Saratoga, Battles of

The Battles of Saratoga (September 19 and October 7, 1777) conclusively decide the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army in the American War of Independence and are generally regarded as a turning point in the war.

The battles are fought eighteen days apart on the same ground, 9 miles (14 km) south of Saratoga, New York.

Burgoyne's campaign to divide New England from the southern colonies has started well, but slows due to logistical problems.

He wins a small tactical victory over General Horatio Gates and the Continental Army in the September 19 Battle of Freeman's Farm at the cost of significant casualties.

His gains are erased when he again attacks the Americans in the October 7 Battle of Bemis Heights and the Americans capture a portion of the British defenses.

Burgoyne is therefore compelled to retreat, and his army is surrounded by the much larger American force at Saratoga, forcing him to surrender on October 17.

News of Burgoyne's surrender is instrumental in formally bringing France into the war as an American ally, although it had previously given supplies, ammunition and guns, notably the de Valliere cannon, which had played an important role in Saratoga.

Formal participation by France changes the war to a global conflict.

This battle also results in Spain contributing to the war on the American side.The first battle, on September 19, begins when Burgoyne moves some of his troops in an attempt to flank the entrenched American position on Bemis Heights.

Benedict Arnold, anticipating the maneuver, places significant forces in his way.

While Burgoyne succeeds in gaining control of Freeman's Farm, it comes at the cost of significant casualties.

Skirmishing continues in the days following the battle, while Burgoyne waits in the hope that reinforcements will arrive from New York City.

Militia forces continue to arrive, swelling the size of the American army.

Disputes within the American camp lead Gates to strip Arnold of his command.Concurrently with the first battle, American troops also attack British positions in the area of Fort Ticonderoga, and bombard the fort for a few days before withdrawing.

British General Sir Henry Clinton, in an attempt to divert American attention from Burgoyne, captures American forts in the Hudson River highlands on October 6, but his efforts are too late to help Burgoyne.

Burgoyne attacks Bemis Heights again on October 7 after it becomes apparent he will not receive relieving aid in time.

In heavy fighting, marked by Arnold's spirited rallying of the American troops (in open defiance of orders to stay off the battlefield), Burgoyne's forces are thrown back to the positions they held before the September 19 battle and the Americans capture a portion of the entrenched British defenses.

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