reporting the By Eric H. Schnitzer he Northern Campaign of 1777 entered a new twelve thousand, whereas attrition dwindled Burgoyne’s phase in September, during which time both to nearly seven thousand. armies prepared to confront each other; no On October 7, having heard nothing further of Tlonger was Major General Horatio Gates’s Northern Clinton’s movements, Burgoyne took the initiative and, Department of the Army of the United States retreat- with a probing force of 1,500, moved south to observe ing, and Lieutenant-General John Burgoyne’s army from the American lines in search of a weakness that could Canada was finally prepared to make its push to cap- be exploited. But neither he nor anyone in his detach- ture the city of Albany. Gates’s force, at first deployed ment got close enough to see the Revolutionary army’s near Albany itself, moved about twenty miles north to defenses. Gates ordered an immediate and decisive attack Bemis Heights. The Heights, overlooking the valley and on the British probing force, which in little more than Hudson River below, were part of a continuity of stun- one hour was beaten back to its fortified camp. In close ning natural defenses, made stronger by man-made ones. pursuit, the Americans attacked two fortifications and Gates commanded an army of nearly eight thousand captured one of them, Breymann’s Post, at which place officers and men from Massachusetts, New York, New Arnold was severely wounded. Having suffered over six Hampshire, Connecticut, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, the hundred casualties to the Americans’ 150, and having lost great majority of whom were Continentals. one of his key forts, Burgoyne ordered a retreat. On September 19, Burgoyne’s slightly larger army Thunderstorms, fatigue, and poor coordination slowed advanced to attack the American defenses. Gates’s sec- the British withdrawal to Saratoga, eight miles north ond-in-command, Major General Benedict Arnold, took of Freeman’s Farm. Gates belatedly ordered a pursuit the initiative and brought the battle to the British in the on October 10 but quickly caught up with Burgoyne at farm fields and woods one and a half miles north of Bemis Saratoga later that day. The small village was surrounded Heights, with the primary fighting occurring on American by the army of the United States, now numbering nearly Royalist John Freeman’s Farm. The battle ended in a tacti- seventeen thousand, and the British were forced to sur- BOSTON GAZETTE cal British victory, albeit a pyrrhic one—British casualties render—by the generally favorable terms outlined in the October 27, 1777 numbered 590 to the Americans’ 325. After a day of rest- Articles of Convention—on October 17. ing his army following the hard-fought battle, Burgoyne The Articles of Convention, a transcript of which was George Washington’s after-action report, appearing on received a message from the commander of the City of New published in the December 11, 1777, issue of the London page two of the October 27, 1777, Boston Gazette, details York, Sir Henry Clinton, who offered to assist Burgoyne Chronicle, stated that Burgoyne’s surrendered troops the events at Germantown, acknowledging failure but by making a diversion in the Hudson Highlands with the would be allowed to return to Europe. However, Congress emphasizing bravery. According to Washington, “it may hope that Gates would be forced to split his army in two. interposed a series of objections to the Articles (as reported be said the day was rather unfortunate than injurious.” On the following page of the same issue is an anonymous Relying wholly on this new plan, Burgoyne built a fortified in the April 4, 1778, issue of the Pennsylvania Ledger) by letter from an officer in the Continental Army providing camp on and around Freeman’s Farm and waited. The wait questioning Burgoyne’s integrity on account of suppos- additional details about Germantown. lasted for two and a half weeks, during which time Gates’s edly missing arms, accoutrements, and other war matériel. army was joined by militia regiments and grew to over Burgoyne’s and Gates’s responses to Congress’s inquiries ReportRev_Ch8.indd 228-229 12/3/12 4:27 PM on the matter proved unsatisfactory, and Congress new nation’s first day of Thanksgiving on December 18, DECEMBER 11, 1777 present contest; and the port of Boston to be assigned for doomed the Convention Army (as Burgoyne’s surren- 1777. But the greatest effect of the victory at Saratoga The the entry of transports, to receive the troops, whenever dered army was called) to de facto prisoner of war status was the resultant February 6, 1778, Treaty of Alliance general Howe shall so order. on January 8, 1778. between the United States and France, the decisiveness III. Should any cartel take place, by which the army Gates’s capture of an entire army commanded by of which came to fruition at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. under lieutenant-general Burgoyne, or any part of it, may a British Lieutenant-General—something which was That is why the victory at Saratoga is known as the great be exchanged, the foregoing article to be void, as far as never done before—was astonishing and inspired the “Turning Point of the Revolutionary War.” such exchange shall be made. IV. The army under lieutenant-general Burgoyne is to march to Massachusetts-bay, by the easiest, most expedi- tious, and convenient route; and to be quartered in, near, or as Postscript. convenient as possible to Boston, that the march of the troops LONDON. may not be delayed when transports arrive to receive them. ADVICES from AMERICA. V. The troops to be supplied on the march, and during Albany, Oct. 19, 1777 their being in quarters, with provisions, by general Gates’s SIR, orders, at the same rate of rations as the troops of his own I Have the pleasure to send your honourable council the army; and, if possible, the officers horses and cattle are to inclosed copy of a convention, by which lieutenant general be supplied with forage at the usual rates. Burgoyne surrendered himself and his whole army on the VI. All officers are to retain their carriages, but horses 17th instant into my hands. They are now upon their march and other cattle and no baggage to be molested or towards Boston. General Glover and general Whipple, with searched; lieutenant general Burgoyne giving his honour a proper guard of militia, escort them, and are to provide all there are no public stores secreted therein. Major general such necessary articles as may be wanted upon the march. I Gates will of course take the necessary measures for the am so extremely busy in pushing the army forward to stop the due performance of this article: should any carriages be cruel career of general Vaughan up Hudson’s-river, that I have wanted during the march for the transportation of officers only time to acquaint you, that my friend general Lincoln’s leg baggage, they are, if possible, to be supplied by the coun- is in a fair way of doing well, and to testify with what respect try at the usual rates. I am, your much obliged and most obedient humble servant, VII. Upon the march, and during the time the army shall HORATIO GATES. remain in quarters, in the Massachusets Bay, the officers are To the honourable the President of the Council of the not, as far as circumstances will admit, to be separated from State of Massachusetts Bay. their men. The officers are to be quartered according to articles of convention made between rank, and are not to be hindered from assembling their men Lieutenant-general Burgoyne, and Major-general Gates. for roll calling, and other purposes of regularity. Article. I. VIII. All corps whatever of general Burgoyne’s army, The troops under lieutenant-general Burgoyne, are whether composed of sailors, batteaumen, artificers, to march out of their camp with the honours of war, and drivers, independant companies and followers of the Surrender of General Burgoyne the artillery of the intrenchments, to the verge of the river army of whatever country, shall be included in the fullest Architect of the Capitol where the old fort stood, where the arms and artillery are sense, and utmost extent of the above articles, and com- On October 10, 1777, British Lieutenant- to be left.—The arms are to be piled by word command prehended in every respect as British subjects. General John Burgoyne found his army from their own officers. […] surrounded at Saratoga, New York, by American forces totaling nearly seventeen II. A free passage to be granted to the army under (Signed) J. BURGOYNE. thousand. One week later, he surrendered. lieutenant-general Burgoyne to Great Britain, upon con- Camp at Saratoga, Oct. 16, 1777. dition of not serving again in North America, during the 230 Reporting the Revolutionary War Chapter VIII: Cut to Pieces 231 ReportRev_Ch8.indd 230-231 12/3/12 4:27 PM LONDON CHRONICLE PENNSYLVANIA LEDGER (PHILADELPHIA) December 11, 1777 April 4, 1778 The Battles of Saratoga, fought eighteen days apart, Congress interposed a series of objections to the articles, resulted in the surrender of British Lieutenant-General or terms, of surrender by questioning Burgoyne’s John Burgoyne’s entire army and helped convince integrity on account of supposedly missing arms, France to ally with the United States. The favorable accoutrements, and other war matériel. The objections terms of Burgoyne’s surrender were published in the are reprinted from “Rebel Papers” in this Tory December, 11, 1777, London Chronicle. newspaper, published in Philadelphia while occupied by the British.