"I suppose his death put a sort of panic into the enemy," said Zephaniah.

"Yes; as soon as Frazer fell, they began to get dismayed," replied Luke; "and just then three thousand New York troops, under General Tenbroeck, made their appearance. That completed their dismay; and the whole line broke and fled within the entrenchments of their camp. We pursued them up to their very entrenchments, in the face of a furious storm of grape-shot and musket-balls, and assaulted their works vigorously, without the aid of artillery. Arnold took a part of the brigades of Patterson and Glover, and assaulted the works occupied by the British light infantry, under the Earl of Balcarras, and drove the enemy from a strong abattis, at the point of the bayonet. There he tried to force his way into the enemy's camp; but he was obliged to abandon the attempt. Our brigade was advancing to make an assault on the works at an opening in the abattis, between the light infantry and the German right flank defence, under Colonel Breyman, when we saw Arnold dashing through the cross-fire of the two armies, and coming towards us. He placed himself at our head, and we moved on rapidly to the attack. He directed Brook's regiment to assault a redoubt which was on one side of the opening, while the remainder of the brigade fell upon the front. The battle there was fierce and bloody; but the enemy at last gave way, and left the Germans completely exposed. At that moment, Arnold galloped to the left, where we were, and ordered our regiment and Weston's, and Morgan's riflemen, to advance and make a general assault. He ;ut himself at the head of Brook's regiment, and attacked the German works. Having found the sally-port, he rushed within he enemy's entrenchments; and the Germans, who had seen him on his steed, in the thickest of the fight, for more than two hours, fled terrified; but, as they had, they fired a volley, which killed Arnold's horse, and wounded the general himself, in he same leg which he was wounded at Quebec. There, as I was told, Major Armstrong overtook him, and delivered Gates's order , to return to camp, fearing he 'might do some rash thing!'

"It was a rash thing, no doubt, in the eye of Gates," said Zephaniah; "but it's the right sort o' thing to lead troops to victory."

"Where was General Gates, all the time the battle was going on?" asked Dick.

"Why, in the camp, while Burgoyne was in the field all day," was he reply. "He issued his orders from his quarters, when he should have been on the field to inspirit his troops. It was about twilight when Arnold was wounded, and conveyed from the field by Major Armstrong and a sergeant. The Germans, finding the assault general, threw down their arms, and retreated to the interior of the camp, leaving their commander, Colonel Breyman, mortally wounded. The British camp was thus left exposed at a strong point. Burgoyne attempted to rally the dismayed Germans; but they couldn't be brought into action again. Both sides were worn out with the exertions of the day; and as the darkness increased the contest ended; and everything was hushed but the groans of the wounded, the occasional word of command, and the heavy tread of retiring columns, seeking for a place of repose. We returned to camp to enjoy a little rest after such a day's work; and, I tell you, I felt a sort of thankfulness, that I was permitted to return to quarters once more. I slept soundly till the next morning. When I awoke, at the reveille, I heard that Burgoyne had evacuated his camp, and removed the whole of his army, artillery, and baggage, about a mile from his former position. We didn't go out of the camp that day; but news would come in, every now and then, of a skirmish between some of Lincoln's troops and the enemy; we also learned that the general had taken possession of the British camp, and was wounded in the let. As the news that the British had retreated soon spread over the surrounding country, the people came flocking into camp, to join in the general joy, and to ascertain whether ny of their relatives and friends were among the killed and wounded."

"What was your loss in the whole day's batle?" enquired Zephaniah.

"About a hundred and fifty, killed and wounded. Arnold was the only commissioned officer who received a wound."

"What was the loss of the British?" Zephaniah next enquired, wishing to know all the particulars, and fearful , also, that the narrative was near its close.

"The enemy lost about seven hundred, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Among their officers who were killed, was the gallant Frazer, Sir Francis Clarke, burgoyne's aid-de-camp, who died at the head-quarters of Gates, Colonel Breyman, of the German corps, and Lieutenant Reynell. We took Major Ackland and Major Williams, prisoners. Burgoyne ha several very narrow escapes. One ball passed through his hat, and another through his coat."

"Well, I suppose you are goin' to tell us all about the surrender; ain't you?" enquired Jim, anxiously, as Luke paused.

"Oh, yes; I'll tell you about that, in its proper time. I'll go on from where I left off. We kept up a constant cannonading on the 8th of October, he day after the battle, principally directed against a place called 'the great redoubt,' on a hill near the British camp. I afterwards learned that General Frazer had died that morning, and that he requested to be buried on the hill, in the great redoubt, at six o'clock in the evening. At the appointed time, the request was complied with, while our cannon-balls were flying around the grave, and ploughing up the hill. This redoubt was within sight of both armies, and all eyes were directed towards it. We had mistaken the character of the procession, and kept up our cannonading; but as soon as we were informed that it was a funeral, paying the last tribute of respect to General Frazer, orders were given to cease firing with balls, and to render military honors to the fallen brave. While the chaplain was repeating the service, a single cannon was fired at regular intervals, by our troops; and it seemed to boom mournfully among the hills."

"That was a pleasing incident," said Zephaniah. "Two hostile armies doing homage to the same brave man, is a rare sight."

"It shows that the brave know how to honor the brave, no matter if among the foe," replied Luke. "Both of the hostile armies could testify to the bravery and skill of General Frazer. We had thought him their best officer in battle, and his life paid for that reputation. The British knew that without him they would have fared far worse than they did. Well, to continue my story. On the night of the 8th, it rained; --- the next morning, we received intelligence that the whole British army had retreated from their position at Wilbur's Basin, and that Burgoyne had left all his sick and wounded behind him, in the hospital, and had also abandoned a great number of wheel-carriages and other things. They had left Wilbur's Basin about nine o'clock, on the night of the 8th of October, and marched through all the rain, and over the bad roads, though they had been under arms all day, and the night before. I learned afterwards, that they were so worn out, that they had to make a halt, about six o'clock in the morning, and rest for three hours. It rained all day on the 9th, and of course we couldn't think of pursuit that day; but about noonof the next, we started. General Gates had calculated that Burgoyne would retreat on the 9th, and had sent General Fellows, with about fourteen hundred men, to occupy the high ground that ws opposite the Saratoga ford; another detachment to occupy the ground near Fort Miller; and another, of two thousand men, to occupy the heights beyond Saratoga, in the diretion of Lake George."

"I've never been in the neighborhood where the battles were fought," said Zephaniah;; "but I suppose that these detachments were intended to cut off Burgoyne's retreat."

"That was their object," replied Luke. "We reached the high ground, between Saratoga church and fish Creek, about four o'clock in the afternoon. The British had crossed over the creek, and encamped on the high ground on the other side. The two armies were within the sound of each other's music. The boats of Burgoyne, with his baggage and provisions, were at the mouth of the creek. A fatigue party began to carry the stores from the boats to he heights; but General Fellows played on them with two field-pieces, and they were obliged to retreat to their camp. Several of the boats were taken, with their contents, and were plundered by the raw militia we had with the army. Even the continental troops would take their pay and rations directly from the enemy, instead of receiving it regularly; so that general Gates had to issue an order, in which he said he would have the first person who was detected in plundering the baggage and stores taken from the enemy, punished with the utmost severity of military law. Finding we had guarded the ford across the Hudson, Burgoyne thought he would retreat up the right bank of that river, till he got opposite to Fort Edward, and then force his way across, and take possession of that fort. But it seemed as if we had small detachments all over the surrounding country. Every height was guarded, and every passage blocked up. The workmen that Burgoyne had sent forward to open the roads and repair the bridges, were driven back into the camp. The British found the fort in possession of about two hundred Americans, under Colonel Cochrane. The militia flocked into the fort, to strengthen the garrison; and the British, thinking our troops were as numerous in their front as in their rear, retreated back to their lines. About this time, a stratagem of the British commander came near being successful. He caused a rumor to reach us, that the whole British army had marched towards Fort Edward, leaving only a small detachment, as a rear-guard, in defence of the camp. General Gates determined to cross Fish Creek, on the morning of the 11th, and fall upon the rear-guard with his whole force, and then make a vigorous pursuit after the main body. This, you see, was what Burgoyne wanted. He put a strong guard at the battery on the creek, and concealed his troops in the thicket in the rear --- a sort of ambush. Well, the morning of the 11h was cloudless, as far as the sky was concerned; but a thick fog rested on the whole country, and obscured every object. This was thought to be a favorable circumstance, by both generals. You must bear in mind, that what I'm telling you now, I learned after the surrender; it was impossible for me to know these things then."

"Yes," said Zephaniah, "I was wonderin' how you got to know these things, seein' you weren't an officer."

"All told to me afterwards," continued Luke; "but you must recollect I'm telling you as if I saw it myself at the time. Well, as I said, this was considered a favorable omen by both generals. Gates thought it would veil his movements from the British rear-guard; and Burgoyne believed it would conceal the ambush, and that victory was certain. The brigades of Nixon and Glover, and Morgan's corps, were ordered to cross the creek, and fall upon the enemy's camp. Morgan advanced about daylight, when the fog was so thick that he could see but a few rods around him. He fell in with the British pickets, who poured in a volley on him, and killed a lieutenant and several privates. Morgan thought at once that the rumor was false; and that the enemy was in force in the rear; and Wilkinson, the deputy adjutant-general, who had been sent by Gates to reconnoitre, was of the same opinion. Accordingly, our brigade, (that was, Learned's) and Patterson's, were despatched to the support of Morgan. Nixon and Glover pressed forward to attack the camp. Nixon crossed the creek, and surprised a picket at Fort Hardy, and Glover was about to follow him, when a British soldier was seen fording the stream. He was captured and professed to be a deserter. Glover questioned him, and was informed tha the entire British army were in their camp, drawn up in the order of battle. Glover didn't believe him at first; but the capture of a German deserter and a reconnoitring party, by the advance-guard, under Captain Goodale, put it beyond doubt. Gates, having received information of these things from glover, revoked all the orders he had given on the previous evening, and directed the troops to return to their former positions. General Gates's head-quarters were about a mile in the rear of the army, and his orders came almost too late to save the troops from destruction. Those who had crossed the creek, were soon exposed to the enemy, by the fog clearing away. The British were under arms, on the heights. Nixon had retreated, however, and the cannonade opened on him by the British, took effect only on the rear of his detachment. In the meantime, our party had joined Morgan, and we were about to press on to the attack, when Wilkinson arrived, with the intelligence that the right wing of our army had given way. The commander of the detachment was General Learned, who also commanded our brigade. He was a veteran soldier; and not having received any counter orders from Gates, he wanted to carry out the orders of the previous day; but on counselling with some of his officers, a retreat was deemed advisable. As we turned to retreat, the British opened their fire on us; but we were soon masked by the woods, and Morgan took post on the flank and rear of the enemy. Thus we were enabled to return to our old positions, and thus were we saved from a fatal defeat; for if Burgoyne had cut off the brigades of Nixon, Glover, Learned, and Patterson, our army would have been so weakened, that Burgoyne might have easily scattered the remainder of our forces, and made good his retreat to albany. But the deserters blasted all his prospects.

"Open the canvas, there, Dick, and see if you can perceive anything of the day coming over the hills," said Jim.

"No, there's no sign of it, yet," replied Dick, after doing as requested.

"Then Luke will have time to tell us about the surrender," said Zephaniah. "That's the most interesting part to me."

"Oh, yes," returned Luke, "I think there's time enough to tell about that, yet. I'll make it as short as possible."

"go on, then," said Zephaniah.

"Well, Burgoyne saw that all retreat was cut off. The scouts reported that the roads swarmed with republicans. The few Indians he had with him, left him, disheartened by his ill success. The loyalists who had joined his army, began to think about heir personal security, and drop off gradually. Burgoyne had expected to hear from Clinton; but not a word did he receive from him. His camp was completely surrounded, and every part of it exposed to the fire of cannon and musketry. He hadn't bread enough in camp for three days' use; and, of course, none could be obtained. None dared to go to the river for water, except the women of their camp --- no one would shoot at them; but every man that went was a target for our marksmen. Their army was only about half as large as it was when they first came into the neighborhood of Stillwater, and the greater part of them were not Englishmen. Well, as I heard, on the morning of the 13th of October, Burgoyne called a council of his officers, including even captains of companies. They sat in a large tent, which was several times a mark for our musket-balls. An eighteen-pound cannon-ball swept across the table at which Burgoyne and the other officers were sitting, and several grape-shot fell near the tent."

"I guess they moved out of that pretty soon after that, didn't they?" enquired Zephaniah.

"Yes," replied Luke, "their deliberation was short, and they resolved to open a treaty with General gates, for an honorable surrender. Towards night, a flag came to our commander, with a note, stating that General Burgoyne wanted to send a field-officer to him, on matters of great moment, and wishing to know when General Gates wold see him. The reply was, about ten o'clock the next morning, at the advanced post of the army of the United States. Accordingly, at the appointed time, Gates met Lieutenant Kingston, Burgoyne's adjutant-general. Gates submitted the terms he had prepared to the inspection of Burgoyne; but that general objected to an article requiring the British to lay down their arms in their camp. He said that he would not admit that the retreat of his army was cut off while the men had arms in their hands. So General Gates removed that article from the list of terms. Negotiations were kept up till the 16th, when everything was arranged, ready for the signatures of the contracting parties. That act was to be performed on the 17th. On the night of the 16th, intelligence was communicated to Burgoyne, from Sir Henry Clinton, announcing the capture of the forts among the Hudson highlands, and the expedition of Vaughan and Wallace, up the river. This made Burgoyne anxious to avoid signing the articles of surrender; and Gates was made acquainted with the fact. Accordingly, on the morning of the 17th, we were drawn up in order of battle, and then Gates sent word to Burgoyne, that if he didn't sign the articles immediately, he would open a fire upon him, and that if the negotiation was to be broken off there, and again commenced, the terms would not be quite so honorable for him. So Burgoyne was compelled to sign his name, and preparations were made at once for the surrender. The British left their camp upon the hills, and marched slowly down upon the level plain, in front of old Fort Hardy; and there the different companies were drawn up in parallel lines, and, by order of their several commanders, grounded their arms and emptied their cartridge-boxes. I didn't see this done, for Gates had ordered all his army within camp, out of sight of the vanquished British troops. Colonel Wilkinson was the only American present at the scene. He had been sent to the British camp, and, in company with Burgoyne, selected the place where the troops were to lay down their arms. After the surrender, Burgoyne wanted to be introduced to General Gates; and he was conducted to head-quarters, with his staff. When Gates was informed of the approach of Burgoyne and his officers, he rode out to meet him, with his staff. When within a sword's length, they reined up and halted. Colonel Wilkiknson then named the gentlemen, and the British commander said, 'The fortune of war, General Gates, has made me your prisoner.' Then Gates replied, complimenting him on his bravery and generalship. I could see the meeting of the generals, from the place where I was standing a the time. Burgoyne was dressed in a rich uniform, of scarlet and gold, and Gates in a plain blue frock-coat. The officers in Burgoyne's suite were then introduced to Gates and his staff, and the whole proceeded to head-quarters. Then the British troops came into camp, and we entertained them as if they were the best friends we had in the world. Every comfort we had they shared with us. They had been pretty hard pushed for provisions for some days previous, and they enjoyed our plenty."

"It's a pity we couldn't always agree with them in that way," said Zephaniah. "I'd sooner share my loaf with a man than fight him, at any time."

"Yes, Zephaniah, I think so, too," returned Luke.

"It's a great pity we can't always agree with men in the way we did with the British troops, after the surrender. But as long as there will be oppression, and men to fight in defence of it, there will be men to resist in the same way."

"Well, I suppose you've concluded your story; haven't you?" enquired Jim.

"Yes, I think that's quite enough for one night," returned Luke. "I must be near daybreak, anyhow."

Luke got up, pulled aside the canvas of the tent, and looked out. A few "envious streaks" were in the eastern horizon --- harbingers of the approach of the blazing ear of Phoebus. It was still very cold, and the clouds were of a leaden hue, that showed them burdened with a wealth of snow. Luke returned to the fire quickly, and the men sat there patiently, waiting for the day to dawn in full, that they might the sooner get their share of provisions. The fire was renewed, and the men stuck as close to it as before. In about half an hour, the reveille bet, and the camp was all bustle. No doubt, many of the soldiers had passed the night in the same manner as Luke and his comrades; for the general fare of the soldiers was about the same as theirs.

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