HISTORV OF VERMONl-. 15$ 



ihericans, for Gates discovered no disposition 

 to attack them, though his numbers were every- 

 day increasing. And Burgoyne upon a careful 

 examination of their whole stock of provisions 

 had foundj that they had not more than suffi- 

 cient for three days. 



Re t»uf; ED to siich a distressed situation, on 

 October the thirteenth, general Burgoyne called 

 a council to which he invited not only the su- 

 perior officers of his army, but all the captains 

 who commanded corps or divisionsi There' 

 was not a spot of ground in the whole campi 

 for holding the council of war, which was not 

 exposed tcj cannon or rifle shot ; and while they 

 were deliberating, an eighteen pound ball cros- 

 sed the table. The result of the council was, 

 an unanimous determination to enter into a trea- 

 ty with general Gates. The business was an- 

 nounced the same day, by the following card :, 

 *' Lieutenant General Burgoyne is desirous of 

 sending a field officer with a message to Ma- 

 jor General Gates, upon a matter of high con- 

 sequence to both armies. He requests to be 

 Informed at what hour general Gates will re- 

 ceive him to-rnorrow morning." The answer 

 was, '^ Major General Gates will receive a field 

 <)fficer from Lieutenant General Burgoyne, at 

 the advancea posts of the army of the United 

 States, at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, from, 

 which he will be conducted to head quarters. 

 Dated, the Camp of Saratoga, 9 o'clock." The 

 next day, major Kingston delivered the folloMW 

 ing message to general Gates : " After having 

 fought you twice, Lieutenant General Burgoyne 

 has waited some days in his present position, 



VOL. II." T . 



