The war strategy: Saratoga and other local battles

As mentioned in the previous lessons, New York was in a very strategic location during the American Revolution.  It was nearly half way between the New England colonies and the Southern colonies.  Both the Patriots and the Loyalists especially wanted control of this state, but they also saw the importance of controlling New York City and its port.  So two major battles were fought here: one in the New York City area (Long Island and Manhattan) and one in Saratoga.

THE BATTLES ON LONG ISLAND AND MANHATTAN

The port of New York City was a very important and strategic harbor to control.  If General Washington (commander of Continental Army-Patriots) could control New York City and its port, then:

• Great Britain could not deliver messages between the northern and southern colonies as easily.

• Troops could not be moved from the northern area to the southern area either

• Supplies and troops from England could not enter the largest port on the East Coast- New York City!

Because General Washington was trying to get his strongest regiments to the New York City area, he marched his troops from Boston to New York City in April of 1776.  

The British were also getting ready to try to control the city.  Great Britain put General William Howe in charge of the greatest army England had ever sent overseas.  His army was far superior to any forces the Americans could gather.  In June of 1776 a large British war fleet sailed into New York Harbor.  This was the Patriots' warning of what was to come.  In July, an army of 10,000 men landed on Staten Island, with no Patriot resistance.  All during that month and during August, too, British reinforcements continued their troop build-up.  By the middle of August, Howe had an army of 32,000 men prepared to fight for control of New York City.  Both sides were ready to fight.

On August 22, 1776, the fighting began on Long Island at Jamaica Pass.  British General William Howe defeated General Charles Lee at the Battle of Long Island.   The British lost 63 men and the Patriots lost almost 1,000 with another 1,000 being taken captive.  The Continental Army had lost almost a quarter of its entire army!

On August 26, General Lee retreated to Brooklyn Heights.  Most critics believe that if Howe had attacked again at this time, the British would have taken more prisoners, etc, and might have won the war.  As it was, Washington arrived  and with the help of some very nasty weather, he and his troops managed to sneak away during the night to safety in Manhattan.

Although the Loyalists then gained control of New York City and in fact were to keep control of it throughout the war, most historians believe that if General Howe had capitalized on his victories over Washington's army, it would have been the turning point of the war.  He could have totally destroyed the Patriot army during this series of battles, but because of Washington's skill, courage, and the inspiration that he gave his troops, they got out of the "trap" and went on to win the war.

THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA

After capturing New York City, the British did chase Washington and his troops for a while through New Jersey, and then both sides settled down in their winter headquarters.

In the spring of 1777, the British troops prepared for the attack of upstate New York.  They intended to take control of Albany and planned the battle for that area, but it wasn't to be there at all.

The battle plan was to have three different generals come from different directions and overtake Albany.

General John Burgoyne and his soldiers would march down from Canada, using Lake Champlain and the upper Hudson River for easy transport.
General St. Leger and his troops would come across the St. Lawrence River, down Lake Ontario, and land in Oswego, New York.  There he would use the Oswego and Mohawk Rivers to get to Albany.
General Howe was to go up the Hudson River to Albany.

The plan was probably a good one, but not all the parties got to the right place at the right time.   St. Leger met resistance at Oriskany, on his way to Albany. He returned shortly thereafter to Oswego and was not part of the Saratoga Battle.  Howe and his British troops left New York City too late to be of any help at Saratoga.  So Burgoyne was left alone to overtake Albany.  General Horatio Gates and his Patriot troops were there to meet him.

Burgoyne had some early success with victories at Fort Ticonderoga and Lake George.  The troops soon ran out of food, however, and hoped to raid local farmers, but the N.Y. farmers had burned their crops to keep the English from getting food.   The Loyalists lost the battle and 1,700 soldiers.  6,000 British soldiers were prisoners after this battle.  With the loss of so many soldiers, the Loyalists were never as strong in N.Y.  For this reason, Saratoga is known as the turning point of the war.

DEFINITIONS:

resistance: opposition to some force

Let's Practice!