HISTORY OF VEKMONT. 113 



Schuyler repaired to Saratoga, twenty miles be- 

 low fort Edward ; and on August the first he 

 drew back from Saratoga to Stillwater, but 

 twent}' five V miles north of Albany; And such 

 was the weakness of the American army, that 

 on August the fourth it contained but four thou- 

 sand continental troops, and about fifteen hun- 

 dred militia, badly clothed, armed and disciplin- 

 ed. And had Burgoyne, instead of wasting his 

 time and strength in dragging on his heavy bag- 

 gage and artillery, moved on with a few light 

 field pieces, he could have met with no consid- 

 erable opposition, and might have arrived at Al= 

 bany at as early a period as he came to Hudson's 

 river.* 



The rapid progress of the British army, and 

 the success that had attended all its movements, 

 had now thoroughly alarmed the whole continent; 

 and it was every where known that Schuyler, 

 and the troops which he could collect, were al- 

 together unable to stop their progress, or to 

 make any considerable opposition ; and that 

 there was nothing to prevent the capture of Al- 

 bany, as soon as Burgoyne should arrive with 

 his army before it. In this alarming crisis, the 

 Americans acted like themselves, with firmness 

 and resolution. No man was heard to speak of 

 any such thing as submission to the British go- 

 vernment. The public sentiment Was decidedly 

 on the side of a determined and persevering 

 War, till their Independence should be acknowl- 

 edged, whatever risk, danger, or losses might 

 attend it. And all the misfortunes and defeats 

 they had hitherto endured, instead of producing 



* Gordon. Vel. 11. p. Ill, II». 

 VOL-. II, O 



