Today in History: September 19, 1777 – American Revolutionary War: British forces win a tactically expensive victory over the Continental Army in the First Battle of Saratoga. The Battles of Saratoga (September 19 and October 7, 1777) marked the climax of the Saratoga campaign giving a decisive victory to the Americans over the British in the American Revolutionary War. British General John Burgoyne led a large invasion army up the Champlain Valley from Canada, hoping to meet a similar force marching northward from New York City; the southern force never arrived, and Burgoyne was surrounded by American forces in upstate New York. Burgoyne fought two small battles to break out. They took place eighteen days apart on the same ground, 9 miles (14 km) south of Saratoga, New York. They both failed. Trapped by superior American forces, with no relief in sight, Burgoyne surrendered his entire army on October 17. His surrender, says historian Edmund Morgan, was a great turning point of the war, because it won for Americans the foreign assistance which was the last element needed for victory. The first battle, on September 19, began when Burgoyne moved some of his troops in an attempt to flank the entrenched American position on Bemis Heights. Benedict Arnold, anticipating the maneuver, placed significant forces in his way. While Burgoyne did gain control of Freemans Farm, it came at the cost of significant casualties. Skirmishing continued in the days following the battle, while Burgoyne waited in the hope that reinforcements would arrive from New York City. Militia forces continued to arrive, swelling the size of the American army. Disputes within the American camp led Gates to strip Arnold of his command. British General Sir Henry Clinton, moving up from New York City, attempted to divert American attention by capturing two forts in the Hudson River highlands on October 6, His efforts were too late to help Burgoyne. Burgoyne attacked Bemis Heights again on October 7 after it became apparent he would not receive relieving aid in time. In heavy fighting, marked by Arnolds spirited rallying of the American troops, Burgoynes forces were thrown back to the positions they held before the September 19 battle and the Americans captured a portion of the entrenched British defenses. [Wikipedia® en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Saratoga] Saratoga (GMT Games, 1st Edition - 1998, Battles of the American Revolution Series): In all the spectacle of war there has seldom been a sight the equal of British General Burgoynes campaign of 1777. The float and march south from Canada had almost a surreal quality juxtaposed against the Adirondack wilderness. Hundreds of vessels making up an immense inland navy on Lake Champlain transported nearly 9,000 combatants together with 138 cannon. Burgoynes objective was Fort Ticonderoga and from there, Albany, and a rendezvous with British forces coming from New York City. The strategic purpose of the campaign was nothing short of an end to the American Rebellion. The intrigue on the American side lay in the cult of personality. Saratoga was to be Benedict Arnolds greatest victory in a string of successes which rank him among the finest field commanders of the era. Known to all Americans as the great traitor, it is ironic to discover that twice he salvaged the Revolution from certain collapse. It was Arnolds conspicuous gallantry and bold leadership which assured America victory at Saratoga and, by extension, its independence. The fighting at Freemans Farm would be savage. Here no farmers militia, but rather Continental Regulars (anxious to redeem a recent reputation for retreat), stood toe to toe with Europes finest. The sanguinary nature of the fighting was summed up best by American Brigadier General John Glover who said, Both sides seemed determined to conquer or die. Its the 19th of September, 1777. Do you, as the British, attempt to storm the prepared American positions on the high ground at Bemis Heights in order to open up the River Road and the most direct route to Albany? Or do you attempt to turn the American left where intelligence reports the American defenses are incomplete and the ground favors your approach? How will you employ the large number of Hessian mercenaries in your army? Will their performance match their reputation? As the Americans do you wait on Bemis Heights for the approach of the enemy as General Gates preferred, or do you sortie and meet the approach of the British in the forests where their artillery will be of little value? Will Generals Gates and Arnold cooperate, or will their feud spell disaster for the American cause? And what of the fog on this chilly Autumn morning? Will it be an ally to the Americans by impeding the progress of the enemy? These are only a few of the challenges facing you as you relive one of historys most decisive battles and the turning point of the American Revolution. [GMT Games © 1998 All rights reserved]
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 18:14:38 +0000
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