you?’
‘A little. He and Até are both Mohawk and Wolf Clan, and also both graduates of Moor’s Indian Charity School.’
‘Good friends, then?’
‘Can’t stand each other.’ Jack laughed. ‘But they’ll work together nonetheless.’
‘Good. Well, you and Até and his schoolfellow Brant will drink with the tribes, smoke with them, speak their blessed lingo
with them. Rally them, Jack. And then, set them loose in their thousands. I wager you’ll depopulate the Mohawk Valley of Rebels
inside a month.’
While the General was occupied with the buttons of his waistcoat, Jack stared at the map. He had already voiced his doubts
as to the size of the Native contingent that could be expected, as well as their enthusiasm. ‘Who is to lead us?’
‘Wish it were you, my boy. Alas, not even I have the dispensation to raise a Captain to Brevet-Brigadier in an instant. No,
it will be Colonel Barry St Leger. Know him?’
‘A little. Experienced. Is he still … ?’ Jack cocked a hand towards his mouth.
‘Apparently not. Found temperance and God, they say.’ Burgoyne shuddered. ‘Still, better for our purposes to have him sober,
eh?’ He laid his finger again upon the map. ‘Do you remember what’s here?’
Jack looked at the point indicated. ‘Fort Stanwix, is it not?’
‘Aye, Jack. Apparently it’s close to a ruin and defended by half-trained Militiamen, at best. They’ll probably run off; but
if they do fight, just encourage St Leger to end it with all dispatch. A week at the most, eh? The swifter you move inland,’
Burgoyne’s finger traced along the Mohawk Valley, ‘the swifter the Americans will have to detach men to oppose you, while
half the Militia will desert to protect their own farms. The weakened forces they put up against me I’ll sweep aside,’ his
finger drew down the line of the Hudson from Canada, ‘while General Howe will be scattering Washington’s forces to the south
and marching to join us here.’ His finger climbed from New York then stabbed down on a black circle. ‘Albany, Jack. We’ll
see what the kidneys are like in Albany at the end of August. Three months! Why, it will be like a stroll around Vauxhall
Gardens!’
Jack decided merely to nod. There was so much he could say as to the hazards that lay ahead and no point in saying them. The
General would counter anything he brought up. He was that most dangerous of military men – an optimist.
‘When do I leave, sir?’
‘Immediately. I have your papers here – orders, requisitions for horses and equipment, some gold so’s you can do some bribing.
No doubt you and Até will prefer to travel as civilians so you can leave your uniform with me. Then you and your savage can
go where you think fit, urging all the warriors you meet to the fight. You know the country better than anyone. Just be at
Oswego for the gathering of the tribes in the last week of July.’
‘Must I leave immediately, sir? There was a personal matter I wished to attend to in the town.’
Burgoyne smiled, somewhat sadly, then reached for his scarlet coat. Even in the dawn light the gold thread dazzled. It was
exquisite, as were all his clothes, the facings the deep blueof his own and Jack’s regiment, the 16 th Dragoons. ‘I would give you the time, dear Jack, but you would find it fruitless. The boat that brought the kidneys brought
this as well.’ He picked up another note and passed it to him.
It was in Louisa’s strong hand and asked the General to convey to Jack her deepest regrets; but her father had made arrangements
for her to travel to Montreal with the dawn sailing.
His face must have betrayed his disappointment. Burgoyne laughed. ‘Damn me, Jack, but I fear you have become a sentimental
dog. When you were younger such a letter would have given you joy. You’ve had five weeks of her charms. As a youth, that would
have been an eternity. Sheridan had you to perfection in his play as a
‘A little. He and Até are both Mohawk and Wolf Clan, and also both graduates of Moor’s Indian Charity School.’
‘Good friends, then?’
‘Can’t stand each other.’ Jack laughed. ‘But they’ll work together nonetheless.’
‘Good. Well, you and Até and his schoolfellow Brant will drink with the tribes, smoke with them, speak their blessed lingo
with them. Rally them, Jack. And then, set them loose in their thousands. I wager you’ll depopulate the Mohawk Valley of Rebels
inside a month.’
While the General was occupied with the buttons of his waistcoat, Jack stared at the map. He had already voiced his doubts
as to the size of the Native contingent that could be expected, as well as their enthusiasm. ‘Who is to lead us?’
‘Wish it were you, my boy. Alas, not even I have the dispensation to raise a Captain to Brevet-Brigadier in an instant. No,
it will be Colonel Barry St Leger. Know him?’
‘A little. Experienced. Is he still … ?’ Jack cocked a hand towards his mouth.
‘Apparently not. Found temperance and God, they say.’ Burgoyne shuddered. ‘Still, better for our purposes to have him sober,
eh?’ He laid his finger again upon the map. ‘Do you remember what’s here?’
Jack looked at the point indicated. ‘Fort Stanwix, is it not?’
‘Aye, Jack. Apparently it’s close to a ruin and defended by half-trained Militiamen, at best. They’ll probably run off; but
if they do fight, just encourage St Leger to end it with all dispatch. A week at the most, eh? The swifter you move inland,’
Burgoyne’s finger traced along the Mohawk Valley, ‘the swifter the Americans will have to detach men to oppose you, while
half the Militia will desert to protect their own farms. The weakened forces they put up against me I’ll sweep aside,’ his
finger drew down the line of the Hudson from Canada, ‘while General Howe will be scattering Washington’s forces to the south
and marching to join us here.’ His finger climbed from New York then stabbed down on a black circle. ‘Albany, Jack. We’ll
see what the kidneys are like in Albany at the end of August. Three months! Why, it will be like a stroll around Vauxhall
Gardens!’
Jack decided merely to nod. There was so much he could say as to the hazards that lay ahead and no point in saying them. The
General would counter anything he brought up. He was that most dangerous of military men – an optimist.
‘When do I leave, sir?’
‘Immediately. I have your papers here – orders, requisitions for horses and equipment, some gold so’s you can do some bribing.
No doubt you and Até will prefer to travel as civilians so you can leave your uniform with me. Then you and your savage can
go where you think fit, urging all the warriors you meet to the fight. You know the country better than anyone. Just be at
Oswego for the gathering of the tribes in the last week of July.’
‘Must I leave immediately, sir? There was a personal matter I wished to attend to in the town.’
Burgoyne smiled, somewhat sadly, then reached for his scarlet coat. Even in the dawn light the gold thread dazzled. It was
exquisite, as were all his clothes, the facings the deep blueof his own and Jack’s regiment, the 16 th Dragoons. ‘I would give you the time, dear Jack, but you would find it fruitless. The boat that brought the kidneys brought
this as well.’ He picked up another note and passed it to him.
It was in Louisa’s strong hand and asked the General to convey to Jack her deepest regrets; but her father had made arrangements
for her to travel to Montreal with the dawn sailing.
His face must have betrayed his disappointment. Burgoyne laughed. ‘Damn me, Jack, but I fear you have become a sentimental
dog. When you were younger such a letter would have given you joy. You’ve had five weeks of her charms. As a youth, that would
have been an eternity. Sheridan had you to perfection in his play as a
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