General Burgoyne and the defeat at Saratoga - reasons Britain

lost the American war of independence

Background:

• February 1777, Burgoyne presents a plan to the king

• It requested to lead a combined force of British troops, Hes-
sian mercenaries, Canadians and such loyalists as could be
marshalled on the way, from the Canadian border south to
meet the main British troops station around Albany, NY.
This was due to the fact that failure of american invasion of
Canada in 1775-76 left a large surplus of British troops
• The plan was not explicitly reliant on forces of either Clin-
ton or Howe meeting the forces of Burgoyne and they were
given no orders to do this

Events:

• Burgoyne was overconfident and the major weakness in his plan was that it was
not part of a co-ordinated plan with Generals Clinton and Howe, who were pur-
suing different objectives
• Another issue was that American neutrals and loyalists did not flock to join his
army due to the army including Native Americans, this further meant they had
less of a force than expected and further contributed to the outnumbering of
them.
• Along the march constant harassment by American snipers and guerrilla tactics,
slowing the march
• Burgoyne’s army low on supplies and needed to reach a British held stronghold.
• At the point where retreat would have saved his army, Burgoyne chose to gam-
ble that Clinton’s army would progress north fast enough to prevent his troops
bearing the full force of Gate’s attack.
• Due to the forces of General Clinton not joining, as a result troops was overstretched and surrounded. Bur-
goyne found himself effectively surrounded by double the
number of Amercan troops
• First battle of Saratoga begun September 19 1777 where Bur-
goyne launched attack. Battle of Freeman’s farm. Gates
rushed reinforcements and by the evening the British held the
field, Americans withdrew
• Though British suffered heavy casualties, army already ex-
hausted after marching for several weeks, and so couldn’t
continue their march to Albany
• British 700 wounded 440 killed; Americans 90 killed and 240
wounded
• Burgoyne dug in and hoped for reinforcements. He decided to
take his army north to safety but heavy rain and low tempera-
tures slowed the retreat.
• American army receiving heavy reinforcements with Gate’s army almost doubling in size
• Seeing American army growing and knowing his lack of supplies, October 7 1777 Burgoyne decided to at-
tempt one last attack. British attack left flank of American line, battle of Bemis Heights. Americans’s had
strong defences.
• It was roughly 5000 British, their numbers had dwindled heavily due to the first battle. American numbers
on the other hand grew to 20000.
• British forced back and retreated and within a few days completely surrounded by the Americans. Bur-
goyne forced to surrender

• As a result, Burgoyne began negotiations with Gates (American general)

• Surrender 17 October 1777
Effects:

• The peace that was negotiated was fairly favourable to the British as Burgoyne’s 5895 troops were to lay
down their arms and march to Boston to be embarked on British ships
• However this included a condition to never fight again
• Congress however rejected the terms negotiated by Gates and the soldiers remained prisoners until the end
of the war.
• News of the surrender influence the French decision to enter the war against the British as it convicted
them the Americans could possibly win.