Mr Brudenell, the chaplain to the artillery, readily undertook to accompany her, and with one female servant, and the major’s valet-de-chambre (who had a ball which he had received in the late action* then in his shoulder) she rowed down the river to meet the enemy. But her distresses were not yet to end. The night was advanced before the boat reached the enemy’s out-posts, and the sentinel would not let it pass, nor even come on shore.
In vain Mr Brudenell offered the flag of truce, and represented the state of the extraordinary passenger. The guard, apprehensive of treachery, and punctilious to their orders, threatened to fire into the boat if it stirred before day-light. Her anxiety and suffering were thus protracted through seven or eight dark and cold hours; and her reflections upon that first reception, could not give her very encouraging ideas of the treatment she was afterwards to expect. But it is due to justice at the close of this adventure to say, that she was received and accommodated by General Gates with all the humanity and respect that her rank, her merits and her fortunes deserved.*
* The engagement at Saratoga was spread out over several weeks. There were two major battles: the English, hoping to keep hold of New England by halting the American advance at Saratoga, prevailed on September 19th, but the Americans overwhelmed them on October 7th at Bemis Heights a few miles north of Albany, New York. General Burgoyne was forced to surrender on October 17th, 1777.
* According to American historian Benson J. Lossing (1813-1891), “This delay was only for a few minutes, not ‘seven or eight dark and cold hours,’ as asserted by Burgoyne. They were invited by that officer [Gates] to his quarters, where a cup of tea and other comforts were provided; and Lady Harriet was also comforted by the joyful tidings that her husband was safe.”