HISTORY OF VERMONT. 149 



lamity of the royal army was found to be of so 

 serious and extensive a nature, as to demand 

 their immediate attention. A dangerous open- 

 ing was now made on their right flank and rear. 

 The Americans had halted at but half a mile 

 distance ; and between twelve and one o'clock 

 at night, general Lincoln, who during the action 

 had commanded within the works, march^rd 

 with his division to relieve the troops that had 

 been engaged ; and to keep possession of the 

 gj-ound they had gained. In this situation, a 

 total change of position became necessaiy to the 

 British, to save their army from total destruction. 

 It was accordingly executed that very night, 

 with the greatest silence, order and intrepidity ; • 

 the whole army moving to the adjacent heights, 

 and forming a new camp, where they could not 

 be attacked with advantage. 



The next day, October the eighth, the royal 

 troops were under arms the whole day, expect' 

 ing the action would be renewed ; but nothing 

 took place except a cannonading, and some 

 small skirmishes, which occasioned some loss 

 to both parties. The object of general Gates 

 now was, not to attack, but to surround the 

 British army in such a manner as to prevent 

 their escape. To effect this purpose, previous 

 to the last action, he had posted fourteen hun- 

 dred Americans on the heights opposite to the 

 ford of Saratoga ; and two thousand had been 

 sent to prevent a retreat to fort Edward. On 

 the eighth, fifteen hundred more were posted at 

 the ford, which was higher up the river. Bur- 

 goyne, having received intelligence of these 

 iuovementSj concluded that Gates meant to turn 



