Strategy

 Strategy: An overall plan of action.  British Goal: To seize the Hudson River Valley and cut off New England from other states.  British Needed: 3 armies to meet at Albany, New York  Armies Selected: General Burgoyne, Colonel Barry St. Leger, and General Howe  Rendezvous: To meet at a designated location.

 Called “Gentleman Johnny”  June 1777 troops under Burgoyne left for Albany, New York  July 1777 Captured Fort Ticonderoga  Threw a celebration  During the festivities, the American soldiers cut down trees to block his route  American soldiers also burned crops and drove off cattle so the British couldn’t get supplies.

 Supposed to rendezvous with Burgoyne  Went to Pennsylvania instead  September 1777, Howe defeated General Washington  Howe then occupied Philadelphia  October 1777 Washington attacked again and lost  Washington retreated

 Colonel St. Leger had problems reaching Albany to meet Burgoyne  August 1777 American General Benedict Arnold led a small army up the Mohawk River  Benedict Arnold defeated St. Leger  Result: No one was able to rendezvous with General Burgoyne in Albany – mission failed.

 Burgoyne’s army was out of supplies.  American General Gates had learned a new Polish fortification system.  Built earthen walls and fought behind them.  Burgoyne could not break through the fortifications.  October 7 th 1777, Benedict Arnold charged the British  Burgoyne retreated  Benedict Arnold was shot in the leg

 Burgoyne moved to Saratoga  Continental Army surrounded the British and fired on them all day and all night  Burgoyne surrendered  Consequences of Saratoga:  Benedict Arnold betrayed the Patriot cause  Today his name still means ‘traitor’