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History Details For - Saratoga - Bemis Heights10/7/1777The second battle of Saratoga was fought at Bemis Heights on October 7. Two weeks after the first battle of Saratoga (at Freeman's Farm), General Clinton began to move troops north from New York to supporrt General Burgoyne. On October 6, he seized forts Clinton and Montgomery. By October 16th, his ships moved as far north as Kingston but he turned back after he got news of the British surrender on October 17th.<>
On October 7th, Burgoyne tried to break out. He led 1600 men in a reconnaissance in force against the American left. Gates' army now numbered 11000 men. Gates sent General Daniel Morgan and General Ebenezer Learned to repel the advance. The British were thrown back. General Simon Fraser, who led the advance was mortally wounded in the reconnaissance. General Benedict Arnold then led a counterattack against the British. The Continentals swept forward to capture a key redoubt defended by Colonel Heinrich Breymann's German mercenaries. Breymann was killed and Arnold was wounded in the battle. The British suffered 600 casualties and the Americans lost 150.
Burgoyne's west flank became exposed after Breymann's redoubt was lost. Burgoyne began to withdraw that evening. He became completely surrounded on October 13 when John Stark led 1100 New Hampshire militia across the Hudson to take a position against the British rear. Burgoyne then asked Gates for terms of surrender. On October 17th, Burgoyne surrendered his remaining 5728 men.
The British surrender at Saratoga was the turning point in the war. Because of this victory, the French became allies on February 6, 1778. Spain and Holland joined in the war later. Links:
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