HISTORY OF VERMONT. 117 



* Stark to conform himself to the same rules 



* which other general officers of the militia are 



* subject to, whenever •hey are called out at the 

 ' expence of the United States." But Stark, 

 before any interference of Congress, had assured 

 Schuyler that he would join in any measures 

 necessary to promote the public good, but wish- 

 ed to avoid any thing that was not consistent 

 with his own honor ; and if it was thought ne- 

 cessary, he would march to his camp. On the 

 thirteenth he wrote particularly that he would 

 lay aside all private resentmen-t, when it appear- 

 ed in opposition to the public good. But in the 

 midst of these protestations, he was watching 

 for an opportunity to discover his courage and 

 patriotism, by falling upon some part of Bur- 

 goyne's army. 



Massachusetts was also much engaged 

 in sending forward her militia to the northward. 

 General Washington perceived that a proper of- 

 ficer must be appointed to take the command 

 of the eastern mihtia, and wisely judged that 

 general Lincoln would prove an able and infiu- 

 ential commander ; and sent him forward for 

 that purpose. Lincoln arrived at Manchester 

 on the second of August, and found about six 

 hundred militia in that place. He wrote to the 

 council of Massachusetts that a body of troops 

 in that place wouid not only cover the eastern 

 states, but being in the rear of Burgoyne's army, 

 would greatly weaken it, by obliging him to 

 leave large detachments at the different posts 

 that he possessed. Schuyler, attentive only to the 

 front of the British army, wrote to Lincoln on 

 the fourth of August, to march bis whole force, 



