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Battle of Saratoga

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Military Science (ROTC): Battle of Saratoga. Department ofMilitary Science A Brief History Historians consider the Battle of Saratoga to be the major turning point of the American Revolution. This battle proved to the world that the fledgling American army was an effective fighting force capable of defeating the highly trained British forces in a major confrontation. As a result of this successful battle, the European powers, particularly the French, took interest in the cause of the Americans and began to support them.

In the British Campaign of 1777, Major General Burgoyne planned a concentric advance of three columns to meet in Albany, New York. He led the main column, which moved southward along the Hudson River. A second column under General Barry St. Initially, the British plan appeared to be working, with British victories at Ticonderoga and Hubbardton. In an attempt to slow the British advance, the American General Philip Schuyler detached 1000 men under the command of Major General Benedict Arnold. Staff Ride Qualifications. The Battle of Saratoga. The Battle of Saratoga - A Major Turning Point Of The Revolutionary War. The Battle of Saratoga, comprising two significant battles during September and October of 1777, was a crucial victory for the Patriots during the American Revolution and is considered the turning point of the Revolutionary War.

The Battle was the impetus for France to enter the war against Britain, re-invigorating Washington’s Continental Army and providing much needed supplies and support. Recognized as one of the fifteen most decisive battles in world history, the Saratoga National Historic Park commemorates the site where a new Nation emerged. A Brief Overview of the Crucial Battles of Saratoga The turning point in the Revolutionary War began as a plan by the British to strategically control Upstate New York and isolate New England from the Southern colonies in an effort to decisively put an end to the Revolution.

It ended as an opportunity the Patriots were waiting for. Moving South Burgoyne’s advance south faltered in the forests near the Lake George area. Battle #1 Battle #2 Victory! Battle of Saratoga — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts. The word Saratoga is shorthand for two battles that gave the coup de grace to the 1777 British invasion from Canada during the American Revolutionary War. After capturing Fort Ticonderoga with almost laughable ease, the British army, led by overconfident General John Burgoyne, crawled south at a tortoise pace, giving the rattled Americans time to regroup under Horatio Gates.

To support him, General George Washington sent Benedict Arnold, his best infantry commander; Colonel Daniel Morgan and his crack regiment of Virginia riflemen; and two brigades of Continentals from the Hudson Highlands. They raised Gates’s strength to about sixty-five hundred men. Equally important was Colonel Thaddeus Kosciusko, the Polish engineer, who built excellent field fortifications on Bemis Heights overlooking the Hudson River. On September 19, Burgoyne attacked. Thomas Fleming The Reader’s Companion to Military History. The Battle of Saratoga. British general John Burgoyne earned the nickname "Gentleman Johnny" for his love of leisure and his tendency to throw parties between battles.

His surrender to American forces at the Battle of Saratoga marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War. The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. The scope of the victory is made clear by a few key facts: On October 17, 1777, 5,895 British and Hessian troops surrendered their arms. General John Burgoyne had lost 86 percent of his expeditionary force that had triumphantly marched into New York from Canada in the early summer of 1777. Divide and Conquer The divide-and-conquer strategy that Burgoyne presented to British ministers in London was to invade America from Canada by advancing down the Hudson Valley to Albany. Some historians today are unsure if her death came at Native American hands or by other means, but the murder of Jane McCrea united Americans against the British and their Native American allies.

Videos. LIBERTY! . Chronicle of the Revolution . Saratoga 1777. News of the momentous British defeat spread quickly through the colonies and fueled speculation that the French government would now seriously consider entering the conflict on the American side. For months, rumors have suggested that Louis XVI needed solid proof of the strength of the revolution before he would officially commit French military aid to the cause. The British defeat at Saratoga could very well buy that help. The end for Burgoyne and his army came on the heels of a long and arduous campaign that began with a stunning British victory at Ticonderoga. Burgoyne, known in the press as "Gentleman Johnny" began his sojourn in Canada.

In an attempt to link forces with British General Howe traveling north from New York, Burgoyne sailed with his army down Lake Champlain, headed for Albany. They paused only to capture the formidable American fort at Ticonderoga. History & Culture - Saratoga National Historical Park. A Crucial American VictoryHere in the autumn of 1777 American forces met, defeated and forced a major British army to surrender. This crucial American victory renewed patriots' hopes for independence, secured essential foreign recognition and support, and forever changed the face of the world. 1777: An End to the Rebellion? Since the opening shots on April 19, 1775, the British had wanted to bring an end to the rebellion in the American colonies. They believed that 1777 could be the year. British General John Burgoyne had believed, since his 1775 arrival in North America, that the Lake Champlain - Hudson River Valley was "precisely the route an army ought to take" should invasion become necessary.

A large army --about 10,000 soldiers, Native forces, loyalists, camp followers, and others-- were to invade south from Canada into New York. A second British army, led by Colonel Barry St. General William Howe and his British troops in New York City were the third element in the plan. The Battle of Saratoga.

Battle: SARATOGA War: American Revolutionary War Date: 17th October 1777 General Burgoyne surrenders to General Gates Place: Saratoga on the Hudson River in New York State. Combatants: British and German troops against the Americans. Generals: Major General John Burgoyne commanded the British and German force. Major General Horatio Gates, the American commander at the Battle of Saratoga. Size of the armies: The British force comprised some 5,000 British, Brunswickers, Canadians and Indians.

Uniforms, arms and equipment: The British wore red coats and headgear of bearskin caps, leather caps or tricorne hats depending on whether the troops were grenadiers, light company or battalion company men. The Americans dressed as best they could. Winner: The Americans forced the surrender of Burgoyne’s force. British Regiments: The senior officers were Major General Phillips, Baron Riedesel, Brigadier Simon Fraser and Brigadier Hamilton. The British 20th Regiment of Foot The Hudson River References:

Military Science (ROTC): Battle of Saratoga. The Battle of Saratoga. Battle of Saratoga — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts. The Battle of Saratoga - A Major Turning Point Of The Revolutionary War. Battles of Saratoga. Burgoyne's strategy to divide New England from the southern colonies had started well, but slowed due to logistical problems. He won a small tactical victory over General Horatio Gates and the Continental Army in the September 19 Battle of Freeman's Farm at the cost of significant casualties. His gains were erased when he again attacked the Americans in the October 7 Battle of Bemis Heights and the Americans captured a portion of the British defenses.

Burgoyne was therefore compelled to retreat, and his army was surrounded by the much larger American force at Saratoga, forcing him to surrender on October 17. News of Burgoyne's surrender was instrumental in formally bringing France into the war as an American ally, although it had previously given supplies, ammunition and guns, notably the de Valliere cannon, which played an important role in Saratoga.[9] This battle also resulted in Spain joining France in the war against Britain. Background British situation American situation Prelude.