Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/539

] which, with wanton cruelty, they laid in ashes. Why, instead of this useless vandalism, the British did not push forward to Albany, and make a bold effort in Gates's rear, must remain a problem. Had they done so, it is not improbable, that Burgoyne might have been saved even in his extremity.

These outrages, committed at the very time when Gates was according honorable, and even courteous, consideration to Burgoyne and his army, aggravated greatly the feelings of the Americans, and Gates wrote a sharp letter to Vaughan, the British general, on this subject, concluding it in these words: "Is it thus that the generals of the king expect to make converts to the royal cause? Their cruelties operate a contrary effect: independence is founded upon the universal disgust of the people. The fortune of war has delivered into my hands older and abler generals than General Vaughan is reputed to be; their condition may one day become his, and then no human power can save him from the just vengeance of an offended people."

When the British army left Ticonderoga, it consisted of about ten thousand men, exclusive of Indians; but, by the casualties of war, and by desertion, it was reduced to about six thousand at the time of the surrender. It contained six members of Parliament. General Gates had then under his command upward of nine thousand continentals, and four thousand militia. On this occasion, the Americans gained a remarkably fine train of brass artillery, amounting to forty pieces of different descriptions, and all the arms and baggage of the troops. Unable longer to retain possession of the forts on the lakes, the British, destroyed the works at Ticonderoga and its vicinity, threw the heavy artillery into the lake, and retreated to Isle aux Noix and St. John's.

Such, says Botta, was the fate of the British expedition upon the banks of the Hudson. It had been undertaken with singular confidence of success, but the obstacles proved so formidable, that those who had expected from it such brilliant results, were themselves its victims; and those it had alarmed at first, derived from it the most important advantages. There can be no doubt, that, if it was planned with ability, as to us it appears to have been, it was conducted with imprudence by those who were entrusted with its execution. For, it is to be remarked, that its success depended entirely on the combined efforts of the generals who commanded upon the lakes, and of those who had the management of the war in the state of New York. But far from moving in concert, when one advanced, the other retired. When Carleton had obtained the command of the lakes, Howe, instead of ascending the Hudson, towards Albany, carried his arms into New Jersey, and advanced upon the Delaware. When, afterwards, Burgoyne entered Ticonderoga in triumph, Howe embarked upon the expedition against Philadelphia; and thus the army of Canada was deprived of the assistance it