About the author
Frank Moore was a journalist and Revolutionary historian. He published a number of books on the American Revolution during his career in the mid-19th century, including Songs and Ballads of the American Revolution, Diary of the American Revolution and The Patriot Preachers of the American Revolution.
This poetical “array return” was first published in the “Iris;* (June, 1841,) from the original MS. in the possession of GEORGE H. MOORE, one of the editors of that periodical. It is a resumé of the losses of the British army during the northern campaign which terminated at Saratoga, and, as will be noticed by the reader, gives the results in round numbers.
Burgoyne’s Overthrow at Saratoga
HERE followeth the direful fate
Of Burgoyne and his army great,
Who so proudly did display
The terrors of despotic sway.
His power, and pride, and many threats,
Have been brought low by fort’nate Gates,
To bend to the United States.
British prisoners by Convention, 2442
Foreigners – by Contra-vention, 2198
Tories sent across the Lake, 1100
Burgoyne and suite, in state, 12
Sick and wounded, bruised and pounded,
Ne’er so much before confounded, 528
Prisoners of war before Convention, 400
Deserters come with kind intention, 300
They lost at Bennington’s great battle,
Where glorious Starke’s arms did rattle, 1220
Killed in September and October, 600
Ta ‘en by brave Brown, some drunk, some sober, 413
Slain by high-famed Herkerman,
On both flanks, on rear and van, 300
Indians, suttlers, and drovers,
Enough to crowd large plains all over,
And those whom grim Death did prevent
From fighting against our continent;
And also those who s tole away,
Lest down their arms they should lay,
Abhorring that obnoxious day; 4413
The whole make fourteen thousand men,
Who may not with us fight again, 14,000
This is a pretty just account
Of Burgoyne’s legions whole amount,
Who came across the Northern Lakes
To desolate our happy States.
Their brass cannons we have got all –
Fifty-six – both great and small;
And ten thousand stand of arms,
To prevent all future harms;
Stores and implements complete,
Of workmanship exceeding neat;
Covered wagons in great plenty,
And proper harness, no way scanty.
Among our prisoners there are
Six Generals, of fame most rare;
Six members of their Parliament
Reluctantly they seem content;
Three British Lords, and Lord Bellcaras,
Who came, our country free to harass.
Two Baronets of high extraction,
Were sorely wounded in the action.
