Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/540

 from New York. The ruin of the whole enterprise is clearly attributable to this want of co-operation."

Immediately after the victory of Saratoga, Gates, whose duty it was to communicate his success to the commander-in chief, neglected this evident propriety, and dispatched his aid-de-camp, Wilkinson, to carry the good news direct to Congress. On being introduced into the Hall, he said: "The whole British army has laid down arms at Saratoga; our own, full of vigor and courage, expect your orders: it is for your wisdom to decide where the country may still have need of their services." Congress passed a vote of thanks to General Gates and to his army, and Wilkinson was appointed brigadier-general by brevet. They decreed that Gates should be presented with a medal of gold, to be struck expressly in commemoration of so glorious a victory: on one side of it was the bust of the general, with these words around: ", Duci strenuo; and in the middle, Comitia Americana. On the reverse, Burgoyne was represented in the attitude of delivering his sword; and in the back-ground, on the one side, and on the other, were seen the two armies of England and of America. At the top were these words: Salus regionum septentrion.; and at the foot, Hoste ad Saratogam in deditione accepto. Die Oct..

The kindness and' consideration of the Americans towards their vanquished foes deserve great praise. The sick and the wounded were carefully attended to, and in every way the British officers and troops were made to feel that their conquerors were as generous as they were brave. General Schuyler was particularly magnanimous. The Baroness Reidesel, in her Narrative, makes mention, in the warmest terms, of his courtesy and politeness to herself and others. "Some days after this," are her words, "we arrived at Albany, where we so often wished our selves; but we did not enter it as we expected we should—victors! We were received by the good General Schuyler, his wife, and daughters, not as enemies, but kind friends, and they treated us with the most marked attention and politeness, as they did General Burgoyne, who had caused General Schuyler's beautifully finished house to be burned. In fact, they behaved like persons of exalted minds, who deter mined to .bury all recollection of their own injuries in the contemplation of our misfortunes. General Burgoyne was struck with General Schuyler's generosity, and said to him, 'You show me great kindness, though I have done you much injury.' 'That was the fate of war,' replied the brave man; 'let us say no more about it.' "

Burgoyne proceeded to Boston, and was well treated; but it was not long before difficulties arose. Congress was not at all satisfied with the prospect of the British soldiers sailing for England, to relieve others who would be dispatched immediately to America; and taking advantage of several pretexts. more or less urgent, they finally refused to allow the embarkation of the troops at all. "We shall not