Battle Of Bemis Heights Background Description Of The Battle

The British plan to split the American colonies along the Hudson River to Lake Champlain line was faltering. Two of the three initiatives in the Saratoga Campaign strategy had already produced little of no advantage. Burgoyne's expedition had failed in its attempt to gather supplies, most notably in the Battle of Bennington on August 16. His previous attempt to flank the American position had stalled in the first engagement of Saratoga, the Battle of Freeman's Farm on September 19. With supplies running low and no sign of the support expected from General William Howe in New York CitySkyline, with Statue of Liberty New York, New York" redirects here. For alternate meanings, see New York, New York (disambiguation). New York — officially named City of New York and often called New York City to distinguish it from the state of New York,, he had to attack the Americans blocking his route to AlbanyAlbany is the capital of the state of New York in the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 95,658. It is the county seat of Albany County. The City of Albany lies 145 miles (233 kilometers) north of and slightly east fro.

The American forces had been growing during the time between battles. So his attack on the American left now faced Major General Benjamin LincolnBenjamin Lincoln ( 1733- 1810) was a Major General of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was seriously wounded at the Battle of Saratoga, but returned to duty in August of 1778. He surrendered and was captured at Charleston, So's division. This division had General Ebenezer LearnedEbenezer Learned ( April 18, 1728- April 1, 1801) was a Brigadier General in the American Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He was the son of Ebeneezer and Deborah Haynes Learned, and was born at Oxford, Massachusetts, and lived his entire li's and Enoch PoorEnoch Poor ( June 21, 1736 September 8, 1780) was a Brigadier General in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. He was a ship builder and merchant from Exeter, New Hampshire. Enoch was born and raised in Andover, Massachusetts. His father had been's brigades, Colonel Henry DearbornHenry Dearborn ( February 23, 1751- June 6, 1829) was an American physician, statesman and veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Born in North Hampton, New Hampshire, he spent much of his youth in Epping, New Hampshire, where's light infantry battalion, and Colonel Daniel MorganDaniel Morgan ( 1736- 1802) was an American pioneer, soldier, and Congressman from Virginia. One of the most gifted battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War, he later commanded the troops that suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion. Early Years's riflemen. Expanded by militia units, the division now had about 3,800 men with another 1,200 militia available for immediate support.

2 Description of the battle

Burgoyne's plan was to use three assault elements. Brigadier Simon Fraser was to slide past the American's on their left and secure the positions for the artillery. Since he was going through woodlands he had the light infantry, along with the Canadian militia and ranger forces and Indian allies, for a total of about 700 men.

Baron Friedrich von Riedesel's Hessians would make the main attack to occupy the American left, with about 1,100 men and supporting artillery.

Meanwhile Major General William Phillips would attack in a left hook to separate the Left from the main American forces positioned at Bemis Heights overlooking the Hudson River. Phillip's force was just over 400 men of Grenadier Battalion under Major John Dyke Acland and the Royal Artillery under Major Williams.

General Lincoln's men were extended northwest from Gates' fortifications on Bemis Heights. On the far left or western end were Colonels Morgan and Dearborn with a total of about 600 men. In his center was General Learned's brigade, expanded by militia to about 1,800 men. Tying his forces to the main positions was General Poor's brigade of just over 1,400. Behind Learned, Brigadier General Abraham Ten Broeck led 1,200 New York militia in reserve.

Having learned from the battle two weeks before, the attack started in the early afternoon. This would allow Burgoyne to withdraw at nightfall should it be necessary. The opening fire came from the Grenadier's advance on Lincoln's right. Poor's men held fire, and the terrain made the fire largely ineffective. When major Acland led a bayonet charge on their position, the American's finally opened up at close range. Acland fell shot in both legs, and many of the Grenadiers also went down. Their column was in total route, and Poor's men advanced to take both force leaders prisoner and capture their artillery. Those that escaped returned to the redoubts at Freeman's Farm.

On the western end things were also not going well for the British. Morgan's men swept aside the Canadians and Indians to engage Fraser's regulars. Although slightly outnumbered Morgan managed to break up several British attempts to move West. Meanwhile, at Gates' headquarters, Benedict Arnold paced nervously at the sounds of battle. He had been removed from command, and Gates refused to see him. Finally, he lept to his horse and rode towards the firing. Gates' only reaction was to send Major Armstrong out to order his return, but Armstrong couldn't catch up with him.

Arnold went first to the light battalions on the west of the line. When he saw Fraser rally his men repeatedly he told Morgan that the man was worth a regiment. Morgan reacted by ordering him shot, and a marksman named Timothy Murphy obliged. Fraser fell mortally wounded, and his advance fell apart.

Next Arnold rode to the central action. Learned's men were having a rough time handling the Hessian advance, and were yielding ground. Arnold helped to rally them, and with Learned he led their counter attack. When Morgan, Dearborn, and Poor began to close on their sides, the Hessians also withdrew to their starting positions.

After just about an hour of sharp fighting, the British were back to their starting position. Not content with stopping the British advance, Arnold led Learned and his men in a charge on the first redoubt. Arnold fell, shot in the same leg he had earlier injured during the invasion of Canada, but Learned's brigade carried the redoubt.

Even though his injury kept him from combat, Arnold went to Brigadier General John Paterson's brigade to encourage him to support the earlier attacks. But here, Gates' orders caught up with him and removed him from action. Darkness ended the battle, and saved Burgoyne from further defeat.

3 Aftermath

Burgoyne, already outnumbered 3 to 1, had lost 1,000 men, while American losses came to only about 500 killed and wounded. He had lost several of his most effective leaders. Not only had the maneuver failed, his forward line was now breached. That night he lit fires at his remaining forward positions, and withdrew under the cover of darkness. So on the morning of October 8, he was back in the fortified positions he had held on September 16.

But he was weaker than before, and had fewer supplies. The American forces were still growing stronger. The following day, he withdrew another 8 miles (12 km) to Saratoga, New York. The stage was set for the final act of the Battle of Saratoga and his later surrender.

Bemis Heights

<Hide>

Home > Battle of Bemis Heights

1 Background

2 Description of the battle

3 Aftermath

Topics: Battle Of Bemis Heights, Background, Description Of The Battle...