Samuel Woodruff's Visit to the Battleground in 1827

The following account of a visit to the field of Saratoga, on the fiftieth anniversary of that battle, viz.: October 17th, 1827, was written immediately afterward for the use of the late Col. William L. Stone, for his Life of Brant. The writer, the late venerable Samuel Woodruff, Esq., of Windsor, (Conn.), was a participator in that battle.

WINDSOR, Conn., October 31, 1827

MY DEAR SIR

You may remember when I had the pleasure to dine with you at New York on the 14th inst., I had set out on a tour to Saratoga to gratify a desire I felt, and which had long been increasing, to view the battle grounds at that place, and the spot on which the royal army under the command of General Burgoyne surrendered to General Gates on the 17th of October, 1777.

I thought it would add something to the interest of that view to me, to be there on the 17th, exactly half a century after that memorable event took place. You will excuse me for entering a little into the feelings of Uncle Toby respecting Dendermond in the compressed and hastily written journal I kept of my tour, especially as you will take into consideration that I had the honor to serve as a volunteer under General Gates, part of that campaign, and was in the battle of the 7th of October.

I take the liberty to enclose you an extract of that part of my journal which embraces the principal object of my tour.

Oct. 17th.

After a short stop in Troy, took another stage for Saratoga; at Lansingburgh, a neat and handsome village, about three miles from Troy, crossed the Hudson on a covered bridge of excellent workmanship, over to Waterford (Old Half Moon point), another rich and flourishing village. Arrived at Fish Creek in Saratoga at half-past two P. m. through a beautiful, well cultivated interval of alluvial land on the west side of the Hudson -- everything from Albany to this place wears the appearance of wealth and comfort. Put up at Mr. Barker's tavern.

After dinner viewed the ruins of the British fortifications and headquarters of Gen. Burgoyne. He kept his quarters for several days at a house now standing and in good repair, about a mile north of Fish creek, on the west side of the road, owned by Mr. Busher (Bushee.), an intelligent farmer about seventy-five years of age. (Now known as the "Marshall House" See previous note.)

While Burgoyne held his headquarters at this house (A mistake -- as Burgoyne's headquarters were at the Schuyler mansion.), Baron Riedesel, of the royal army, obtained leave of the commander-in-chief to place his lady, the baroness, and their three small children under the same protection ; these were also accompanied by Lady Acland and some other ladies, wives of British officers.

At that time some of the American troops were stationed on the east bank of the Hudson, opposite the house, in fair view of it, and within cannon shot distance. Observing considerable moving of persons about the house, the Americans supposed it the rendezvous of the British officers, and commenced a brisk cannonade upon it. Several shot struck and shattered the house. The baroness, with her children, fled into the cellar for safety, and placed herself and them at the north-east corner, where they were well protected by the cellar wall.

A British surgeon by the name of Jones, having his leg broken by a cannon ball, was at this time brought in and laid on the floor of the room which the baroness and the other ladies had just left. A cannon ball entered the house near the northeast corner of the room, a few inches above the floor, and, passing through, broke and mangled the other leg of the poor surgeon. Soon after this he expired. Mr. Busher very civilly conducted me into the room, cellar and other parts of the house, pointing out the places where the balls entered, etc.

From hence I proceeded to and viewed with very great interest the spot where Gen. Burgoyne, attended by his staff, presented his sword to Gen. Gates; also the ground on which the arms, etc., of the royal army were stacked and piled. This memorable place is situated on the flat, north side of Fish Creek, about forty rods west of its entrance into the Hudson, and through which the Champlain canal now passes.

Contiguous to this spot is the north-west angle of old Fort Hardy, a military work thrown up and occupied by the French, under Gen. Dieskau, in the year 1755.

(*A mistake -- Fort Hardy having been erected by the province of New York and named after Gov. Hardy, then the colonial governor. Neither did Dieskau ever get as far south as this. See my " Life of Sir William Johnson.")

The lines of intrenchment embrace, as I should judge, about fifteen acres of ground. The outer works on the north side of Fish creek and east on the west bank of the Hudson. Human bones, fragments of fire-arms, swords, balls, tools, implements, broken crockery, etc., etc., are frequently picked up on this ground. *

(*And not only here, but from this point south to Stillwater, relics of the battles are often picked up. Indeed, so late as 1877, the Saratogian for February 15, 1877, says: "Tradition says that 100 years ago the coming summer a batteaux load of cannon balls and bomb shells was unloaded upon the west shore of the Hudson river at Stillwater, just above the rapids and in the rear of Stephen Bradt's dwelling. The object was to cart the munitions of war around the rapids, where the boat would again be reloaded. Gen. Burgoyne and his army were brought to a stand farther north, however, and the shells were never reshipped. High water, with its masses of floating debris, soon hid from sight the deadly missiles. Decade after decade passed away, and the location of the balls was unknown until twenty seven years ago, when one was found protruding above the surface. Bradt began an excavation and found over 200o bomb shells of different sizes, which he distributed to all his neighbors as Revolutionary relics. Many of them are still in possession of farmers in the vicinity of Stillwater, and a collection will be made to place on exhibition at the Centennial. A few of the balls were evidently captured from the British, as they bear the stamp of the lion's claw.")

In excavating the earth for the Champlain canal, which passes a few rods west of this fort, such numbers of human skeletons were found as render it highly probable this was the cemetery of the French garrison.

About twenty or thirty rods west of the aqueduct for the canal over Fish creek stood Gen. Schuyler's mills, which were burned by order of Gen. Burgoyne.

Gen. Schuyler's dwelling-house, also, and his other buildings, standing on a beautiful area a little southeast of the mills on the south side of the creek, suffered the same fate. The mills have been rebuilt and are now in operation at the same place where the former stood. The grandson of Gen. Schuyler now lives in a house erected on the site of the former dwelling of his father -- a covered bridge across the creek adjoining the mills.

I cannot in this place omit some short notices of Gen. P. Schuyler. It seems he was commander-in-chief of the northern army until the latter part of August, 1777, at which time he was superseded by Gen. Gates.

I remember at that time there was some excitement in the public mind and much dissatisfaction expressed on account of that measure; and with my limited means of knowledge I have never been able to learn what good reason induced his removal. Few men in our country at that time ranked higher than Gen. Schuyler in all the essential qualities of the patriot, the gentleman, the soldier and scholar. True to the cause of liberty, he made sacrifices which few were either able or willing to bear. The nobility of soul he possessed distinguished him from ordinary men, and pointed him out as one deserving public confidence.

At the surrender of the royal army he generously invited Gen. Burgoyne, his suite and several of the principal officers, with their ladies, to his house at Albany, where, at his own expense, he fed and lodged them for two or three weeks with the kindest hospitality.

This is the man who, a few days before, had suffered immense loss in his mills and other buildings at Fish creek, burned by order of the same Burgoyne who had now become his guest.

Respecting Gen. Gates I will only say finis coronal opus.

Oct. 18th.

At 7 A. m., started on foot to view some other and equally interesting places connected with the campaign of 1777. Three miles and a half south of Fish creek called at the house of a Mr. Smith, in which Gen, Fraser died of wounds received in the battle of the 7th of October, and near which house, in one of the British redoubts, that officer was buried. This house then stood by the road on the west margin of the intervale, at the foot of the rising ground. A turnpike road having since been constructed, running twenty or thirty rods east of the old road, the latter has been discontinued, and Mr. Smith has drawn the house and placed it on the west side of the turnpike.

Waiving, for the present, any farther notices of this spot, I shall attempt a concise narrative of the two hostile armies for a short period anterior to the great battle of the 7th of October.

The object of the British general was to penetrate as far as Albany, at which place, by concert, lie was to meet Sir Henry Clinton, then with a fleet and army lying at New York. In the early part of September Gen. Burgoyne had advanced with his army from Fort Edward and crossed the Hudson with his artillery, baggage wagons, etc., on a bridge of boats, and intrenched the troops on the highlands in Saratoga.

On the 19th of September they left their intrenchments, and moved south by a slow and cautious march toward the American camp, which was secured by a line of intrenchments and redoubts on Bemis's heights, running from west to east, about half a mile in length, terminating at the east end on the west side of the intervale.

Upon the approach of the royal army, the American forces sallied forth from their camp, and met the British about a mile north of the American lines. A severe conflict ensued, and many brave officers and men fell on both sides. The ground on which this battle was fought was principally covered with standing wood, This circumstance somewhat embarrassed the British troops in the use of their field artillery, and afforded some advantage to the Americans, particularly the riflemen under the command of the brave Col. Morgan, who did great execution.

Night, which has so often and so kindly interposed to stop the carnage of conflicting hosts, put an end to the battle. Neither party claimed a victory. The royal army withdrew in the night, leaving the field and their slain, with some of their wounded, in possession of the Americans. The loss of killed and wounded, as near as could be ascertained, was, on the part of the British, 600; and on that of- the Americans, about 350. The bravery and firmness of the American forces displayed this day, convinced the British officers of the difficulty, if not utter impossibility of continuing their march to Albany. The season for closing the campaign in that northern region was advancing--the American army was daily augmenting by militia, volunteers, and the " two months men," as they were then called. The fear that the royal armies might effect their junction at Albany, aroused the neighboring States of New England, and drew from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont a large body of determined soldiers. Baum's defeat at Bennington had inspired them with new hopes and invigorated their spirits.

Under these circumstances, inauspicious to the hostile army, the British commander-in-chief summoned a council of war; the result of which was to attempt a retreat across the Hudson to Fort Edward.*

(* That a retreat, even before the expedition of Burgoyne started, had been among the possibilities is shown by the fact that, on his advance Riedesel buried some boats at Fort Edward to be utilized should the army be forced to retreat. See my Life of Gen. Riedesel. As this work, however, is now very scarce, the following extract from the Remembrances of Public Events, 1774-1783, p8-48, is here given : " Burgoyne's further retreat had been cut off by the loss of his battery. To secure them without leaving a guard he had buried them at Fort Edward and marked the place with little board head-stones, on one of which was inscribed, 'Here lies the body of such an one, etc.,' as if it had been the burying place of his soldiers. When the Americans came to the spot and examined it, they discovered the stratagem, and the battery had a general and joyful resurrection. Gordon, also, mentions this discovery.)

Gen. Gates, apprehending the probability of this measure, seasonably detached a portion of his force to intercept and cut off the retreat, should that be attempted.

Many new and unexpected difficulties now presented themselves. The boats which had served the British army for a bridge, being considered by them as of no further use, had been cut loose, and most of them floated down the river. The construction of rafts sufficient for conveying over their artillery and heavy baggage, would be attended with great danger as well as loss of time. The bridges over the creeks had been destroyed; great quantities of trees had been felled across the roads by order of the American general; another thing, not of the most trifling nature, Fort Edward was already in possession of the Americans. In this perplexing dilemma the royal army found themselves completely checkmated. A retreat, however, was attempted, but soon abandoned. Situated as they now were, between two fires, every motion they made was fraught with danger and loss. They retired to their old intrenched camp.

Several days elapsed without any very active operations on either side. This interval of time was, however, improved by the royal army in preparations to make one desperate effort to force the line of the American camp, and cut their way through on their march to Albany. The American army improved the meantime in strengthening their outer works, arranging their forces and placing the Continentals on the north side of the intrenchments, where valiant men were expected, thus preparing to defend every point of attack; Morgan, with his riflemen, to form the left flank in the woods.

During these few days of "dreadful preparation," information daily arrived, by deserters and otherwise, that an attack would soon be made upon the line of our intrenchments at Bemis's Heights, near the headquarters of Gen. Gates.

The expected conflict awakened great anxiety among the American troops, but abated nothing of that sterling intrepidity and firmness which they had uniformly displayed in the hour of danger; all considered that the expected conflict would be decisive of the campaign, at least, if not of the war in which we had been so long engaged. Immense interests were at stake. Should Gen. Burgoyne succeed in marching his army to Albany, Gen. Clinton, without any considerable difficulty, would there join him with another powerful English army and a fleet sufficient to command the Hudson from thence to New York. Should this juncture of force take place all the States east of the Hudson would be cut off from all efficient communication with the western and southern States.

In addition to this there were other considerations of the deepest concern. The war had already been protracted to a greater length of time than was expected on either side at the commencement. The resources of the country, which were at first but comparatively small in respect to those things necessary for war, began to fail; the term of enlistment of many of the soldiers had expired.

We had no public money, and no government to guaranty the payment of wages to the officers and soldiers, nor to those who furnished supplies for the troops.

Under these discouraging circumstances it became extremely difficult to raise recruits for the army. During the year 1776 and the fore part Of '77 the Americans suffered greatly by sickness and were unsuccessful in almost every recontre with the enemy. Men's hearts, even the stoutest, began to fail. This was, indeed, the most gloomy period of the war of the Revolution.

On the 7th of October, about ten o'clock a.m., the royal army commenced their march and formed their line of battle on our left, near Bemis's Heights, with Gen. Fraser at their head. Our pickets were driven in about one o'clock P. m., and were followed by the British troops on a quick march to within fair musket shot distance of the line of our intrenchments. At this moment commenced a tremendous discharge of cannon and musketry, which was returned with equal spirit by the Americans.

For thirty or forty minutes the struggle at the breastworks was maintained with great obstinacy.

Several charges with fixed bayonets were made by the English grenadiers with but little effect. Great numbers fell on both sides. The ardor of this bloody conflict continued for some time without any apparent advantage gained by either party. At length, however, the assailants began to give way, preserving good order in a regular but slow retreat -- loading, wheeling and firing with considerable effect.

The Americans followed up the advantage they had gained by a brisk and well-directed fire of fieldpieces and musketry. Col. Morgan, with his riflemen, hung upon the left wing of the retreating enemy, and galled them with a most destructive fire. The line of battle now became extensive, and most of the troops of both armies were brought into action.

The principal part of the ground on which this hard day's work was done is known by the name of Freeman's farm. It was then covered by a thin growth of pitch-pine wood without underbrush, excepting one lot of about six or eight acres, which had been cleared and fenced. On this spot the British grenadiers, under the command of the brave Major Acland, made a stand and brought together some of their field artillery; this little field soon became literally "the field of blood."

These grenadiers, the flower of the royal army, unaccustomed to yield to any opposing force in a fair field, fought with that obstinate spirit which borders on madness. Acland received a ball through both legs which rendered him unable to walk or stand. This occurrence hastened the retreat of the grenadiers, leaving the ground thickly strewed with their dead and wounded.

The battle was continued by a brisk running fire until dark. The victory was complete, leaving the Americans masters of the field. Thus ended a battle of the highest importance in its consequences, and which added great lustre to the American arms. I have seen no official account of the numbers killed and wounded, but the loss on the part of British must have been great, and on the part of the Americans not inconsiderable. The loss of general officers suffered by the royal army was peculiarly severe.

But to return to the Smith house. I made known to the Smith family the object of my calling upon them, found them polite and intelligent, and learned from them many interesting particulars respecting the battle of the 7th of October. For several days previous to that time Gen. Burgoyne had made that house his headquarters, accompanied by several general officers and their ladies, among whom was Gen. Fraser, the Baron and Baroness Riedesel, and their children.

The circumstances attending the fall of this gallant officer have presented a question about which military men are divided in opinion. The facts seem to be agreed that, soon after the commencement of the action, Gen. Arnold, knowing the military character and efficiency of Gen. Fraser, and observing his motions in leading and conducting the attack, said to Col. Morgan, "that officer upon a grey horse is of himself a host, and must be disposed of. Direct the attention of some of the sharpshooters among your riflemen to him."

Morgan, nodding his assent to Arnold, repaired to his riflemen, and made known to them the hint given by Arnold. Immediately upon this the crupper of the grey horse was cut off by a rifle bullet, and within the next minute another passed through the horse's mane, a little back of his ears.

An aide of Fraser noticing this, observed to him, "Sir, it is evident that you are marked out for particular aim ; would it not be prudent for you to retire from this place?"

Fraser replied, "my duty forbids me to to fly from danger;" and immediately received a bullet through his body. A few grenadiers were detached to carry him to the Smith house.

Having introduced the name of Arnold, it may be proper to note here that although he had no regular command that day, he volunteered his services, was early on the ground and in the hottest part of the struggle at the redoubts. He behaved (as I then thought), more like a madman than a cool and discreet officer. Mounted on a brown horse, he moved incessantly at a full gallop back and forth, until he received a wound in his leg, and his horse was shot under him.*

(The Magazine of American History for May, 1879, contains the following, which may explain the cause of Arnold's actions.

ARNOLD AT SARATOGA.- In the battle of the 7th of October, 1777, which practically decided the fate of Burgoyne's expedition, General Benedict Arnold is represented as galloping about the field like one beside himself leading the troops to the charge with reckless daring, and even unconsciously dealing blows on those about him.

Wilkinson attributed his conduct to intoxication, but Major Armstrong, who assisted in removing Arnold, wounded, from the field, saw no signs of that. Other methods for accounting for his frenzied behavior have been suggested, but no evidence bearing on the question has heretofore been produced that I am aware of. In the 'History of the town of Northwood, New Hampshire, just published, I find some testimony which may aid us in solving the problem.

Dr. Edmund Chadwick, of Deerfield, N. H., was, in October, 1777, acting as surgeon of Col. Scammell's regiment, and was present at the battle in question. He related that during the action, while he was engaged in his professional duties in rear of the American troops, a hogshead of rum stood near him, the upper head of which was removed for the convenience of serving the contents to the men; that Arnold rode up in hot haste, saying, 'Give me a dipperful of that rum.' It was handed him; he drank the whole, wheeled his horse, and dashed into the fight.

The term 'dipperful' is rather vague, but very diminutive vessels would be out of place in the army, and it would be a small dipper, probably, which contained less than a pint. It may be added that Dr. Chadwick was well known to be a gentleman of character and respectability.

With regard to the statement of Armstrong, it may be said that a shock sometimes instantly sobers the most intoxicated person. Arnold had been severely wounded, and had his horse shot under him before he was taken from the field.

"Exeter, NH -- B"

One is reminded, by this anecdote, of a story related of President Lincoln, who, on being told that a certain successful general drank great quantities of whisky, asked his informant for the particular brand the officer used -- saying he would order it for some other of his generals!

Although not, perhaps, germaine to the present work, yet for the benefit of those of my subscribers who are Free-masons, I would say (notwithstanding much discussion on the subject) that Arnold was a Free-mason. In the book for visitors, kept by "Solomon's Lodge," at Poughkeepsie, during the Revolutionary War, appears the signatures, the same evening, of Benedict Arnold and Sir John Johnson, the latter the last Provincial Grand Master of New York.

Across the signature of Arnold some one has drawn a line--in accordance with a resolution of that lodge, after his treason, that his name should be erased from its books, This book containing these interesting signatures is now (1895) among the archives of the Masonic Temple in New York city. Mr. Edward M. L. Ehlers, Grand Secretary, first called my attention to this, which I have since verified by a personal inspection of the book.)

I happened to be near him when he fell, and assisted in getting him into a litter to be carried to headquarters. Late in the evening Gen. Burgoyne came in, and a tender scene took place between him and Fraser. Gen. Fraser was the idol of the British army, and the officer on whom, of all others, Burgoyne placed the greatest reliance. He languished through the whole night and expired at eight o'clock the next morning.

While on his death-bed he advised Burgoyne, without delay, to propose to Gen. Gates terms of capitulation, and prevent the further effusion of blood; that the situation of his army was now hopeless ; they could neither advance nor retreat. He also requested that he might be buried in the Great redoubt--his body to be borne thither between sunset and dark, by a body of the grenadiers, withour parade or ceremony. This request was strictly complied with.

After viewing the house to my satisfaction I walked up to the place of interment. It is situated on an elevated piece of ground commanding an extensive view of the Hudson, and a great length of the beautiful interval on each side of it. I was alone; the weather was calm and serene. Reflections were awakened in my mind which I am wholly unable to describe.

Instead of the bustle and hum of the camp, and confused noise of the battle of the warrior, and the shouts of victory which I here witnessed fifty years ago, all was now silent as the abodes of the dead. And, indeed, far, far the greatest part of both those armies who were then in active life at and near this spot, are now mouldering in their graves like that valiant officer whose remains are under my feet -- "their memories and their names lost," while God, in his merciful Providence, has preserved my life, and after the lapse of half a century has afforded me an opportunity of once more viewing those places which force upon my mind many interesting recollections of my youthful days.*

(* In connection with these battles there are three items which may appropriately here receive notice. The first is taken from the Saratoga county Standard for July 26, 1876 :

"Mrs. Elizabeth Gleason, of Stillwater, was born in Easton, opposite Bemis's Heights, October 7, 1777, during the hours that the decisive struggle was being fought. Her father, Thomas Lawson, was engaged in the battle in Col. Yates' Schaghticoke regiment. Nearly all of her century of life has been passed in the vicinity of Bemis's Heights, living with her husband, Win. Gleason, either on a farm at the "Huddle," or on another near the famous "Tory Hill," She yet retains a vivid recollection of the early days, and is well preserved in bodily health. She lives with her daughter, Mrs. Charlotte Hoskins, in the village of Stillwater.

The second is, that the celebrated "Baron Manchhausen, the author of the "Adventures," was long believed to be only a nom de plume, and a parody on the "Travels of Baron de Tott," or on Bruce's "Travels in Abyssinia," and that in the Genileman's Magazine for January, 1857, it is satisfactorily (?) made out that 'Munchhausen's Travels' were written at Dalcoath Mine, in Cornwall, England, by a Mr. Raspe, a German, who was storekeeper of that establishment. The true history of Baron Munchhausen, however, is as follows:

Munchhausen was one of the Brunswickers who served under General Riedesel against us in the Revolutionary war. At the time of Burgoyne's surrender, Munchhausen lost a leg while defending "the great redoubt" against the spirited attack of General Arnold. After the war he returned to his native City, Brunswick, and lived there until death, which occurred about the year 1804. Being incapacitated for any active employment, Munchhausen amused himself by writing those marvellous stories for children, which have, in Germany at least, become classic. I have myself stood over his grave, in Brunswick, in company with Registrator Sack (of the Brunswick Civil Court), who was personally acquainted with Munchhausen, and who is also my authority for the statement that the Munchhausen who was wounded in the redoubt is identical with the author of the " Adventures."

The third, is in regard to the national flag of the United States. A great deal of misapprehension exists about the date when it was first flung to the breeze. Thus, a writer in the Saratogian for August 26, 1880, says: "The growth of the American flag was a gradual thing, and anything in connection with it interesting. Bunker Hill was fought without a flag. The flag displayed by Putnam, on Prospect Hill, was red, with the motto 'An appeal to Heaven.' The thirteen stripes were employed to represent the colonies on the flag first raised by Washington at Cambridge, January 2, 1776. It was called the 'grand union' flag.

On June 14, 1777, Congress resolved 'that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.' This flag was, it is claimed, first unfolded by Paul Jones on the Ranger on the day of the adoption of the resolution. Various claims have been made to the honor of first unfolding the flag, but we think that the above is authority.

The Rome Sentinel publishes the following in relation to the subject, thus recording another claim which, it will be seen, puts the date subsequent to the date on which Paul Jones is said to have flung the flag to the breeze: Not long since a correspondent of the New York Mail gave an interesting account of the history of the United States flag, in which account was stated that the first stars and stripes ever flung to the breeze were unfurled in the battle of Saratoga, September 2, 1777. This is a mistake that needs correcting:

The honor of unfurling the first star spangled banner belongs to the garrison of Fort Stanwix, the site of which fort is now the site of Rome. From Pomroy Jones' 'Annals of Oneida County,' we glean that, at the beginning of the siege of Fort Stanwix, August 3, 1777, Colonel Gansevoort's garrison was without a flag. Military pride, indeed, every sense of propriety, would not allow them to dispense with an appendage so proper to a beleaguered fortress. Necessity being the mother of invention, shirts were cut up to form the white stripes, bits of scarlet cloth were joined for the red, and the blue ground, for the stars, was composed of a camlet cloak furnished by Capt. Abraham Swartwout of Poughkeepsie, an officer of the garrison. This same camlet cloak was taken from a detachment of the British, at Peekskill, by Col. Marinus Willett, in the spring of 1776, he being then in command of the Third New York Regiment, to which Capt. Swartwout belonged.

There is glory in the flag of our Union ; and the honor of first unfurling it to the breeze belongs to the gallant garrison of Fort Stanwix, which fought under that flag on the 6th of August, 1777, a day the events of which contributed more to the independence of the United States than is generally understood."

The fact is, however, that while it is true that a flag intended for the stars and stripes, and made out of a white shirt and some bits of red cloth from the petticoat of a soldier's wife, first floated on captured standards on the ramparts of Fort Stanwix (the present site of Rome), August 5, 1777; yet the stars and stripes as we now see them -- except as to the number of stars -- was first unfurled to grace the surrender at Saratoga, October 17, 1777. The Fort Stanwix flag is now in the possession of Mrs. Abraham Lansing, of Albany, a descendant of General Gansevoort, by whom it is cherished as a most precious relic.)

Oct. 19th

On my return down the river from Albany to New York, in the steamboat "North America," I had leisure and opportunity for reflecting upon the immense wealth and resources of the State of New York-greater, I believe, at this time than that of any other two States in the Union. It would be hazarding nothing to say that this single State possesses more physical power, and more of the It sinews of war," than were employed by the whole thirteen States through the war of the Revolution.

This, among other considerations, led me to the reflection how honorable it would be to the State, and how deserving of the occasion, that a monument be erected at or near the place where the royal army surrendered by capitulation on the 17th of October, 1777, in commemoration of an event so important in our national history. The battle of the 7th of October may be considered, in its effects and consequences, as the termination of the war, with as much propriety as that of Bunker's Hill was the commencement of it.

I am, sir, very respectfully yours,
SAMUEL WOODRUFF.
WILLIAM L. STONE, Esq.