按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he painted and befeathered savages and had made no protest。 Now either times had changed； or there was something in a civil war which made the use of savages seem hideous。 One thing is certain。 Amherst had held his savages in stern restraint and could say proudly that they had not committed a single outrage。 Burgoyne was not so happy。
In nearly every war the professional soldier shows distrust； if not contempt； for civilian levies。 Burgoyne had been in America before the day of Bunker Hill and knew a great deal about the country。 He thought the 〃insurgents〃 good enough fighters when protected by trees and stones and swampy ground。 But he thought； too； that they had no real knowledge of the science of war and could not fight a pitched battle。 He himself had not shown the prevision required by sound military knowledge。 If the British were going to abandon the advantage of sea power and fight where they could not fall back on their fleet； they needed to pay special attention to land transport。 This Burgoyne had not done。 It was only a little more than a week before he reached Lake Champlain that he asked Carleton to provide the four hundred horses and five hundred carts which he still needed and which were not easily secured in a sparsely settled country。 Burgoyne lingered for three days at Crown Point； half way down the lake。 Then； on the 2d of July； he laid siege to Fort Ticonderoga。 Once past this fort； guarding the route to Lake George； he could easily reach the Hudson。
In command at Fort Ticonderoga was General St。 Clair； with about thirty…five hundred men。 He had long notice of the siege； for the expedition of Burgoyne had been the open talk of Montreal and the surrounding country during many months。 He had built Fort Independence； on the east shore of Lake Champlain； and with a great expenditure of labor had sunk twenty…two piers across the lake and stretched in front of them a boom to protect the two forts。 But he had neglected to defend Sugar Hill in front of Fort Ticonderoga； and commanding the American works。 It took only three or four days for the British to drag cannon to the top； erect a battery and prepare to open fire。 On the 5th of July； St。 Clair had to face a bitter necessity。 He abandoned the untenable forts and retired southward to Fort Edward by way of the difficult Green Mountains。 The British took one hundred and twenty…eight guns。
These successes led the British to think that within a few days they would be in Albany。 We have an amusing picture of the effect on George III of the fall of Fort Ticonderoga。 The place had been much discussed。 It had been the first British fort to fall to the Americans when the Revolution began； and Carleton's failure to take it in the autumn of 1776 had been the cause of acute heartburning in London。 Now； when the news of its fall reached England； George III burst into the Queen's room with the glad cry； 〃I have beat them； I have beat the Americans。〃 Washington's depression was not as great as the King's elation； he had a better sense of values； but he had intended that the fort should hold Burgoyne； and its fall was a disastrous blow。 The Americans showed skill and good soldierly quality in the retreat from Ticonderoga； and Burgoyne in following and harassing them was led into hard fighting in the woods。 The easier route by way of Lake George was open but Burgoyne hoped to destroy his enemy by direct pursuit through the forest。 It took him twenty days to hew his way twenty miles； to the upper waters of the Hudson near Fort Edward。 When there on the 30th of July he had communications open from the Hudson to the St。 Lawrence。
Fortune seemed to smile on Burgoyne。 He had taken many guns and he had proved the fighting quality of his men。 But his cheerful elation had； in truth； no sound basis。 Never during the two and a half months of bitter struggle which followed was he able to advance more than twenty…five miles from Fort Edward。 The moment he needed transport by land he found himself almost helpless。 Sometimes his men were without food and equipment because he had not the horses and carts to bring supplies from the head of water at Fort Anne or Fort George； a score of miles away。 Sometimes he had no food to transport。 He was dependent on his communications for every form of supplies。 Even hay had to be brought from Canada； since； in the forest country； there was little food for his horses。 The perennial problem for the British in all operations was this one of food。 The inland regions were too sparsely populated to make it possible for more than a few soldiers to live on local supplies。 The wheat for the bread of the British soldier； his beef and his pork； even the oats for his horse； came； for the most part； from England； at vast expense for transport； which made fortunes for contractors。 It is said that the cost of a pound of salted meat delivered to Burgoyne on the Hudson was thirty shillings。 Burgoyne had been told that the inhabitants needed only protection to make them openly loyal and had counted on them for supplies。 He found instead the great mass of the people hostile and he doubted the sincerity even of those who professed their loyalty。
After Burgoyne had been a month at Fort Edward he was face to face with starvation。 If he advanced he lengthened his line to flank attack。 As it was he had difficulty in holding it against New Englanders； the most resolute of all his foes； eager to assert by hard fighting； if need be； their right to hold the invaded territory which was claimed also by New York。 Burgoyne's instructions forbade him to turn aside and strike them a heavy blow。 He must go on to meet Howe who was not there to be met。 A being who could see the movements of men as we watch a game of chess； might think that madness had seized the British leaders； Burgoyne on the upper Hudson plunging forward resolutely to meet Howe； Howe at sea sailing away； as it might well seem； to get as far from Burgoyne as he could； Clinton in command at New York without instructions； puzzled what to do and not hearing from his leader； Howe； for six weeks at a time； and across the sea a complacent minister； Germain； who believed that he knew what to do in a scene three thousand miles away； and had drawn up exact instructions as to the way of doing it； and who was now eagerly awaiting news of the final triumph。
Burgoyne did his best。 Early in August he had to make a venturesome stroke to get sorely needed food。 Some twenty…five miles east of the Hudson at Bennington； in difficult country； New England militia had gathered food and munitions； and horses for transport。 The pressure of need clouded Burgoyne's judgment。 To make a dash for Bennington meant a long and dangerous march。 He was assured； however； that a surprise was possible and that in any case the country was full of friends only awaiting a little encouragement to come out openly on his side。 They were Germans who lay on Burgoyne's left and Burgoyne sent Colonel Baum； an efficient officer； with five or six hundred men to attack the New Englanders and bring in the supplies。 It was a stupid blunder to send Germans among a people specially incensed against the use of these mercenaries。 There was no surprise。 Many profe