But few of the officers in Gates's army wore
uniforms, and those few wore them according to their
own fancy, of any sort of cloth that came to hand.
Wigs large and small, wigs black, white, and gray,
adorned or deformed their heads. Some of them
looked as if they had a whole sheep on their shoulders.
For these great wigs, according to our
Brunswicker, the common people felt a deep reverence,
such being worn by the gentlemen of the committee.
Among the wearers of these wigs were many men fifty
or sixty years old, now brought for the first time into
the ranks, and somewhat awkward in appearance, but
thoroughly in earnest, and not to be made light of,
especially in the woods. “In serious earnest,” says
the German officer, “this whole nation has much natural
talent for war and for a soldier's life.”[1]
As the troops that had surrendered passed between the ranks of the Americans, not a man of the victorious army showed them any disrespect or insulted their misfortunes. It is the common testimony of the Germans that officers and soldiers treated them with courtesy and kindness. General Gates invited all the superior officers into his tent, and retained the generals to dinner. Schuyler showed especial courtesy to Frau von Riedesel. He met her as she came into the camp, lifted the children from her carriage, kissed them, and helped her to alight. After a few reassuring words he led her to General Gates, with whom she found Burgoyne, apparently on the most friendly footing. He told her to be without anxiety, for her troubles were at an end. “I answered,” writes the baroness, “that
- ↑ Schlözer's “Briefwechsel,” vol. iv. pp. 357-359.
