defeated.... Colonel Baum detached to Bennington.... is
defeated.... Breckman defeated.... St. Leger abandons the
siege of fort Schuyler.... Murder of Miss M'Crea.... General
Gates takes command.... Burgoyne encamps on the heights of
Saratoga.... Battle of Stillwater.... Burgoyne retreats to
Saratoga.... Capitulates.... The British take forts
Montgomery and Clinton.... The forts Independence and
Constitution evacuated by the Americans.... Ticonderoga
evacuated by the British.


{1777}

While, with inferior numbers, General Washington maintained a stubborn
contest in the middle states, events of great variety and importance
were passing in the north.

After Sir Guy Carleton had distributed his army, for winter quarters,
in the several villages from the Isle Aux Noix and Montreal to Quebec,
General Burgoyne, who had served under him, embarked for England, in
order to communicate a full statement of affairs in the northern
department; and to assist in making arrangements for the ensuing
campaign. The American army, having been formed for only one year,
dissolved of itself at the expiration of that term, and could scarcely
furnish even the appearance of garrisons in their forts.

The defence of this frontier was assigned to the regiments directed to
be raised in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and the northwestern parts
of New York; but the recruiting service advanced so slowly, and so
much difficulty was found in clothing and arming those who were