Chapter XII.
TICONDEROGA AND BENNINGTON, JULY AND AUGUST, 1777.
The operations in Canada and on Lake Champlain,
during the summer and autumn of 1776, had been
conducted by Sir Guy Carleton, the British governor
of the province. Generals Burgoyne and Phillips and
General Riedesel had served under his orders. For
the campaign of 1777, however, a new arrangement
was made by the English ministry. Carleton
retained the governorship and the command of the
army in Canada, but the expedition which was to pass
beyond the boundaries of the province, and to oppose
the rebels in New York and New England, was
intrusted to Burgoyne.
Lieutenant-general John Burgoyne was at this time fifty-five years of age. Lord Macaulay describes him as “a man of wit, fashion, and honor, an agreeable dramatic writer, an officer whose courage was never questioned, and whose skill was at that time highly esteemed.”[1] The time spoken of was but shortly previous to the American war.
Burgoyne was a favorite with the British ministry. He was not a favorite with General Riedesel, nor with that general's wife. Riedesel got on very well with Carleton, but had no faith in Burgoyne, who was prob-
- ↑ Essay on Lord Clive.
