as to the swimmer, some thinking it to be a water-snake, others a squirrel, or a muskrat a few swift strokes of the paddles brought us up so as to intercept the passage of the little voyager; it proved to be a fine red squirrel, bound on a voyage of discovery from a neighbouring island. The little animal, with a courage and address that astonished his pursuers, instead of seeking safety in a different direction, sprung lightly upon the uplifted paddle, and from thence with a bound to the head of my astonished babe, and having gained my shoulder, leaped again into the water, and made direct for the shore, never having deviated a single point from the line he was swimming in when he first came in sight of our canoe. I was surprised and amused by the agility and courage displayed by this innocent creature; I could hardly have given credence to the circumstance, had I not been an eyewitness of its conduct, and moreover been wet plentifully on my shoulder by the sprinkling of water from his coat. Perhaps you may think my squirrel anecdote in brought the little pair to the rails within a few paces of me and the sunflower-heads; here, then, they paused, and sitting up, looked in my face with the most imploring gestures. I was too much amused by their perplexity to help them, but turning away my head to speak to the child, they darted forward, and in another minute had taken possession of one of the largest of the heads, which they conveyed away, first one carrying it a few yards, then the other, it being too bulky for one alone to carry it far at a time. In short, I was so well amused by watching their manoeuvres that I suffered them to rob me of all my store. I saw a little family of tiny squirrels at play in the spring on the top of a hollow log, and really I think they were, without exception, the liveliest, most graceful creatures I ever looked upon, Carrageen Moss.-This marine plant is found in It is used more or abundance along our coast. less for making gellies, and is sometimes converted into isinglass. A foreign journal states that a new use for it has been discovered in England, viz., that of sizing in the manufactory of cotton and muslins, and that a gentleman in Manchester had declared his readiness to purchase thirty or even sixty tuns of the plant, if that quantity could be procured. REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. BATTLE OF SARATOGA. THE following graphically simple narrative, from the personal recollections of an eyewitness and participator, of the glorious series of events immediately preceding and attending the capture of Burgoyne-forming what we must regard as the brightest page in American history-is from the pen of E. MATTOON, Esq., of Amherst, Mass., an officer in the Revolutionary army of the North-one of the few yet spared to invigorate the patriotism and inspire the reverential gratitude of the existing and rising generations. The circumstances which awakened and drew forth these reminiscences, are best explained by the letter itself: AMHERST, (Mass.,) October 7, 1835. PHILIP SCHUYLER, ESQ. Sir: Yours of the 17th ult., requesting me to give you a detailed account of the battle of Saratoga, surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, &c., was duly received. When I left home on a visit to my friend Frost, at Union village, it was my intention to have visited the ground on which the army of Gen. Burgoyne was met, and compelled to surrender. But the absence of Mr. Frost prevented. Had I known, however, that a descendant of that venerable patriot and brave commander, Gen. Schuyler, was living on the ground, I should have found means to pay him my respects. General Gates, indeed, obtained the honour of capturing Burgoyne and his army; but let me tell you, sir, that it was more through the wise and prudent counsels of your brave and distinguished ancestor, and the energy and intrepidity of Generals Lincoln and Arnold, than through the ability and foresight of Gates. In my narrative, I shall confine myself to what transpired from the 7th to the 17th October, 1777, both days included. This will necessarily lead me to correct the statement of Gen. Wilkinson, and a Mr. Buel in your neighbourhood, respecting the fall of Gen. Frazier. By confounding the two actions of the 19th of September and 7th of October, neither of them is correctly described. The action of the 19th of September commenced about ten o'clock, A. M., and continued during the day, each army alternately advancing and retiring. On that day, Col. Morgan posted a number of his riflemen to pick off the officers as they appeared out of the woods; but no such posting of riflemen occurred on the 7th October, Gen. Wilkinson to the contrary notwithstanding. On the 7th of October, the American army was posted with their right wing resting on the North | river, and their left extending on to Bemis's heights; Generals Nixon and Glover commanding on the right, Lincoln the centre, and Morgan and Larned the left. The British army, with its left resting on the river, was commanded by Philips; their centre by Gen. Redheisel, and the extreme right, extending to the heights was commanded by Lord Balcarras, where he was strongly fortified. Their light-troops were under the command of Gen. Frazier and Lieut. Auckland. dicated a movement. Our troops were immedi- Arnold says: "That is nothing; you must send a strong force." Gates replied: "Gen. Arnold, I have nothing for you to do; you have no business here." Arnold's reply was reproachful and severe. Gen. Lincoln says: You must send a strong force to support Morgan and Dearborn, at least three regiments." Two regiments from Gen. Larned's brigade and one from Gen. Nixon's, were then ordered to that station, and to defend it at all hazards. Generals Lincoln and Arnold immediately left the encampment, and proceeded to the enemy's lines. In a few minutes, Capt. Furnival's company of Artillery, in which I was lieutenant, was ordered to march towards the fire which had now opened upon our picket in front, the picket consisting of about While we were marching, the three hundred men. whole line, from the river up to our picket in front, was engaged. We advanced to a height of ground which brought the enemy in view, where we opened our fire. But the enemy's guns, eight in number, much heavier than ours, rendered our position untenable. We then advanced into the line of infantry. Here In our front there was Lieut. M'Lane joined me. a field of corn, in which the Hessians were secreted. On our advancing towards the cornfield, a numMcLane was ber of men rose up and fired upon us. severely wounded. While I was removing him from the field, the firing still continued without abatement. During this time, a tremendous firing was heard on our left. We poured in upon them, our canistershot as fast as possible, and the whole line from left to right, became warmly engaged. The smoke was very dense, and no movements could be seen, but as soon as it arose, our infantry appeared to be slowly retreating, and the Hessians slowly advancing, their officers urging them on with their hangers. Just at this moment, an elderly man, with a long hunting gun, coming up, I said to him: “ Daddy, the infantry mus'n't leave me-I shall be cut to pieces." He replied: "I'll give them another gun." The smoke then rising again, several officers, led by a general, appeared moving to the northward, in the rear of the Hessian line. The old man, at that instant, discharged his gun, and the general officer pitched forward on the neck of his horse, and instantly they all wheeled about, the old man observAbout one o'clock of this day, two signal guns ing: "I have killed that officer, let him be who he were fired on the left of the British army, which in-will." I replied: "You have, and it is a general officer, and by his dress I believe it is Frazier." | slowly, the fire, in the meantime, decreasing. While they were turning about, three of their horses Nightfall now put an end to this day's bloody condropped down; but their further movements were test. During the day, we had taken eight cannon, then concealed by the smoke. and broken the centre of the enemy's lines. Here I will offer the reasons why I think this officer was Gen. Frazier, and that he was killed by the shot of this old man. In the first place, the distance, by actual measurement, was within the reach of a gun. For the next morning, a dispute arising about the distance, some contending that it was eight rods, and others fifteen, two respectable sergeants, both of whom have since been generals in the militia of Massachusetts, were selected to decide the dispute by pacing the ground. They did so, and found the distance, from the stump where the old man stood to the spot where the horses fell, just twelve rods. In the next place, the officer was shot through the body from the left to the right, as was afterward ascertained. Now, from his relative position to the posted riflemen, he could not have been shot through in this direction, but they must have hit him in front. Moreover, the riflemen could not have seen him, on account of the smoke in which he was enveloped. The troops continuing warmly engaged, Col. Johnson's regiment came up, threw in a heavy fire, and compelled the Hessians to retreat. Upon this, we advanced with a shout of victory. At the same time Auckland's corps gave way. We were ordered to rest, until relieved from the camps. The gloom of the night, the groans and shrieks of the wounded and dying, and the horrours of the whole scene baffle all description. Under cover of this night, (the seventh,) the British army changed their position, so that it became necessary to reconnoitre the ground. While Gen. Lincoln was doing this, he was severely wounded, so that his active services were lost to the army, during that campaign. A heavy rain commenced about eleven o'clock, which continued without abatement till the morning of the ninth. In this time, information came that Gen. Burgoyne had removed his troops to Saratoga. At nine o'clock, A. M., of October eighth, Capt. Furnival received orders to march to the river, to cross the floating bridge, and repair to the fording place, opposite Saratoga, where we arrived at dusk. There we found Gen. Bailey, of New Hampshire, with about nine hundred men, erecting a long range of fires, to indicate the presence of a large army. The British troops had covered the opposite heights with their fires. In the early part of the evening, Col. Mosely arrived with his regiment of Massachusetts militia, We proceeded but a short distance before we when our company was directed by Gen. Bailey to came upon four pieces of brass cannon, closely sur-make a show of our field-pieces at the river. We rounded by the dead and dying; at a few yards farther, we came upon two more. Advancing a little farther, we were met by a fire from the British infantry, which proved very fatal to one of Col. Johnson's companies, in which one sergeant, one corporal, and fourteen privates, were killed and about twenty were wounded. soon extinguished their lights. We were then ordered to pass the Battenkill river, and erect works there during the night. In the morning, we perceived a number of officers on the stairs, and on the east side of the house, on the hill, a little north of the Battenkill river, apparently surveying our situation and works. They advanced with a quick step, firing as they My captain being sick at the time, I levelled our came on. We returned them a brisk fire of canister- guns, and with such effect as to disperse them. shot, not allowing ourselves even to sponge our pie-We took the house to be their headquarters. We ces. In a short time, they ceased firing, and advan- continued our fire till a nine or twelve pounder was ced upon us with trailed arms. At this juncture, brought to bear upon us, and rendered our works Arnold came up with a part of Brooks's regiment, useless. Next we were ordered in haste to Fort and gave them a most deadly fire, which soon caus- Edward, to defend the fording place. Colonel ed them to face about, and retreat with a quicker Mosely's regiment accompanied us. Some slight step than they advanced. works were thrown up by us; while thus employed, a number of British officers appeared on the opposite side of the river. We endeavoured to salute them according to their rank. They soon disappeared. The fire had principally ceased on our left, but was brisk in front and on the right. At this moment, Arnold says to Col. Brooks, (late governour of Massachusetts): "Let us attack Balcarras's works." Brooks replied: "No. Lord Auckland's detach- During this day, (the tenth,) we captured fifty Inment has retired there; we can't carry them."-dians, and a large number of Canadians and Tories. “Well then, let us attack the Hessian lines." We remained at Fort Edward till the morning Brooks replied: "With all my heart." We all of the thirteenth. Being then informed of the arwheeled to the right, and advanced. No fire was received, except from the cannon, until we got within about eight rods, when we received a tremendous fire from the whole line. But few of our men, however, fell. Still advancing, we received a second fire, in which a few men fell, and Gen. Arnold's horse fell under him, and he himself was wounded. As we passed along, we saw the British army He cried out: "Rush on, my brave boys!" After piling (not stacking) their arms; the piles of arms receiving the third fire, Brooks mounted their works, extending from Schuyler's creek northward nearly swung his sword, and the men rushed into their to the house on the hill beforementioned. The works. When we entered the works, we found range of piles ran along the ground west of the road Col. Bremen dead, surrounded by a number of his then travelled, and east of the canal, as, I am incompanions, dead or wounded. We pursued them formed, it now runs, mistice which had been agreed upon, we were ordered to return to our position on the Battenkill, and repair our works. Here we remained till the morning of the seventeenth, when we received orders to repair to Gen. Gates's headquarters on the west side of the river. Just below the island we passed the river, and the extremities of which have brass knobs; and is came to Gen. Gates's markee, situated on a level furnished with a moveable joint at the handle, which piece of ground, from a hundred and thirty to a hun- is of glass, to prevent the shock being communidred and fifty rods south of Schuyler's creek. A little cated to the operator. It is applied as is seen above. south and west of this, there is a rising ground, on which our army was posted, in order to appear to the best advantage. A part of it was also advantageously drawn up on the east side of the river. About noon on the seventeenth, Gen. Burgoyne, with a number of his officers, rode up near to the markee in front of which Gen. Gates was sitting, attended by many of his officers. The sides of the markee were rolled up, so that all that was transacted might be seen. Gen. Burgoyne dismounted and approached Gen. Gates, who rose and stepped forward to meet him. Gen. Burgoyne then delivered up his sword to Gen. Gates, who received it in his left hand, at the same time extending his right hand to take the right hand of Gen. Burgoyne. After a few minutes' conversation, Gen. Gates returned the sword to Gen. Burgoyne, who received it in the most graceful and gentlemanly manner. The rest of Burgoyne's officers then delivered up their swords, and had thèm restored to them like wise. They then all repaired to the table and were seated; and while dining, the prisoners were passing by. After they had all passed by, a number of us went in search of a gun which was upon a carriage the day previous to the seventeenth, near what was called the Hessian burying-ground. But the tracks of the carriage were so confused, and the stench from the dead bodies was so offensive, that the search was discontinued. Thus I have replied to your inquiries, as far as my recollection extends. I should be very happy to meet you, and spend a day or two in walking over the battle-ground, and to enter into other particulars concerning that engagement, which, however, are of minor importance. With much esteem, I am, dear sir, yours, E. MATTOON. To increase the force of the Leyden vial, or jar, a number of them are arranged in a box, connected by means of brass rods; the box itself is lined with tin foil; this is denominated a battery, and the electrick explosion is strong in proportion to the number and size of the jars. When the number of jars is considerable, animals may be killed, metal wires be melted, and other effects be produced by the discharge of the battery, analogous to those of lightning. ELECTRICITY. A LEYDEN jar may be thus prepared: Take a glass jar, with a wide mouth, as in the figure, coat it inside and out, to within two or three inches of the top with tin foil, fastened on with gum water. Fit a stopple of baked wood, or of cork covered with sealing-wax, to the mouth of the jar, and through the centre of the stopple pass a brass wire, whose lower extremity is terminated by a number of other wires or a chain, each of which touches the inside coating, while its upper extremity rises an inch or two above the mouth of the jar, surmounted by a brass ball. For the purpose of discharging these jars, an instrument of brass called a discharging For procuring what is denominated the diamond necklace, take a tube of glass, and paste a narrow slip of tin foil round it, in a spiral direction, then with a penknife cut small pieces from the foil, at equal distances: when this tube is presented to an electrified conductor, a brilliant line of light will surround it in the direction of the foil. Still more amusing effects may be produced by coating a Leyden vial with round or square bits of tin foil, placed at regular distances; and by pasting lines. of tin foil on a piece of glass, and then with a penknife cutting intervals, so as to form letters, a word in luminous rod, is necessary. It is shaped like a pair of forceps, characters may be produced. THE FAMILY MAGAZINE ELECTRICITY ments, and others dependant on electrick light, must be performed in a darkened room. To fire an inflammable substance by the electrick spark, put a small quantity of rectified spirit of wine into a spoon, and let the person who holds it stand on the insulated stool with his other hand on the prime conductor; then, while the machine is turning, Many other electrical instruments for the purpose let the person put his finger on a metal rod, near the of making interesting and amusing experiments spirit, and it will be instantly inflamed. might be described, would our limits allow,-such Place a card against the coating of a charged jar; as the artificial spider, &c. However, for the further then apply one knob of the discharging rod to the information and amusement of our readers, we sub-card, and the other to the ball of the jar, a discharge will take place, and the card will be found pierced quite through by the electrick fluid. join a few electrical experiments. To charge the Leyden vial, place it on a table, or any other conductor that communicates with the earth, with the brass knob near the ball of the conductor; on turning the machine, sparks will pass from the conductor to the jar, until the latter is charged, when no more will be visible. To discharge it, take the discharging rod, open the forceps, and apply one knob to the outside coating, and the other to the ball of the jar; an explosion will instantly ensue. In charging a battery, an explosion will some-stained with a purple or gray colour. times take place spontaneously, to prevent which, paste a slip of writing paper, about an inch wide, round the inside of each jar, immediately above the coating. An electrometer should be placed on the battery, while charging, to indicate the progress of the operation. Lay a small chain upon a piece of white paper, in a darkened room, send the shock of a Leyden vial through it, and the chain will appear beautifully illuminated, with a kind of radiation at every joining; and the paper will have a blackish tinge at every joint of the chain. Place a strip of gold or silver leaf on white paper, and pass a strong charge through it, the metal will disappear with a bright flash, and the paper will be To use the universal discharger, place the body through which the discharge is to be made, on the little table; bring the sliding wires in contact with its opposite sides; then connect one of them with the outside of a charged jar, or battery, and the other with the discharging rod, and the charge will be instantly sent through it. By means of a pointed wire, attached to the machine, electrify the inside of a dry glass tumbler; place some pith balls on the table, and cover them with the tumbler, and they will instantly commence a rapid dancing motion, alternately touching the glass and the table. To render opaque objects transparent by the electrick fluid, place two wires in a straight line, with their ends about three fourths of an inch asunder; over the interval place a thick piece of pipeclay, of pumice stone, or an egg; on passing the charge from one wire to another, these opaque substances will appear perfectly transparent. The effect of electricity in producing the divergence of tufts of hair is sufficiently amusing. This may be shown by placing a person on a stool with glass legs, so that he may be perfectly insulated, and making him hold in his hand a brass rod, the other end of which touches the positive conductor; then on turning the machine, the hairs of the head will diverge in all directions, "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine." The same effect may be more perfectly exhibited by means of an artificial head of small dimensions, with hair glued to it, and fixed on a brass wire, which is to be placed on the conductor. Insert two wires in opposite directions in a small melon, orange, or apple, so that their points shall come near each other; electrify the wires, and the fruit will appear transparent. All these experi VOL. IV.-13 These are a few of the numerous experiments which may be performed by means of the electrical apparatus; and they show the wonderful properties of that subtle fluid, which pervades all bodies, and which is identified with the lightning, and with those brilliant meteors so common in the northern regions, called the aurora borealis. The electrical bells consist of a number of small bells, as represented in the annexed figure, suspended from the conductor by brass chains, with a ball to act as a clapper hanging by a silk thread, between every two bells, one of them being connected with the table, so that its electricity is dissipated as fast as it is received. Thus the insulated ball will vibrate backward and forward, alternately striking the electrified and non-electrified bell, when the machine is put in motion. The dancing figures, as shown in the margin, may be cut out of writing paper; and such figures, or any other light bodies, placed on a brass plate B, connected with the ground, and having another brass plate A, suspended at a little distance above it, from the prime conductor, will rapidly dance when the upper plate is electrified. The effect is obviously caused by the figures being attracted by the electrified plate and immediately after repelled; and being robbed of their acquired electricity by the lower or non-electrified plate, they rise again to receive a new charge, and thus the dance is continued. The manner in which buildings are injured when struck by lightning, or the accumulated electricity of the atmosphere, may be instructively elucidated |