One division had crossed the Sa- |^ ^ ^^
ratoga creek, which ran between
the Americans and the camp of the English,
and another was just entering the water,
when the officer who led it saw an English
soldier crossing; he directed him to be
brought to him, and found he was a deser-
ter, and learned from him, that all the Eng-
lish army were at the camp, and that troops
were placed behind some brushwood, ready
to fii'e on the Americans, who were expect-
ed. The division which had passed the
creek was immediately recalled, and the or-
ders for an attack countermanded.
To deprive Burgoyne of his only hope of
escape up the Hudson, General Gates or-
dered troop»%o guard all the fords, and de-



98 LIFE OF

fend them until his army Bhould join them.
General Burgoyne used every means to ef-
fect an escape^ but his conquering course
was run. He made a proposal to General
Gates to spare the loss of lives, and was an-
swered, that it was the desire of the Ameri-
cans to do so, but that they expected his
whole army would consider themselves as
prisoners of war. General Burgoyne i^eject-
ed this proposal with firmness; and General

Oct 17 ^*^^* *^^^ agreed to suffer his
troops to march out of their camp,
when they had laid down their arms. They
were not to serve again in the United States,
unless exchanged, but were to be permitted
to march to Boston, and from there to re-
turn to England.
