Battle+of+Saratoga

The Battle of Saratoga

In the year of 1777, the Royal army advanced to an American camp in three groups in the towns of Saratoga. Two of the groups went through tough forests. The third group, formed of German reinforcements, marched down a river road. This battle took place in a clearing around the farm of Loyalist John Freeman. Some of the American scouts spotted the British troops in movement, which was formed by General John Burgoyne, and told Gates. Gates ordered Col. Daniel Morgan’s riflemen to track the British march down. As the British began to show up in the fire of the Americans, the German reinforcements came down from the river road. Burgoyne steadied the British line and forced the Americans to withdraw. But for this arrival and they’re very exhausted from the Americans gun fire, Burgoyne might have been defeated that day. Burgoyne carried the field of that battle, but was stopped about a mile north of the American line with Burgoyne’s army retreated. The British commander ordered his troops to form in trenches on the Freeman farm, and wait for Clinton to move north ahead of Albany. Burgoyne and his army waited on Clinton for three weeks, but he didn’t come. Burgoyne’s situation was critical. The British were faced against a growing American army without hope and help from the south. Their food was also rapidly disappearing, and as each day passed the British grew weaker. Burgoyne had to choose between advancing or retreating. Burgoyne surrendered on October 17, 1777. This was one of the biggest victories in American and world history.  The effect of the victory was enormous. General Gates became known as the Hero of Saratoga. The victory also gave the fledging country much needed momentum. Not long after France learned of the victory they declared war on Britain. Finally, officially joining the war Spain soon did the same. The loss also further weakened the current British government under Lord Frederick North. It was the beginning of the end of the war for the British.

Works Cited ww.americanrevolution.org N.p., 2009.Web. 3 Dec. 2009. BOBRICK, BENSON. FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. NEW YORK: BRYSON PRIESSVISUAL PUBLISHING DIVISION, 2004. Print. www.britishbattles.com N.p., 2007. Web. 7 Dec. 2009.