The American Revolutionary War was contested from the sun-drenched fields of Georgia to the frozen tundra of Canada.  The colonial bid for freedom resulted in well-documented battles of Lexington, Bunker Hill and Yorktown while equally important battles were waged at lesser-known sites like Point Pleasant and Cowpens.  Yet of all the battles, the most important may have taken place in northern New York state.  The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolution because it proved to the world that the young American army was capable of beating the powerful British forces in a major confrontation.

By the late 1770s, Britain was intent on cutting New England off from the rest of the colonies by taking control of the Hudson River Valley.   To that end, a force of 10,000 British soldiers under the command of General John Burgoyne headed south from Canada in the summer of 1777.  But the march was not an easy one.  Americans used a systematic blocking of roads, destruction of bridges and constant sniper fire to slow the British advance.   Late that summer, colonial soldiers and militia under the command of General Horatio Gates eventually stopped the advance in the area north of the Hudson valley town of Saratoga.

The British attempted to move on Saratoga on Sept. 19, 1777.   In a day-long fight known as the Battle of Freeman's Farm, Burgoyne was able to make little headway against the American patriots and ordered his men to build fortifications near Bernis Heights.  Pinned down by a growing American army, Burgoyne waited for reinforcements for nearly three weeks.  When none came, he decided to risk a second advance on Saratoga on Oct. 7.

The second confrontation, known as the Battle of Bernis Heights, was an overwhelming success for the Americans.  Having relied primarily on a defensive strategy for much of the campaign, Gates went on the offensive by mid-afternoon and attacked with three columns of men led by Col. Daniel Morgan, Gen. Ebenezer Learned, and Gen. Enoch Poor.  The British line was broken repeatedly while the flanks were punished and driven back.  Before the enemy could regroup, Gen. Benedict Arnold - who had been relieved of his command for arguing with Gates - led Learned's brigade on a final surge which overwhelmed German soldiers defending the center of the British line.

A day later, under the cover of nightfall, the British began their retreat north and took refuge in a fortified camp on the heights of Saratoga.  Believing that victory was at hand, the American force surged to nearly 20,000 men and surrounded the exhausted British.  Faced with such overwhelming numbers, Burgoyne surrendered on Oct. 17, 1777.

The Battle of Saratoga is regarded as one of the most decisive battles in American history.  It put an end to the British swagger and their feeling of invincibility.  It showed that the Americans were a strong fighting force.   More importantly, it exemplified the spirit and patriotism of the American people - attributes that served the rebels well during the remainder of the revolution.   The same resolve and spirit have been the foundation of our country for more that 200 years and will continue to keep America strong for future generations.