Accordingly he selected 1500 choice troops, whom he commanded in person, aided by three of his bravest generals. With these he advanced to the attack, while a corps of rangers, Indians, and provincials were ordered to take a circuitous route, and show themselves in the rear of the American camp.

General Gates perceived the design of the enemy and made such an arrangement of his forces as effectually to defeat General Burgoyne's project; while at the same time, he despatched Colonel Morgan with his corps to a wood which commanded the right flank of the enemy.

• Having succeeded in reaching this, unperceived by the British, Colonel Morgan awaited the moment when they were engaged with the American force in front to pour a deadly and incessant fire upon their right flank.

Meantime, General Gates ordered another division to intercept the retreat of the enemy to their camp. In the attempt to prevent this movement General Frazer, one of Burgoyne's most efficient officers was mortally wounded, and the artillery corps routed. Finding the fortune of the day against him, the British General retreated to his ca closely pressed by the American army headed by the impetuous Arnold, who, with more than his usual, rashness forced their entrenchments; but being wounded and having his horse killed under him, was compelled to retire. That portion of the British camp occupied by the German troops, was carried by a Massachusetts regiment belonging to Arnold's division.

Darkness put an end to the conflict. The advantage gained by the Americans was decisive. The loss of the British in killed, wounded, and prisoners was heavy, and among the number were several officers of distinction. Their camp too was penetrated by the enemy.

During the night Burgoyne withdrew with his army to a stronger position on the river heights. Aware that his adversary would soon be compelled to surrender from want of provisions, General Gates did not risk another assault, but contented himself with posting strong bodies of troops at every avenue by which retreat was possible, and awaited the result.

Burgoyne attempted a retreat, but could only reach the heights of Saratoga near Schuylerville, where he encamped. Strong bodies of American troops guarded the Hudson and forbade the effort to cross. Driven to desperation, he determined as a last resource to abandon every thing except the arms and provisions which his soldiers could carry, and crossing at or above Fort Edward, press on by forced marches to Fort George.

General Gates had foreseen and prepared for this movement; in addition to the strong guards placed at the fords of the Hud

son, he had formed an entrenched camp on the high grounds between Fort Edward and Fort George. On learning this fact, the British General found himself compelled to surrender, and accordingly on the 17th of October the treaty of capitulation was signed, and the British army piled their arms on the plains of Saratoga, east of the village of Schuylerville.

Congress awarded to General Gates and his army their thanks, and presented him with a medal of gold, struck in commemoration of the event.

VILLAGES. BALLSTON SPA, in the town of Milton, the seat of justice for the county, is pleasantly situated, and is celebrated for its mineral waters, which are similar in character to those of Saratoga. It has a number of manufactories, and considerable business. It is connected with Schenectady, Troy, and Saratoga Springs, by railroad. Population, 1500.

Saratoga Springs, situated on a sandy plain, in the town of the same name, is one of the most noted watering places in the world. Broadway, its principal street, is wide and shady, and during the summer, constantly thronged with the gay and fashionable, who resort hither for pleasure and relaxation. It has several fine hotels, which during the summer are crowded with visitors. There are also several academies and female seminaries, and some manufactories. It is connected with Try and Schenectady by railroad. Population, 3500.

There are eighteen or twenty springs in the town, of which Congress, Putnam's, Pavilion, Iodine, Hamilton, and Flat rock, are the principal. They are regarded as efficacious in bilious and scrofulous diseases.

Waterford, at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers, and at the head of sloop navigation on the latter, combines to a great extent, the advantages of railroad, river and canal transportation, and hydraulic power. It is largely engaged in manufactures, which, with its agricultural products, annually amount to between one and two millions of dollars. A bridge 800 feet in length connects it with Lansingburgh. The Waterford sand used for castings, is esteemed the best in the country. Population, about 1800.

Mechanicsville is a small but thriving manufacturing village, in the town of Stillwater. Population, 600.

Stillwater, in the town of the same name, is distinguished for the battles fought between General Gates and Burgoyne, near Bemis' Heights, in 1777, and Schuylerville, in the town of Saratoga, for the surrender of the latter, which took place a short distance east of that village.

Rivers. a. Oswego River. d. Chittenango Creek. c. Onondaga. b. Limestone. e. Nine Mile. j. Oneida river. k. Seneca. Lakes. f. Skeneateles. Z. Oneida. g. Onondaga. h. Otisco.

i. Cross.

Villages. SYRACUSE. Manlius. Skeneateles. Salina. Geddes. Jordan.

BOUNDARIES. North by Oswego county and Oneida lake; East by Madison county; South by Cortland; and West by Cayuga counties.

SURFACE. The northern portion of the county is level; the southern hilly, but arable.

The watershed, or height of land dividing the northern and southern waters of the state, passes through the southern portion of this county.

RIVERS. The Seneca, or Oswego river, with its tributaries, drains most of the north-western portion. The other principal streams, flowing northward, are the Oneida River, Chittenango, Limestone, Butternut, Onondaga, and Nine Mile Creeks. The Tioughnioga and Cold Creeks, running southward, have their source in this county.

LAKES. Oneida lake forms a portion of the northeastern boundary. Skeneateles lake, lying mostly in this county, is a beautiful sheet of water, surrounded by picturesque scenery, and abounding in fish. Its trout are particularly celebrated for their size and abundance. The lake is fifteen miles in length, and from half a mile to one mile in width.

Onondaga lake, situated toward the centre of the county, is eight miles long, and from two to four wide. It abounds in fish. Most of the salt springs are near its banks.

Otisco and Cross are the only other lakes of importance.

CLIMATE. The climate of this county is mild and agreeable, more uniform than in some other parts of the state. The diseases of the county are principally of a bilious type.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The northern portion of the county is comprised in that geological formation known as the Ontario group or division, consisting of marly sandstone, soft green shales, and the gypsum and salt rocks, (limestone,) known as the Onondaga salt group. South of this, limestone containing gypsum predominates, and still farther south, slate is the prevailing rock.

Salt is the most valuable and abundant mineral production of this county. The salt is obtained from springs, (probably charged with salt from some deep seated locality of the mineral,) in the town of Salina.

Oxide of iron, gypsum, marl, water limestone, or hydraulic cement, selenite, fibrous gypsum, fluor spar, and serpentine, are also found in the county. Sulphur springs exist in Manlius and many other parts of the county. The marble from

the abundance of encrinites and other fossils which it contains, presents a beautiful birdseye appearance, which renders it a valuable building material.

SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is a calcareous loam, intermingled with vegetable mould, and is highly fertile. Maple, basswood, beech, hemlock and pine, are the principal forest trees of the county.

PURSUITS. Agriculture is the occupation of a majority of the inhabitants. The soil of the county seems equally well adapted to grazing and the culture of grain. Large quantities of all the grains, as well as flax, potatoes, and other vegetables are raised. In 1845, more barley was raised in this county than in any other in the state. Large quantities of butter, cheese, wool and pork, are also produced.

The county is also largely engaged in manufactures. In 1845, they amounted to nearly two and a half millions of dollars, consisting principally of flour, lumber, cotton and woollen goods, iron, distilled and malt liquors, leather and paper.

Commerce. The junction of the Oswego and Erie canals, in this county, gives it a somewhat extensive commerce, both with the Hudson river and the Lakes. The tolls received at Salina, in 1845, amounted to over $52,000, indicating a business of more than $2,000,000.

Mines. Under this head may be included the salt works in the town of Salina. At five different points in this town, salt is produced by the evaporation of brine from the springs.*

In 1840, the amount of salt thus manufactured was 2,622,305 bushels. The springs belong to the state, which receives two mills per bushel for pumping the water, and six cents per bushel duty on the salt. Nearly 11,000 men are employed in the busi

ness.

The production of hydraulic cement, so largely used in canals and cisterns, which is extensively prosecuted in this county, also belongs to the head of mines.

STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Salt, butter, barley, oats, wheat, wool, and hydraulic cement.

SCHOOLS. There were in this county in 1846, 304 school districts. The schools are taught on an average eight months each. $30,857 was expended for the tuition of 24,325 children. The district libraries contained 37,586 volumes. There were also in this county thirty-six unincorporated private and select

* The concentration of the brine is accomplished in two ways, viz. 1st, by solar evaporation, for which purpose large shallow vats are constructed, and provided with movable roofs, to protect them from rains; 2d, by boiling, which is accomplished by means of immense shallow boilers. Crystallization takes place, though in different degrees, by both processes; in the former, the crystals are larger, and the variety known in the markets, as coarse salt, is produced. The latter produces the fine or table salt.