truct afresh. The
policy of an early father of New England, "In a revolution burn all, and
build afresh," was far from being that of his descendants. Throughout
the whole War of Independence the colonists had a fixed known end in
view. More than that, they had already within themselves the means for
effecting that end, and making it enduring, as far as what is human can
endure. The future that they proposed to themselves was not independent
of their past: it was a fuller development of it. There was no need for
beginning with the year one, or for throwing aside as worn out anything
that their ancestors had left them. And it was essentially a democratic
revolution. Throughout, the movement came from the people. The very
blunders made by the hesitation and timidity of Congress were the
mistakes of an assembly of delegates, not of representative statesmen.
When the final step was taken, the Congress was not the originator of
it, but was little more than a mouthpiece giving expression to the
declared wishes of the nation.

DEFEAT OF BURGOYNE AT SARATOGA

A.D. 1777

SIR EDWARD SHEPHERD CREASY

Viewed by itself, the victory over Burgoyne might have
little appearance of being one of the decisive battles of
the world, among which Creasy reckons it. That it acquired
such importance was due, as Creasy himself shows, to its
direct consequences, especially its influence upon the
French. It led them to espouse the American cause, and by
their aid the Revolution was brought to a successful ending.

Since the Declaration of Independence the American forces
had met with varying fortunes. They had been defeated in the
Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, and at White Plains,
October 28th. Forts Washington and Lee, defences of the
Hudson, were both lost, and the Americans retreated through
New Jersey. By a masterly return movement Washington
retrieved the situation, winning the Battle of Trenton,
December 26, 1776, and that of Princeton, January 3, 1777.
On August 16, 1777, Stark gained the Battle of Bennington,
but within a month (September 11th) Washington was beaten by
Howe on the Brandywine, and the Americans suffered defeat at
Germantown October 4th. In this state of affairs the
movements of Burgoyne, who had invaded New York from Canada,
were watched with deep concern on both sides.

The final operations b