CAMPAIGN OF 1777

Just 175 years ago this week, General John Burgoyne launched the campaign which ended in the surrender of his entire British army. It was the turning point of the Revolution.

With 7,863 men, "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne planned to drive straight from Lake Champlain to Albany. There he would link up with two more armies; Sir William Howe's, moving north from New York, and Colonel Barry St. Leger's, sweeping east across the Mohawk Valley. The three-pronged attack aimed to crush the rebellion by separating New England from the other colonies.

After forcing the evacuation of Fort Ticonderoga on July 5, 1777, Burgoyne gave the retreating Americans a good drubbing. But it took him three long weeks to cover 20 miles, as colonial axmen destroyed bridges and felled trees across his path.

Bennington & Saratoga

Arriving at Fort Edward in need of provisions, Burgoyne sent a Hessian force to seize American stores at Bennington. New Hampshire and Vermont militiamen intercepted the raiders, and drove them off in disorder with a loss of 207 men. The Americans, who took 600 prisoners, lost only 30 killed and 40 wounded.

Worse news followed the survivors into Burgoyne's camp. Instead of marching to Albany, Howe had confused his orders and sailed for Philadelphia; St. Leger, turned back at Oriskany and Fort Stanwix, had abandoned his plan.

General Horatio Gates, meanwhile, took over the American command and was joined by General Benedict Arnold and large reinforcements. Burgoyne crossed the Hudson and met the Americans in an inconclusive battle at Freeman's Farm. On Oct. 7, the British attacked again. The Americans, led by Arnold, broke the enemy line and drove them back to Saratoga (now Schuylerville). Surrounded and running out of supplies, Burgoyne surrendered on Oct. 17, to end the gravest threat the Americans had yet faced, and pave the way for France's decision to come to the colonies' aid.

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