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The Battles of Saratoga Facts

The Battles of Saratoga Facts
The Battles of Saratoga took place 18 days apart in 1777, marking an important turning point in the American Revolution. The first battle occurred on September 19th, 1777, and the second on October 7th, 1777. On September 19th, 1777, British General John Burgoyne the Battle of Freeman's Farm took place on land owned by John Freeman, a British Loyalist. Although British troops gained control they lost 600 troops while the Americans only lost 300 troops. On October 7th, 1777 the British attacked again, this time at Bemis Heights, but the Americans were ready. The British suffered approximately 600 casualties again, and retreated, only to surrender on October 17th, 1777 after being surrounded.
Interesting The Battles of Saratoga Facts:
The British plan during the Battles of Saratoga was to split the Thirteen Colonies apart, as they decided that the New England Colonies were less loyal than the Middle and Southern Colonies. Their plan was to sever the New England Colonies altogether.
The first of the two Battles of Saratoga resulted in a small victory of the British General John Burgoyne's forces over those led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold.
The Battles of Saratoga gave the Americans a boost in morale, leading them to believe they could win the Revolutionary War against the British.
On the British side major commanders and leaders of the Battles of Saratoga included John Burgoyne, Simon Fraser, and F.A. Riedesel.
On the American side major commanders and leaders of the Battles of Saratoga included Horatio Gates, Benedict Arnold, Benjamin Lincoln, Enoch Poor, Ebenezer Learned, and Daniel Morgan.
During the first battle on September 19th, 1777 the British force was 7,200 strong and the American force was 9,000 strong.
During the second battle on October 7th, 1777 the British force was 6,600 strong and the American force was more than 12,000 strong.
At the time of surrender of the British forces on October 17th, 1777, the American forces were more than 15,000 strong.
George Washington celebrated the victory over the British in the second Battle of Saratoga by declaring December 18th, 1777, a day of Thanksgiving.
The victory of the Americans over the British at the second of the Battles of Saratoga resulted in the French recognizing the plight of the American colonists and joining them as allies in their fight for independence from the British.
The Battles of Saratoga marked a clear turning point for the Americans in the Revolutionary War.
There were spies working for both the British and the Americans, passing secret messages and plans for battles back and forth. Some of these messages were cleverly hidden in coded letters, letters with invisible ink, and even sewn into buttons.
Benedict Arnold was instrumental in the Patriot's success at the second Battle of Saratoga and in gaining the surrender of John Burgoyne, but he was never recognized for his contribution. This resentment led him to later become an informant for the British, and he was caught after giving key information to a British intelligence chief John Andre. He escaped to Loyalist territory and became brigadier general while John Andre was executed.


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