Colonel Kingston was detailed to confer with the American general on articles of capitulation. He was conducted blindfolded to General Gates and with him arranged the formalities. The morning of October 17, seventeen hundred and ninety-one British subjects became prisoners of war. They marched to Fort Hardy on the banks of the Hudson and, in the presence of Generals Morgan, Wilkerson, and Lewis, laid down their arms. The eyes of many of the men were suffused with tears; others among them stamped upon their muskets in anger.
The colors had been preserved to the British army through the foresight of General Riedesel, who had handed them to his wife for safe-keeping. To the credit of the victorious Americans, it is said, they showed no disrespect to the defeated foe. “General Gates,” wrote Lieutenant Ansbury, one of the captured officers, “revealed exceeding nobleness and generosity toward the captives, commanding the troops to wheel round the instant arms were grounded. And he, himself, drew down the curtains of the carriage in which he was sitting, as the troops passed him in returning.”
For the formal surrender of General Burgoyne to General Gates a marquee had been erected near the latter’s old quarters. To this came the British general and staff in full court dress. General Gates appeared in plain clothes with nothing to indicate his rank. As the two generals advanced to greet each other, General Burgoyne removed his hat and extending his sword, said, “The fortunes of war, General Gates, have made me your prisoner.” General Gates, not to be outdone in polite address, returned the sword and replied, “I shall always be ready to bear testimony that it has not been through any fault of your Excellency.”
The Surrender of General Burgoyne.
The generals and their officers then sat down to a table improvised of boards laid across barrels and dined together most amicably, but on very frugal fare. General Burgoyne took occasion to compliment the discipline of the American army. He then proposed a toast to General Washington. General Gates then drank to the health of the king. High above the marquee the Stars and Stripes waved gloriously in triumph of the day of first formal military unfurling. The turning point of the war of the Revolution was come, this October day, 1777.
THE SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE
October 17, 1777
BROTHERS, this spot is holy! Look around!
Before us flows our memory’s sacred river,
Whose banks are Freedom’s shrines. This grassy mound,
The altar, on whose height the Mighty Giver
Gave Independence to our country; when,
Thanks to its brave, enduring, patient men,
The invading host was brought to bay and laid
Beneath “Old Glory’s” new-born folds, the blade,
The brazen thunder-throats, the pomp of war,
And England’s yoke, broken forevermore.
You, on this spot,—thanks to our gracious God,
Where last in conscious arrogance it trod,
Defied, as captives, Burgoyne’s conquered horde;
Below, their general yielded up his sword;
There, to our flag, bowed England’s battle-torn;
Where now we stand, the United States was born.