Lady Harriet’s Errand

The British surrender at Saratoga on October 17th, 1777, was a turning point in the American Revolutionary War (1776-1783) because it brought France in on the colonists’ side. In his account of the fighting, the English general John Burgoyne recalled what happened on the night of the 7th — with the contest still in the balance — after Harriet Acland heard that her husband John had been captured.

WHEN the army was upon the point of moving after the halt described,* I received a message from Lady Harriet,* submitting to my decision a proposal (and expressing an earnest solicitude to execute it, if not interfering with my designs) of passing to the camp of the enemy, and requesting General Gates’s permission to attend her husband.*

Though I was ready to believe (for I had experienced) that patience and fortitude, in a supreme degree, were to be found, as well as every other virtue, under the most tender forms, I was astonished at this proposal. After so long an agitation of the spirits, exhausted not only for want of rest, but absolutely want of food, drenched in rains for twelve hours together, that a woman should be capable of such an undertaking as delivering herself to the enemy, probably in the night, and uncertain of what hands she might first fall into, appeared an effort above human nature.

The assistance I was enabled to give was small indeed; I had not even a cup of wine to offer her; but I was told she had found, from some kind and fortunate hand, a little rum and dirty water. All I could furnish to her was an open boat* and a few lines, written upon dirty and wet paper, to General Gates, recommending her to his protection.*

Continue to Part 2

* “A halt was necessary to refresh the troops,” Burgoyne had just been explaining, “and to give time to the bateaux, loaded with provisions, which had not been able to keep pace with the troops, to come a-breast.”

* Lady Christian Henrietta Caroline Fox-Strangways (1750-1815), Harriet to her friends, was a daughter of Stephen Fox-Strangways, 1st Earl of Ilchester.

* John Dyke Acland (1746-1778), heir to Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 7th Baronet (1722-1785), had married Lady Harriet in 1770 when she was twenty. John held the rank of Major at the time of the battle of Bemis Heights near New York on October 7th, 1777, during which he was shot through both legs. He recovered, and was later promoted Colonel. Horatio Lloyd Gates (1727-1806) was born in Maldon, Essex, and had served in the British Army before moving to Virginia. He was created Adjutant General of the Continental Army in 1775 by George Washington. He took little active involvement in the battle; his influence on it has been much debated since.

* The battlefield was beside the River Hudson, which winds south to Albany and thence to the sea at New York.

* In narrating these events among his fifteen decisive battles of the world, Sir Edward Creasy (1812-1878) transcribed this letter for us: “Sir, — Lady Harriet Ackland, a lady of the first distinction of family, rank, and personal virtues, is under such concern on account of Major Ackland, her husband, wounded and a prisoner in your hands, that I cannot refuse her request to commit her to your protection. Whatever general impropriety there may be in persons in my situation and yours to solicit favors, I cannot see the uncommon perseverance in every female grace and exaltation of character of this lady, and her very hard fortune, without testifying that your attentions to her will lay me under obligations. I am, sir, your obedient servant, J. Burgoyne.”

Précis

Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, may, not, otherwise, unless, whereas, whether, who.

Précis

Clay Lane

The Copy Book