The 1777 March of the Saratoga Convention Army

Major General Horatio Gates could have been one of the best known and most respected American generals of the Revolutionary War.  In 1777 he he commanded an army that forced British Lieutenant General John Burgoyne to surrender  at Saratoga, New York, a victory that was a turning point in the American War of Independence.  What he did after Burgoyne's defeat and with his next major command damaged his reputation beyond repair.  The Mount Vernon website summarizes the early years of Gates life nicely, stating that having been "Born on July 26, 1727, in Maldon, England, Horatio Gates came to America at the age of twenty-two as a volunteer with the governor of Nova Scotia, Edward Cornwallis . In 1754, Gates rose to the position of captain and fought during the Seven Years’ War, suffering a wound during Major General Edward Braddock's defeat in western Pennsylvania in 1755. After the French and Indian War, Gates returned to England and retired from the Royal American Re...

British Brigadier General Patrick Gordon died on August 1, 1776 , a week after he was shot near St. Johns, Quebec, by American Lieutenant Benjamin Whitcomb .  Three days later Sir Guy Carleton, the commander in chief of British forces in Canada ordered: "The commanding Officers of Corps will take especial care that every one under their command be informed, that Letters, or messages from Rebels, Traitors in Arms against the King, Rioters, disturbers of the public Peace, Plunderers, Robbers, Assassins, or Murderers, are on no occasion to be admitted: That should emissaries from such lawless Men again presume to approach the Army, whether under the name of Flag of Truce Men or Ambassadors except when they come to implore the King's mercy, their persons shall be immediately seized and committed to close confinement to be proceeded against as the Law directs: Their Papers & Letters for whomsoever directed (even this Com'r in Chief) are to be deliver'd to the Provost Ma...