The Virginia Gazette

On Sunday last his Excellency the Governor received the following dispatches from Congress.

Extract of a letter, from York town, October 31.

I HAVE the honour and pleasure to enclose you a copy of the capitulation by which General Burgoyne and his army surrendered themselves prisoners of war. This great affair might have been still greater, if the near approach of Sir Henry Clinton to Albany (where our military and provision stores are lodged) had not rendered dispatch necessary with General Burgoyne's army. Two thousand brave men under General Stark are gone to Ticonderoga, and General Gates with the main body of his army is moving down the North river to meet General Vaughan, who yet remains about fifty miles below Albany. Two brigades, with the light troops under Col. Morgan, are on their way to join General Washington. Nothing that we know of hath happened near Philadelphia since the enemy's unsuccessful attack on Red Bank and Fort Mifflin, in which two of their ships of war were lost, and Count Donop, with some inferior officers and seventy privates, made prisoners.

Copy of a letter from General Gates to the President of the Congress, dated camp at Saratoga, October 18, 1777.

SIR,

I HAVE the satisfaction to present your Excellency with the convention of Saratoga, by which his Excellency Lieutenant General Burgoyne has surrendered himself and his whole army into my hands; and they are now upon their march to Boston. This signal and important event is the more glorious, as it was effected with so little loss to the army of the United States. This letter will be presented to your Excellency by my Adjutant General, Col. Wilkinson, to whom I must beg leave to refer your Excellency for the particulars that brought this great business to so happy and fortunate a conclusion, and desire to be permitted to recommend this gallant officer in the warmest manner to Congress, and entreat that he may be continued in his present place, with the rank of a Brigadier General. The Hon. Congress will believe me when I assure them, that from the beginning of this war I have not met with a more promising military genius than Col. Wilkinson, and whose services have been of the greatest benefit to this army. I am,

Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,

HORATIO GATES.

His Excellency John Hancock, Esq;

List of prisoners, ordnance stores, &c. by return of the Deputy Adjutant General.

TWO thousand one hundred and thirty nine British rank and file, two thousand and twenty two German ditto, eight hundred and thirty Canadian ditto; total, four thousand nine hundred and ninety one rank and file.-----One Lieutenant General, two Majors General, three Brigadiers, six Lieutenant Colonels, twelve Majors, twenty six Captains, one hundred and thirty three Lieutenants, forty one Ensigns, eight Chaplains, six Adjutants, seven Quartermasters, fourteen Surgeons, thirteen Mates, five Judge Advocates. Three hundred and fifty six Sergeants, one hundred and eighty nine drums and fifes.------Lieutenant General Burgoyne, member of Parliament; Major General Philips, ditto; Lord Petersham, ditto; Lord Balcarres, ditto; Major Ackland, ditto. Brigadier General Hamilton, Major General Riedesel, Brigadier Gall, Brigadier Spechtz.-.-.-Two twenty four pounders, four twelve ditto, eighteen six ditto, four three ditto, five royals, and two eight inch howitzers; in all, thirty five pieces of brass ordnance, with implements and stores complete for the pieces. Five thousand stand of arms, and a great quantity of musket cartridges; a number of ammunition waggons, travelling forges, &c. &c.

Copy of a letter from General Gates to the President of the Congress, dated Albany, October 20, 1777.

SIR,

ENCLOSED is a copy of a letter I have this day sent to Major General Vaughan, who I am told commands the burning party on Hudson's river. It goes by the boat that carries General Burgoyne's officer to Sir William Howe. Such answer as I receive shall be sent to your Excellency. I cannot close my letter without requesting your Excellency to inform Congress of the great care and attention with which Dr. Potts and the gentlemen of the general hospital have conducted the business of their department. I must beg that some honorary mark of the favour of Congress may be shewn to Dr. Potts, and his subordinate associates. I am, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,

HORATIO GATES.

His Excellency John Hancock., Esq;

Copy of General Gates's letter to Vaughan, the British plunderer and incendiary, dated Albany, October 19, 1777.

SIR,

WITH unexampled cruelty, you have reduced the fine village of Kingston to ashes, and most of the wretched inhabitants to ruin. I am informed you also continue to ravage and plunder all before you, on both sides of the river. Is it thus your King's generals think to make converts to the royal cause? It is no less surprising than true, that the measures they adopt to serve their master have the quite contrary effect. Their cruelty establishes the glorious act of independence upon the broad basis of the general resentment of the people. Abler Generals, and much elder officers than you can pretend to be, are now, by the fortune of war, in my hands. Their fortune may one day be yours, when, Sir, it may not be in the power of any thing human to save you from the just revenge of an injured people. I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant,

HORATIO GATES.