THE BATTLE OF

SARATOGA
BY TOM BLANEY

LEADING UP TO THE WAR

Tension between colonists
and British government
- No taxation without
representation
Colonial resistance led to
violence
- Boston Massacre 1770
Revolutionary War begins
in 1775
- Lexington and
Concord

SEPTEMBER 19TH, 1777

Battle of Freemans Farm
10 miles from Saratoga
British army led by General
John Burgoyne
American troops led by
General Horatio Gates
Victory for British
Burgoyne decided to set
up camp and wait for
reinforcements
(never came)

OCTOBER 7TH,1777
Battle of Bemis
Heights
Burgoyne did not
want to surrender to
Americans
Benedict Arnold
arrives to help
British forced to
surrender

OUTCOME
Burgoyne lost two men for every one on the
American side
The American ranks increased from 9,000 soldiers at
the first battle to over 15,000 by the time the British
surrendered
The British army shrunk from 7,200 at the first battle
to around 6,600 at the second battle

TURNING POINT
The battle was a major turning point in the
Revolutionary war
American victories led France to sign the alliance
with the United States
Americans gained confidence
Nationalism

VIDEO
http://www.history.com/topics/battle-ofsaratoga/videos#battle-of-saratoga-turns-the-tideof-the-american-revolution

UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT

The British wore red
coats and
headgear of
bearskin caps
Brown Bess
Rifles
Swords

Mostly blue coats

Rough clothing
Muskets
Many of the
Pennsylvania and
Virginia troops and
militia carried long,
small calibre, rifled
weapons.
Swords

SPIES

Spies worked for both British and American armies

Secret messages, battle plans, etc.
Letters were often penned in code or mask letters
Loyalist Henry Clinton used a mask letter to
communicate with Burgoyne.

LETTER
Sir. W. Howe / is gone to the /
Chesapeak bay with / the
greatest part of the / army. I
hear he is / landed but am
not / certain. I am / left to
command / here with / too
small a force / to make any
effectual / diversion in your
favour. / I shall try something
/ at any rate. It may be of use
/ to you. I own to you I think /
Sr W's move just at this time /
the worst he could take. /
Much joy on your success.

I shall try some thing

certainly/ towards the close
/ of the year, not till then at
any rate. It may be of use to
inform you that / report says
all yields to you. I own to
you that I think the business
will / quickly be over now.
Sr. W's move just at this
time has been capital. /
Washingtons have been the
worst he could take in every
respect. / sincerely give you
much joy on your success
and am with / great
Sincerity your [ ] / HC

Henry Clinton, letter to John Burgoyne

(August 10, 1777)

Henry Clinton, letter to John Burgoyne

(August 10, 1777)

WORKS CITED
Fleming, Thomas. "Battle of Saratoga." History.com. A&E
Television Networks, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
<http://
www.history.com/topics/battle-ofsaratoga>.
"11g. The Battle of Saratoga." The Battle of Saratoga
[ushistory.org]. Independence Hall Association in
Philadelphia, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. <http://
www.ushistory.org/us/11g.asp>.
Heilman, Carl. "Battle Of Saratoga - Sept & Oct 1777."
The Battle of Saratoga. Saratoga.comEverything Saratoga, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. <http://
www.saratoga.com/aboutsaratoga/battle-ofsaratoga/>.
"American Revolution War." The Battle of Saratoga.
Britishbattles.com, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. <http://
www.britishbattles.com/battle-saratoga.htm>.