not satisfy the Tory who served as guide. He told Burgoyne that at least three thousand men would be necessary to insure success, but Burgoyne would not, and, indeed, could not, spare so many.[1]
On the 12th Baum captured some stores and cattle at Cambridge.
On the morning of the 14th he found some stores at Sancoik and took five prisoners. He reported to Burgoyne that there were fifteen or eighteen hundred men at Bennington, but that they would probably leave it on his approach. He would proceed so far as to fall on the enemy early the next day, and make such disposition as he should think necessary, from the intelligence which he should receive. People were flocking in hourly and wanted to be armed. The Indians could not be controlled, and ruined and took everything they pleased.[2] Baum, who could not talk English, apparently relied on the assurances of the Tory governor, Skene, who would seem to have been a very credulous personage. Burgoyne would appear not to have entirely shared in the delusions of his subordinate, for he sent back orders not to advance should Baum find the enemy too strongly posted, and
- ↑ It is impossible to determine the exact numbers of Englishmen and Provincials. They were “the select corps of British marksmen, a party of French Canadians, a more numerous party of Provincial loyalists.”—Bancroft, vol. ix. p. 383. Compare also Eelking's “Riedesel,” vol. ii. pp. 127, 132; Schlözer's “Briefwechsel,” vol. iii. p. 36; Eelking's “Hülfstruppen,” vol. i. p. 279, where the whole force, including Indians, is set at only five hundred and fifty-one. Notice that the composition of the corps was modified between August 9th and 11th.
- ↑ Coburn's “Centennial History of the Battle of Bennington,” where the letter is given (probably a translation). It is dated “Sancoik, Aug. 14, 1777, 9 o'clock” (presumably nine A.M.).
