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. Lawrence. But he was harassed by the New Hampshire levies and checked at every step of the way by the obstructions that the forethought and activity of Schuyler had reared. The American army, organised b\^ Schuyler and transfeiTcd to Gates for reasons political, had been reinforced by two brigades from the Highlands, besides a force of artillerv and Morgan's efficient corjjs of riflemen, sent hv Washington. Gates's army numbered about ten thousand men, many of them niihtia or levies. It must not be understood, however, that the New York or Connecticut troops of this description were necessarily raw recruits. On the contrary, it was one of the ];)eculiarities of the American army that its numbers alternately swelled and dwindled as occasion demanded. In two vears' time both the militia and the levies may have been called out on several occasions under the stress of circumstances, returning to their farms and villages in the intervals between active campaigns. While Gates was being thus reinforced, General

562 The Hudson River

vSchuyler, having retired to Albany, was receiving deputations of Indian chiefs and exerting his great influence to secure their services as scouts, thus materially aiding the forces in the field. One is compelled to admire the greatness of soul of this man, who refused to permit the cavalier treatment accorded him by Gates, or the apparent neglect of higher powers, to interrupt the efficiency of his service or chill the ardour of his patriotism.