The Battle of Saratoga essays

The Battle of Saratoga essays A misconception many people have about the Battle of Saratoga that it was only battle but it actually consisted of two battles. The Battle of Saratoga lasted from September 19, 1777 to October 7, 1777. At the time of the battle the British campaign thought they had their next plan in attack so far in advance that they were guaranteed a victory. General Horatio Gates assumed the command of the northern American forces on August 19, 1777 and was greeted with enthusiasm. Gates had a reputation as an able administrator. Gates was from Virginia and the soldiers from New England felt that they could trust him as they never had towards General Schuyler. General Schuyler was prejudiced against because he was from New York and represented the wealthy, aristocratic class in that colony. New York soldiers liked Gates because he had helped expel the enemy from their colony in the year before. The fall of 1777 under General Gates command forever changed the direction of American history. The first Battle at Saratoga was the battle of Freemans Farm. As General Burgoyne and his men approached Albany, New York in mid September they were surprised to find that the city was protected under seven thousand patriots under General Horatio Gates control. While General Gates moved his seven thousand men to Bemis Height General Burgoyne was lacking the support of the rebel position due to the loss of Indian scouts and desperately needed supplies. However General Burgoynes troops advanced southward in three separate columns with Generals Fraser, Hamilton and Riedsel commanding a column each. General Burgoynes army only consisted of six thousand men, he used forty-two hundred to fight and the remaining number of men were to guard his boats and supplies as well act as reserve troops. The strongest of the three columns, was the column on the right commanded by General Simon Fraser with some two thousand men. General Frasers column w...