In 1783, General vSchuyler, who had not forgotten the letter of his quondam friend, though the sad events of the war had cut him off from intimacy with the Johnsons, made a road through the woods from his estate at Schuylersville to the spring, and, taking his family there, encamped for several weeks. The same year, General Washington, being distracted by the long idleness of his waiting at Newburgh, undertook a brief tour of the northern and western part of the State, to study particularly the topography of the country and its battle-fields. During that tour he visited the springs in company with Governor Clinton and Alexander Hamilton. An amusing anecdote is preserved of one Tom Conner, who was standing by his cabin door, axe in hand, when Washington and his party rode by. Reining his horse, the chief courteously asked to be directed to the High Rock. Having given the required direction, Tom went on with his wood-chop]jing, and was presently surprised by the return of the party, when Washington asked for further directions. Tom looked at him but a moment and

then burst forth, " I tell you, turn back and take the first right-hand path into the woods and stick to it. Any darned fool would know the way." What the Father of his Country replied has not been recorded.

Above Tide-Water 561

Repeated reference has been made to the battle of Saratoga, and its great importance in relation to American history can hardh^ be overestimated. It should not be forgotten that Sir Edward Creasy, the English military writer, has numbered this among the fifteen decisive battles of the world. Burgoyne started from Canada towards Albany with a reasonable expectation of uniting his forces with those of Clinton and keeping open a direct line of communication from New York to the St.