As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
Saratoga is not thought of a great deal in New York, but it was the scene of the monumental battle in world history in the liberation of America and the defeat of Great Britain.
What is of interest in this as is told by historian Henry Cabot Lodge, is that the British were defeated by George Washington, and Washington was not even in that theater.
The outlay of this summer campaign has been laid out and General Washington immediately knew the dangers of it upon learning of it in 1777. Lord Howe had replaced General Gage who was not up to the task of fighting a George Washington. Howe though for his brilliance along with his Admiral brother, was missing even with insight from the British crown that the place to fight was New York and not Pennsylvania.
General Washington was tense all of 1777, for he was in the southern New England area and facing Howe. Washington's focus was to if necessary get in between Howe and the advancing invasion from Canada by General Burgoyne.
The assets of Washington were delay, wilderness and a furious American rural people, who would be further incensed by the British employing Indian terrorists in their ranks. There was nothing like Indians terrorizing Americans to bring them out in mass.
Burgoyne marched late from Canada in his invading force and was met by an odd combination led by General Schuyler, commanding the north. The entire American fortune though rested upon the need of Howe trying to take Philadelphia when every commander knew that if he marched north and joined Burgoyne the Americans were defeated.
Fortune though smiled upon the Americans as Howe went south instead of marching with his 20,000 soldiers to Saratoga.
All this while, General Washington was sending forth appeals to New England for troops to come out against Burgoyne and not against Howe. Washington knew that even if he lost to Howe, it would be the victory providing Burgoyne was destroyed.
Burgoyne had early success in taking Ticonderoga, which Schuyler had not defended fully. Yet the matter of supply, disease, exposure and wilderness began to take effect on the northern British army.
It is one of the greatest misconceptions to review the defeats of George Washington as defeats, as Washington was always fighting, even when he really did not have an army. His purpose was to fight to live another day and in facing Howe, he understood immediately that all he could do, even if meant defeat, was a victory providing the English were destroyed in the Canadian invasion.
The worst for America was yet to come as General Gates had joined in a strange cabal led by an Irish mercenary named Conway, and it was all about replacing General Washington as head of the Army.
Yes the General had won the Battle of Saratoga by his anchoring Howe and planning with General Schuyler, but he was now under attack to be replaced as he was not "winning".
General Washington never had an army. He had a group of revolving conscripts with no munitions. Men like John Adams would criticize Washington for not accomplishing missions, in never comprehending that Washington had nothing of a military to fight with.
Saratoga was not due to General Gates, but to a drunken Benedict Arnold rushing to the front, and the rising up of New England farmers.
Howe would assail Washington in the swamps of the east, but Washington would not be baited to fighting Howe on his own terms. There was not an army if Washington was defeated. So it was rightly correct when Howe took Philadelphia, that Benjamin Franklin retorted that "Philadelphia had taken Howe".
The conspirators would be taken in their trap and by God's Grace General Washington prevailed, but Saratoga was one by Washington and almost destroyed him. That is the reality of the greatest of battles which changed the world.
agtG
