Saratoga Campaign

The Saratoga Campaign in 1777 is an attempt by the British high command for North America to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley during the American Revolutionary War.

It ends in the surrender of the British army.

The primary thrust of the campaign is planned and initiated by General John Burgoyne.

Commanding a main force of some eight thousand men, he moves south in June from Quebec, boats up Lake Champlain to middle New York, then marches over the divide and down the Hudson Valley to Saratoga.

He initially skirmishes here with the Patriot defenders with mixed results.

Then, after losses in the Battles of Saratoga in September and October, his deteriorating position and ever increasing size of the American army forces him to surrender his forces to the American General Horatio Gates on October 17.

The elaborate plans drawn up in London all fail.

Colonel Barry St. Leger is assigned to move east through the Mohawk River valley on Albany, New York, but is forced to retreat during the Siege of Fort Stanwix after losing his Indian allies.

The major expedition from the south never materializes due to miscommunication with London when General William Howe sends his army to take Philadelphia rather than sending it up the Hudson River to coordinate with Burgoyne

A last-minute effort to reinforce Burgoyne from New York City is made in early October, but the measure is too little, too late.

The American victory is an enormous morale boost to the fledgling nation.

More important, it persuades France to enter the war in alliance with the United States, openly providing money, soldiers, and munitions, as well as fighting a naval war worldwide against Britain.

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