Unknown Burgoyne's Lamentation, At his surrender to the American army, under General Gates.
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04764.83 Author/Creator: Unknown Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Broadside Date: circa October 1777 Pagination: 1 p. ; 47.7 x 18.8 cm. Order a Copy
Nine stanza poem printed in Boston. Each stanza has eight lines and follows an "aabbccdd" pattern of rhyme. This broadside is the seventh edition. Date is estimated as around the end of the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777, but it could be later than that given this is the seventh edition. Told from the point of view of British General John Burgoyne while he is surrounded by American forces. Burgoyne sends his lamentations to the Greek goddess Diana in the poem. First stanza mentions that earlier American generals made Burgoyne overconfident of an easy victory. Poem goes into Burgoyne's arrogance of British victory over the "yankes." Admits that "You gentleman all, think of it as you will, / We Britons have us'd the Americans ill; / And for this reason we are brought into thrall / And never shall prosper in this war at all;" Ends with the statement that the ancient gods cannot help him and that he will have to beg for mercy from General Gates. Paper was folded at one time and creases and wrinkles can still be seen. A few slight discolorations as well.
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