128 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



veyed to Schuyler, who at that time had the 

 command of the American troops ; he immedi- 

 ately ordered a continental brigade to march for 

 the relief of Gansevoort : Arnold offered to take 

 the command in this dangerous enterprise,^ and 

 set out to conduct the military operations which 

 Were designed for the relief effort Stanwix.. 



The British commander made but little pro- 

 gress in the reduction of the place. His artille- 

 ry was not sufficient to make any considerable 

 impression on the work . The Indians, disgus- 

 ted with their late losses, were full of murmurs,' 

 became more and more sullen, and intractable. 

 They were also compLiining that they had not re- 

 ceived any plunder, and were become suspicious 

 that the fort would not be taken, or any plunder 

 to be had. The intelligence had also gotten a- 

 mong them, that Arnold was marching to re- 

 lieve the fort, at th« head of a thousand men, 

 St, Ledger had now to devote his time, and 

 make use of ail his arts to manage, flatter, and 

 animate his Indian allies. While he was thus 

 employed in watching and coaxing the Indian 

 humor and surliness, other reports were contriv- 

 ed and circulated, v/hich first doubled, and 

 theii trebled the numbers under Arnold ; with 

 this additional stroke that Burgoyne's army had 

 been entirely defeated and cut to pieces. Un- 

 der Arnokrs direction, some of the Indians 

 made, and all believed these relations ; the In- 

 dian camp was thoroughly frightened, and the 

 savage heroes determined to go off. In vain 

 did St. Ledger declare to them, that there was 

 no truth in the reports ; and in vain did he of- 

 fer to lead tliem forward himself ; and in vaiiv 



