General Howe, when he left New York for Philadelphia, had put General Sir Henry Clinton in charge of New York's defense, with instructions to assist Burgoyne if opportunities arose.

Clinton had written to Burgoyne on September 12 that he would "make a push at [Fort] Montgomery in about ten days" if "you think 2000 men can assist you effectually."

When Burgoyne received the letter he had immediately replied, appealing to Clinton for instruction on whether he should attempt to advance or retreat, based on the likelihood of Clinton's arrival at Albany for support.

Burgoyne had indicated that if he does not receive a response by October 12 he will be forced to retreat.

On October 3, Clinton had sailed up the Hudson River with three thousand men, and on October 6, one day after receiving Burgoyne's appeal, captures the highland forts named Clinton and Montgomery.

Burgoyne never receives Clinton's dispatches following this victory, as all three messengers are captured.

Major General James Clinton leads an expedition down the Susquehanna River after making the upper portion navigable by damming up the river's source at Otsego Lake, allowing the lake's level to rise, and then destroying the dam and flooding the river for miles downstream. (This event is described by James Fenimore Cooper in the introduction to his popular novel The Pioneers.)

At Tioga, New York, Clinton had met up with General John Sullivan's forces, who had marched from Easton, Pennsylvania.

Together on August 29, they defeat the Tories and natives at the Battle of Newtown (near today's city of Elmira, New York), where Brant finally meets his defeat.

This becomes known as the "Sullivan-Clinton Campaign" or the "Sullivan Expedition."

Brant and Loyalist commander John Butler had not wanted to make a stand at Newtown, proposing instead to harass the enemy on the march, but they had been overruled by Sayenqueraghta and other chiefs.

The Continental Army had sent three thousand troops into upstate New York in late August, destroying every Iroquois village in their path.

Daniel Brodhead has followed the Allegheny River into New York, driving the Seneca from their homes.

Most of the warriors are away fighting the Sullivan Expedition in New York, and Brodhead meets little resistance in destroying the heart of the Seneca nation.