s army, in general
orders, the manner in which he intended to dispose of them during the
winter. He expressed, in strong terms, his approbation of their
conduct, presented them with an encouraging state of the future
prospects of their country, exhorted them to bear with continuing
fortitude the hardships inseparable from the position they were about
to take, and endeavoured to convince their judgments that those
hardships were not imposed on them by unfeeling caprice, but were
necessary for the good of their country.

The winter had set in with great severity, and the sufferings of the
army were extreme. In a few days, however, these sufferings were
considerably diminished by the erection of logged huts, filled up with
mortar, which, after being dried, formed comfortable habitations, and
gave content to men long unused to the conveniences of life. The order
of a regular encampment was observed; and the only appearance of
winter quarters, was the substitution of huts for tents.

CHAPTER X.

Inquiry into the conduct of General Schuyler.... Burgoyne
appears before Ticonderoga.... Evacuation of that place,...
of Skeensborough.... Colonel Warner defeated.... Evacuation
of fort Anne.... Proclamation of Burgoyne....
Counter-proclamation of Schuyler.... Burgoyne approaches
fort Edward.... Schuyler retires to Saratoga,... to
Stillwater.... St. Leger invests fort Schuyler.... Herkimer
defeated.... Colonel Baum detached to Bennington.... is
defeated.... Breckman defeated.... St. Leger abandons the
siege of fort Schuyler.... Murder of Miss M'Crea.... General
Gates takes command.... Burgoyne encamps on the heights of
Saratoga.... Battle of Stillwater.... Burgoyne retreats to
Saratoga.... Capitulates.... The British take forts
Montgomery and Clinton.... The forts Independence and
Constitution evacuated by the Americans.... Ticonderoga
evacuated by the British.

{1777}

While, with inferior numbers, General Washington maintained a stubborn
contest in the middle states, events of great variety and importance
were passing in the north.

After Sir Guy Carleton had distributed his army, for winter quarters,
in the several villages from the Isle Aux Noix and Montreal to Quebec,
General Burgoyne, who had served under him, embarked for England, in
order to communicate a full statement of affairs in the northern
department; and to assist in maki