General John Burgoyne
The British General of the American Revolution and Saratoga
The British surrender at Saratoga was a great turning point in the American Revolution and John Burgoyne’s failure to defeat Horatio Gates’s forces is to thank. After a typical British military education and experience, Burgoyne faced the Americans at Saratoga, culminating in the defeat of British forces and the enthusiastic entrance of the French in the American Revolution.
John Burgoyne’s Early Years in Great Britain
John Burgoyne was born on February 24, 1722 in Bedfordshire, England. He was the son of a former British captain and in 1740 joined the British Army himself. After a few short years in the army, he sold his commission and married the daughter of the eleventh Earl of Derby. The new Burgoynes lived in France for a number of years after John’s new father-in-law cut his daughter off from the family.
In 1756, John Burgoyne returned to his home and rejoined the army. He served as commander of the 16th Dragoons in Europe during the Seven Years’ War/French and Indian War. Gentleman Johnny returned to England as the war was coming to a close and became a Member of Parliament in 1761. He was named a Major General in 1772 and in May 1775, Major General John Burgoyne was in Boston, Massachusetts and found himself a participant to the American Revolution.
General John Burgoyne in the American Revoltion
After witnessing the Battle of Bunker Hill, Burgoyne returned to Great Britain, only to return in 1776 to serve as Sir Guy Carleton’s second in command for the invasion of New York; however, Burgoyne was disgusted with Carleton’s command and once again returned home.
June 27, 1777 found Burgoyne back in Crown Point on Lake Champlain, where he had recently left Carleton the previous year. The British reoccupied the spot with seven thousand men, and on July 6th, Burgoyne’s forces took Fort Ticonderoga back from the Americans. Burgoyne’s position here at the fort was a delicate one, though. He had lost the reinforcements he had been promised and headed southward to Fort Edward.
The Battle of Saratoga
Burgoyne knew that he must make an attempt to break the American lines at Bemis Heights, but he would have to do so alone. Major General William Howe could not come to his aid as he was facing General George Washington in an attempt to capture Philadelphia for the British. Nor could he count on Major General Henry Clinton’s forces as they were busy securing New York and could not spare a man to Burgoyne.
Major General Horatio Gates took over the command of the Northern Department from Major General Philip Schuyler on August 19, 1777 and immediately decided to cut Burgoyne’s northbound movement short. Burgoyne, meanwhile, had been gathering enough provisions to proceed and crossed the Hudson River on September 3, 1777.
Gates did not attack Burgoyne, but waited, holding his position and observing the British general’s movements. On September 19th, three columns of British forces were marched to Bemis Heights. Colonel Daniel Morgan’s riflemen intercepted the movement and pushed the British back to Freeman’s Farm. Several days after Morgan’s offensive, Brigadier General Benedict Arnold took it upon himself to lead a force which pushed through the British battlements, causing the British to retreat. The Americans then followed the British into Saratoga where, finding themselves trapped and greatly outnumbered, they surrendered to the Americans on October 17, 1777.
General John Burgoyne after the American Revolution
Burgoyne was a party to other conflicts during the Revolution, but his involvement was never as famous as his presence at Saratoga was. In 1783, Burgoyne retired from politics and became a literary figure in England, writing several plays for the theatre. Gentleman Johnny died on August 4, 1792 in London and is remembered to this day as the general who surrendered to the Continentals in the pivotal Battle of Saratoga; one which changed the outcome of the American Revolution forever.
Sources:
Mintz, Max M. The Generals of Saratoga: John Burgoyne & Horatio Gates. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1990.
Wood, W. J. Battles of the Revolutionary War: 1775-1781. Chapel Hill: Da Capo Press, 1990.
Bowers, Paul C. "Major General John Burgoyne," The American Revolution Homepage. 1998-2004.
John Burgoyne
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