torture, unprecedented in the inquisitions of the Romish Church, are
among the palpable enormities that verify the affirmative. These are
inflicted by assemblies and committees, who dare to profess themselves
friends to liberty, upon the most quiet subjects, without distinction of
age or sex, for the sole crime, often for the sole suspicion, of having
adhered in principle to the government under which they were born,
and to which, by every tie, divine and human, they owe allegiance. To
consummate these shocking proceedings, the profanation of religion
is added to the most profligate prostitution of common reason; the
consciences of men are set at nought; and multitudes are compelled not
only to bear arms, but also to swear subjection to an usurpation they
abhor.
"Animated by these considerations, at the head of troops in the full
powers of health, discipline, and valor; determined to strike where
necessary, and anxious to spare where possible, I by these presents
invite and exhort all persons, in all places where the progress of
this army may point; and by the blessing of God I will extend it far
to maintain such a conduct as may justify me in protecting their lands,
habitations and families. The intention of this address is to hold
forth security, not depredation to the country. To those whom spirit and
principle may induce to partake of the glorious task of redeeming their
countrymen from dungeons, and re-establishing the blessings of legal
government, I offer encouragement and employment; and upon the first
intelligence of their associations, I will find means to assist their
undertakings. The domestic, the industrious, the infirm, and even the
timid inhabitants I am desirous to protect, provided they remain quietly
at their houses; that they do not suffer their cattle to be removed, nor
their corn or forage to-be secreted or destroyed; that they do not break
up their bridges or roads: nor by any other act, directly or indirectly,
endeavour to obstruct the operations of the king's troops, or supply
or assist those of the enemy. Every species of provision brought to my
camp, will be paid for at an equitable rate, and in solid coin.
"In consciousness of Christianity, my royal master's clemency, and the
honor of soldiership, I have dwelt upon this invitation, and wished for
more persuasive terms to give it impression. And let not people be
led to disregard it by considering their distance from the immediate
situation of my camp.--I have but to give stretch to the Indian forces
under my direction, and they amount to thousands, to overtake the
hardened enemies of Great Britain and America: I consider them the same
wherever they may lurk.
"If, notwithstanding these endeavours, and sincere inclinations to
effect them, the phrensy of hostility should remain, I trust I shall
stand acquitted in the eyes of God and man, in denouncing and executing
the vengeance of the state against the wilful outcasts. The messengers
of justice and of wrath await them in the field; and devastation,
famine, and every concomitant horror that a reluctant but indispensible
prosecution of military duty must occasion, will bear the way to their
return."
"J. BURGOYNE.
"By order of his Excellency the Lieut. General,
"Robert Kingstoni Sec.
"Camp near Ticonderoga, 4th July, 1777."
Gen. Burgoyne was still the toast, and the severities towards the
prisoners were in great measure increased or diminished, in proportion
to the expectation of conquest. His very ostentatious Proclamation was
in the hand and mouth of most of the soldiery, especially the tories,
and from it, their faith was raised to assurance. I wish my countrymen
in general could but have an idea of the assuming tyranny, and haughty,
malevolent, and insolent behavior of the enemy at that time; and from
thence discern the intolerable calamities which this country have
extricated themselves from by their public spiritedness and bravery. The
downfall of Gen. Burgoyne,* and surrender of his whole army, dashed
the aspiring hopes and expectations of the enemy, and brought low the
imperious spirit of an opulent, puissant and haughty nation, and made
the tories bite the ground with anguish, exalting the valor of the
freeborn sons of America, and raised their fame and that of their brave
commanders to the clouds, and immortalized Gen. Gates with laurels of
eternal duration. No sooner had the knowledge of this interesting and
mighty event reached His Most Christian Majesty, who in Europe shines
with a superior lustre in goodness, policy and arms, but the illustrious
potentate, auspiciously influenced by Heaven to promote the reciprocal
interest and happiness of the ancient kingdom of France, and the new and
rising states of America, passed the great and decisive decree, that the
United States of America, should be free and independent. Vaunt no more,
Old England! consider you are but an island! and that your power has
been continued longer than the exercise of your humanity. Order your
broken and vanquished battalions to retire from America, the scene
of your cruelties. Go home and repent in dust and sackcloth for your
aggravated primes. The cries of bereaved parents, widows and orphans,
reach the heavens, and you are abominated by every friend to America.
Take your friends the tories with you, and be gone, and drink deep of
cup of humiliation. Make peace with the princes of the house of Bourbon,
for you are in no condition to wage war with them. Your veteran soldiers
are fallen in America, and your glory is departed. Be quiet and pay your
debts, especially for the hire of the Hessians. There is no other way
for you to get into credit again, but by reformation and plain honesty,
which you have despised; for your power is by no means sufficient to
support your vanity. I have had opportunity to see a great deal of' it,
and felt its severe effects, and learned lessons of wisdom and policy,
when I wore your heavy irons, and bore your bitter revilings and
reproaches. I have something of a smattering of philosophy, and
understand human nature in all its stages tolerably well; am thoroughly
acquainted with your national crimes, and assure you that they not only
cry aloud for Heaven's vengeance, but excite mankind to rise up against
you. Virtue, wisdom and policy are in a national sense, always connected
with power, or in other words, power is their offspring, and such power
as is not directed by virtue, wisdom and policy never fails finally to
destroy itself as yours has done.--It is so in the nature of things,
and unfit that it would be otherwise; for if it was not so, vanity,
injustice, and oppression, might reign triumphant forever.
* General Burgoyne, after collecting his forces and stores,
crossed the Hudson with a view to penetrate to Albany. But
the American army being reinforced daily, held him in check
at Saratoga. General Gates now took the command, and was
aided by the generals Lincoln and Arnold. On the 19th of
September, the Americans attacked the British army, and with
such bravery, that the enemy could boast of no advantage,
and night put an end to the action. The loss of the enemy
was about five hundred. General Burgoyne was confined in a
narrow pass--having the Hudson on one side and impassable
woods on the other--a body of Americans was in his rear--the
boats he had ordered to be burnt, and he could not retreat--
while an army of thirteen thousand men opposed him in front.
On the 7th of October, the armies came to a second action,
in which the British lost General Frazer, with a great
number of officers and men, and were driven within their
lines. On the part of the Americans the loss was not great,
but generals Lincoln and Arnold were wounded.
I know you have individuals, who still retain their virtue, and
consequently their honor and humanity. Those I really pity, as they
must more or less suffer in the calamity, in which the nation is plunged
headlong; but as a nation I hate and despise you.
My affections are Frenchified. I glory in Louis the sixteenth, the
generous and powerful ally of these states I am fond of a connection
with so enterprising, learned, polite, courteous and commercial a
nation, and am sure that I express the sentiments and feelings of all
the friends to the present revolution. I begin to learn the French
tongue, and recommend it to my countrymen, before Hebrew, Greek or
Latin, (provided but one of them only are to be attended to) for the
trade and commerce of these states in future must inevitably shift its
channel from England to France, Spain and Portugal; and therefore
the statesman, politician and merchant, need be acquainted with their
several languages, particularly the French, which is much in vogue
in most parts of Europe. Nothing could have served so effectually to
illuminate, polish and enrich these states as the present revolution, as
well as preserve their liberty. Mankind are naturally too national, even
to a degree of bigotry, and commercial intercourse with foreign nations,
has a great and necessary tendency to improve mankind, and erase the
superstition of the mind by acquainting them that human nature, policy
and interest, are the same in all nations, and at the same time they are
bartering commodities for the conveniences and happiness of each nation,
they may reciprocally exchange such part of their customs and manners as
may be beneficial, and learn to extend charity and good will the whole
world of mankind.
I was confined in the provost-goal at New-York, the 26th day of August,
and continued there to the 3d day of May, 1778, when I was taken out
under guard, and conducted to a sloop in the harbor at New-York, in
which I was guarded to Staten-Island, to general Campbell's quarters,
where I was admitted to eat and drink with the general and several other
of the British field officers, and treated for two days in a polite
manner. As I was drinking wine with them one evening, I made an
observation on my transition from the provost criminals to the company
of gentlemen, adding that I was the same man still, and should give
the British credit, by him (speaking to the general) for two days good
usage.
The next day colonel Archibald Campbell, who was exchanged for me, came
to this place, conducted by Mr. Boudinot, the then American commissary
of prisoners, and saluted me in a handsome manner, saying that he
never was more glad to see any gentleman in his life, and I gave him to
understand that I was equally glad to see him, and was apprehensive
that it was from the same motive. The gentlemen present, laughed at
the fancy, and conjectured that sweet liberty was the foundation of
our gladness: so we took a glass of wine together, and then I was
accompanied by general Campbell, colonel Campbell, Mr. Boudinot and
a number of British officers, to the boat which was ready to sail to
Elizabeth-town-point. Meanwhile I entertained them with a rehearsal of
the cruelties exercised towards our prisoners; and assured them that
I should use my influence, that their prisoners should be treated, in
future, in the same manner, as they should in future treat ours; that I
thought it was right in such extreme cases, that their example should be
applied to their own prisoners; then exchanged the decent ceremonies
of compliment, and parted. I sailed to the point aforesaid, and, in a
transport of joy, landed on liberty ground, and as I advanced into the
county, received the acclamations of a grateful people.
I soon fell into company with colonel Sheldon, of the light horse, who
in a polite and obliging manner accompanied me to head quarters,
Valley Forge, where I was courteously received by Gen. Washington, with
peculiar marks of his approbation and esteem, and was introduced to most
of the generals, and many of the principal officers of the army, who
treated me with respect, and after having offered general Washington my
further service in behalf of my country, as soon as my health, which was
very much impaired, would admit, and obtain his license to return home,
I took my leave of his excellency, and set out from Valley Forge with
General Gates and his suit for Fishkill, where we arrived the latter
end of May. In this tour the general was pleased to treat me with the
familiarity of a companion, and generosity of a lord, and to him I made
known some striking circumstances which occurred in the course of my
captivity. I then bid farewell to my noble general and the gentlemen
of his retinue, and set out for Bennington, the capital of the Green
Mountain Boys, where I arrived the evening of the last day of May to
their great surprise; for I was thought to be dead, and now both their
joy and mine was complete. Three cannon were fired that evening,
and next morning colonel Herrick gave orders, and fourteen more were
discharged, welcoming me to Bennington, my usual place of abode;
thirteen for the United States, and one for Young Vermont.
After this ceremony was ended we moved the flowing bowl, and rural
felicity, sweetened with friendship, glowed in each countenance, and
with loyal healths to the rising States of America, concluded that
evening, and, with the same loyal spirit, I now conclude my narrative.
End of Project Gutenberg's Of the Capture of Ticonderoga, by Ethan Allen