HISTORY OF VERMONTr 1X9 



equivalent to the expencc of labor and time. 

 With all the efforts that Burgoyne could make, 

 incumbered with his artillery and baggage, his 

 labors were inadequate to the purpose of sup- 

 plying the army with provisions for its daily 

 consumption, and the establishment of the ne- 

 cessary magazines. And after liis utmost exer- 

 tions for fifteen days, there were not above four 

 days provisions in the store, nor above ten bat- 

 teaux in Hudson's river. 



In such circumstances the British general 

 found that it would be impossible to procure 

 sufficient supplies of provisions by the way of 

 fort George, and determined to replenish his 

 own magazines at the expence of those of the 

 Americans. Having received information that 

 a large quantity of stores were laid up at Ben- 

 nington, and guarded only by the militia, he 

 formed the design of surprising that place ; and 

 was made to believe that as soon as a detach- 

 ment of the royal army should appear in that 

 quarter, it would receive effectual assistance 

 from a large body of loyalists, who only waited 

 for the appearance of a support, and would in 

 that event come forward and aid the royal cause. 

 Full of these expectations, he detached colonel 

 Baum, a German officer, with a select body of 

 troops, to surprise the place. His force consist- 

 ed of about five hundred regular troops, some 

 Canadians, and more than one hundred Indians, 

 with two light pieces of artillery. To facilitate 

 their operations, and to be ready to take advan- 

 tage of the success of the detachment, the royal 

 army moved along the east bank of Hudson's 

 river, and encamped nearly opposite to Saratoga ; 



