much injury.' That was the fate of war,' replied the brave man, let us say no more about it.' ”—Wilkinson's Memoirs. But we must not forget Lady Harriet Ackland. This lady, says General Burgoyne, in his "State of the Expedition from Canada," had accompanied her husband to Canada, in the beginning of the year 1776. In the course of that campaign, she traversed a vast space of country, in different extremities of the season, and with difficulties of which a European traveller cannot easily conceive.

In the opening of the campaign of 1777, she was restrained from offering herself to a share of the fatigue and hazard expected before Ticonderoga, by the positive injunctions of her husband. The day after the conquest of the place, he was badly wounded, and she crossed lake Champlain to join him.

As soon as he recovered, Lady Harriet proceeded to follow his fortunes through the campaign; and at fort Edward, or at the next camp, she acquired a two-wheeled tumbril, which had been constructed by the artificers of the artillery, something similar to the carriage used for the mail, upon the great roads in England. Major Ackland commanded the British grenadiers, which were attached to General Frazer's corps; and, consequently, were always the most advanced part of the army. They were often so much on the alert, that no person slept out of his clothes. One of their temporary encampments, a tent in which the major and Lady Harriet were asleep, suddenly took fire. An orderly sergeant of grenadiers, with great hazard of suffocation, dragged out the first person he caught hold of. It proved to be the major. It happened that, in the same instant, she had, unknowing what she did, and, perhaps, not perfectly awaked, providentially made her escape, by creeping under the walls of the tent. The first object she saw, upon the recovery of her senses, was the major on the other side; and, in the same instant, again in the fire in search of her. The sergeant again saved him, but not without the major's being very severely burned in his face, and different parts of his body. Every thing they had with them in the tent was consumed.

This accident happened a little time before the army crossed the Hudson, the 13th of September. It neither altered the resolution nor cheerfulness of Lady Harriet, and she continued her progress, a partaker of the fatigues of the advanced corps. The next call upon her fortitude was of a different nature, and more distressing, as of longer suspense. On the morning of the 19th of September, the grenadiers being liable to action at every step, she had been directed by the Major to follow the route of the artillery and baggage, which were not exposed. At the time the action began, she found herself near an uninhabited hut, where she alighted. When it was found the action was becoming general, the surgeon of the hospital took possession of the same place, as the most convenient for the first care of the wounded. Thus was this lady in the hearing of one continued fire of cannon and musketry, for four hours, together with the presumption, from the post of her husband, at the head of the grenadiers, that he was in the most exposed part of the action. She had three female companions; the Baroness of Reidesel, and the wives of two British officers, Major Harnage, and Lieutenant Reynell; but in the event, their presence served but little for comfort. Major Harnage was soon brought to the surgeon, very badly wounded; and, a little time after, came the intelligence that Lieutenant Reynell was shot dead. Imagination will want no help to figure the state of the whole group.

From the date of that action to the 7th of October, Lady Harriet, with her usual serenity, stood prepared for new trials; and it was her lot that their severity increased with their number. She was again exposed to the hearing of the whole action, and at last received the news of her individual misfortune, mixed with the intelligence of the general calamity; the troops were defeated, and Major Ackland, desperately wounded, was a prisoner.

The day of the 8th was passed by Lady Harriet and her companions in uncommon anxiety; not a tent nor a shed being standing, except what belonged to the hospital, their refuge was among the wounded and the dying.

"When the army was upon the point of moving," says

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Burgoyne, "I received a message from Lady Harriet, submitting to my decision a proposal, and expressing an earnest solicitude to execute it, if not interfering with my designs, of passing to the camp of the enemy, and requesting General Gates's permission to attend her husband.

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Though I was ready to believe, for I had experienced, that patience and fortitude, in a supreme degree, were to be found, as well as every other virtue, under the most tender forms, I was astonished at the proposal. After so long an agitation, exhausted, not only from want of rest, but absolutely from want of food, drenched in rain for twelve hours together, that a woman should be capable of such an undertaking as delivering herself to the enemy, probably in the night, and uncertain of what hand she might first fall into, appeared an effort above human nature. The assurance I was enabled to give was small indeed. I had not even a cup of wine to offer; but I was told she found, from some kind and fortunate hand, a little rum and dirty water. All I could furnish to her was an open boat, and a few lines, written upon dirty and wet paper, to General Gates, recommending her to his protection." Oct. 9, 1777.

SIR, Lady Harriet Ackland, a lady of the first distinction by family, rank, and personal virtues, is under such concern on account of Major Ackland, her husband, wounded and a prisoner in your hands, that I cannot refuse her request to commit her to your protection.

Whatever general impropriety there may be in persons, acting in your situation or mine, to solicit favours, I cannot see the uncommon pre-eminence in every female grace and exaltation of character in this lady, and her very hard fortune, without testifying that your attentions to her will lay me under obligations.

M. G. Gates.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
J. BURGOYNE.

With this letter did this woman, who was of the most tender and delicate frame, habituated to all the soft elegancies and refined enjoyments that attend high birth and for

tune, and far advanced in a state in which the tenderest cares, always due to the sex, become indispensably necessary, in an open boat leave the camp of Burgoyne with a flag of truce for that of the enemy. The night was advanced before the boat reached the shore. Lady Harriet was immediately conveyed into the apartment of Major Henry Dearborn, since Major-General, who commanded the guard at that place, and every attention was paid her which her rank and situation demanded, and which circumstances permitted. Early in the morning, she was permitted to proceed in the boat to the camp, where General Gates, whose gallantry will not be denied, stood ready to receive her with due respect and courtesy. Having ascertained that Major Ackland had set out for Albany, Lady Harriet proceeded, by permission, to join him. Some time after, Major Ackland effected his exchange, and returned to England. The catastrophe of this tale is affecting. Ackland, after his return to England, procured a regiment, and at a dinner of military men, where the courage of the Americans was made a question, took the negative side with his usual decision. He was opposed, warmth ensued, and he gave the lie direct to a Lieutenant Lloyd, fought him, and was shot through the head. Lady Harriet lost her senses, and continued deranged two years, after which she married Mr. Brudenell, who accompanied her from General Burgoyne's camp, when she sought her wounded husband on Hudson river.

Sir Henry Clinton had embarked at New York about the beginning of October, to proceed up the Hudson, for the relief of and co-operation with Burgoyne. After taking several forts, burning villages, as usual, and committing other depredations, the British, hearing of the fate of their army of the north, and that Gates was marching upon them, returned with singular rapidity to New York.

Gates, after the victory, despatched Wilkinson to carry the happy tidings to Congress. On being introduced into the hall, he said: "The whole British army has laid down arms at Saratoga; our own, full of vigour and courage, expect your orders; it is for your wisdom to decide where the country

may still have need of their services." Congress voted thanks to Gates and the army, and presented him with a splendid gold medal, struck to commemorate this great victory.

A delirium of joy spread over the country. The people now looked forward with confidence for France to acknowledge our independence, and form a treaty of alliance. Commissioners from Congress had resided at the court of France for more than a year, urging the consummation so devoutly to be wished. On the 6th of February, 1778, the treaty was signed-" neither of the contracting powers to make war or peace without the formal consent of the other."

Now let every one imagine just as much shouting at every city, town, village, and country-place, when these glorious news arrive, as is consistent with his own taste; let him listen to the glowing patriot speeches, made upon the occasion, and mark the thrilling effects of them; let him rejoice in the irradiated countenances of men, women and children, whose hearts are beating with rapture; I say, let him do all this, for really we have no space left to describe effects, but merely the causes which produced them. Finding an opening here, we make a happy escape from this long campaign into

CHAPTER XIV.

Dangerous Situation of the British Army at Philadelphia-Attack on Forts Mifflin and Mercer-British repulsed-Death of Count Donop-Forts again attacked by Water and taken-Sufferings of the Americans at Valley ForgeDesertion of Part of the Americans-Plot formed to supersede Washington-Its Failure-Letter of Washington to Governor Morris, on Foreign Influence.

"Auribus teneo lupum."-Terence.

THAT is, I hold a wolf by the ears. Dangerous to retain or to quit my hold. This was Howe's situation while holding Philadelphia.

It has been stated in a preceding chapter that the British had succeeded in removing one barrier in the Delaware, but it required the most desperate efforts to remove other obstacles before Howe's army could be supplied with provisions.