Battles of Saratoga

Locating

the Site

1. Locate Lake Champlain, the Hudson River, and Albany on the maps. Why do you think the leaders of the British Army thought it was so important to control the Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor?

2. The rivers could not support the large ships needed to transport troops, only smaller supply boats. Troops marched along the rough roads that followed these waterways. Use the scale provided on the maps to guesstimate about how far Burgoyne's soldiers traveled on foot to get to Saratoga from St. John's, Canada.

3. According to the map, how long did it take them to actually reach Saratoga?

Questions:4. List three

reasons why the delay between the two days of fighting was bad for the British?

5. How did the delay help the Americans? Give three reasons.

6. Who won the first day of fighting? On what date?

7. Who won the second day? On what date?

8. What was the result of the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga? (Who else joined the war after?)

VOICES OF BATTLE• Infantry: Soldiers or military units that fight on foot.• Compilation: To gather together information.• Hastened: Urgent need of quick action; a hurry or rush.• Obstinacy: Unyielding or stubborn adherence to one's purpose.• Contemptible: Despicable.• Hitherto: Until now.• “Vivat”: Live/battle song

Example: Translation

Voices of Battle

9. What similarities did you find in all three descriptions of the battle?

10.Following the battle on September 19, what opinions do the British and German (Hessian) soldiers offer about the American army?

11.In two out of the three accounts, the writer estimates his opponent’s casualties to be much higher than his own. Why do you think this is the case?

12.Give an example for each writer of a detail he included which brought the battle to life for you.

13.Which account made the greatest impact on you, and why?

Visual Evidence: Bemis Heights TodayThe hills, fields, and ravines are empty today except for tourists, but during the battles for Saratoga in 1777, thousands of American and British soldiers

were encamped in fortifications along the Hudson River.

14. What things missing today might you have seen in this portion of the American camp where the river fortifications were placed?

15.Looking at the terrain from Bemis Heights, why do you think the American army placed the American cannon and fortifications in this location?

16. Explain what you think it happening in this famous painting that deals with the Battles of Saratoga. (One paragraph)

Surrender of John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga

The scene of the surrender of the

British General John Burgoyne at Saratog

a, on October 17, 1777, was a turning

point in the American

Revolutionary War that prevented

the British from dividing New

England from the rest of the colonies.

17. In your own words, explain what is actually happening in this picture.