ng out the blaze there was discovered a chest of
bullets "in Hancock's store." The news spread rapidly, and was regarded
as another proof of the desperate nature of the Whigs.

So the army, uncomfortable and uneasy, looked for its reinforcements,
which before long began to come in. Troop-ships arrived, but the most
welcome was the _Cerberus_, with the three major-generals. The relief of
the garrison found expression in waggery; they called the generals the
three bow-wows, and circulated the doggerel:--

"Behold the Cerberus the Atlantic plow,
Her precious cargo Burgoyne, Clinton, Howe,
Bow wow wow!"

Burgoyne at this time made a special nickname for himself. Hailing a
ship as they entered the harbor, the generals learned that the army was
shut up by the provincials. "What!" cried Burgoyne. "Ten thousand
peasants keep five thousand king's troops shut up! Well, let _us_ get
in, and we'll soon find elbow-room!"[83] And Elbow-room was Burgoyne's
name for a long time thereafter.

Yet the three new generals for a while did nothing. Lieutenant Barker
regretfully records: "Tho' we have new Generals come out, yet they have
brought no more authority than we had before, which was none at all." It
is safe to assume that on learning the quality of the "peasants,"
Burgoyne was not anxious to attack them with an inferior force. The
British therefore continued to await reinforcements.

From Burgoyne's voluminous correspondence we learn his state of mind. He
had come to the country unwillingly: "I received your Majesty's commands
for America with regret," he wrote in his letter to the king, and
elsewhere records that the event was one of the most disagreeable in his
life. Nevertheless, once enlisted in the campaign, he had thrown himself
into it. Perceiving in advance how little, as junior major-general, he
would have to do, he endeavored to have himself transferred to the post
at New York, where he rightly perceived that there was much to be done.
He was in favor of attempting conciliation. Had that post at this time
been occupied by Burgoyne, his quick wit, true sympathies with the
Americans, and real abilities might have made for him a different name
in the history of America. But his attempt failed, and now, almost
inactive in his post at Boston, he was studying the situation, probing
the weakness of Gage and learning the difficulties of his position. Gage
had little money for secret service, it is tr