To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel James Wilkinson, 24 October 1777
From Lieutenant Colonel James Wilkinson
East Town [Pa.] October 24th 1777
Sir
I have this Moment arrived here, on my Way to Congress, with dispatches from Major General Gates;1 and being Uncertain whether your Excellency is apprized of the Fact; I think it my duty to congratulate you, on Lt Genl Burgoynes Surrender to the American Arms—This fortunate Event took place on the 17th Inst., & put us in possession of Six General officers, five thousand Combitants, five thousand stand of Arms, and twenty Seven Peices of well sorted brass Ordnance with fixed Ammunition Compleat. I have the further pleasure to assure your Excellency that we have made during the Campaign upwards of two thousand discretionary Prisoners among whom are several Field Officers & a large Proportion of Subordinate ones. The most Material Article in the Convention between Major Genl Gates & Lt Genl Burgoyne, is, that the latter with his Army are allowed to return to great Britain, on parole not to bear Arms against America during the present Contest.
The Incendiary Crew from N. York continue to ravage the Banks of the North River—The dwellings of Judge Livingston & Mrs Montgomery have, among many others, shared the Fate of Esopus.2 I have the Honor to be Your Excellencies, Obliged, Obedt & ready Servant
James Wilkinson
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. These documents regarding Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga were read by Congress on 31 Oct. (see , 9:851).
2. The British force commanded by Gen. John Vaughan that Gen. Henry Clinton sent up the Hudson River toward Albany in mid-October did not burn Montgomery Place near present-day Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., where Janet Livingston Montgomery (1743–1828), widow of Gen. Richard Montgomery, lived, but five miles farther up the river on 18 Oct. the British burned the Clermont houses of her brother Chancellor Robert R. Livingston (1746–1813) and her mother, Margaret Beekman Livingston (1724–1800), widow of Judge Robert R. Livingston (1718–1775). For an account of the burning of Kingston on 15 Oct., see George Clinton to GW, 20 October.