General Burgoyne's defeat at Saratoga, 1777 Flashcards
What was the plan that General Burgoyne presented to the king?
That he would lead a combined force of Hessian merchants, native americans and loyalists to meet the British troops that were stationed in New York, But he did not plan for meeting any other opposition troops
What personality did Burgoyne possess and how did this contribute to his failure?
He was over confident and he had placed a bet at his club in London that he would be home before christmas. And he was weighed down by an enormous baggage train w 30 vehicles just for his wardrobe and champagne.
What was Burgoyne’s major weakness?
His plan was not coordinated with Generals Clinton and Howe, who were pursuing different objectives
- instead: he hoped that Clinton’s army would progress north fast enough to prevent his troops bearing the full brunt of Gates’ attack => led to him being surrounded by double the number of American troops and forced to surrender
What was the peace that was negotiated?
in favour of the British
- Burgoyne’s 5895 troops were to lay down their weapons and were escorted to the British
ships on the condition that they did not fight again.
–> But this was rejected by congress and the soldiers were held as prisoners until the end of the war in 1783.
