“That I did,” replied the courier, his hands held out to the blaze, “that I did, young gentleman, and a tolerable fight it was. But Gates you hear of, only—Gates! Gates! they cry wherever I go. But it’s naught but the plain truth when I repeat it; Gates had no more to do with the victory than either of you.”
“But he directed the course of battle,” said Nat Brewster.
But Johnson Quinsey held up one hand.
“It’s a sore thing to say against an American leader,” spoke he, “but he might as well—aye, much better—have stopped at home. Schuyler, like the honest high soul that he is, took him by the hand when he came—never a thought of jealousy had he in his mind for the man who was taking his place. But Gates, when he held a council of war, invited some inconsequential officers to take part; and General Schuyler was ignored.”
A murmur went around among the boys.
“And when the fight began at Bemis Heights did our General Gates lead his men? No! such dangers he left to others. Like a fine gentleman he took his ease in his camp, well removed from the field. Arnold had to beg permission to begin the battle.”
“A brilliant officer that General Arnold,” said Nat, admiringly, and Johnson Quinsey nodded.
“There is none more able or daring in the whole army. A hard man he is, with a cruel eye and the temper of a fiend; but he wins battles that for others would be defeats. As it stands, he is the real victor of Saratoga, if you must pick any single man.”
There was a short silence; then the man went on:
“The first fight shattered Burgoyne’s force badly. Arnold had been in the thick of it, and knew this, and when morning came he once more besought Gates to let him advance. But Gates would not. He felt that he had a victory in his hands and his little spirit was vexed at what he thought interference. You should have seen him swell like a turkey cock and rear his head. His empty vanity maddened the other; I was close by and saw the red rage in Arnold’s eyes. In a fury he demanded a pass to go to General Washington’s camp; and, afraid of his genius, Gates gladly gave it to him.”