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 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Yan Yost Cuyler and his stratagem 304 Flight of St. Leger (August 22) 305 Burgoyne’s dangerous situation 306 Schuyler superseded by Gates 306 Position of the two armies (August 19-September 12) 307