🫖American Revolution Unit 4 – The Northern Campaign: Road to Saratoga

Key Players and Leaders

• General John Burgoyne led the British forces in the Northern Campaign, aiming to split the colonies along the Hudson River
• General Horatio Gates commanded the American forces at the Battle of Saratoga, replacing General Philip Schuyler
  • Gates had a defensive strategy, fortifying positions and waiting for the British to attack
• Benedict Arnold, an American general, played a crucial role in the Battles of Saratoga despite conflicts with Gates
  • Arnold's aggressive tactics and leadership helped secure key positions and victories
• General William Howe, the British commander-in-chief, focused on capturing Philadelphia instead of supporting Burgoyne
• Friedrich Adolf Riedesel commanded the Hessian troops, German mercenaries hired by the British to fight in the campaign
• Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant), a Mohawk war chief, allied with the British and led Native American forces in the campaign

Causes and Context

• The Northern Campaign was part of the British strategy to isolate New England from the other colonies
  • New England was seen as the hotbed of the rebellion, and the British aimed to cut off its support
• The campaign took place in 1777, three years into the American Revolutionary War
• The British had recently suffered defeats in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, boosting American morale
• The British hoped to capitalize on the perceived loyalty of Loyalists in the region to aid their campaign
• The campaign involved a complex plan of converging forces from Canada, the Mohawk Valley, and the Hudson Valley
• The success of the campaign depended on precise timing and coordination between the different British forces

British Strategy

• The British plan, known as the "Threefold Invasion," involved three separate armies converging on Albany, New York
  • General Burgoyne would lead the main force south from Quebec along the Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor
  • Colonel Barry St. Leger would advance east from Lake Ontario through the Mohawk Valley
  • General Howe would move north from New York City up the Hudson River
• The goal was to isolate New England, which was seen as the center of the rebellion, from the other colonies
• Burgoyne's army, consisting of British regulars, Hessian mercenaries, Loyalists, and Native American allies, aimed to capture Fort Ticonderoga and then proceed to Albany
• St. Leger's force, which included Loyalists and Native Americans, would capture Fort Stanwix and then join Burgoyne in Albany
• Howe's role was to prevent American reinforcements from reaching the Hudson Valley and to support Burgoyne's advance

American Preparations

• The Americans, aware of the British plan, took steps to fortify the Hudson Valley and Mohawk Valley regions
  • Fort Ticonderoga, a key stronghold on Lake Champlain, was reinforced and supplied
  • Fort Stanwix, in the Mohawk Valley, was also strengthened to resist St. Leger's advance
• General Philip Schuyler, the initial commander of the Northern Department, worked to slow Burgoyne's progress by felling trees, destroying bridges, and harassing the British supply lines
• Schuyler also sought to rally support from the local population, including militia units and Native American allies
• Benedict Arnold was sent to relieve Fort Stanwix, which was under siege by St. Leger's forces
• The Americans also benefited from the leadership of skilled commanders such as Daniel Morgan and his riflemen, who used guerrilla tactics to harass the British

Major Battles and Skirmishes

• The Siege of Fort Ticonderoga (July 5-6, 1777): Burgoyne's forces captured the fort, but the Americans managed to retreat and regroup
• The Battle of Hubbardton (July 7, 1777): British forces caught up with the retreating Americans, resulting in a fierce rearguard action
• The Battle of Oriskany (August 6, 1777): American militia and Native American allies clashed with St. Leger's forces near Fort Stanwix
  • The battle was a tactical draw but disrupted St. Leger's advance and forced him to retreat
• The Battle of Bennington (August 16, 1777): American militia defeated a detachment of Burgoyne's army sent to seize supplies, boosting American morale
• The First Battle of Saratoga (September 19, 1777): Also known as the Battle of Freeman's Farm, it was an inconclusive engagement between Burgoyne and Gates' forces
  • Arnold's aggressive tactics inflicted heavy casualties on the British
• The Second Battle of Saratoga (October 7, 1777): Also called the Battle of Bemis Heights, it was a decisive American victory
  • Arnold's charge on the British redoubts turned the tide of the battle

Turning Points

• The failure of St. Leger's campaign in the Mohawk Valley and his subsequent retreat relieved pressure on the American northern flank
• The Battle of Bennington deprived Burgoyne of much-needed supplies and reinforcements, weakening his army
• General Howe's decision to focus on capturing Philadelphia instead of supporting Burgoyne left the latter isolated
• The First Battle of Saratoga, while tactically inconclusive, inflicted heavy casualties on the British and slowed their advance
• The Second Battle of Saratoga was a decisive American victory, forcing Burgoyne to retreat and ultimately surrender
  • This victory boosted American morale and convinced France to enter the war as an American ally

Outcome and Significance

• The Northern Campaign ended with the surrender of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga on October 17, 1777
  • This marked a significant turning point in the American Revolutionary War
• The American victory at Saratoga convinced France to openly support the American cause, providing crucial military and financial aid
  • The French alliance changed the nature of the war, turning it into a global conflict
• The campaign exposed the difficulties of coordinating complex military plans over vast distances and diverse terrain
• The victory boosted American morale and demonstrated the effectiveness of the Continental Army and militia working together
• The failure of the campaign dealt a severe blow to British prestige and forced them to reassess their strategy in the war

Legacy and Historical Impact

• The Battles of Saratoga are considered a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War
  • They have been called the "Turning Point of the Revolution" due to their significant impact on the course of the war
• The American victory at Saratoga convinced the French to enter the war as allies of the United States
  • French military and financial support played a crucial role in the eventual American victory
• The campaign highlighted the importance of logistics, supply lines, and coordination in military operations
  • Burgoyne's army faced significant challenges in maintaining supplies and communication over long distances
• The role of Native Americans in the campaign, particularly the Iroquois Confederacy, had lasting consequences
  • The divisions caused by the war led to the fracturing of the Iroquois Confederacy and the displacement of many Native American communities
• The campaign also showcased the leadership and tactical skills of American commanders like Benedict Arnold and Daniel Morgan
  • Arnold's contributions at Saratoga are often overshadowed by his later treason, but his role in the campaign was significant
• The Saratoga National Historical Park commemorates the battles and preserves the historic sites for future generations