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The Battle Of Saratog Turning Point Of The American Revolution

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The Battle of Saratoga was a crucial victory for the Patriots and takes credit for the turning point of the American Revolution. The battle is considered to be the turning point of the war because “… it won for Americans the foreign assistance which was the last element needed for victory.” Even though the two battles took place on two separate occasions, both battles had a similar outcome and both contributed to the ridding of Great Britain. British General John Burgoyne, or “Gentleman Jonny”, was known for his was manners on the battlefield. In June of 1777, he moved south in hopes of taking control of the upper Hudson River valley. Though some of his army had reached the upper Hudson River valley, most of his troops were delayed at Fort …show more content…

Bemis Heights was chosen as a great defensive position because it was the only road to Albany and offered a fantastic commanding view. To the west lie heavily wooded forests that would trouble any heavily equipped army. It was only a matter of time before the first Battle of Saratoga would take place. On September 19th, Burgoyne’s battle strategy was to divide New England from the southern colonies and it had started well but slowly deteriorated due to logistical problems. Burgoyne’s plan was the surprise the Americans by attempting to flank them at Bemis Heights. General Benedict Arnold, who anticipated this maneuver, placed a significant amount of troops in the British General’s …show more content…

British General Burgoyne met General Horatio Gates’s army of nine thousand soldiers just north of Albany. Thanks to General Benedict Arnold, the British’s battle plan was easily anticipated and countered effectively. Overall, the British lost two men for every one American soldier in the first Battle of Saratoga. On October 7th, 1777, the second Battle of Saratoga took place. This time, General Burgoyne’s troop strength was quite low following his defeat on September 19th. He likely only had five thousand or so battle ready troops. His battle plan was to have troops flank the right of the American’s position, have grenadiers attack to the left, and advance German regiments straight in the center. But when the British army arrived at Barber’s wheat field, they noticed the flanks were dangerously close to the surrounding forest. General Horatio Gates was responsible for taking control of the left side of the American flank while General Lincoln was to oversee the right side. As soon as Gates received news of the British

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Once Trenton was taken, The British planned an immediate counter to the Americans and planned to take Trenton back. Thus the battle for the bridge at Assunpink Creek, also known as the Battle of the Assunpink Creek, started. However, the Americans once again were successful against the British and Hessians. General Washington further marched his army towards Princeton but still wanted to

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Gates' troops forced Burgoyne to surrender his 5,700 man army near Saratoga(Scythes). This victory, a major turning point of the American Revolution, convinced France to form an alliance with the Americans against Great Britain in 1778. Tensions between Gates and General George Washington grew immediately following Saratoga, after Gates informed Congress directly of his victory rather than informing his Commander. Washington was further angered that Gates did not promptly return troops sent to help Gates during the New York campaign. General Washington was also convinced that Gates played a role in the Conway Cabal, which was a supposed plot to remove Washington from command and replace him with Gates.

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They then marched to Freeman’s Farm. On September 19th, General John Burgoyne attacked. In defense of the land, Major General Benedict Arnold lead Colonel Daniel Morgan’s men and Henry Dearborn’s men to block off British troops. Once the battle reached the clearing at Freeman’s Farm, General Horatio Gates declared the battle to an end. Burgoyne took claim of the the land and made camp, waiting “for reinforcements from New York” (Battle of Saratoga).

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The antipathy was mutual, and Gates at one point relieved Arnold of his command. Nonetheless, at the pivotal Battle of Bemis Heights on October 7, 1777, Arnold defied Gates’ authority and took command of a group of American soldiers whom he led in an assault against the British line. Arnold’s attack threw the enemy into disarray and contributed greatly to the American victory. Ten days later, Burgoyne surrendered his entire army at Saratoga. News of the surrender convinced France to enter the war on the side of the Americans.

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In the fall of 1781, Colonial and French troops attacked to the British Army at Yorktown, Virginia. Led by George Washington and French General Comte de Rochambeau, they began their final attack on October 14th, capturing two British defenses and leading to the surrender, just days later, of British General Lord Cornwallis and nearly 9,000 troops. Yorktown proved to be the final battle of the American Revolution, and the British began peace negotiations shortly after the American

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The Battle of Saratoga known as a battle that was fought over two battles totaling eighteen days apart in the fall of 1777. The Battle of Saratoga would be considered as another turning point in the American Revolution. On September 19, 1777, British General John Burgoyne pulled off a small, but high-priced victory over American Colonial army led by General Horatio Gates and General Benedict Arnold. Though his troop strength had been weakened, General Burgoyne again attacked the Americans at Bemis Heights on October 7, 1777, but this time his forces were defeated and compelled to retreat. General Burgoyne surrendered ten days later, and the American victory convinced the French government to formally acknowledge the colonist 's cause and enter

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McCullough shows how it was not difficult for the British forces to underestimate their opponent as “the sprawling American encampments bore little resemblance to the usual military presence. Tents and shelters were mainly patched together concoctions of whatever could be found” . And despite the semi-victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill and successfully retaking Boston from British control, the Continental Army still faced trying times as they suffered defeat after defeat. The troubles of the Americans began with losing New York City in a humiliating defeat in the first major battle after the Declaration of Independence, and the first major battle in the War for American Independence. It was a complete disaster from America’s perspective; the only success of the night was the completely successful withdrawal Washington managed in the dead of night without alarming the enemy.

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Lee’s plan was to have his Generals (A.P. Hill and Longstreet) divisions to move around Richmond and move southeast while General Holmes division go farther south to Malvern Hill. Lee ordered Magruder’s division attack the rear guard of the Federal army from the east. General Jackson was ordered to rebuild the bridge at Chickahominy and link up with Magruder division. The plan was to have General Jackson and General Magruder to attack the Union Army with a heavy blow at Savage’s Station. While the attack from Lees Generals was being conducted, General Jackson was not moving south, because he was under the impression from General Lee’s Chief of staff that Lee wanted his division to build and guard the bridge.

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When he was a general in the Continental Army he (with Horatio Gates) lead forces during the Battle of Saratoga. The Battle of Saratoga was pivotal to the success of the Continental Army. The Battle of Saratoga was in Saratoga New York, in the Fall of 1777. The British planned a three-part rendezvous. Only one part showed up, but the battle was still not a easy win.

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The Battle of Valley Forge was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. Although no actual military battle was waged here, George Washington’s Continental Army faced some physical and mental battles of their own in this Pennsylvania town. It was here at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where the Continental Army Soldiers of the Revolutionary War chose to go after being defeated in the Battle of Germantown in October 1777. During this winter, Washington’s troops came to this encampment to recuperate and train for future battles with the British.

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First, the British General was able to conquer Fort Ticonderoga losing only a few casualties. However, along his travel south he was going to encounter several more guerrilla type attacks. This cost the British Army several resources and made for a very slow movement, which the Americans were able to capitalize on. Later, on August 16, Burgoyne lost nearly one-thousand troops in an attempt to capture much needed American supplies in Bennington. This left General Burgoyne at an even greater disadvantage for the upcoming events at Saratoga.

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During these battles it was Arnold who led the Americans to defeat Britain’s chalenging army. Although it was General Horatio Gates who was in charge it was Arnold’s action that helped lead them to victory. During the Battle of Saratoga, the continental army was retreating but Arnold would not accept that.

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The battle was a turning point in the war due to its outcome having significant implications for the future of the American colonies. “In 1777, British strategy called for a three-pronged attack on New York, with three separate armies converging near Albany. For British general John Burgoyne, moving south from Canada with 7,500 men, the Hudson River Valley became the critical route for the invasion” (American Battlefield Trust). However, the American colonists were occupied on the trail the British troops needed for travel. General John Burgoyne was aware of the colonists on the trail, however, was not sure of their exact location.

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Where the British lost men to the ratio 2:1 to the colonists. The second battle, the Battle of Bemis Heights, on October 7th, 1777 is named Victory NY now is where the Saratoga Monument is placed and memorializes that day. The colonists winning the Battles of Saratoga caused British general Burgoyne to return to England and never give another command. This is why the Battles of Saratoga are considered the major turning point in the American Revolution. Others might say the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the first battle, where the British attempted to seize Patriot arms is the turning point.

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