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SARATOGA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK NEW YORK
SARATOGA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK NEW YORK
by Charles W. Snell and Francis F. Wilshin National Park Service Historical Handbook Series No. 4 Washington 25, D.C., 1950 ( Revised 1959 ) 504451 O-59-2 REVISED 1959 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1959 OF—504451 The National Park System, of which Saratoga National Historical Park is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and inspiration of its people. Looking east from the site of the Balcarres Redoubt. The immedi
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The British Plan of 1777
The British Plan of 1777
The Hudson River-Lake Champlain route for centuries has constituted a great strategic highway of the continent. Long the warpath of the powerful Iroquois, this route in pre-Revolutionary years had witnessed the ebb and flow of the tides of invasion as England and France locked in a titanic struggle for possession of the New World. Along this route the British commander, General Abercrombie, advanced in 1758 on his ill-fated attempt to seize Ticonderoga from the French. The graves of the “Black W
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The Burgoyne Campaign
The Burgoyne Campaign
With all the pomp and pageantry characteristic of the 18th century, Burgoyne embarked from St. Johns, Canada, on June 17, 1777, with a force of approximately 9,400 men. He was directed “to proceed with all expedition to Albany and put himself under the command of Sir William Howe.” The army consisted of about 4,700 British regulars, 4,200 German troops hired by the King of England, and between 600 and 700 Canadians, Tories, and Indians. It was accompanied by a splendid train of artillery made up
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Retreat of the Americans
Retreat of the Americans
General St. Clair at once made plans to abandon the fortress. That night, under cover of darkness, the American Army began retreating across the bridge of boats which ran from the fort to the east shore of Lake Champlain. Here the American Army split—half of it retreated by land and the other half, with the sick, wounded, and supplies, embarked on the small American fleet and sailed down South Bay to Skenesboro (Whitehall). As the secret retreat was being successfully carried out, one of the bui
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The St. Leger Expedition
The St. Leger Expedition
By this time the tide of events already had started running against the British. This was first evidenced by the news of St. Leger’s defeat at the bloody battle of Oriskany on August 6. St. Leger’s force of about 1,600 men was made up chiefly of Tories, under the leadership of Sir John Johnston and Col. John Butler, and a number of Indians of the Iroquois Confederacy. The Iroquois were divided in their sympathies, but Joseph Brant and his Mohawk warriors and many Cayugas and Senecas joined St. L
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The Battle of Bennington
The Battle of Bennington
Another crushing calamity was in store for the British. Schuyler’s policy of destroying all the crops along the line of Burgoyne’s march had important consequences. It was well known that most of the inhabitants of upper New York, along the Champlain-Hudson route, were favorable to the British cause. Burgoyne had counted on these Tories to aid him materially, especially in the matter of supplies. Now, with the maturing crops systematically destroyed before him, he was faced with difficulty in pr
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The American Line
The American Line
The two recent American victories greatly stimulated the hopes and efforts of the colonists. Men and supplies began to pour into Schuyler’s tiny army which had now retreated as far south as Halfmoon. On August 19, just 3 days after the victory at Bennington, Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates replaced General Schuyler as the commander of the Northern Department. As the American Army increased in confidence and strength, growing from a low point of some 3,000 men, it began advancing slowly up the Hudson. Fo
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Composition of the American Army
Composition of the American Army
Behind the right wing of the American position were stationed the Continental brigades of Nixon, Paterson, and Glover under the immediate command of Gates. Behind the center and left were the Continental brigades of Poor and Learned; also the 500 Virginia riflemen and 300 Light Infantry of Major Dearborn, which together composed a corps led by Col. Daniel Morgan. Morgan’s riflemen had been specially assigned by General Washington to the force confronting Burgoyne, as they were well versed in bac
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The Battle of September 19
The Battle of September 19
It was at this point in the campaign that Burgoyne felt most severely the loss of his Indian allies. After his attempt to discipline the Indians for their brutal murder of Jane McCrea at Fort Edward on July 27, and the two British reverses at Oriskany and Bennington, the Indian nations rapidly began to abandon the royal cause. Up to this time the front and flanks of Burgoyne’s army had been covered with an almost impenetrable cloak of savage warriors who had closely harassed the retreating Ameri
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The Battle of October 7
The Battle of October 7
Confident and self-assured as a result of their first encounter, the American troops grew restive as they impatiently awaited a further attack. Despite drenching rains, chill nights, inadequate supplies, and scanty rations, these ragged troops, who held the destiny of a nation in their hands, could still find heart to make merry at night. So exuberant was their revelry, in fact, that the sentries complained that because of the noise they could not hear the British and would find it impossible to
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Retreat and Surrender
Retreat and Surrender
An American force was already present on the east side of the Hudson, opposite Saratoga, thus blocking the crossing of the river. To continue the retreat northward in an effort to reach Fort Edward was now almost impossible for Burgoyne’s weary and badly depleted army. In a few days he was completely surrounded on the heights of Saratoga by the American force which, by this time, had grown to about 20,000 men. Hopelessly outnumbered, provisions all but exhausted, and devoid of hope of help from
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THE AMERICAN RIVER REDOUBTS.
THE AMERICAN RIVER REDOUBTS.
The river bluffs on which American batteries were emplaced dictated the tactics of both armies and the course of the two battles of Saratoga. The American line was anchored on these bluffs, because here the high ground converged with the river to allow only a narrow corridor along the river plain. The road south to Albany ran through this corridor. Both battles were fought as a result of the British attempt to flank the American positions controlling this passageway. This terrain factor must be
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SITE OF FORT NEILSON.
SITE OF FORT NEILSON.
Situated on the crest of Bemis Heights at the apex of the American line, stood Fort Neilson. In reality the fort was a fortified barn, named for John Neilson, the farmer who owned it. Strengthened on either side by heavy batteries and protected by a breastwork of logs and felled trees, the fort constituted a key point in the American line. The overlook from this point offers a sweeping panorama of exceptional beauty and charm. From here are visible the Adirondacks, the Green Mountains in Vermont
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THE NEILSON HOUSE.
THE NEILSON HOUSE.
Located within the fortified area of Fort Neilson, the Neilson House is the only contemporary building still standing on the battlefield. This house, the home of John Neilson, served as the quarters of Generals Benedict Arnold and Enoch Poor. From this building Poor went to lead his troops in gallant action on both September 19 and October 7. It was to this building that Major Acland, of the British Grenadiers, was brought severely wounded on October 7; and it was also to this building that Lady
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AMERICAN POWDER MAGAZINE.
AMERICAN POWDER MAGAZINE.
On the little plateau east and below the site of Fort Neilson, near the center of the American line, is located a reconstructed stone powder magazine. From the report of Ebenezer Stevens, Major Commandant of Artillery, entitled, “Return of Ordnance and Stores in Camp near Stillwater, September 24, 1777,” with a subheading, “Stores in Magazine,” it has been possible to determine the exact character and quantity of the supplies located within the magazine....
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FREEMAN’S FARM.
FREEMAN’S FARM.
No part of the battlefield witnessed heavier fighting than the area known as Freeman’s Farm. Around this farmhouse and its oblong clearing of 15 acres, the swirling tides of battle beat relentlessly in the engagements of both September 19 and October 7. The original Freeman farmhouse, owned at the time of the battles by Isaac Leggett, occupied approximately the site of the present building by that name. Following the battle of September 19, it was included within the fortification known as the B
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BALCARRES REDOUBT.
BALCARRES REDOUBT.
Situated on the same ridge as the Freeman farmhouse, the Balcarres Redoubt extended approximately 500 yards in a north-south direction. The redoubt was an enclosed work mounting eight cannon, with walls from 12 to 14 feet in height and constructed of logs with earth thrown over them. The front of this work was covered with a strong abatis built of felled trees. The Balcarres Redoubt thus constituted the strongest fortification of the British line. Under the command of the Earl of Balcarres, the
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BREYMANN REDOUBT.
BREYMANN REDOUBT.
The Breymann Redoubt was situated on the extreme right flank of the British line and was erected to defend the right flank of the Balcarres Redoubt and to cover a road that ran from this point to the American camp. The Breymann Redoubt thus served as the key to the entire British position. The redoubt was constructed and defended by German troops, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Breymann, shortly after the battle of September 19. It consisted of a single line of breastworks, approximately 20
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FIRST LINE OF BATTLE, OCTOBER 7.
FIRST LINE OF BATTLE, OCTOBER 7.
Situated approximately three-fourths of a mile northwest of the site of Fort Neilson and extending some 1,000 yards west of present State Route 32, is the position which the flanking column of 1,500 soldiers under Burgoyne occupied at the beginning of the American attack on October 7. Here on the southern slope of the rise of ground, just north of the Middle Ravine, the British met the full fury of the first American attack. It was in this area that General Fraser received his mortal wound and m
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THE GEN. PHILIP SCHUYLER PROPERTY.
THE GEN. PHILIP SCHUYLER PROPERTY.
Situated at Schuylerville (Old Saratoga), N.Y., this estate was the summer residence of Gen. Philip Schuyler both before and after the Battles of Saratoga. The present house was erected in 1777 by General Schuyler shortly after the surrender of Burgoyne’s army. It stands near the site of his former home, which was burned by Burgoyne. Restoration to the period of occupancy by the Schuyler family is under way, with further studies yet to be completed. The structure is a 2-story frame house, 60 fee
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How To Reach the Park
How To Reach the Park
The park is on the upper Hudson River, 28 miles north of Albany, N.Y., between the villages of Stillwater and Schuylerville, and may be reached by automobile from the north or south over State Route 32, connecting with U.S. 4 at Bemis Heights and Schuylerville. From the west, convenient connections with U.S. 9 may be made over State Routes 9P and 423. Taxi service is available from Mechanicville, Schuylerville, and Saratoga Springs....
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About Your Visit
About Your Visit
The park and its facilities are open from early spring until late autumn, depending upon weather conditions—normally from April 1 to November 30. A museum, containing relics of the Revolutionary Period and exhibits designed to present the story of the Battles of Saratoga and the Burgoyne Campaign, is open daily, Sundays and holidays included, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park literature is available in the museum. The John Neilson House, used as quarters for American staff officers during the battle
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Administration
Administration
In 1938, Congress authorized the establishment of Saratoga National Historical Park. In 1941, under this authority, 1,429 acres of historically important land, previously acquired by the State of New York, were accepted by the Federal Government for administration and protection as a National Historical Park Project. Later, other historically significant parts of the battlefield were acquired, and the establishment of the park was accomplished on June 22, 1948. The present area is almost 4 squar
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Suggested Readings
Suggested Readings
Fuller, J. F. C. , Decisive Battles of the U.S.A. Harper Bros., New York, 1942. Nickerson, Hoffman , The Turning Point of the Revolution . Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston and New York, 1928. Whitten, F. E. , The American War of Independence . Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1931....
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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORICAL HANDBOOK SERIES
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORICAL HANDBOOK SERIES
FOR SALE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON 25, D.C. American combination knapsack and haversack...
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