The Saratoga Campaign

General Burgoyne Surrenders

The battles of Saratoga (1777), also known as the Saratoga campaign, helped decide the outcome of the American Revolution. The campaign, fought in upstate New York, permanently ended British hopes of dividing the colonies along the Hudson River. Early in 1777, Lord George Germain, who was responsible for British war strategy, approved a plan suggested by Major General John Burgoyne, calling for Burgoyne to lead an army south from Canada to Albany, New York. A smaller expedition under Colonel Barry St. Leger would converge on Albany from the west. By occupying Albany and controlling the Hudson River, the British intended to cut off New England from the other colonies and force an end to the American rebellion.

Burgoyne left Montréal in June with about 9000 British and Hessian troops and a number of Native American allies. In July he took Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain without a struggle and fought a skirmish with an American force near Hubbardton, Vermont. On August 16, however, 2000 inexperienced New Hampshire and Vermont militiamen defeated a detachment of troops sent by Burgoyne to seize American supplies at Bennington, Vermont.

After a three-week delay at Fort Miller (now Schuylerville, New York) to obtain provisions, Burgoyne moved his now-reduced army across the Hudson. On September 13, he began to march south toward Albany, but found his way blocked by some 7000 Americans under Major General Horatio Gates, who had taken up an entrenched position at Bemis Heights, a densely wooded plateau, a few miles south of Saratoga. Congress had ordered Gates to block Burgoyne's progress, and his initial strategy was defensive, counting on Burgoyne to attack recklessly and deplete his men and supplies. On the 19th, the British attacked. At the urging of Major General Benedict Arnold, Gates sent a sortie to meet them. A furious but indecisive battle was fought at Freeman's Farm, known as the First Battle of Saratoga. Ever cautious, Gates failed to reinforce Arnold; the Americans withdrew to Bemis Heights, and Burgoyne made camp a mile north.

Meanwhile, St. Leger had turned back at Fort Stanwix in the Mohawk Valley. Although lacking reinforcements and commanding fewer than 5000 men, Burgoyne refused to retreat. On October 7 his army moved forward again in search of the American position, leading to the Battle of Bemis Heights (or the Second Battle of Saratoga). Gates's well-disciplined forces, inspired by a fearless Arnold, drove the British back to their camp with heavy losses. Burgoyne then withdrew to Saratoga, where, surrounded by the American army which now numbered up to 17,000, he surrendered on October 17.

The Battles of Saratoga marked a turning point in the war, motivating the French to assist the American insurgents openly.

(See Bibliography Below)

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Author: E. Wayne Carp
Picture Credit: The Granger Collection
Bibliography: "Saratoga, Battles of," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 99; Elting, John R., The Battles of Saratoga (1977); Furneaux, Rupert, The Battle of Saratoga (1971); Sweetman, John, Saratoga 1777 (1973).