reduction of America. They already announced the approaching
termination of this glorious war; they openly declared it a thing
impossible that the rebels should ever recover from the shock of their
recent losses, as well of men as of arms and of military stores, and
especially that they should ever regain their courage and reputation,
which, in war, always contribute to success as much, at least, as arms
themselves. Even the ancient reproaches of cowardice were renewed
against the Americans and their own partisans abated much of the esteem
they had borne them. They were more than half disposed to pronounce the
Colonists unworthy to defend that liberty which they gloried in with so
much complacency. But it deserves to be noted here especially that
there was no sign of faltering on the part of the people, no
disposition to submit to the invading force. The success of the enemy
did but nerve our fathers to more vigorous resolves to maintain the
cause of liberty even unto death.

Certainly the campaign had been opened and prosecuted thus far in a
very dashing style by Burgoyne and had he been able to press forward it
is quite possible that success might have crowned his efforts. But
there were some sixteen miles of forest yet to be traversed; Burgoyne
waited for his baggage and stores, and meanwhile General Schuyler, who
was in command of the American forces, took such steps as would
necessarily put a stop to the rapid approach of the enemy. Trenches
were opened, the roads and paths were obstructed, the bridges were
broken up, and in the only practicable defiles large trees were cut in
such a manner on both sides of the road as to fall across and
lengthwise, which, with their branches interwoven, presented an
insurmountable barrier; in a word, this wilderness, of itself by no
means easy of passage, was thus rendered almost absolutely
impenetrable. Nor did Schuyler rest satisfied with these precautions;