British+are+Defeated+at+Saratoga

__//The Battle Of Saratoga//__ Started: September 19, 1777 Finished: October 7, 1777

The [|Battle of Saratoga] was a hard fought battle by both the[| Americans and The British]. There were two total battles, the first, a [|defeat for America]. The second, the most important one, was a victory for the Americans on their own soil. The American's situation was much better than the British because they had won the fight and there was no looking back for the Americans! The Continental Army had been in a slow, steady state of retreat ever since [|Burgoyne's capture]of Ticonderoga early in July. When the middle of August came around, the army was then commanded by __[|Major General Philip Schuyler]__ who was based just south of[| Stillwater] in the colony of [|New York]. On August 19, __[|Major General Horatio Gates]__ assumed command from Schuyler, whose [|political fortunes]had fallen over the loss of [|Ticonderoga] and the ensuing retreat.

Major General Philip Schuyler was born in[| Albany], which is now the state capital of New York, on the date of November 20th, 1733. His family was wealthy at his birth and continued to be through his [|childhood].(www.wikipedia.com) His family had gradually expanded their holdings and influence in the New World. He served in office for multiple terms as the New York senator, his first beginning on July 16, 1789 and ending on March 4, 1791. He was not immediately re-elected, he was succeeded by Aaron Burr, who only served one term before the second term of Schuyler.(secondwindpub.wordpress.com) The next term started on March 4, 1797 and coming to an end on January 3, 1798. Schuyler was elected into the [|Continental Congress]in the year 1775, and served until he was appointed a Major General of the Continental Army in June. Schuyler had taken command of the [|Northern Department]and had deeply planned out his Invasion of Canada in 1775. Since Philip had such poor health, a man by the name of Richard Montgomery in command of this particular invasion.(www.sonofthesouth.net) Something that may be overlooked due to his other achievements is the fact that he served in the French and Indian War and helped settle colonial war[| claims]with Britain which went from 1761 and ended two years later in 1763.(www.answers.com)



Major General Horatio Gates has a very interesting story because he was a[| retired British]soldier who served as an American general during the Revolutionary War. Historian George Bilias describes Gates as one of the Revolution's most [|controversial] military figures, which is saying that he is important however confusing because he served for both sides.He was called controversial due to his role in the Conway Cabal which attempted to discredit and replace one of the most important and influential man in this whole revolution, George Washington.The[| whispering campaign]is how he tried to do such actions, a whispering campaign is basically spreading horrible rumors about someone in office or power that would hurt their reputation.This led to a debate over who should receive credit for the [|victory at Saratoga], and Gates' actions after the defeat at[| Camden]. The Americans did really well considering he was very successful, both in the French Indian War and in the Revolutionary War. Despite his successes on the battlefield, it has been said that General Horatio Gates was suspected of having very little personal courage when it came to fighting. He was a success for the Americans even though what he did to Washington was wrong.





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Once this battle had come to an end, the Americans were ecstatic! The after of the British had just begun. They had lost [|1,000 men]in the two battles, had lost several of its countries most [|effective leaders], Burgoyne's attempts to capture the American position or soil had failed, and his forward line was now breached. It didn't end just yet, by the date of October 13, Burgoyne was surrounded at [|Saratoga], and on October 17 he[| surrendered] his army. The remnants of his expedition retreated from Ticonderoga back to [|Quebec]. The Americans had won and began to unite as a nation! **//__LINKS__//** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Saratoga

http://battle1777.saratoga.org/

http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-saratoga.htm

http://www.saratoga.com/aboutsaratoga/battle-of-saratoga/

http://www.kidport.com/reflib/usahistory/AmericanRevolution/Saratoga.htm

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/maps/saratogamap/