On a fateful day in the fall of 1777, Major General Horatio Gates, Commander of the American Forces, mobilized a corps of sharpshooters against the British in Saratoga, New York, and ordered Colonel Daniel Morgan to “begin the game.” Gates likely had no idea what a game changer Saratoga would ultimately be, as the outcome fundamentally changed the nature of the American Revolutionary War.
Prior to Saratoga, General George Washington’s Continental Army had garnered surprising victories in Trenton and Princeton, but its numbers were sorely depleted. Those victories spurred British Lieutenant General John Burgoyne to forge a plan to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. His plan hinged on linking with a British force in Albany, but other British commanders were determined to capture Philadelphia instead. This was not the only time Burgoyne made poor decisions based on vague promises of reinforcements or poor intelligence. His situation was far too typical in an organization that lacked alignment at the highest levels.
Within the Continental Army were two generals with contrasting approaches to leadership. Despite their differences, the Americans rallied behind a clearly understood vision while the British never overcame their internal friction. Because of this key event in the American Revolution, world history would follow a different course.
