HORATIO GATES,

MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE AMERICAN ARMY.

GENERAL GATES was a native of England, and was born in the year 1728. He was educated to the military profession, and entered the British army at an early age, in the capacity of lieutenant, where he laid the foundation of his future military excellence. Without

purchase he obtained the rank of major. He was aid to General Monckton at the capture of Martinico, and after the peace of Aix-laChapelle he was among the first troops which landed at Halifax under General Cornwallis. He was an officer in the army which accompanied the unfortunate Braddock in the expedition against Fort du Quesne, in the year 1755, and was shot through the body.

When peace was concluded, he purchased an estate in Virginia, where he resided until the commencement of the American war, in 1775. Having evinced his zeal and attachment to the violated rights of his adopted country, and sustaining a high military reputation, he was appointed by Congress adjutant

general, with the rank of brigadier, and he accompanied General Washington to the American camp at Cambridge, in July, 1775, where he was employed for some time in a subordinate, but highly useful, capacity.

In June, 1776, Gates was appointed to the command of the army of Canada, and on reaching Ticonderoga, he still claimed the command of it, though it was no longer in Canada, and was in the department of General Schuyler, a senior officer, who had rendered eminent services in that command. On representation to Congress, it was declared not to be their intention to place Gates over Schuyler, and it was recommended to these officers to endeavour to cooperate harmoniously. General Schuyler was, however, shortly after directed by Congress to resume the command of the northern department, and General Gates withdrew himself from it; after which he repaired to head-quarters, and joined the army under General Washington in Jersey.

Owing to the prevalent dissatisfaction with the conduct of General Schuyler in the evacuation of Ticonderoga, Gates was again directed to take command. He arrived about the 21st of August, and continued the exertions

to restore the affairs of the department, which had been so much depressed by the losses consequent on the evacuation of Ticonderoga. It was fortunate for General Gates that the retreat from Ticonderoga had been conducted under other auspices than his, and that he took the command when the indefatigable, but unrequited labours of Schuyler, and the courage of Stark and his mountaineers, had already ensured the ultimate defeat of Burgoyne.

Burgoyne, after crossing the Hudson, advanced along its side, and encamped on the height, about two miles from Gates' camp, which was three miles above Stillwater. This movement was the subject of much discussion. Some charged it on the impetuosity of the general, and alleged that it was premature, before he was sure of aid from the royal forces posted in New York, but he pleaded the peremptory orders of his superiors. The rapid advance of Burgoyne, and especially his passage of the North River, added much to the impracticability of his future retreat, and made the ruin of his army in a great degree unavoidable. The Americans, elated with their successes at Bennington and Fort Schuyler, thought no more of retreating, but came out to meet the

advancing British, and engaged them with firmness and resolution.

The attack began a little before mid-day, September 19th, between the scouting parties of the two armies. The commanders of both sides supported and reinforced their respective parties. The conflict, though severe, was only partial for an hour and a half; but after a short pause, it became general, and continued for three hours without any intermission. A constant blaze of fire was kept up, and both armies seemed determined on death or victory. The Americans and British alternately drove, and were driven by each other. The British artillery fell into our possession at every charge, but we could neither turn the pieces upon the enemy nor bring them off, so sudden were the alternate advantages. It was a gallant conflict, in which death, by familiarity, lost his terrors; and such was the order of the Americans, that, as General Wilkinson states, the wounded men, after having their wounds dressed, in many instances returned again into the battle. Men, and particularly officers, dropped every moment, and on every side. Several of the Americans placed themselves on high trees, and as often as they could dis

tinguish an officer's uniform, took him off by deliberately aiming at his person. Few actions have been characterized by more obstinacy in attack or defence. The British repeatedly tried their bayonets, but without their usual success in the use of that weapon.

The British lost upwards of five hundred men, including their killed, wounded, and prisoners. The Americans, inclusive of the missing, lost three hundred and nineteen. Thirty-six out of forty-eight British artillerists were killed or wounded. The 62d British regiment, which was five hundred strong when it left Canada, was reduced to sixty men, and four or five officers. In this engagement General Gates, assisted by Generals Lincoln and Arnold, commanded the American army, and General Burgoyne was at the head of his army, and Generals Phillips, Reidesel, and Frazer, with their respective commands, were actively engaged.

This battle was fought by the general concert and zealous cooperation of the corps engaged, and was sustained more by individual courage than military discipline. General Arnold, who afterwards traitorously deserted his country, behaved with the most undaunted