Battle+of+Saratoga

=== **Battles of Saratoga** **By Abi Rose**

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Major General Horatio Gates and Brigadier Benedict Arnold commanded the American army. Major General John Burgoyne commanded the British and German force.
===The first battle of Saratoga is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Freeman's Farm. The British wanted to stragecially control Upstate New York and isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. The British troops were planning to go from Montreal to Albany along the major rivers. Once the troops arrived in Albany, they would meet up with two other British commands. Colonist troops blocked Burgoyne's path in the forests near Lake George, this slowed the British down a lot. The Continental Army blocked the other British troop, led by Howe, from meeting up with Burgoyne's troop. The result of all of this was a large continent of militia gathered in the Saratoga area. Burgoyne began to move south again but he stopped 10 miles south of Saratoga, this resulted in the first Battle of Saratoga. Burgoyne lost two men for every one man on the American side.=== ===The second battle of Saratoga is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Bemis Heights. Burgoyne wanted to break free of the encircling colonial forces. The German allies and British forces were devastated, and they almost lost their positions. Benedict Arnold fell from his horse and recieved a wound on his leg. There is a statue of his boot commerating his help in the battle. Bugoyne was forced to surrender.===

The Battle of Saratoga is known as the turning point of the Revolutionary War. These battles were the reason why France entered the war against Britain.
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