The Newport Gazette

Extracts from a Rebel Paper.

The following messages, &c. passed between Lieutenant-General Burgoyne and Major-General Gates, previous to the Convention of Saratoga.

From General Burgoyne to General Gates, October 13, 1777.

Lieutenant General Burgoyne is desirous of sending a field officer with a message to Major General Gates, upon a matter of high moment to both armies. The Lieutenant General requests to be informed at what hour General Gates will receive him tomorrow morning.

Major General Gates.

General Gates's Reply.

Major General Gates will receive a field officer from Lieutenant General Burgoyne, at the advanced post of the army of the United States at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, from whence he will be conducted to Head-Quarters.

Camp at Saratoga, 9 o'clock, P. M. October 13, 1777.

Lieutenant General Burgoyne.

Memorandum of a message delivered by Major Kingston, from General Burgoyne to General Gates.

Yesterday afternoon your letter about the officers, but intended it.

In regard to the reproaches made upon this army, of burning the country, they were unjust. General Schuyler's house, and adjacent buildings remained protected till General Gates's troops approached the Ford.

General Burgoyne avows the order for setting fire at that time to every thing that covered the movements.

The barracks particularly took fire by mere accident; and measures were taken, should it not be fatal, to save them. If there has been any vindictive spirit in burning other buildings on the march, it has probably been employed by some secret wellwishers to the American cause, as General Burgoyne had been informed. Some of the buildings belonged to supposed friends of the King. The General does not think that General Gates has a right, from any thing that has appeared in his conduct and reasoning, to make use of the term "trifling," and he still persists that he cannot interfere with the prisoners in General Howe's army, and more especially in case that has been made urgent citation between General Howe, and General Washington.

Message delivered by Major Kingston, from General Burgoyne to General Gates, October 14, 1777.

I am directed to represent to you from General Burgoyne, that after having fought you twice, he has waited some days in his present position, determined to try a third contest against any force you could bring to attack him.

He is apprised of the superiority of your numbers, and the disposition of your troops, which impede his supplies, and render his retreat a scene of carnage on both sides. In this situation he is impelled by humanity, and thinks himself justified by established principles and precedents of State and of war, to spare the lives of brave men, upon honourable terms. Should Major General Gates be inclined to treat upon that idea, General Burgoyne would propose a cessation of arms, during the time necessary to communicate the preliminary terms, by which in any extremity he and his army mean to abide.