Burgoyne, having convinced King George III and…
May 1777 CE
The plan, largely of his own creation, is for Burgoyne and his force to cross Lake Champlain from Quebec and capture Ticonderoga before advancing on Albany, New York, where they will rendezvous with another British army under General Howe coming north from New York City, and a smaller force that will come down the Mohawk River valley under Barry St. Leger.
This will divide New England from the southern colonies, and, it is believed, make it easier to end the rebellion.
From the beginning Burgoyne is vastly overconfident.
Leading what he believes is an overwhelming force, he sees the campaign largely as a stroll that will make him a national hero who had saved the rebel colonies for the crown.
Before leaving London he had wagered Charles James Fox ten pounds that he would return victorious within a year.
He refuses to heed more cautious voices, both British and American, that suggest a successful campaign using the route he proposes is impossible, as the failed attempt the previous year had shown.
Underlining the plan is the belief that Burgoyne's aggressive thrust from Quebec will be aided by the movements of two other large British forces under Generals Howe and Clinton who will support the advance.
However, Lord Germain's orders dispatched from London are not clear on this point, with the effect that Howe will take no action to support Burgoyne, and Clinton will move from New York too late and in too little strength to be any great help to Burgoyne.
As a result of this miscommunication, Burgoyne will end up conducting the campaign singlehandedly.
He is not yet aware that he will not be gaining additional support, and is still reasonably confident of success.
Having amassed an army of over seven thousand troops in Quebec, Burgoyne is also led to believe by reports that he can rely on the support of large numbers of Native Americans and American Loyalists who will rally to the flag once the British come south.
Even if the countryside is not as pro-British as expected, much of the area between Lake Champlain and Albany is underpopulated anyway, and Burgoyne is skeptical any major enemy force can gather there.
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