Having, on the i8th, advanced slowly to within two miles of General Gates's position, Burgoyne rested over night and prepared for an attack ui)on the morning of the 19th. The plan, in brief, was to inake a demonstration with Canadians and Indians threatenmg the American centre, while the grenadiers and light infantry, under Frazer, on the left of Gates's position, and the British left-wing, under Philips and Reidesel, were to move simultaneously and b}' a circuitous route to gain the American rear. Burgo}-ne himself was with the British right.

564 The Hudson River

Gates received advice of the advance of the enemy upon his left, but made no movement in resj^onse to repeated appeals, until about noon Arnold succeeded in getting permission to order Morgan and Dearborn out. Arnold in person followed this party with another detachment and was soon engaged with General Frazer's superior force. Gates refused the reinforcements applied for by Arnold, and the latter, finding Frazer's position too strong for him, by a sudden movement attempted to flank his adversary, with the result that he soon found himself in conflict with the main line of the British advance. Unperturbed by the numbers opposed to him, he attacked with his inferior force, advancing so impetuously that he nearly broke the British line and com- ]3elled Philips and Reidesel to hasten to the supi)ort of Burgoyne. Grudgingh^ reinforcements were then given to Arnold, and he continued for four hours a spirited action with the whole of the British right, though his force at no time exceeded three thousand, or, as some have said, twenty-five hundred men. Both Reidesel and Burgoyne afterwards described this battle as having been fought with great obstinacy and valour, the fire having been unusually fierce and well sustained. Burgo3me, though he could claim no decisive advantage, having indeed been repulsed and thwarted by the Americans, yet remained in possession of his ground and proceeded to strengthen his position.