of light crops. The timber of the uplands is oak, hickory, and chestnut; of the plains, maple, beech, ash, elm, white and yellow pine. PURSUITS. The people are mainly engaged in agriculture. and large quantities of grain are annually produced. Most of the improved lands are under a careful and profitable cultivation. Manufactures. These are chiefly confined to the southern section, yet they form an increasingly important interest. Flour, lumber, cotton and woollen goods, and iron, are the leading articles. STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Oats, potatoes, corn, and butter. SCHOOLS. There were 216 public schools, taught on an average eight months, during the year 1846, having in attendance 11,714 scholars, and paying their teachers $16,005. The number of volumes in the district libraries is 25,532. The number of private schools is forty-four, attended by 898 pupils. There are also four academies and one female seminary, with 208 students. RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Dutch Reformed, Congregationalists, Friends, Unitarians, Universalists, and Roman Catholics. The number of churches of all denominations is ninety-six, of clergymen, eighty-nine. HISTORY. The settlements in this county were made at a very early date. Van Schaick's patent, comprising the town of Waterford and the adjacent country; the Saratoga patent north of this, embracing a tract six miles square on the Hudson, and the Apple patent lying on the Mohawk and extending three miles back into the woods towards Ballston lake, were granted about the year 1700. The patent of Kayaderosseras, embracing nearly the whole of the county not previously conveyed, was granted in 1702, to a company of thirteen individuals, of whom David Schuyler and Robert Livingston were the most prominent. The exact date of the first settlement on the other patents is uncertain; on the Kayaderosseras they were made as early as 1715. In 1747, the Indians from Canada attacked the settlement at Fish Creek, now Schuylerville, burned the village, and killed thirty families. After the conquest of Canada, settlements were rapidly made, but confined, for some years, to the neighborhood of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers. Much of the land in this county is still holden under the annual rent of fifteen or twenty cents per acre, payable to the successors of the company to whom the Kayaderosseras patent was granted. This county is particularly distinguished for the events of General Burgoyne's campaign in 1777, and his surrender which took place within its limits. The general circumstances connected with this campaign have been already narrated; but a more particular notice of some of the events which transpired in this county may with propriety be introduced here. After the defeat of Colonels Baum and Breyman at Bennington, General Burgoyne had employed his troops in transport ing military stores from Ticonderoga to Fort Edward, until the 12th of September. Meanwhile General Schuyler, who had retreated from Fort Edward to Stillwater, and thence to the islands at the mouth of the Mohawk, had received considerable reinforcements. On the 19th of August, he was superseded by General Gates, who decided to return to Stillwater, which place he reached with his army on the 9th of September. He immediately selected a strong position on Bemis' Heights, and proceeded to fortify his camp. On the 13th and 14th, Burgoyne crossed the Hudson and encamped on the heights and plains of Saratoga. On the 17th he app approached within four miles of the American camp, and on the 19th advanced against the left wing of the American army, designing if possible to drive them from their position. The action, at first partial, at length became general, and both sides being repeatedly reinforced, the conflict continued till night. The English remained near the battle field; the Americans retired in good order to their camp, but a short distance from the scene of carnage. Both parties claimed the victory; the English because they held the battle ground; the Americans because they had maintained their position. The British loss, however, was considerably greater than that of the Americans, and in their circumstances, to fight without a decisive victory, was defeat. The day after this battle, General Burgoyne took a position almost within cannon shot of the American camp, fortified his right wing, and extended his left t there. Both parties retained their position until the 7th of October; Burgoyne in the hope of receiving aid from Sir Henry Clinton, to whom he had sent the most pressing entreaties for assistance; and General Gates in the confidence of receiving new reinforcements daily. Receiving no further intelligence from Sir Henry, and finding himself compelled to diminish the rations of his soldiers, the British General determined to test again the strength of his adversary. 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 Hudson, 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 Schuyler ville. 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 Troy 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. 1. Lysander, 1789. 2. Manlius, 1789. 3. Marcellus, 1789.* 4. Onondaga, 1789. 5. Pompey, 1789. 6. Fabius, 1798. 7. Camillus, 1799. 8. Tully, 1803. 9. Otsego, 1806. TOWNS. 10. Cicero, 1807. 11. Salina, 1809. 15. Elbridge, 1829. |