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BATTLE OF SARATOGA By: Sara Lucas



The historic Battle of Saratoga took place in Saratoga on the Hudson River in New York State. This battle consisted of the German and British against the Americans. Major General John Burgoyne commanded the British and German force. Major General Horatio Gates and Brigadier Benedict Arnold commanded the American army. The British force comprised some 5,000 British, Brunswickers, Canadians and Indians. By the time of the surrender the American force was around 12,000 to 14,000 military and troops.

John Burgoyne was born in Sutton, Bedfordshire; the of the Burgoyne Baronets family home Sutton Manor, on February 4th 1723. He was a British army officer, dramatist and politician. Burgoyne earned the nickname "Gentleman Johnny" for his love of leisure and his tendency to throw parties between battles. He was the British General in the Battle of Saratoga. From the beginning Burgoyne was overconfident; leading what he believed was an overwhelming force. With the British already in control of New York, Burgoyne figured it would be easy to take the Hudson River Valley between the two cities once. Albany was secured. Burgoyne's plan was to march from Canada, down the Hudson river, and to capture Albany. This would make him a national hero who had saved the rebel colonies for the crown. The journey through the Hudson River Valleyproved more difficult than expected. Burgoyne sent troops to Vermont to procure supplies and cattle, but they were attacked and defeated, costing Burgoyne a thousand men.The problems gave the American army time to set up defenses on the river at Bemis Heights, south of Saratoga.

 Horatio Lloyd Gates was born on the 26th of July 1727. He took credit for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga. Horatio Gates was once considered as the Revolution's most controversial military figures due to his role in the [|Conway Cabal] which attempted to discredit and replace [|George Washington] through a whispering campaign. It was the ongoing historical debate over who should receive credit for the victory at Saratoga, and Gates' actions after the defeat at Camden. Gates assumed command of the Northern Department on August 19, and led the army during the defeat of British General Burgoyne's invasion at the Battle of Saratoga. While Gates and his supporters looked to place the credit for the victory and Burgoyne's surrender from the battle, the actions by the military were conducted by field commanders such as [|Benedict Arnold], Enoch Poor, Benjamin Lincoln, and Daniel Morgan. Because of his reluctance to attack the British Army directly, Gates was called by Arnold, "Granny Gates." On a side note, he was also known as an affectionate husband, father, and generous land owner who set his slaves free before his death. He once had an attempt to replace George Washington as a result of his success at Saratoga combined with General Washington's inability to hold New York.



In late September through the first week of October in 1777, Hortaio Gates American army was positioned between Albany and John Burgoyne. The British wanted to take control of the Hudson River Valley to cut off New England from the other colonies. General Burgoyne with 7,700 troops approached Albany, New York, from Canada.The troops crashed together south of the town of Saratoga on October 7th as a result of Burgoyne taking the offensive. The victory gave new life to the American cause at a critical time. Americans had just suffered a major setback the Battle of the Brandywine along with news of the fall of Philadelphia to the British.

Burgoyne almost lost before the actual surrender, but Barvon Riedesel brought in his German troops and came to Borgoyne's rescue. The British survived but lost about 600 men. Burgoyne did not retreat but waited a month for the other British troops to fight. He soon realized he had to fight himself. A week later Burgoyne surrendered to Horatio Gates on October 17th, 1777. The Americans had won The Battle of Saratoga.