he directed the cattle to be removed to the most distant places and the
stores and baggage from Fort George to Fort Edward, that articles of
such necessity for the troops might not fall into the power of the
British. He urgently demanded that all the regiments of regular troops
found in the adjacent States should be sent without delay to join him;
he also made earnest and frequent calls upon the militia of New England
and of New York. He likewise exerted his utmost endeavors to procure
himself recruits in the vicinity of Fort Edward and the city of Albany;
the great influence he enjoyed with the inhabitants gave him in this
quarter all the success he could desire. Finally, to retard the
progress of the enemy, he resolved to threaten his left flank.
Accordingly, he detached Colonel Warner, with his regiment, into the
State of Vermont with orders to assemble the militia of the country and
to make incursions toward Ticonderoga. In fact Schuyler did everything
which was possible to be done under the circumstances, and it is not
too much to assert in justice to the good name of General Schuyler,
that the measures which he adopted paved the way to the victory which
finally crowned the American arms at Saratoga.

Washington, equally with Congress, supposing that Schuyler's force was
stronger and that of the British weaker than was really the case, was
very greatly distressed and astonished at the disasters which befell
the American cause in the north. He waited, therefore, with no little
anxiety, later and more correct information before he was willing to
pronounce positively upon the course pursued by St. Clair. When that
officer joined Schuyler the whole force did not exceed 4,400 men; about
half of these were militia, and the whole were ill-clothed, badly
armed, and greatly dispirited by the recent reverses. Very ungenerously
and unjustly it was proposed to remove the northern officers from the
command and send successors in their places. An inquiry was instituted