forth the evil consequences of his not consulting the
writer, or of not executing the latter's plans promptly.
It is clear that Riedesel held Burgoyne responsible for
the misfortunes of the army, misfortunes which he
himself took so deeply to heart that his health and
spirits were for a long time seriously affected. Before
leaving America, in the spring of 1778, Burgoyne wrote
to the Duke of Brunswick, praising Riedesel's intelligence
and the manner in which he had executed the
orders of his superior officer.[1] Upon this Riedesel wrote
a most friendly letter to Burgoyne, thanking him in his
own name and that of his officers for the kindness which
the commanding general had shown to them. “If
good fortune did not crown your labors,” he continues,
“we know well that it was not your fault, and that
this army was the victim of the reverses of war.” This
solitary expression of confidence is not to be reconciled
with what Riedesel says at other times and in other
places. The military memorandum above-mentioned,
published in the baroness's book, is sufficient proof of
this. In the same spirit are conceived Riedesel's
comments on Burgoyne's report of the campaign. These
comments, which were addressed to the Duke of
Brunswick and his countrymen, are dated Cambridge,
April 8th, 1778, a little more than a month later than
the letter above quoted. They complain explicitly
that General Burgoyne, while speaking highly of
Riedesel himself, passes lightly over the services of his
troops. The German general's complaints in this
- ↑ De Fonblanque's “Burgoyne,” p. 331. See also Riedesel's order to the German troops expressing Burgoyne's satisfaction with them.—Eelking's “Hülfstruppen,” vol. i. p. 341.
