Battle of Saratoga
7 October 1777 · in Battle View, played out step by step on the ground where it was fought
The sides
- Americans, led by Horatio Gates: about 11,500 men
- British and Germans, led by John Burgoyne: about 6,400 men
States that fought: United States of America, Kingdom of Great Britain.
How it went
Battle of Saratoga
Britain's plan for 1777 is to cut New England off by taking the Hudson valley. John Burgoyne comes south from Canada; at Freeman's Farm in September his army wins the field but loses 600 men, and now it is short of food, waiting in vain for help from New York.
Behind the lines
Gates's Americans hold fortified lines on Bemis Heights across the road to Albany. Burgoyne digs in a mile to the north, his flank covered by two redoubts.
Reconnaissance in force
On 7 October Burgoyne sends 1,700 men with guns out into Barber's wheatfield to probe the American left and forage. They form a thin line in the open.
Attack on both flanks
Gates sends Morgan's riflemen round the British right and Poor's brigade against the left, with Learned in the centre. Both British flanks give way.
Fraser falls
Simon Fraser rides along the line rallying his men until a rifleman shoots him; he dies that night. The British fall back to the redoubts. Benedict Arnold, without a command after a quarrel with Gates, rides onto the field and leads the pursuit.
Breymann's redoubt
Arnold throws the Americans at the Balcarres redoubt, which holds, then gallops across the fire to Breymann's redoubt and storms it with Morgan's men, taking a bullet in the same leg wounded at Quebec. Breymann is killed.
Saratoga
Burgoyne retreats to Saratoga, surrounded and starving, and on 17 October surrenders his army of nearly 6,000. The victory brings France into the war on the American side, and with it the fleet that will matter at Yorktown.
The second Battle of Saratoga, at Bemis Heights. Numbers are those in the field that day; Gates had more men in his lines.
People and wars
- American Revolutionary War (1775–1783 CE): War in which thirteen British colonies, aided by France, won independence and formed the United States of America.