held among the British generals, and of the propositions and arrangements suggested and planned by them, Baroness Riedesel has written faithfully and clearly in her letters, which are invaluable indeed as history, to us, to-day. Besides all this Frederika von Riedesel with her ready energy was ever relieving and comforting the sick, the wounded and the dying. Going with the army in her caleche in which were safely tucked away her children and servants, she never fails to note the place and people she met, and of the Americans she says, "though it cost us dearly, every one of them was a soldier by nature, and the thought of fighting for their Fatherland and their freedom inspired them with still greater courage." On the seventh of October the fighting seems to have been more serious than ever, and after the death of General Frazer, and with her own husband constantly in mortal danger, even this brave woman cannot but write on hearing the terrible cannonading, "I was more dead than alive," and no wonder, for she, in her kindness and thoughtfulness for others, particularly her adored husband, was often exposed to the utmost risks herself. During the long march following these distressing days, Lady Ackland, who was also accompanying her husband, was advised by Baroness Riedesel, Ackland having fallen into the hands of the Americans and being ill, to return to him, that she might make herself useful to him in his present situation. After yielding to the Baroness's solicitations and having sent a messenger, through his adjutant, begging General Burgoyne's permission to leave the camp, his consent was obtained. The English chaplain Mr. Brudenel accompanied Lady Ackland, bearing a flag of truce together they crossed the Hudson in a small boat to the enemy. "There is, I believe, a beautiful engraving in existence, of this event," Baroness Riedesel writes, but better than this print, is the gallant answer which General Gates returned by chaplain PRESENT (1867) APPEARANCE OF THE HOUSE, IN THE CELLAR OF WHICH BARONESS RIEDESEL STAYED DURING THE CANNONADE. Brudenel, to the letter General Burgoyne had sent this American general by Lady Ackland, recommending her to his protection. Upon seeing Lady Ackland safely dispatched, Baroness Riedesel and her family moved on with the army in its painful march, through wind and weather, the savages, as she calls the Indians, who were fighting with their army, having lost all courage and gone in every direction to their homes; and on the 9th of October toward evening they came at last to Saratoga. Wet to the skin, and with not a place in which to change her clothing, she undressed her children and before a good fire they laid themselves down together on some straw. General Phillips, who is described by his contemporaries as an honourable, just and upright man, is said to have wished this courageous woman might have been their commanding general, rather than the unpopular (even among many of the English) Burgoyne, who in order to cover his retreat, caused the beautiful houses and mills belonging to General Schuyler to be burned. Great misery and disorder prevailed in the army, and in a house in which this accomplished and dignified woman sought shelter for herself and her children, she aided and assisted in the most sensible and direct way those poor, frightened, ill and wounded creatures, acting the part of an Angel-of-comfort among the sufferers, and ready to perform every friendly service, even such from which the tender mind of a woman might recoil. Those poor distracted ones obeying her more readily than their superior officers. The exposed position in which the British were placed was not to last much longer, and on the 17th of October they capitulated. The generals waited upon the American General-in-chief, Gates, and the troops laid down their arms and surrendered themselves prisoners of war. The Baroness was sent for by her husband to come to him with their children; she therefore obeyed and in the passage through the American camp, observed with great satisfaction, that no one cast scornful glances at them. On the contrary, they all greeted her, even showing compassion on their countenances at seeing a mother with her little children in such a position. She rather feared coming into the enemy's camp, the situation being something entirely new to her, however when approaching the tents, a noble looking man came toward her, and taking the children out of the caleche, embraced and kissed them, and then with tears in his eyes helped her to alight. "You tremble," said he to the Baroness, "fear nothing." Upon which she replied, "no, for you are so kind, and have been so tender toward my children, that it has inspired me with courage." He then led them to the tent of General Gates, with whom they found generals Burgoyne and Phillips. "You may dismiss all your apprehensions, for your sufferings are at an end," said General Burgoyne to her, to which she answered, “I should be acting very wrongly to have any more anxiety, when our chief has none." After even more kindness from the same gentleman who had first met her, she learned that he was the American general Schuyler, who, when they had finished dining, invited them to take up their residence at his house in Albany. They accepted, and immediately set out on their journey of some two days to reach that place. When they arrived in Albany, where they had so often longed to be, but came not as they had supposed they should, as victors, they were received in the most friendly fashion by the good General Schuyler and his wife and daughters, who showed them the most marked courtesy, as well as General Burgoyne, although he had caused without any necessity their magnificent house to be burned. "But," she writes, "they treated us as people who knew how to forget their losses in the misfortune of others." Even General Burgoyne was deeply moved at their magnanimity, and said to General Schuyler, "is it to me, who have done you so much injury, that you show so much kindness!" After some days with the Schuylers they set out for Boston, both families seemingly very reluctant to part from the other. At last they arrived, with their American guard at Boston, |