Battle Of Saratoga Facts: Casualties, Dates, Significance And More

In the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Saratoga was a turning point.

It boosted the morale of the army. The Continental Army received the support of the French after the victory at this battle.

British general John Burgoyne had plans to move south from Canada and occupy the Hudson River. The British troops planned a three-way attack on New York City to cover Albany; there were three separate armies.

The general had 7500 men. The main point of invasion was Hudson River Valley. Fort Ticonderoga was captured in August, Fort Edward of Vermont was also captured, which was on the edge of the Hudson River.

In the battle of Bennington, a portion of the troops were Burgoyne's troops were defeated. In September, they marched towards Saratoga. General Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold and his army built defense walls near Saratoga and strategically defeated the British troops.

The British army surrendered as they suffered great losses. They built a trench inside the ground and waited for backup troops.

When the backup didn't come, they again launched a second attack on October 7, which was unsuccessful. On October 17, the British surrendered to the American army.

Seeing this victory, the French gave assistance to the United States by signing a treaty with them against the British. With the help of French financial and military assistance, in the year 1781, Washington was victorious at Yorktown. That was the last battle of American independence.

Battle Of Saratoga Importance

The Battle of Saratoga raised the morale of American soldiers. The French, Dutch, and Spanish teamed up with the American colonies and helped them in their victory. It also increased the popularity of General Gates, that he was considered to replace Washington, as the next commander in chief.

Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates commanded the troops in the Battle of Saratoga. During the battle, Benedict Arnold received a wound in his leg.

The First Battle of Saratoga happened on September 19, 1777. The British had 7,200 soldiers, and the Americans had 9000 soldiers. During the second battle, the number of British forces lessened to 6,600, and the American army had more than 12,000 soldiers.

British initially captured Fort Ticonderoga, but at the loss of many of the site men in the army. Burgoyne was responsible for the victory at Fort Ticonderoga at Hudson through Vermont.

He then took the route to Lake Champlain through the water route. At that time, Sir Henry Clinton was the commander of the British forces at New York. Daniel Morgan, Enoch Poor, Ebenezer Learned, and Horatio Gates were a part of the British army.

General William Howe also decided to take Philadelphia when marching to New York; it was a detour from the original British strategy, which drastically reduced the size of their army at the New York campaign. Gates received daily enforcements from various militia across colonies, unlike Burgoyne, who was abandoned by his British army.

The First Battle of Saratoga happened at the freeman's farm. Colonel Daniel Morgan's sharpshooters killed many of the British soldiers.

Then British enforcements and German force came and gave a good fight to the American army. The Americans lost the first battle but suffered fewer casualties than their enemies.

They defeated them in the Second Battle of Saratoga. It happened on October 7, 1777. The Americans received more reinforcements, and their army was double the size of that of the British army.

The second battle occurred at Bemis Heights. There were also only some supplies left, so Burgoyne declared defeat and surrendered to the American forces.

What Happened In The Battle Of The Saratoga

The Battle of Saratoga commenced on September 19, 1777, on freeman's farm under General Gates. When the British surrendered on October 17, the American forces were about 15,000. December 18 was declared as a day of Thanksgiving by George Washington as American forces gained victory over the British in the Battle of Saratoga.

A defense barrier was formed on Bemis Heights. It was situated on the south of Saratoga, overlooking the Hudson.

The supporters of gates were conspiring against George Washington. It was called the Conway Cabal. It was led by a group of senior members of the Continental Army.

After the resistance, gates apologized to Washington, and he remained in his position for the remaining of the American war. The main motive behind the battle of the Saratoga was to split the thirteen colonies of America.

The New England colonies were supposed to be severed from the rest of the colonies. The continental congress declared a thanksgiving day on the victory of this battle. General John Burgoyne was also called Gentleman Johnny.

The British army was left with a surplus of Militia after they failed to colonize Canada in the year 1775-1776. In the year 1777, the troops moved south towards Albany, New York. They planned a three-prong attack on New York.

from Canada, General John Burgoyne crossed Lake George and Lake Chaplain to Albany. Along the Mohawk valley, Col Barry St. Leger advanced from Oswego.

From south of Hudson, Gen William Howe came to attack Albany. These three troops were part of the British strategy. On the way to Albany, Burgoyne reached Fort Ticonderoga on July 1 and defeated its weak garrison on July 5.

On the upper Hudson, he occupied Fort Edward. General Philip Schuyler abandoned the fort on July 31. On August 19, Schuyler went to Stillwater, north of Albany.

Schuyler was relieved of command on August 19 and replaced by General Horatio Gates. Burgoyne had a large halt at Ford Edward. To Bennington, Vermont, German forces were sent to obtain supplies and horses.

Colonel Seth Warner and General John Stark completely annihilated the German troops. Another army under the command of St Leger had retreated on August 22.

This was as unknown to Burgoyne. also, General Howe decided to invade Pennsylvania, this left General Burgoyne alone in Albany. Burgoyne had to follow orders and camped near Hudson River with 30 days of ration.

Battle Of Saratoga Casualties

There were fewer casualties in the American army compared to the British army. 90 people were killed, and 240 were wounded by the American army, while 440 people were killed and 700 were wounded in the British troops. About 6222 people were captured by the British army.

Burgoyne attacked Americans first at Bemis Heights on September 19. Again he fought the Continental Army at Freeman's Farm. A large number of Hessian and British officers were killed in the war.

About 600 people were lost in casualties. The victory in the Battle of Saratoga was a great relief to the American troops and led them to believe that they could win the revolutionary war against the British.

John Burgoyne, F.A. Riedesel, and Simon Fraser were the commanders at the British side. Benedict Arnold, Benjamin Lincoln, and Horatio Gates were the commanders on the American side.

The British advance near Bemis Heights with General Howe in command. Burgoyne's army was surprised to find a larger army waiting for them at the Saratoga campaign.

British attacked the revolutionary army but retreated after the first battle. George Washington sent forces for the Second Battle of Saratoga. British managed to come with a truce and surrendered at the Bemis Heights near lake Hudson.

Seeing the strategical victory of the American forces, France provided military aid to the 13 colonies. It is mentioned in the National Archives, that Washington realized after the failure of the army at Philadel phia, that one more battle was going to take place. He sent troops north to New York.

He also spread the word that any militia which can join the troops should join them. Due to Washington's intervention, there were a large number of American troops gathered at the Saratoga area.

Who Fought In The Battle Of Saratoga

The Battle of Saratoga was fought between American troops and the British at the Freeman's Farm. The Freeman's Farm was owned by A British loyalist called John Freeman.

The Battle of Saratoga is considered one of the 15 decisive battles in the history of the world. The revolutionary war proved to be an important turning point in the American Revolution.

The Saratoga National Historical Park is the site where the battles took place. The British surrender at this spot to the American forces. Despite the help of German troops, the British forces suffered casualties.

The German troops were sent to return with supplies as the British army was short on food and water. About 500 German soldiers were captured by the army and made the battle a decisive victory for the Americans.

The American revolution in its second year witnessed two battles was fought over 18 days. The fights were fought 9 mi (14 km) south of Saratoga and were a decisive victory for the Continental Army.

Arnold later switched sides and defected to the British army. At West Point, the fort which was in possession of Americans offered to hand over to the British for 20,000 lb (9071.8 kg). But this did not happen, and the battle near Hudson Valley in New York took a different turn. Saratoga marked an important event in history.