T6+-+6.3B

T6 - 6.3B William Burdick, Andrew Curtis (Battle at Saratoga)

British lead attack on New York. October 24th, 1777 The British on the way down to Albany had taken back fort Ticonderoga. They were surrounded by the green mountain boys in the village of Saratoga on the Hudson River. Burgoyne’s army had moved very slowly because it had many heavy baggage and to drag through the woods. At Bennington the Americans had captured or killed around 1000 enemy troops. When Burgoyne had tried to escape he had not made the Americans had just pushed them back.   When Burgoyne had realized that he was surrounded and had no chance he had surrendered his entire army in October 17, 1777. This was a major turning point in the war because this had stopped British threat on England. It had boosted the Americans spirits because Washington had been suffering many defeats and this had started to turn the war. Most importantly this had convinced the French to become American allies.  One week ago, the British General John Bergoyne led an attack on Albany, New York. His army was split in three, they took separate ways south to Albany. Their purpose was to rid New England of American forces. The armies moved their ways south from Canada. When they reached Albany, the armies joined and began combat. Before the fighting began, however, General Philip Schuyler sent one-thousand of his troops to the Mohawk River to defend the front from St. Leger’s attack force. Riflemen under the leadership of Colonel Morgan outlined the Northern border of the battlefield. On the western edge of the battlefield was General Gates’s headquarters. In the first battle of Freeman’s Farm, the British lost about two soldiers for every one of our troops wounded. But this time, it was different. The battle ensued for ten more days. This battle ended when Burgoyne surrendered. This battle was exactly what we needed. If we had not won the second battle of Freeman’s Farm, France would not have joined us in our rebellion. Burgoyne’s troops were plentiful, let us not forget that. His troops were also stronger than ours. But we managed to make him surrender on our own ground, we had beaten them at their own game, the game of war! This was both a good thing and a bad thing. Firstly, we had proven to the French that we have what it takes to win this war, this is why they joined us. This also most likely infuriated the King, which is obviously not good. He will probably want us sent even further into oblivion. Now he will most likely send twice the troops with thrice the experience. But, we know that we can win. If we train further, and fight more valiantly than we ever have, I know we can and will win our independence from the tyranny of Great Britain.