In the beginning of October, General Burgoyne thought it expedient, from the uncertainty of his fituation, to leffen the foldiers ratios of provifions; a measure, which however difagreeable to an army, was now fubmitted to with a chearfulness which merited the highest regards, and did the greatest honors to the troops. Things continued in this ftate until the 7th of October, when there being no appearance or intelligence of the expected co-operations, and the time limited for the ftay of the army in the present camp within four or five days of being expired, it was judged advifeable to make a movement to the enemy's left, not only to difcover whether there were any poffible means of forcing a paffage, fhould it be judged neceffary to advance, or of difledging them for the convenience of the retreat, but alfo to cover a forage of the army, which was exceedingly diftref fed by the prefent fcarcity.

A detachment of 1500 regular troops, with two twelve pounders, two howitzers, and fix fix-pounders, were ordered to move, being commanded by the General in perfon, who was feconded by thofe excellent officers, the Majors General Philips and Reidefel, with Brigadier-General Frazer. No equal number of men was ever better commanded, and it would have been difficult indeed to have matched the men with any equal number. The guard of the camp upon the high grounds was committed to the Brigadiers General Hamilton and Speight; that of the redoubts and the plain near the river, to Brigadier Goll. The force of the enemy immediately in the front of the lines, was fo much fuperior, that it was not thought fafe to augment the detachment beyond the number we have ftated.

The

The troops were formed within three quarters of a mile of the enemy's left, and the irregulars were pushed on through bye ways to appear as a check on their rear. But the further intended operations of the detachment were prevented, by a very fudden and most rapid attack of the enemy upon the British grenadiers, who were pofted to fupport the left wing of the line. Major Ackland, at the head of the grenadiers, fuftained this fierce attack with great refolution; but the numbers of the enemy enabling them, in a few minutes, to extend the attack along the whole front of the Germans, who were pofied immediately on the right of the grenadiers, it became impracticable to move any part of that body, for the purpose of forming a fecond line to fupport the flank, where the great weight of the fire ftill fell.

The right was ftill unengaged; but it was foon perceived that the enemy were marching a strong body round their flank, in order to cut off their retreat.To oppofe this bold and dangerous attempt, the light infantry, with a part of the 24th regiment, which were joined with them at that poft, were thrown into a fecond line, in order to recover the retreat of the troops into camp.

Whilst this motion was yet in procefs, the enemy pushed a fresh and ftrong reinforcement to decide the action on the left, which being totally overpowered by fo great a fuperiority, was compelled by dint of force to give way; upon which, the light infantry and 24th regiment, were obliged, by a very quick movement, to endeavour to fave that wing from being totally ruined.—It was in this movement, that the brave Brigadier General Frazer was mortally wounded. An officer whofe lofs would have been general

ly

ly felt, and his place with difficulty fupplied, in a corps of the most accomplished officers.

The fituation of the detachment was now exceedingly critical; but the danger to which the lines were expofed were still more alarming and ferious. Philips and Reidefel were ordered to cover the retreat, and thofe troops which were nearest, or most disengaged, returned as fast as they could for their defence.The troops in general retreated in good order, tho' very hard preffed. They were obliged to abandon fix pieces of cannon, the horses not only being de ftroyed, but most of the brave artillery-men, who had as ufual, under the couduct of Major Williams, dif played the utmost skill and ability in their profeffion, along with the most undaunted refolution, being either killed or dangerously wounded.

The enemy purfued their fuccefs with great eager nefs. The troops had fcarce entered the camp, when the Americans itormed it in different parts with uncommon fierceness; rufhing to the lines through a fevere fire of grape fhot and small arms, with the utmost fury. Arnold led on the attack with his ufual impetuofity, against a part of his entrenchments into which the light infantry under Lord Balcarres, with a part of the line, had thrown themselves by order.

ance.

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there met with a brave and oblinate refiftance. The action continued very warm for fome time, each fide feeming to vie with the other in ardour and perfeverIn this critical moment of glory and danger, Arnold was grievoufly wounded, juft as he was forcing his way into, or had already entered the works. This could not fail to damp his party, who after long and repeated efforts were finally repulfed.

Affairs

Affairs were not fo fortunate in another quarter. Colonel Breyman, who commanded the German referve, being killed, the entrenchment defended by that corps were carried fword in hand, and they were totally routed with the lofs of their baggage, tents, and artillery. This misfortune was not retrieved, altho' orders for the recovery of the poft were dispatched by the General; and his relation of the tranfaction feems to imply fome blame to thofe who failed in the execution. By this means the enemy gained a dangerous opening on our right and rear. The night only put an end to the engagement.

It would feem that nothing could now exceed the distress and calamity of the army. They bore it with that excellency of temper, and that unconquerable firmness and resolution, which are natural to, and were worthy of British foldiers. It was evidently impof fible to continue in their prefent fituation, without fubmitting to a certainty of deftruction on the enfuing day. A total change of pofition was accordingly undertaken, and as it seems to have been conceived with great judgment was carried into execution during the night, with a degree of coolness, filence, order, and intrepidity, which has feldom been equalled, and will certainly never be exceeded. It was not the movement of a wing or a part, it was a general remove of the whole army, of the camp and artillery, from its late ground to the heights above the hofpital;thus, by an entire change of front, to reduce the enemy to a neceffity of forming an entire new difpofition. All this was accomplished in the darknefs, and under the doubt and apprehenfion of fuch a night, fo fatally ushered in, and accompanied throughout with circumftances of fuch uncommon peril, as were fufficient to X x disturb

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disturb the best formed mind, and to shake the firmeft refolution, without lofs, and what was ftill more, without diforder.

Many brave men fell on this unfortunate day. The officers fuffered exceedingly. Several who had been grievoufly wounded in the late action, and who difdained an abfence from any danger in which their fellows were involved, were again wounded in this.

Among thofe of greater note, or who were distinguithed by higher rank, who fell, befides General' Frazer and Colonel Breyman, whom we have mentioned, Sir James Clarke aid de camp to Gen. Burgoyne, was mortally wounded and taken prisoner Major Williams of the artillery, and Major Acklanď of the grenadiers, were alío taken, the latter being wounded. Upon the whole, the lifts of killed and wounded, though avowedly imperfect, and not including the Germans, were long and melancholy.

On the next day, the army, being fenfible nothing lefs than a fuccefsful and decifive action could extricate. them from their prefent difficulties, continued without effect, during its courfe, to offer battle repeatedly in their new pofition, to the enemy. They were preparing with great coolness, the carrying of measures into exccution, which were lefs dangerous, thought not lefs effectual, than the attack of a brave and defperate enemy, in ftrong and fortified ground. A-continued fucceffion of fkirmishes were, however, carried on, and thefe did not pass without loss on both fides.“ In the mean time, the British general difcovered, that the enemy had pushed a strong body forward to turn his right, which if effected, he would have been completely enclosed on every fide. Nothing was left to prevent this fatal confequence, but an immediate

retreat