CHAPTER VI

SECOND BLOW AT THE CENTRE

Invasion of New York by Sir Guy Carleton 259

Arnold's preparations 260

Battle of Valcour Island (October 11, 1776) 260-262

Congress promotes five junior brigadiers over Arnold (February 19, 1777) 262

Character of Philip Schuyler 263

Horatio Gates 264

Gates intrigues against Schuyler 265

His unseemly behaviour before Congress 266

Charges against Arnold 267, 268

Arnold defeats Tryon at Ridgefield (April 27, 1777) 269

Preparations for the summer campaign 269

The military centre of the United States was the state of New York 270

A second blow was to be struck at the centre; the plan of campaign 271

The plan was unsound; it separated the British forces too widely, and gave the Americans the advantage of interior lines 272-274

Germain's fatal error; he overestimated the strength of the Tories 274

Too many unknown quantities 275

Danger from New England ignored 276

Germain's negligence; the dispatch that was never sent 277

Burgoyne advances upon Ticonderoga 277, 278

Phillips seizes Mount Defiance 279

Evacuation of Ticonderoga 279

Battle of Hubbardton (July 7) 280

One swallow does not make a summer 280-282

The king's glee; wrath of John Adams 282

Gates was chiefly to blame 282

Burgoyne's difficulties beginning 283

Schuyler wisely evacuates Fort Edward 284

Enemies gathering in Burgoyne's rear 285

Use of Indian auxiliaries 285

Burgoyne's address to the chiefs 286

Burke ridicules the address 286

The story of Jane McCrea 287, 288

The Indians desert Burgoyne 289

Importance of Bennington; Burgoyne sends a German force against it 290

Stark prepares to receive the Germans 291

Battle of Bennington (August 16); nearly the whole German army captured on the field 292, 293

Effect of the news; Burgoyne's enemies multiply 294

Advance of St. Leger upon Fort Stanwix 294, 295

Herkimer marches against him; Herkimer's plan 296

Failure of the plan 297

Thayendanegea prepares an ambuscade 298

Battle of Oriskany (August 6) 298-300

Colonel Willett's sortie; first hoisting of the stars and stripes 300-301

Death of Herkimer 301

Arnold arrives at Schuyler's camp 302

And volunteers to retrieve Fort Stanwix 303

Yan Yost Cuyler and his stratagem 304

Flight of St. Leger (August 22) 305

Burgoyne's dangerous situation 306

Schuyler superseded by Gates 306

Position of the two armies (August 19-September 12) 307