The Battle of Saratoga

A detailed Summary of The Battle of Saratoga

A misconception many people have about the Battle of Saratoga that it was only battle but it actually consisted of two battles. The Battle of Saratoga lasted from September 19, 1777 to October 7, 1777. At the time of the battle the British campaign thought they had their next plan in attack so far in advance that they were guaranteed a victory.

General Horatio Gates assumed the command of the northern American forces on August 19, 1777 and was greeted with enthusiasm. Gates had a reputation as an able administrator. Gates was from Virginia and the soldiers from New England felt that they could trust him as they never had towards General Schuyler. General Schuyler was prejudiced against because he was from New York and represented the wealthy, aristocratic class in that colony. New York soldiers liked Gates because he had helped expel the enemy from their colony in the year before. The fall of 1777 under General Gates command forever changed the direction of American history.

The first Battle at Saratoga was the battle of Freeman's Farm. As General Burgoyne and his men approached Albany, New York in mid September they were surprised to find that the city was protected under seven thousand patriots under General Horatio Gates co

Bemis Heights is a densely wooded plateau a few miles south of Saratoga. Many historians have made a distinction that the result of the area being heavily wooded was the reason for the poor actions of the British. On October 7, 1777 Major General Burgoyne and the remainder of his men staged a full assault on the Patriots at Bemis Heights. Burgoyne sent out sixteen hundred men hoping to find a weak spot in his opponents line. But the Americans had taken over the higher ground on the American left Burgoyne did not know of this and he lost about six hundred men either killed or wounded and captured. The Americans only lost one hundred and fifty men. The American forces were still increasing in strength daily. General Benjamin Lincoln brought his men from across the Hudson river. While Burgoyne's supplies were not reaching him , the men's rations were reduced, horses died from starvation, he was left with not more than five thousand men. Major General Gates, Major General Arnold and Major General Daniel Morgan's troops made up the Patriots defense. They were a strong defense against the British assault, Gate's well disciplined forces inspired by a fearless Arnold drove the British back with heavy losses. Burgoyne then withdrew to Saratoga where he was now surrounded by the American army which now numbered from 17,000 to 20,000 men. General Burgoyne surrendered on October 17, 1777 with only fifty-

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Approximate Word count = 945
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History