with Fort George. But now, after all the steps that
had been taken, Riedesel held it much more dangerous
to break the agreement, on the strength of an
uncertain and untrustworthy rumor.
Brigadier-general Hamilton, who came up and was asked his opinion, agreed with Riedesel. General Phillips only said that things had come to such a pass that he had no advice nor help to give. Burgoyne, after much vacillation, determined to sign, and the articles in due form were sent to General Gates.[1]
In the surrender five thousand seven hundred and ninety-one men were included. It is stated by Riedesel that not more than four thousand of these were fit for duty. The number of Germans surrendering is set down by Eelking at two thousand four hundred and thirty-one men, and of Germans killed, wounded, and missing down to October 6, at one thousand one hundred and twenty-two.[2] The total loss of the British and their mercenaries, in killed, wounded, prisoners, and deserters, during the campaign, including those lost in St. Leger's expedition to the Mohawk and those who surrendered on terms at Saratoga, was not far from nine thousand.
The days that preceded the surrender had been days
- ↑ The above description of the negotiations for the surrender is taken principally from Baroness Riedesel's book, in which is given an extract from a military memoir dated Stillwater, October 18th, 1777, and signed by several of the principal German officers. See also, concerning this memoir, Eelking's “Riedesel,” vol. ii. pp. 210, 211.
- ↑ It will be noticed that the time from October 6th to October 16th, during which there was a good deal of fighting, is omitted from the above estimate. See Eelking's “Hülfstruppen,” vol. i. pp. 321, 322; “Riedesel,” vol. ii. p. 188.
