On the near approach of Burgoyne with so powerful, and as yet successful an army, with his horde of unrestrained savages, who were continually in advance and on his flanks, prowling about the country, plundering, murdering and scalping all who refused loyalty to the British king, the inhabitants on both sides of the Hudson river, in the wildest consternation and alarm, fled in every direction.

In one place a long cavalcade of ox carts occasionally intermixed with wagons, filled with all kinds of furniture hurriedly thrown in, and not often selected by the owners with reference to their use or value, on occasions of such alarm, were stretched for some distance along the road; while in another might be seen a number on horseback, and here and there two mounted at once on a steed panting under the weight of a double load, closely followed by a crowd of pedestrians, and some perhaps weeping mothers, with a child or two screaming in their arms or on their backs, trudging along with fearful and hurried step. These found great difficulty in keeping up with the rapid flight of their mounted friends. Here and there would be seen some humane person assisting the more unfortunate, by relieving them of their burdens with which they were encumbered; but generally a principle of selfishness prevented much interchange of friendly offices-every one for himself was the common cry.

The men of this generation can never know what were the sorrows of those fathers that saw their children exposed to dangers and death, and what the agonies of those kind mothers, who pressed their offspring to their bosom in the constant apprehension of seeing them torn from their embraces, to become the victims of savage cruelty.*

(* In corroboration of the above just remark I give here an epitaph, copied from the inscription found on a monument in Westminster, Vermont, and furnished to Slade by the late Hon. Win. C. Bradley. It is preserved in " Slade " both, as he says, as a literary curiosity and as exhibiting " an unequivocal indication of the "spirit of the times."

The history of the transaction, which it commemorates, may be found in "Slade's Vermont State Papers," pages 55-9. It is an account of one of the most unprovoked and bloodthirsty transactions of the American revolution, and fully deserves a place (as a record) beside the "Battle of Golden Hill," New York, and the "Boston Massacre." As "Slade" is now out of print we reproduce it.

EPITAPH.

In Memory of William French Son to Mr Nathaniel French Who Was Shot at Westminster March Ye 13th 1775 by the hands of Cruel Ministereal tools of Georg ye 3d in the Corthouse at a 11 a Clock at Night in the 22 d year of his Age."

"Here William French his Body lies
For Murder his blood for Vengance cries
King Georg the third his Tory crew
tha with a bawl [ball] his head Shot threw
For Liberty and his Countrys Good
he Lost his Life his Dearest blood.")

At one time while the two armies were encamped near each other (after the battle of Freeman's farm) about twenty of the most resolute inhabitants in the vicinity, collected together for the purpose of having a frolic, as they termed it, of some kind or other. After their arrival at the place of rendezvous, and a number of propositions had been logically discussed, they finally concluded, with more courage than prudence, that, by a coup-de-main, they would go and bring in one of the British advance pickets, which was posted on the north bank of the middle ravine.

Having with much formality selected their several officers, and furnished themselves with suitable arms and other equipments, they marched off in irregular military style. The martial costume of the captain, for by such title he was addressed, exhibited the extremes of continental etiquette, personified in one instance, by a sharp and huge three-cocked hat, profusely trimmed with the threadbare fragments of thrown-off gold lace, surmounting a well pomatumed and powdered head. A long waisted blue coat, turned up with rather sun-bleached buff, that met and parted at the same time on his breast; a black silk neck-kerchief, drawn tightly around his throat, discovering the balance of power, or rather the center of gravity to be lying somewhere in the region of the olfactory organ, completed the upper half of this mischief-bent volunteer officer. A pair of buckskin small clothes drawn tightly over a muscular thigh, were met at the knee by a pair of straight-sided boots, that, doubtless, by their stiffness and want of pliability prevented anything like an attack upon the limb inside. An old white belt thrown over the whole man, and a heavy sabre with a leather scabbard, completed the brilliant costume of this son of chivalry, and ir-regular friend of the Continental Congress.

The other commissioned officers, for such by way of distinguishment were they called, were fully armed and accoutred in a similar manner, but somewhat inferior in brilliancy. Brown tow shirts were the panoply of the farmer- soldiers; over their broad shoulders hung powder horns and shot bags, manufactured during the long winter evenings, and now and then stopped up with a corn cob, which had escaped the researches of the swinish multitude. Muskets were rather uncommon among the inhabitants in those days of martial exploit, and in their stead, long fowling-pieces were substituted.

In such a group of combatants, just escaped, as it were, from the tomahawk, hastily equipped for the present emergency, and bearing a grotesque appearance, the name of Steuben was of no more weight than the feather that danced in the breeze. Thus armed and accoutred, the sons of daring intrepidity marched off about ten o'clock at night, with more courage than order, fully determined to conquer or die in the glorious cause of their beloved country, then bleeding at every pore.

As they approached within musket-shot distance of their unsuspecting enemy they were formed, or rather formed themselves in order of battle, and advanced in three grand divisions -- one by a circuitous route, to gain their rear, while the other two posted themselves on their flanks.

After giving time for each party to gain their several positions, the resolute captain, who was prepared for the purpose, gave the preconcerted signal by a deafening blast on an old horse trumpet, whose martial sound had often cheered the mounted troops to fierce and bloody combat, when all, with fearless, step " rushed bravely on " with clattering arms, through rustling leaves and crackling brush, with the usual parade of a hundred men. As they closed in the leaders of each division, in a bold and commanding voice, and before the guard could say

Who comes there?" called, or rather bawled out,

"Ground your arms, or you are all dead men!" Supposing they were surrounded by a much superior force, and deeming resistance, under such circumstances, of no avail, the officer of the guard gave the orders, when their arms were immediately grounded, and thirty British soldiers surrendered themselves as "prisoners of war" to only two-thirds of their number, and those undisciplined American farmers.

Accompanying the American army were a great number of women, principally foreigners, many of whom had husbands or brothers in the action, and many who followed merely for the sake of plunder, as was manifested during the night after the action of the 7th October.

The next morning after the battle every man that was left dead on the field, and even those who were supposed to be mortally wounded, and not yet dead, but helpless, were found stripped of their clothing, which rendered it almost impossible to distinguish between American and British. But during the action a heartrending and yet, to some, a laughable, scene took place in the American camp, and probably the same in the British.

In the heat of the battle, and while the cannon were constantly roaring like oft peals of distant thunder, and making the earth to quake from its very foundation, some of those women, wringing their hands, apparently in the utmost distress and frantically tearing their hair in the agony of their feelings, were heard to cry out, in the most lamentable exclamations, "Och, my husband! my poor husband! Lord Jesus, spare my poor husband!" which would be often repeated, and sometimes by fifteen or twenty voices at once; while the more hardened ones, and those rejoicing in the prospects of plunder, would break out in blasphemous imprecations, exclaiming, "Damn your poor husband, you can get another!"

And in this manner the scene continued during the action ; and I have heard it observed by those who were present that they could not help smiling, even through their tears, at the pitiful exhibition.

The Germans were found almost totally unfit for the business they were engaged in. They were unable to march through the woods and encounter the difficulties incident to our then almost unsettled country. Many of them deserted to our army before and after the convention at Saratoga. Among those of the German troops who surrendered, were the Hesse- Hanau regiment, Riedesel's dragoons and Specht's regiment, the most remarkable of the whole. The Hessians were extremely dirty in their persons, and had a collection of wild animals in their train -the only thing American they had captured.*

(* Until Green's and Elking's works on the Hessians came out, it had always been the habit of all writers on both sides to sneer at and ridicule the Hessians. But they were really to be pitied. The abject slave of his German petty prince, the Hessian was not allowed to ask why or wherefore he was to fight. He knew but one will - that of his military lord and superior.

That he did not, however, yearn to return to his fatherland, is clearly shown in the fact that as many as could deserted, and in Massachusetts and Virginia became well-to- do and reputable farmers many of whose descendants are living to this day -chief men in their respective communities. As in point, I here give an extract from the private diary of Capt. Biddle, during the revolution :

Although, as we have seen, it was one of Biddle's chief motives in enlisting to have a shot at the Hessians, he saw cause later to change his opinion of these mercenaries, it when he came to know many of them, and considered that they were a set of poor wretches, obliged to go wherever they were ordered by their prince." He records that " many of them captured with Burgoyne were at Reading, and were very useful to the farmers in the neighborhood, who hired them and found they were hard working, industrious fellows. I know several who have become men of property, and behaved well. One of them has been with me eleven years."

He says when he first came to America he and all the Hessians firmly believed that if they were taken by the Americans they would be roasted and eaten. He notes with indignation the conduct of an ,\merican surgeon who was employed to attend the wounded Hessians taken prisoners after the attack upon the fort at Red Bank. This man boasted, it seems, that " whenever he was called to a Hessian wounded in the leg or arm he immediately amputated it, whether necessary or not, to prevent their doing any more mischief."

Neilson, however, is wrong in styling these "Hessians." They were Brunswickers -- the Hessians being in the southern department. Bancroft, also, falls into this same error. The above remark, nevertheless, applies with equal force to the Brunswickers.)

Here could be seen an artillery-man leading a black grizzly bear, who every now and then would rear upon his hind legs as if he were tired of going upon all fours, or occasionally growl his disapprobation at being pulled along by his chain. In the same manner a tamed deer would be seen tripping lightly after a grenadier. Young foxes were also observed looking sagaciously at the spectators from the top of a baggage wagon, or a young racoon securely clutched under the arm of a sharpshooter. There were a great many women accompanying the Germans, and a miserable looking set of oddly dressed, gypsy featured females they were.

It is said that no insults were offered to the prisoners as they marched off, and they felt grateful for it. However, after they got out of the camp, many of the British soldiers were extremely abusive, cursing the rebels and their own hard fate. The troops were escorted by some of the New England militia, and crossed the river at Stillwater, on a bridge of rafts, which had been constructed by the Americans while the army was encamped on Bemis's heights.*

(* The army of Burgoyne was escorted by Gens. Glover and Whipple to Cambridge, near Boston with a competent guard of militia. " The first night of the retreat " [Oct. 71, writes Glover to Heath, Oct. 9th, 77, we halted half a mile in the rear of them [the British army]; there remained the whole night with our arms in our hands: not a man slept. About four in the morning, they began to move. We pushed on until they were driven into their strong works on the River Road [Wilbur's Basin]. Skirmishing parties were sent out the whole day and some prisoners taken."

The following, also, is from the journal of Ephriarn Squier, a sergeant in the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army :

"Oct. 17th. This morning, at 4 o'ck, paraded again, ground our arms at about 11 o'clk, orders to strike our tents and load them and march to headquarters immediately, which we did as soon as possible and marched by the road just north of the Meeting House so as to see the prisoners march by towards Head-Quarters, a very agreeable sight, I thought for some time, but was weary before they had all passed by, though they marched brisk, yet they had hardly all passed us by the sun half an hour high. They were more than three hours in passing.")

On the night of the surrender, a number of Indians and squaws, the relics of Burgoyne's aboriginal force, were quartered under a strong guard for safe keeping. Without this precaution their lives would not have been safe from the exasperated militia.

While the British army lay on the north bank of Fisk creek, the east side of the river, in addition to the regular troops, was lined with American militia. One of them, an expert swimmer, discovered a number of the enemy's horses feeding in a meadow of General Schuyler's, opposite, and asked permission of his captain to go over and get one of them. It was given, and the man instantly stripped, and swam across the river. He ascended the bank and selecting a fine bay horse for his prize, approached the animal, seized and mounted him instantly. This last was the work of a moment. He forced the horse into a gallop, plunged down the bank and brought him safely over to the American camp, although a volley of musketry was fired at him from a party of British soldiers posted at a distance beyond.

His success was hailed with enthusiasm, and it had a corresponding effect on his own adventurous spirit. After he had rested himself, he went to his officer and remarked, that it was not proper that a private should ride, whilst his commander went on foot.

"So, sir," added he "if you have no objectionss, I will go and catch another for you, and next winter when we are home, we will have our own, fun in driving a pair of Burgoyne's horses."

The captain seemed to think it would be rather a pleasant thing and gave a ready consent. The fellow actually went across the second time, and with equal success and brought over a horse that matched exceeding well with the other. The men enjoyed this prank very much, and it was a circumstance familiar to almost every one in the army at that time.

Another circumstance happened about the same time, and shows that families were not only divided in feeling on the subject of the war but that the natural ties which bind the same kith and kin together were not always proof against the political animosities of the times. When Burgoyne found his boats were not safe, and, in fact, much nearer the main body of the American army than his own, it became necessary to land his provisions of which he had already been short for many weeks, in order to prevent his army being actually starved into submission. This was done under a heavy fire from the American troops, who were posted on the opposite side of the river. On one of these occasions a person by the name of Mr. _____, at Salem, and a foreigner by birth, and who had at the very time a son in the British army, crossed the river at De Ridder's. *

(* On the east side of the Hudson River, opposite Schuylerville, N. Y., is the old homestead of the De Ridder family. The original house was burned in 1836, being somewhat nearer the road on the east. When the lands in the patent of Saratoga were still uncultivated, and in great part covered with wood, it was then that three young and robust men, Killian De Ridder, Philip Schuyler (who was shot in 1745), and Winne, started from the city of Albany with packs upon their backs, and penetrated the wilds of the upper Hudson till they reached this neighborhood.

Here they settled and cultivated the land, enduring the perilous and toilsome vicissitudes of a frontier life. The fire which destroyed the old family mansion also destroyed a great number of old and curious books, papers and collected relics and mementoes. One of the things which escaped the ravages of the fire was an old Dutch family Bible. Upon its title page is the following sentence, explanatory of its name and the date of publication, etc.: " Gedaen ter Vergaderinge van de Hoogh gemelte Staten Generael. In den Hage den 29, Jul 1637. Was gegparaphreert, A. Ploss, Van Amstel, Onder stont, Ter Ordenmantie van deselve. Geteechent, Cornelis Musch." From the family register it appears that Simon De Ridder, son of Killian, was born the 20th day of December, 1765, on Thursday morning at 4 o'clock, Walter and Annatie Becker, sponsors."

It is perceived that the custom of baptizing children on the day of their birth was followed by this early family. Simon De Ridder was married to Catherine Becker, daughter of John A. and Hannah Becker, February 15, 1786. His second wife, Maria Van Schaick, daughter of Jacob and Geertie Van Schaick, he married February 15th, 1790. He died July 13th, 1832. He took a very prominent part in the War of 1812, and was known as General Simon De Ridder. Several of the descendants of the De Ridder family and their connections are still living and hold positions of great trust, besides being influential members of their respective communities. Mr. J. H. De Ridder, cashier of the Citizens's National Bank of Saratoga Springs, N. Y., takes great pride (and deservedly) of his ancestors.

The late wife, also, of Charles W. Mayhew, for many years the honored superintendent of the Victory Mills, of Schuylerville, N. Y., was the eldest daughter of Col. Walter De Ridder, who was in the War of 1812. His father was the Gen. Samuel De Ridder above mentioned, who was contemporary with Philip Schuyler, 2d., son of Gen. Schuyler, of Revolutionary fame, and were great friends. The De Ridders, as above stated, settled on the east side of the Hudson, and the Schuylers on the west, both owning large tracts of land.

The ancestor of Mr. Mayhew was Thomas Mayhew, who came to America early in 16oo removing from Watertown, Mass., in 1642, began the settlement at Edgar Town, Martha's Vineyard, and was Governor and patentee of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Elizabeth Isles, preaching there 73 years. Mr. Mayhew is in the eighth generation. Mr. Mayhew has the "Mayhew Tree" from which these facts are taken, and which brings the family up to 1855.)

Also, with a person by the name of M'Neil, they went in a canoe, and arriving opposite to the place intended, crossed over to the western bank, on which a redoubt called Fort Lawrence had been erected. They crawled up the bank with their arms in their hands, and peeping over the upper edge, they saw a man in a blanket coat loading a cart. They instantly raised their guns to fire, an action more savage than commendable.

At the moment the man turned so as to be more plainly seen, old Mr. said to his companion, now that's my own son Hughy, but I'll be d-'d for a' that if I sill not gi' him a shot. He then actually fired at his own son, as the person really proved to be, but happily without effect. Having heard the noise made by their conversation, and the cocking of their pieces, which the nearness of his position rendered perfectly practicable, he ran round the cart and the balls lodged in the felloe of the wheel. The report drew the attention of the neighboring guards, and the two marauders were driven from their lurking place.

While retreating with all possible speed M'Neil was wounded in the shoulder, and while alive carried the wound about unhealed to his last day. Had the ball struck the old Scotchman, it is questionable whether any one would have considered it more than even-handed justice, commending the chalice to his own lips.