Battle of Saratoga

The word Saratoga is short for the combination of the two battles that granted the Coup de Grace to the 1779 British invasion from Canada in the Revolutionary War. On the 19th of September, under the command of General John Burgoyne, who had just recaptured Fort Ticonderoga with ease, attacked American troops in a clearing known as Freeman's Farm. After hours of back and forth rifle fire, the rebels temporarily retreated leaving the battered British in possession of most of the grounds. Burgoyne attempted another assault on the 7th of October, and while Benedict Arnold was told to remain in his quarters by Horatio Gates, who was the original leader of these troops, Arnold decided to join the fighting and he led an attack that captured many key strong points causing the British forces to retreat to Saratoga. Ten days later, while surrounded by an outpouring of militia, Burgoyne was forced to surrender.