Joseph Stebbins- A Pioneer at Outbreak of the Revolution

JOSEPH STEBBINS 13

avenue of escape. On Oct. 17, he was a prisoner with his whole army in the hands of the rebel General. Thus ended the memorable battle of Saratoga and the boastful campaign of Burgoyne.

It was now that our Deerfield heroes saw the head of the proud Briton humbled to the earth.

Burgoyne had discovered his mistake. He had declared a few weeks before that the rebels were made up of the lowest stratum of the peasantry with few or no respectable persons among them. He had no more idea that he should be successfully opposed by this riff-raff than he had of riding on horseback to the moon.

The trained troops of Burgoyne were contesting only for their King, and must of necessity, in the long run, give way before the Patriots who, inspired by the spirit of freedom, were desperately struggling for their own individual sovereignty.

Men of might had come to the front and were declared leaders by acclamation. In fact, a new and powerful nation had sprung into being based on individual rights.

We now exhibit in Memorial Hall a few spoils of the Saratoga campaign. One item is a linen towel brought home by Capt. Stebbins, and a brass candlestick secured by Capt. Maxwell of Charlemont, both from the personal belongings of Burgoyne. Stebbins also brought back part of a manuscript-book belonging to the commissary department of Burgoyne's army. The last entry made in it by the department was Oct. 8, 1777. This book contained a detailed account of rations given out to the Tory volunteers and camp assistants, six hundred and seventy-five names appearing on the pages preserved. An examination shows that this book was utilized by the Continentals as an orderly book at "Headquarters, Fort Edward," Oct. 13, 14, 15. On the 14th Col. David Wells was field officer of the day with 47 of his men on guard duty. On one of the blank pages of the book Capt. Stebbins, on Oct. 18, made up a pay roll of his own company. This list of the men is here given save that the names of the privates are placed alphabetically ; one hundred and fifteen miles travel was allowed to each man.