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Saratoga
(1777)

The Battle of Saratoga marked the turning point in the war of the north. It was after this victory, that France decided to lend its support to the fledgling colonies.

The battle of Saratoga, were actually 2 distantly different battles. The first called the battle of Freeman's Farm (also known as First Saratoga).

The British had decided to try a pincer campaign in order to isolate the capital city Albany, the breadbasket of the New York and northern frontier off from all of New England and Philadelphia to the south.

The British under General "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne (call so because he treated his soldiers as human beings), was descending down the northern New York frontier from Canada with 10,000 troops, and about 1000 camp followers, Indians, and soldiers wives.

Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger with some 1600 Regulars and Indians, was traveling east across the western frontier (the Mohawk Valley) towards Albany, where he ambushed General Nicholas Herkimer at the battle of Fort Schulyer. Benedict Arnold led a relief column and combined with General Nicholas Herkimer at the battles of Fort Stanswick and Oriskany. St. Leger was forced to retire and retreat back to Montreal. A third force was to travel northward from New York City (under Sir Henry Clinton), effectively isolating and capturing Albany. This did not happen.

Around the 6th of July, Burgoyne had just capture the Northern outpost Fort Ticonderoga, forcing the withdrawl of 2,300 Americans and was pushing his way down the corridor to what is today modern Whitehall/ Lake George. Burgoyne met little opposition and was quite optimistic.

General Schuyler however, despite being forced to retreat from overwhelming numbers, put forth a force of 1000 woodsman to fell every tree and obstacle in the path of the enemy.
That tactic had slowed the British juggernaut to no more than a mile a day.

(The Schuyler House in Stillwater N.Y.)
The British in want of much need supplies sent out a raiding party of both Brunswick soldiers and German troops, which were met, and severely defeated at the Battle of Bennington (Hoosic Falls, New York).

This gave the American forces time to plan.

General Schuyler had sent the Polish engineer Thaddeus Kosciuszko to find a suitable position to engage the British.

Washington, upon hearing of the British advance, started to send Schuyler troops and reinforcements. Benedict Arnold was one of these. Arnold helped Kosciuszko lay out the American defensive position at Bemis Heights.

Crack rifle troops 500 strong from Virginia under Daniel Morgan waited in anticipation.

While General Schuyler had the situation in control, Congressional pressures subjected his command to the political appointee Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates.

Arnold and Gates immediately were in conflict, as well as having a serious personality conflict. There was also discourse between the New Yorkers and New Englanders.

On 13 September 1777 Burgoyne crossed the Hudson from the east bank to Saratoga, and 4 days later stopped the march, settling around Bemis Heights. The colonist had harassed his troops, and reduced his number to around 6000. In addition Horatio Gates had superior intelligence about the British adversary.

Freeman's Farm (or First Saratoga) occurred on 19 September 1777, and was brought on by Burgoynes' reconnaissance, as the General had sent out 3 columns to "develop the situation.

Horatio Gates was of the opinion that he should remain in his position, and engage the enemy when they advanced, but Arnold was of the opinion that the Americans should take the battle to the British. Arnold who had a numerically superior force took an "active defense".

Daniel Morgan and his crack Virginia riflemen, violating the rules of war of that day, specifically targeted the British Officers, and sent the advanced column reeling in full retreat. The Virginians quick to follow up on this success formed a disorganized charge, which put them face to face with the main body of the advanced column. The British troops with advanced discipline and experience, which sent the Virginians back into the forest cover.

This brought forth American light infantry, and for 3-4 hours the heaviest part of the battle occurred.

(American Artillery Position) (Breymann Redoubt) (Bloody Knoll)

General Riedesel was to take the rear guard with a reduced force, which would protect Burgoyne supplies and artillery, which had taken a position near the Hudson River. Soon after this he learned that a general engagement was shaping up at the Freeman's Farm, and sent additional support at about 5:00P.M. In order to remove the Americans threatening Burgoyne's center column, Reidesel used his German regulars to thwart the Americans, and Burgoyne slowly gained ground back.

Gates could have destroyed Burgoyne's supply depot near the river, and ended the conflict, but failed to capitalize on this position. Furthermore Arnold returned from Bemis Heights, and asked for additional reinforcements, only to have Gates relieve him of command.

Thus Burgoyne effectively held the ground, but at a terrible price.... 350 dead of wounded out of 800 who had fought.

British Main Camp Area Main British Encampment
Burgoyne wanted to follow up the next day (20 September 1777), but General Simon Fraser who had fought with the light infantry and grenadiers convinced him that a day's rest would do the troops good. Furthermore Burgoyne was instructed that Sir Henry Clinton was coming up the Hudson from New York City to relieve some of the pressure. Burgoyne then decided to construct a series of defensive field fortifications. He constructed the Balcarres redoubt at Freeman's Farm, the forward most position, as well as the Breymann Redoubt. His Canadian troop set forth in constructing stockaded cabins. In addition a floating bridge was constructed across the Hudson River, as well as many other earthworks.

(Hessians and Brunswick Troops in redoubts at Saratoga)
The American Militia under General Benjamin Lincoln was disrupting the lines of communication from Saratoga to Lake Champlain. Militia reinforced Gates position on Bemis Heights, as well as increased military supplies due to General Schuyler.

Burgoyne was starting to beset with problems. Disease and desertion were taking their toll, and his horses were starving. On the 3rd of October, things were so bad that troops were reduced to 1/3 rations. The Americans harassed foraging parties launched by the British, and a state of constant readiness was ordered in the British camps.

Reidesel had suggested withdrawal, reestablishing communications with Canada, and await Clinton's arrival but Burgoyne would have no part of it. Burgoyne was going to march on Albany. Unable to generate any kind of intelligence, again on 7 October, Burgoyne sent out another reconnaissance party, in the hope of mounting an attack on Bemis Heights.

Burgoyne used a company of Rangers (600 strong) to screen the right flank, while the main column of 1500 regulars marched southwest to a high ground they had noted during the previous battle.

Gates had used the British delay to construct a series of defensive earthworks. Gates then ordered Daniel Morgan's troops to "begin the game", with Morgans' troops making flanking attacks on the British lines. In addition Gen. Enoch Poors' troops attacked the other flank.

Poors' brigade held their position against the highly trained grenadiers of Maj. John Acland, despite a valiant bayonet charge mounted by the grenadiers. The New Hampshire troops overran the British position and captured it.
Morgan's Riflemen in the meantime had been attacking the opposite flank and the rear.
Henry Dearborns's Light Infantry met the charging British line, and the threat to the right flank was ended. A British officer, who had an order to withdrawal, was mortally wounded and captured, forcing the center German line to fight on.
Benedict Arnold, hearing the fighting going on, mounted a charge and entered himself into the battle, although he had no command, and had been relieved.

Arnold had forced the British, not only to withdrawal (as they would have retreated into their redoubts), but to force the British to abandon their redoubts in a general withdrawal, hence giving up the field. He first lead an unsuccessful attack on the Balcarres redoubt, then with fresh troops, cleared a line between that and the Breymann redoubt. He then led an attack against the Breymann redoubt. This was costly to Arnold as it cost him the use of his leg.

Arnold also noted that there was a man in the center of the British line, rallying the troops in the face of the American advance. Arnold relayed this information to Daniel Morgan, who in turn had one of his riflemen terminate the British Officer. That British Officer was General Simon Fraser.

Burgoyne, with very few options, made a forced withdrawal to the Great Redoubt, and then withdrew to Schuylerville. Gates for his part was in no position to follow up, but on the 12th of October he had the British force surrounded, and Burgoyne surrendered.
As apart of the surrender (in part due to the threat from the South by Sir Henry Clinton), the formal surrender of 17th of October, Burgoyne's troops were paroled, "upon the condition of not serving again in North America during the present contest".

(Captured Field pieces at the Saratoga Nation Military Park, Saratoga, New York)

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