The Saratoga Campaign - "The Causes Of The Disaster"

Lieutenant-General John Burgoyne launched his campaign to seize control of the Lake Champlain and Hudson River Valleys in June of 1777 with over 8,000 British, German and Canadian troops and their Native allies.  On October 17, 1777, under the Articles of Convention he accepted to end the fighting, his men laid down their arms in present-day Schuylerville, New York, and prepared to begin their march into captivity.

Seven months after the defeat of his army, Burgoyne was in London "... to explain the causes of the disaster at Saratoga..." [1]   In this short summary of his campaign I am relying in a large part on Burgoyne's own words, published in London in 1780 as A State of the Expedition From Canada, As Laid Before The House Of Commons, By Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, And Verified By Evidence, With A Collection Of Authentic Documents...  Additional information has been drawn from the US Army Combat Studies Institute Press Staff Ride Handbook for the Saratoga Campaign, material available through the Saratoga National Historical Park website, and helpful conversation with Saratoga NHP Rangers and volunteers.

In London during the winter of 1776-1777 Burgoyne had submitted what he called "Thoughts for conducting the War from the Side of Canada" for royal consideration.  In 1776 American troops had been forced to break off their invasion of Canada, but retained control of the southern end of the Champlain Valley.  As shown in the map accessed through Wikimedia, Burgoyne's forces moved south from Canada to take Fort Ticonderoga New York and Mount Independence Vermont, and expected to continue on to Albany to meet Sir William Howe's army based in New York City.  (For a map published with Burgoyne's 1780 work, see the online collection of the Library of Congress.)

A supporting attack under Brigadier-General Barry St. Leger was to advance through the Mohawk River Valley and join Burgoyne at Albany.  Burgoyne reasoned that with the Lake Champlain and Hudson River Valleys under British control, New England would be split from the remaining United States (not that he recognized them as such), and the rebellion in America could be brought to a close.

Burgoyne and his army began their movement south from Canada on Lake Champlain in June of 1777.  On July 6th they seized American fortifications at Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence.  On the morning of July 7th, British and German forces engaged the rear guard of retreating elements of the Continental forces at Hubbardton, Vermont, 16 miles southeast of their recently abandoned positions.  American forces were driven off the field, but their army was not destroyed.  Burgoyne noted that as a result of the British advance, as of July 11th American losses included "... 128 pieces of cannon, all of their armed vessels and batteaux, the greatest part of their baggage and ammunitions, provisions, and military stores..." [2]

The movement of so many men and their equipment required vast quantities of food, ammunition and other supplies.  Burgoyne's progress was slowed by terrain, weather, difficulty in obtaining sufficient transportation assets - and the delaying tactics of the American forces.  On the American side, Major-General Philip Schuyler was replaced by Major-General Horatio Gates.

In mid-August Burgoyne saw an opportunity to increase his own supplies with a raid on Bennington, Vermont.  His objective was to capture cattle, wagons and corn guarded only by American militia.  Instead, the detachment of some 500 mostly German troops he sent to the east was defeated on August 16th at Walloomsac, New York, in what became known as "The Battle of Bennington".

By mid-September Burgoyne and his remaining troops had crossed to the west bank of the Hudson River and were twenty miles north of Albany, New York.  Just north of present-day Stillwater, New York, he faced an American forces likely numbering around 10,000 Continental and militia troops occupying high ground at Bemis Heights.  Early on the afternoon of September 19th Burgoyne set out to attack the American forces in what became known as the First Battle of Saratoga, or Battle of Freeman's Farm.  Defeated, Burgoyne's progress south was halted.  Having suffered heavy losses, his troops built defensive works and awaited support from the British forces in New York City.

Over a period of two weeks Burgoyne's troop strength and supplies dwindled, while American forces under Gates continued to grow.  On October 7th Burgoyne ordered a reconnaissance in force to test American positions and gather supplies.  The ensuing Second Battle of Saratoga, or Battle of Bemis Heights ended in defeat for Burgoyne, and further weakened his forces.

His progress to the south blocked by a numerically superior American force, his army weakened and lacking supplies, and support from British forces to his south uncertain, Burgoyne moved his remaining troops north to Schuylerville (then called "Saratoga"), intending to return to Fort Ticonderoga.  He found instead that the American force which he estimated at over 14,000 men "extended three parts in four of a circle round [him and] was ... unattackable..."  He decided after consulting with his subordinate commanders to enter into an agreement with Gates to bring the fighting to an end "... to spare the lives of brave men upon honorable terms." [3]

[1] Burgoyne, A State of the Expedition From Canada, Prefatory Speech, p. 1.
[2] Burgoyne, Appendix, p. xxv.
[3] Burgoyne, Appendix, pp. xciii and ciii.

Next week: The Articles of Convention - "Mutually Signed and Exchanged"

For more on the Convention Army's 1777 march from Saratoga to Boston, see:

1777 March Blog Home          Overnight Stopping Points          Towns and Villages Along the Way

 Annotated Bibliography