and stick to it. Any darned fool would know the way." What the Father of his Country replied has not been recorded. Digitized by Microsoft® Above Tide- Water 561 Repeated reference has been made to the battle of Saratoga, and its great importance in relation to American history can hardly be overestimated. It should not be forgotten that Sir Edward Creasy, the English military writer, has numbered this among the fifteen decisive battles of the world. Burgoyne started from Canada towards Albany with a reasonable expectation of uniting his forces with those of Clinton and keeping open a direct line of communi- cation from New York to the St. Lawrence. But he was harassed by the New Hampshire levies and checked at every step of the way by the obstructions that the forethought and activity of Schuyler had reared. The American amiy, organised by Schtiyler and transferred to Gates for reasons political, had been reinforced by two brigades from the Highlands, besides a force of artillery and Morgan's efficient corps of riflemen, sent by Wash- ington. Gates's army numbered about ten thousand men, many of them militia or levies. It must not be un- derstood, however, that the New York or Connecticut troops of this description were necessarily raw recruits. On the contrary, it was one of the peculiarities of the American army that its numbers alternately swelled and dwindled as occasion demanded. In two years' time both the militia and the levies may have been called out on several occasions under the stress of cir- cumstances, returning to their farms and villages in the intervals between active campaigns. While Gates was being thus reinforced. General 36 Digitized by Microsoft® 562 The Hudson River Schuyler, having retired to Albany, was receiving deputations of Indian chiefs and exerting his great influence to secure their services as scouts, thus materi- ally aiding the forces in the field. One is compelled to admire the greatness of soul of this man, who refused to permit the cavalier treatment accorded him by Gates, or the apparent neglect of higher powers, to interrupt the efficiency of his service or chill the ardour of his patriotism. Burgoyne, having gathered in what forces he could from Skenesborough and other posts, reached the Hud- son and constructed a bridge by which to cross from the east to the west bank of the river. Meanwhile, a lookout upon Willard's Mountain, on the east shore, watched his movements and reported them to the American commander. We have some hints of the gloomy anticipation with which the British com- mander found himself face to face with the American army. He knew that the posts in his rear had been retaken by the Americans. The defeat of St. Leger at Fort Schuyler had been disheartening; now the fre- quent desertions from his army depleted his force of fighting men. On the 13 th and 14th of September he crossed the river on his bridge of boats, landing upon the plain near the mouth of Fishkill Creek, afterwards Schuyler- ville, about five miles north of the American position. The arrangement of the opposing forces on the 19th was similar, each resting — right and left respectively-— Digitized by Microsoft® Above Tide-Water 563 upon the river, whence the Hnes stretched at right angles with the stream and parallel to each other, west- ward, across the hills. Burgoyne's left wing, on the flats near the river, consisted of the artillery. The General-in-chief commanded the centre and right in person. The American right, opposite the British artillery and extending over the low hills and flats near the river, was under the immediate command of General Gates. The left, that included Livingston's, Van Cortlandt's, Hale's, Scannel's, and Cilley's regiments, the Connecticut militia, and Morgan's famous sharp- shooters, was on the heights three quarters of a mile from the river, under command of the impetuous Bene- dict Arnold. Arnold, together with Thaddeus Kosciusco, the Polish engineer, had selected Bemis Heights as the theatre of battle and laid out fortifications there. Having, on the i8th, advanced slowly to within two miles of General Gates's position, Burgoyne rested over night and prepared for an attack upon the morn- ing of the 19th. The plan, in brief, was to make a demonstration with Canadians and Indians threaten- ing the American centre, while the grenadiers and light infantry, under Frazer, on the left of Gates's position, and the British left-wing, under Philips and Reidesel, were to move simultaneously and by a cir- cuitous rotite to gain the American rear. Burgoyne himself was with the British right. Digitized by Microsoft® 564 The Hudson River Gates received advice of the advance of the enemy upon his left, but made no movement in response to repeated appeals, until about noon Arnold succeeded in getting permission to