Letters and Memoirs Relating to the War of American Independence, and the Capture of the German Troops at Saratoga |
Common terms and phrases
acquaintance afterwards agreeable aids-de-camp Amelinghausen America army arrival asked baggage became begged boat Bristol British Brunswic Burgoyne calash Canada capitulation Captain Foy Carleton carriage Chambly colonel command danger daughter dear departure dined dinner dressed embark enemy England English excellency's excellent fear Fishkill Fort Edward Fort George friends Gates gave German Gifhorn groschen guineas Haldimand happy Helen's Bay honour hope husband journey king lady leave letter lodgings London Madam de Riedesel major-general Montreal morning neral New-York night o'clock obliged officers passed Phillips pleasure Portsmouth prisoners of war procure provisions Quebec reached received regiment remained replied retreat river Rockel sail sent servants ship sick situation soldiers soon suffered thing thought Three-Rivers tion told took troops uneasy vernor's vessel voyage wait WASHINGTON weather weeks whole wife wind winter wish Wolfenbüttel
Popular passages
Page 2 - Congress of the United States, entitled, " An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned ; " and also to an act. entitled, " An act, supplementary to an act, entitled an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietor? of such copies, during the times therein mentioned...
Page 2 - Co. of the said district, have deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words following, to wit : " Tadeuskund, the Last King of the Lenape. An Historical Tale." In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States...
Page 311 - I have the honour to be your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant, JOHN ANDRE.
Page 172 - ... these objects will remain to the last of life upon the mind of every man who was present. The growing duskiness added to the scenery, and the whole marked a character of that juncture that would make one of the finest subjects for the pencil of a master that the field ever exhibited. To the canvass, and to the faithful page of a more important historian, gallant friend ! I consign thy memory.
Page 179 - Without knowing what I did, I threw my children into the back part of the vehicle, and laid myself upon them. At the same moment the fellows fired, and broke the arm of a poor English soldier, who stood behind us, and who, being already wounded, sought a shelter. Soon after our arrival a terrible cannonade began, and the fire was principally directed against the house, where we had hoped to find a refuge, probably because the enemy inferred, from the great number of people who went towards it, that...
Page 172 - The incessant cannonade during the solemnity ; the steady attitude and unaltered voice with which the chaplain officiated, though frequently covered with dust, which the shot threw up on all sides of him ; the mute but expressive mixture of sensibility and indignation, upon every countenance ; these objects will remain, to the last of life upon the mind of every man who was present.
Page 172 - Cannon balls flew around and above the assembled mourners," writes the Baroness Riedesel, who was a spectator from a distance. " Many cannon balls flew close by me, but my whole attention was engaged by the funeral scene, where I saw my husband exposed to imminent danger. This, indeed, was not a moment to be apprehensive for my own safety. General Gates protested afterwards, that had he known what was going on, he would have stopped the fire immediately.
Page 188 - On the 17th of October, the capitulation was carried into effect. The generals waited upon the American general Gates, and the troops surrendered themselves prisoners of war and laid down their arms. The time had now come for the good woman who had risked her life to supply us with water, to receive the reward of her services.
Page 192 - ... any necessity as it was said. But all their actions proved, that at the sight of the misfortunes of others they quickly forgot their own. General Burgoyne was so much affected by this generous deportment, that he said to General Schuyler, " You are too kind to me, who have done you so much injury." " Such is the fate of war," replied he ; "let us not dwell on this subject.
Page 181 - Eleven cannonballs passed through the house, and made a tremendous noise. A poor soldier, who was about to have a leg amputated, lost the other by one of these balls. All his comrades ran away at that moment, and when they returned, they found him in one corner of the room in the agonies of death. I was myself in the deepest distress, not so much on account of my own dangers, as of those to which my husband was exposed, who, however, frequently sent me messages, inquiring after my health.