Page:The Hessians and the other German auxiliaries of Great Britain in the revolutionary war.djvu/191

 forth the evil consequences of his not consulting the writer, or of not executing the latter's plans promptly. It is clear that Riedesel held Burgoyne responsible for the misfortunes of the army, misfortunes which he himself took so deeply to heart that his health and spirits were for a long time seriously affected. Before leaving America, in the spring of 1778, Burgoyne wrote to the Duke of Brunswick, praising Riedesel's intelligence and the manner in which he had executed the orders of his superior officer. Upon this Riedesel wrote a most friendly letter to Burgoyne, thanking him in his own name and that of his officers for the kindness which the commanding general had shown to them. “If good fortune did not crown your labors,” he continues, “we know well that it was not your fault, and that this army was the victim of the reverses of war.” This solitary expression of confidence is not to be reconciled with what Riedesel says at other times and in other places. The military memorandum above-mentioned, published in the baroness's book, is sufficient proof of this. In the same spirit are conceived Riedesel's comments on Burgoyne's report of the campaign. These comments, which were addressed to the Duke of Brunswick and his countrymen, are dated Cambridge, April 8th, 1778, a little more than a month later than the letter above quoted. They complain explicitly that General Burgoyne, while speaking highly of Riedesel himself, passes lightly over the services of his troops. The German general's complaints in this