Overview of the lead up to the Battles of Saratoga

The Lead up to the Battles

In 1777, the Colonial Army under General George Washington suffered a series of defeats but continued to evade surrender or capture. As a result, British forces formed a new plan. General John Burgoyne, nicknamed "Gentleman Johnny," led a force of soldiers south out of Quebec in June 1777 with the goal of controlling the Hudson River and cutting off the New England colonies from the rest of the colonies. Burgoyne's force marched down the Hudson River and recaptured Fort Ticonderoga, but soon after, they suffered losses to the American army at the Battle of Bennington. This defeat led many of Burgoyne's Native American Allies to abandon the fight.General Burgoyne's situation became more dire when he learned that the commanders of the other two British forces that were ordered to rendezvous with him at Albany were delayed. The British force moving down the Mohawk River was repulsed, while General William Howe abandoned the plan and marched on Philadelphia instead of marching north to link up with Burgoyne. Furthermore, as winter drew closer, General Burgoyne needed a place for his army to settle. Rather than fall back to Fort Ticonderoga, Burgoyne elected to advance on Albany.Despite the Colonial army relying on the Fabian tactic of retreating when faced with a superior force, their commanders were aggressive when they held the advantage. The replacement of American General Philip Schuyler with Horatio Gates gave rebel forces an aggressive and competent leader. Washington also sent Major Generals Benjamin Lincoln and Benedict Arnold, along with reinforcements sent from Israel Putnam's army. The rebels also had the services of Daniel Morgan's professional rifle corps, and they would demonstrate the value of expertly trained marksmen.On September 7th, Gates marched to intercept Burgoyne. His army entrenched themselves just south of Saratoga, creating a deadly barrier between "Gentleman Johnny" and Albany. General Lincoln was detached to harass the British forces' supply lines while rivals Gates and Arnold formulated a plan. At Arnold's suggestion, Morgan's Riflemen scouted the British positions and found an advanced company. The riflemen set up and began sniping the British officers, forcing the advance company to retreat in a panic.As the main battle began, the British launched a direct assault on the American right flank, forcing the Americans to retreat. While Burgoyne controlled the battlefield initially, the Americans inflicted serious casualties that weakened the British just as more American forces were coming to the area. Burgoyne encamped his forces hoping General Clinton would come to his aid. However, by October it was clear this would not be the case. On October 7th, running low on resources, Burgoyne faced a much larger American Army that swelled in size thanks to the arrival of more volunteers and the desertion of some British troops. Seeing his position deteriorate, Burgoyne dedicated his forces and tried to break through the Colonial lines. This attempt failed and many of the grenadiers under Burgoyne's command were killed and much of his force was surrounded and captured. At the same time, General Arnold rode out to the front lines to take charge and beat back the British. The British army was surrounded and General Burgoyne surrendered.General Benedict Arnold received a leg wound during the battle, and was bedridden for several months. While his command was restored, and he was made military governor of Philadelphia, he was still bitter over his treatment during Saratoga by General Gates. As a result, he would later enter correspondence with the British to hand over the key American Fort of West Point, going from a famed War hero to the most famous traitor in American History. General Gates would attempt to replace General Washington as Commander-in-chief of the Army, before becoming Commander of the Southern Armies where he suffered a loss at the Battle of Camden, he would never command a force again, nor would General Burgoyne. The Battle of Saratoga convinced the French that even if the Americans were defeated, they represented a serious threat. Supporting the Americans could weaken the British, the French decided, leading to the commitment of material support.The National Park Service preserves the Saratoga Battlefield and offers a museum and visitor's center. The Park Service helps to coordinate a battlefield reenactment every year on the anniversary of the battle. The park is also home to the Boot Monument, dedicated to Benedict Arnold while not specifically mentioning him, and to the north is the Saratoga National Monument.

This National Historical Park preserves the battlefield and offers tours that interpret the Battle of Saratoga, a major turning point in the American Revolution. British General John Burgoyne led an army south from in a campaign that attempted to divide New England from the rest of the rebellious colonies. However, Burgoyne underestimated the strength of American forces led by General Horatio Gates. Gate's army inflicted heavy casualties in the Battle of Freeman's Farm and was overwhelmed after the Battle of Bemis Heights. The surrender of the British forces convinced the French Empire that the American rebels has a chance, leading to French assistance. With supplies and naval support from France, American forces were able to continue the war and eventually force a large British force at Yorktown to surrender. The National Park Service preserves the Saratoga Battlefield and offers a museum and visitor's center.

Saratoga National Historical Park

Audio Narration: Intro to the Tour

The Neilson Home was the quarters for Generals Arnold and Poor. The westernmost flank (this area) was the primary target of the British offensive at Saratoga.

Neilson Home

Bemis Heights: Second Battle of Saratoga

Freeman's Farm: First Battle of Saratoga

Significance of Saratoga 

This driving tour blends text, audio narration, and sources with links to more information. The guided walk can be experienced in-person or virtually, either way, it will offer a concise history of the Battle of Saratoga with stops at a variety of markers and other landmarks at Saratoga National Historical Park. The tour includes links to related books articles, and video.

Generals Benedict Arnold and Enoch Poor used the Neilson home as their headquarters in 1777 during the pivotal American Revolution campaign known as the Battle of Saratoga. The small red house is open to the public on most days, along with exhibits around the house. Items within the house are personal items from officers in the field during the American Revolution that help demonstrate how officers lived and how their accommodations differed from that of enlisted men.The location of the Neilson house is on the westernmost flank of the American forces that concentrated around Bemis Heights. This flank was General Burgoyne's primary objective for both offensive actions on September 19 (Battle of Freeman's Farm) and October 7th (Battle of Bemis Heights). Burgoyne planned to move further inland from the Hudson River to avoid American defensive fortifications along the river, which Burgoyne believed would cause more casualties than the route over land. If Burgoyne was successful, he believed that the British would be able to march on Albany with little resistance and split the New England colonies from the rest of the colonies.Roughly a mile north of the Neilson Home is Freeman's Farm, the location where the first fighting between the Americans and British occurred in the Saratoga campaign. The fighting at Freeman's Farm started the Battles of Saratoga, which became a major turning point in the American Revolution by surrounding one of Britain's armies before it could meet up with other British forces. The victory was pivotal in preventing an anticipated British offensive. After Saratoga, the war ground on for an additional six years concluding with the British surrender and the establishment of the United States.

This reconstructed home is located at the site of John Neilson's farmhouse and was built to resemble the home that was located here during the Saratoga campaign that culminated in a decisive American victory. In October of 1777, this home became the quarters for American Generals Benedict Arnold and Enoch Poor during the multiple battles around Saratoga. Following the American Revolution, Neilson returned with his wife Lydia to their home and grew their family in the newly created United States of America.

Neilson's Farm

During the British campaign to separate New England from the rest of the colonies, General John Burgoyne successfully regained Crown Point and Ticonderoga, at the cost of nearly 1000 men. Afterwards, in the fall of 1777, a British strategy called for the conversion of three armies in Albany, New York. Recognizing a potential threat posed by Burgoyne's army, Continental army General Horatio Gates constructed Northern Department defenses on the crest of Bemis Heights to slow the British approach. On September 19, Burgoyne divided his army into three columns with the intent of breaking American defenses, to which Colonel Daniel Morgan engaged the center column near the farm of John Freeman, leading to the first Battle of Saratoga, Freeman’s Farm. Although the first battle was relatively evenly-matched, the Americans began to gain slight control, and upon asking for advice, Burgoyne’s senior officers suggested that he retreat toward Canada.Burgoyne, however, decided to attack again, with hopes that he would have reinforcements from General Sir Henry Clinton’s forces in New York City. His plan was to attack the left wing and march rapidly to Albany, but Clinton’s attack from New York never reached Albany, coming to a halt after it captured the Highlands upriver. The British army made the decision to fortify their position behind the Balcarres Redoubt, which was better-defended, and the Breymann Redoubt, which was weaker and defended by only 200 German soldiers. While they waited, however, the American army grew substantially to at least 11,000 soldiers, but possibly up to 13,000. The British sent a reconnaissance of just 1,500 men and 10 artillery pieces to scout for American movement to no success. The American forces, however, had stronger intelligence, and on October 7, 1777, received word of Burgoyne’s movements, beginning the Battle of Bemis Heights.That same day, American forces attacked, pushing British soldiers back. The battle was close and when British General Simon Fraser rallied the British troops, the Americans almost lost the battle. A marksman from one of Morgan’s riflemen hit Fraser, mortally wounding him, and with that shot, the British resolve to fight collapsed. The British attempted to flee back to Freeman’s Farm, but by evening, American General Benedict Arnold took the Breymann Redoubt on the far right flank of British lines, giving them a tactical advantage. The British were only given some relief when Arnold sustained a serious leg wound after, according to one of his fellow officers, “behaving like a madman” when rallying the troops.On the morning of October 8, after the Battle of Bemis Heights, the Americans stormed the British redoubts in Saratoga. Burgoyne had attempted to retreat, but harsh weather brought his forces to a halt. Gates surrounded the British before they could flee. Left with no other option, and after a week’s negotiation, Burgoyne was forced to surrender on October 17, 1777. The two battles of Saratoga resulted in a much-needed victory for the Continental army. The stunning American victory also had the secondary benefit of securing an alliance with France. The battles caused 1,465 casualties, with 6,222 missing or captured British forces. The historical marker for Bemis Heights is in Stillwater, New York, in Saratoga County, where there are also nearby markers for the American encampment and Gates’s headquarters.

The Battle of Saratoga consisted of two major battles between American and British forces during the American Revolution. After a generally unsuccessful year, the Continental army needed a meaningful victory. It was here at Bemis Heights that American forces captured an entire British army on October 7, 1777. The victory boosted morale and led to an alliance with France.

Battle of Bemis Heights, (Second Battle of Saratoga)

The start of the Saratoga Campaign occurred at Freeman's Farm. Burgoyne marched his forces south from Canada in an attempt to split the New England colonies from the rest of the American colonies. Before the British advance on Saratoga, the British had taken Fort Ticonderoga. Additionally, "American forces were not particularly well organized or prepared" (Battle of Saratoga, First), primarily because the American forces that Burgoyne had faced were militia forces and the American command structure was disorganized.The start of the battle at Freeman's farm occurred when Burgoyne attempted to flank the entrenched American position on Bemis Heights, the location of the Second Battle of Saratoga. Around 10:00 AM on September 19, "Burgoyne ordered the British army to advance in three columns" (Battle of Saratoga, First). The first column would take the river road, along the Hudson, and bring the artillery and guard supplies. The center column was to attack the American forces on the nearby Bemis Heights, while the final column would navigate the wooded area on the American left flank.Major General Benedict Arnold predicted the British flanking maneuver and placed a large number of American forces in Burgoyne's way. Eventually, Burgoyne gained control of Freeman's Farm, but "at the cost of significant casualties" (Battle of Saratoga, First). Arnold petitioned Gates to move his forces into the wooded area, "where the American skill at woodlands combat would be at an advantage" (Battle of Saratoga, First). At the onset of the battle, the American marksmen "picked off virtually every officer in the advance company" (Battle of Saratoga, First). The American forces then advanced, unaware that the main British force was ahead of them. Once the American forces ran into the main British force, a battle ensued and the Americans scattered back into the woods. An American, James Wilkinson, returned to the main American camp and called for reinforcements. Gates ordered two more regiments to support the American left flank.After the battle at Freeman's Farm, skirmishing between small pockets of American and British forces continued, while both forces continued to have reinforcements arrive. During this phase of combat, the control of the battlefield changed hands multiple times. For example, "the Americans several times gained brief control of British field pieces, only to lose them in the next British charge" (Battle of Saratoga, First). Near the end of the day, the American forces retreated to their defensive lines, granting the British control of the field, but at a heavy cost, down to about 6000 fighters from the original 7500 soldiers.

The fighting that occurred around Freeman's Farm was the first combat action of the Saratoga Campaign and is thus known as the First Battle of Saratoga. The opening of combat occurred on September 19, 1777. The American militia employed sharpshooters against the British which caused the British to lose two men for every one American.

Freeman's Farm (First Battle of Saratoga)

Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. Arnold worked as a pharmacist when he was young and served in the military during the French and Indian War. During the time of the American Revolution, Arnold decided to join the colonial army. Arnold knew that the contracts that bound his soldiers to his army were soon to expire. Needing a victory to hold his army together, Arnold decided to launch a surprise attack in Quebec City. He suffered a leg injury during the time. Hundreds of American soldiers died in the attack and the British maintained control of Canada for the duration of the war. Benedict Arnold helped to delay a British attack in New York by attacking British soldiers which slowed their advance into the winter. This action saved many Americans and might have altered the outcome of the American Revolutionary War. Arnold was considered a hero to the American colonists for these actions, but he believed that his genius and daring was not recognized enough.After being injured at Saratoga, Arnold took a position as the military governor of Philadelphia in 1778. This is when Arnold started abusing his powers as governor. Benedict Arnold thought he was not being promoted fast enough during his time and decided to deal with the British secretly. Arnold was also influenced by his mounting debt that was the result of a lavish lifestyle that reflected his less-than-humble assessment of his place in history. He soon made a deal to sell information to the British. After moving to England and serving with the British, Arnold began to regret his decision, especially after the American victory was sealed by the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

This unique monument was dedicated in 1887 and offers a mocking celebration of Benedict Arnold’s service at the Battle of Saratoga. Arnold was wounded and lost his leg in the battle which occurred before Arnold's most famous act- the betrayal of the Continental Army and defection to the British. Arnold’s name is not included on the monument as part of a desire to both remember and forget the most infamous traitor in early American history. At the same time, the monument demonstrates Arnold's role and the loss of his leg during this pivotal battle of Saratoga- one only a few early significant victories in a war that saw the fledgling Americans avoiding major battles as part of their strategy to maintain an army and outlast British resistance. During the Battle of Quebec, Arnold suffered an injury to his leg. In his final battle at Saratoga, Arnold underwent an additional injury due to his horse being shot from underneath him. The monument's location is believed to be near the site of Arnold’s injury. After this battle, Arnold spied on behalf of the British and later joined the British army and left the United States after the war. John Watts de Peyster, a former Major General during the Civil War, designed and erected the monument in 1887.

Boot Monument: General Benedict Arnold’s and the Battle of Saratoga

The British believed that their control of New York, prior to the Saratoga Campaign, would mean the taking of the Hudson River Valley would be child's play once they took Albany (Revolutionary War). At first, that looked to be the case, as Burgoyne took Fort Ticonderoga easily. After the British had taken Ticonderoga, the march further south became much more difficult. The terrain the British went through was a dense forest area that made movement slow down considerably. Thus Burgoyne sent forces, lowering his overall numbers, north to gather supplies and a contingent of indigenous people returned home (Revolutionary War). Then American General Benjamin Lincoln started attacking the British army from behind. This allowed the Americans to prepare their defenses around Bemis Heights and prepare for the coming battles around Saratoga.Following the First Battle of Saratoga, around Freeman's Farm, the British called for additional reinforcements from New York City. British General Henry Clinton stated that reinforcements from New York City would arrive to support Burgoyne in Saratoga, but the closest Clinton's forces would get to Burgoyne was roughly 70 miles (Revolutionary War).During the Saratoga campaign, the British forces faced limited rations and Burgoyne was forced to limit the rations of his men. Burgoyne decided on October 7 to attack the American forces around Bemis Heights. While the British received no reinforcements, "the Americans had been joined by General Lincoln's forces plus a steady stream of militia men" (Revolutionary War). The reinforced American forces easily repelled the British attack, even coming close to killing Burgoyne.The British forces were forced back to two different redoubts, temporary defensive structures, which the Americans would push the weakened British forces out. Thus on October 17, 1777, the British under Burgoyne surrendered and gave control of the Hudson River Valley to the American forces. In the spring of 1778, Burgoyne returned to England and was criticized severely for his actions and given "no future commands in the British Army" (Battlefields) The Saratoga Campaign played an additional role for the Americans. The French were impressed by the Americans' resistance and signed "a formal Treaty of Alliance with the Americans" (Battlefields) and the balance of the war tipped in the favor of the Americans and their new ally the French.

Within this region, the British set their camp for the two battles of Saratoga. The British forces were led by General John Burgoyne. The British aimed to gain control of the Hudson River Valley through their Saratoga Campaign. Burgoyne started the campaign by moving 7,500 British regulars from Canada, where they had captured Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Edward by August. In September, the British would meet the American forces led by General Horatio Gates around Saratoga.

Battle of Saratoga Driving Tour