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[[Image:Surrender of General Burgoyne.jpg|thumb|250px|{{center|A painting of the surrender of General Burgoyne}}]]
The '''Battle of Saratoga''' is considered the turning point of the [[American Revolution]]. The battle was fought in late 1777. It was actually two [[wikt:engage|engage]]ments: the Battle of Freeman's [[Farm]] (September 19<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-freemans-farm.htm |title=The Battle of Freeman's Farm |author= |website= |publisher=Britishbattles.com |accessdate=January 9, 2017}}</ref>) and the Battle of Bemis Heights (October 7<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-bemis-heights |title=The Battle of Bemis Heights |author= |website=History |publisher=A&E Television Networks, LLC |accessdate=January 9, 2017}}</ref>). The [[Americans]] were led by [[General officer|General]] [[Horatio Gates]]. The British were led by General [[John Burgoyne]]. On October 17 Burgoyne [[Surrender (military)|surrendered]] his [[army]] of nearly 6,000 British [[soldiers]]. The American [[victory]] helped [[wikt:convince|convince]] [[France]] to come to the aid of the [[Continental Army]]. It also helped them [[recognize]] the [[United States]].  

== Prelude ==
In early 1777, General [[William Howe]] asked [[London]] to approve his plan to attack [[Philadelphia]]. This would destroy the rebellious American government.<ref name=Lanning11.2>Michael Lee Lanning, ''The American Revolution 100'' (Naperville: Sourcebooks, 2009), pp. 11–12</ref> In Canada, General John Burgoyne submitted a plan to move down through New York and meet General Howe at [[Albany, New York|Albany]]. This would divide the colonies. London approved both plans.<ref name=Lanning11.2/> Burgoyne began moving down the [[Hudson River valley]] from Canada. He split his force into two columns. One, under Colonel [[Barry St. Leger]] moved [[east]] from [[Lake Ontario]] down the [[Mohawk Valley]]. They attacked the Americans at [[Fort Stanwix]]. The Americans sent two parties to relieve the fort. The second, under the command of [[Benedict Arnold]], drove the British away from the fort. St. Leger's column [[retreat]]ed back to Lake Ontario. Burgoyne continued [[south]] with his own column of about 7,000 British and [[Hessian]] soldiers.<ref name=Worth7.10>Richard Worth, ''Saratoga'' (Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2002), pp. 7–10</ref> He was joined by about 500 [[native American]]s, allied to the British.<ref name=Worth7.10/> 

Burgoyne made a [[General order|proclamation]] to his Indians to go out and strike at the [[enemy]].<ref name=Worth7.10/> He added that women and children, or any who did not oppose them should not be killed. But men, women and children were killed.<ref name=Worth7.10/> One famous [[wikt:incident|incident]] upset all the colonists. A young woman named [[Jane McCrea]] was [[Engagement|engaged]] to marry one of Burgoyne's young [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|tory]] officers. Indians bringing her to Burgoyne fought over her, killed and [[Scalping|scalped]] her. Burgoyne wouldn't punish the Indian who killed her. This proved he could not even protect friendly colonists. Newspapers in the colonies spread the story. As a result, a great many Americans who had been [[wikt:neutral|neutral]] took up arms against the British.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ushistory.org/us/11g.asp |title=The Battle of Saratoga |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website= |publisher= ushistory.org/Independence Hall Association, Philadelphia |accessdate=15 November 2014}}</ref> The story even reached [[England]]. In the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] [[Edmund Burke]] spoke out against the British policy of using Native American allies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://b-womeninamericanhistory18.blogspot.com/2013/02/jane-mccrae-1752-1777-killed-during.html |title=Jane McCrae 1752-1777 Killed during the American Revolution |author=Barbara Wells Sarudy |date=12 March 2013 |website=|publisher=Women in American History |accessdate=15 November 2014}}</ref>

== Battle of Freeman's Farm ==
Howe had captured Philadelphia. But it took so long he did not send any forces [[north]] to support Burgoyne.<ref name=Lanning11.2/> On September 19 Burgoyne attacked the Americans who were [[Trench warfare|entrenched]] on Bemis Heights near Saratoga.<ref name=Morton57.8>Joseph C. Morton, ''The American Revolution'' (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2003), pp. 57–58</ref> He again fought Americans at Freeman's Farm. This time it was American [[rifle]]men under the command of [[Daniel Morgan]]. American [[Marksman]] killed a large number of British and Hessian [[officer]]s.<ref name=Morton57.8/> This was intended to cause confusion among the British forces. Burgoyne lost about 600 [[Casualty (person)|casualties]]. He claimed victory although he was still held in place by the Americans.

== Battle of Bemis Heights ==
Burgoyne tried and failed to attack the Americans again on October 7.<ref name=Morton57.8/> But the Americans held out against him. A [[counterattack]] led by Benedict Arnold pushed the British back further until they finally [[retreat]]ed back to Saratoga.<ref name=Morton57.8/> This battle cost Burgoyne another 600 casualties. The American losses were less than 150.<ref name=Morton57.8/> Burgoyne's army was now surrounded by a much larger and growing American army. On October 13, 1777 Burgoyne asked for a [[Ceasefire]]. [[Horatio Gates]], the American commander asked for Burgoyne's [[Surrender (military)|surrender]]. But Burgoyne stalled and did not give an answer. The [[wikt:term|term]]s given by Gates were harsh.<ref name=Roberts65.6>Warren Roberts, ''A Place in History: Albany in the Age of Revolution, 1775-1825'' (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2010), pp. 65–66</ref> Finally Gates offered better terms. On October 17, Burgoyne surrendered. 

== British surrender ==
Burgoyne surrendered his whole army of 5,752.<ref name=Roberts65.6/> He gave up 42 [[cannon]]s, 7,000 [[musket]]s and all his supplies. Officers were [[wikt:separate|separate]]d from their men and placed on [[wikt:parole|parole]]. Unlike their men they were allowed to keep their [[pistol]]s. Gates invited Burgoyne to dine with him. The two men were friendly. Each [[toast]]ed the other's leader.<ref name=Roberts65.6/> The British and Hessian soldiers were marched to [[Boston]]. Per the agreement they were to return to England on their promise not to fight again. While some did return to England, [[Continental Congress|Congress]] changed the terms. Many were sent to [[prison]]s in the colonies to wait out the war.<ref name=Morton57.8/>

== References ==
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== Other websites ==
* [http://www.saratoga.com/aboutsaratoga/battle-of-saratoga/ Battle Of Saratoga - Sept & Oct 1777]
* [http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-saratoga.htm The Battle of Saratoga 1777; British Battles]
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[[Category:Battles of the American Revolutionary War]]
[[Category:1777 in New York (state)]]