Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-25-02-0167

The American Commissioners to [the Comte de Vergennes], 4 December 1777

The American Commissioners to [the Comte de Vergennes]

ALS:4 Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères

Passy, December 4. 77.

Sir

We have the Honour to acquaint your Excellency that we have just receiv’d an Express from Boston, in 30 Days, with Advice of the total Reduction of the Force under General Burgoyne, himself and his whole Army having surrendered themselves Prisoners. General Gates was about to send Reinforcements to Gen. Washington, who was near Philadelphia with his Army. Gen. Howe was in Possession of that City, but having no Communication with his Fleet, it was hoped he would soon be reduced to submit to the same Terms with Burgoyne, whose Capitulation we enclose; and shall send your Excellency farther Particulars of the State of Affairs in America, as soon as we can collect them from the Papers. We have the Honour to be with great Respect Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servants

B Franklin
Silas Deane
Arthur Lee

The Congress was sitting at Yorktown in Pennsylvania.

Acct. of Prisoners &c.

British Troops at Capitulation 2442
Foreign Troops 2198
Canadians, Volunteers &c. 1100
Staff Officers 12
Total at time of Capitulation 5752
Prisoners taken before at Sundry times 400
Sick and wounded 518
Deserters 300
Lost at Bennington 1220
Kill’d since 17th of September 600
Kill’d & taken at Ticonderoga by Brown5 413
Total of Burgoyne’s Army 9203
2 brass 24 pounders
12 18 po
6  4
3 Howitzers 5 Inch
2 Mortars 8 Inch
12 taken at other times
37 together with 4 members of Parliament
[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

4In BF’s hand.

5Col. John Brown, in an attack on Burgoyne’s supply line.

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