Part 3 (2/2)

LONGFELLOW.

[1] In Preble's ”History of the Flags of the United States,” it is given that when the _Bon Homme Richard_ was sinking the flag was transferred to the _Serapis_, and was afterward presented by the Marine Committee to James Bayard Stafford of the _Bon Homme Richard_ for meritorious services.

WHERE THE STARS AND STRIPES UNFURLED

BURGOYNE was in the enemy's country. He was cut off from reenforcements.

His very efforts to separate the colonies now recoiled upon his own armies. He could neither advance nor retreat with safety. For two weeks the opposing armies had stood opposite each other without fire. In desperation the British general now hazarded another battle. After a sustained and terrible struggle Burgoyne went down in defeat. His best and bravest officers were lost and seven hundred of his men were killed.

General Frazer, beloved by every British soldier and respected by those opposed to him, had fallen at the hands of one of Morgan's riflemen, of whom it was said, they could strike an apple in mid-air and shoot out every seed.

On the American side Benedict Arnold, although divested of his command, had ridden to the front of his old regiment and became ”the inspiring genius of the battle.” He charged right into the British lines and received a severe wound. He received also the disapproval of General Gates and the reprimand of Congress. The battle raged furiously until nightfall, when the proud Briton who had boasted ”the British never retreat” fled under cover of the darkness. He gained the heights of Saratoga, where he found himself completely hemmed in by the Americans.

With but three days' rations between his army and starvation, he was forced to surrender. While he was holding consultation with his officers concerning this, a cannon ball pa.s.sed over the table at which they were sitting, and, no doubt, hastened their conclusions.

Colonel Kingston was detailed to confer with the American general on articles of capitulation. He was conducted blindfolded to General Gates and with him arranged the formalities. The morning of October 17, seventeen hundred and ninety-one British subjects became prisoners of war. They marched to Fort Hardy on the banks of the Hudson and, in the presence of Generals Morgan, Wilkerson, and Lewis, laid down their arms. The eyes of many of the men were suffused with tears; others among them stamped upon their muskets in anger.

The colors had been preserved to the British army through the foresight of General Riedesel, who had handed them to his wife for safe-keeping.

To the credit of the victorious Americans, it is said, they showed no disrespect to the defeated foe. ”General Gates,” wrote Lieutenant Ansbury, one of the captured officers, ”revealed exceeding n.o.bleness and generosity toward the captives, commanding the troops to wheel round the instant arms were grounded. And he, himself, drew down the curtains of the carriage in which he was sitting, as the troops pa.s.sed him in returning.”

For the formal surrender of General Burgoyne to General Gates a marquee had been erected near the latter's old quarters. To this came the British general and staff in full court dress. General Gates appeared in plain clothes with nothing to indicate his rank. As the two generals advanced to greet each other, General Burgoyne removed his hat and extending his sword, said, ”The fortunes of war, General Gates, have made me your prisoner.” General Gates, not to be outdone in polite address, returned the sword and replied, ”I shall always be ready to bear testimony that it has not been through any fault of your Excellency.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE SURRENDER OF GENERAL BURGOYNE.]

The generals and their officers then sat down to a table improvised of boards laid across barrels and dined together most amicably, but on very frugal fare. General Burgoyne took occasion to compliment the discipline of the American army. He then proposed a toast to General Was.h.i.+ngton.

General Gates then drank to the health of the king. High above the marquee the Stars and Stripes waved gloriously in triumph of the day of first formal military unfurling. The turning point of the war of the Revolution was come, this October day, 1777.

THE SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE

October 17, 1777

BROTHERS, this spot is holy! Look around!

Before us flows our memory's sacred river, Whose banks are Freedom's shrines. This gra.s.sy mound, The altar, on whose height the Mighty Giver Gave Independence to our country; when, Thanks to its brave, enduring, patient men, The invading host was brought to bay and laid Beneath ”Old Glory's” new-born folds, the blade, The brazen thunder-throats, the pomp of war, And England's yoke, broken forevermore.

You, on this spot,--thanks to our gracious G.o.d, Where last in conscious arrogance it trod, Defied, as captives, Burgoyne's conquered horde; Below, their general yielded up his sword; There, to our flag, bowed England's battle-torn; Where now we stand, the United States was born.

GENERAL JOHN WATTS DE PEYSTER.

THE YOKE OF BRITAIN BROKEN

THE final scene in this stupendous drama of American Freedom was enacted in Virginia.

In September, 1781, Was.h.i.+ngton began a three weeks' siege against Yorktown, held by the British under Lord Cornwallis. Finding himself there completely surrounded by both land and water, Cornwallis was forced to surrender.

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