Billy B.

Saratoga and Yorktown:

The Battles that won American Independence

“They returned to Yorktown under the fire of the enemy’s batteries to Earl Cornwallis, at Yorktown. Thus expired the last hope of the British army.” remarked Banastre Tarleton, an infamous British general during the American revolution, during the Battle of Yorktown on October 19, 1781. The Battle of Yorktown is known today as one of the most famous battles in the American Revolution and was the battle that sealed American Independence. But the Battle of Saratoga, which took place 4 years early, was also a major battle that greatly affected the outcome of the war.

Chapter 1: The Battle of Saratoga

As Fall approaches in the year 1777, “Victory was in neither sides grasp, while defeat seemed always around the corner.” 2 years of harsh fighting had seemed like it had worn down the powerful British army, and the ragged, tired, and hungry American army. British General John Burgoyne was leading an invasion on the northern colonies from Quebec. The plan was supposed to be to split the colonies in half by securing some forts in New York and the Hudson river. His plan was working. But not for long. On September 13, they crossed into Saratoga, while an American force under General Horatio Gates was 10 miles south at Bemis heights, ready to fight. On September 19, 1777, the famous Battle of Saratoga had begun. Both sides fought fiercely, not giving up. Horatio Gates was not an aggressive General, and was opposed to the idea of leading a counter attack. But an American officer at Saratoga, Benedict Arnold, was the opposite of Gates. Arnold was bold and wanted to be aggressive. Arnold presuaded Gates to lead a attack, and Arnold then led a bold attack on the British. Finally, the fighting stopped for the day.

Both armies needed a rest after the fierce day of fighting. Burgoyne’s army was running out of supplies quickly. Burgoyne needed to attack soon, so when he could not wait any longer, he attacked the Americans on October 7, 1777. The battle was just like the first one. During the intense fighting, again Arnold wanted to attack the British reebouts. But this time, Gates said no. But that wouldn’t stop Arnold. He rallied up some men and attacked the reebouts. Though during the attack, Arnold sustained a bullet to the upper leg, the same leg he had injured 2 years earlier at the battle of Quebec. The Americans ended up winning, and the British had lost 6,000 redcoats as prisoners of war and over 1,000 redcoats had died. And a few days later, when the British tried to retreat, the Americans stopped them and Burgoyne surrendered. Some historians believe that the Americans might not have won the battle without Arnold. This was a key victory for the Americans, and kept the dream of American independence alive.

Chapter 2: 1778-1781

In the following years after Saratoga, more battles ensued, and the end of the war still not in sight. Shortly after the battle of Saratoga, General Howe of the British, and General George Washington, the Commander of the American forces, fought in the Battle of Brandywine for control of the American capitol city, Philadelphia. After a long day of fighting, the British came out victories and took control of Philadelphia shortly after the members of the American Continental Congress had fled the city. Next, in December of 1777, Washington’s force of about 11,000 men set up camp at Valley forge. Little did they know that that winter would take the lives of 2,000 men- without a shot fired. The Patriots were faced with many challenges, including lack of food and the bitter cold. The only good news for the Americans that came out of the winter was the in February of 1778, Ben Franklin, a member of the Continental Congress, had finally convinced the French after months to join the American cause. France was now an official ally to the young United States of America.  

Finally, after a brutal winter, the spring and summer of 1778 approached.  As the Americans prepared to celebrate their country´s 2nd anniversary, they also prepared for an attack on the British-held Newport, Rhode Island. In July, Franceś fleet of 12 ships arrived in America. The fleet's commander, Count d'Estaing, and Washington decided to attack Newport. d´Estaing would attack from sea, while American general John Sullivan would attack from land. After some confusion, Sullivan attacked a day early, and a British fleet of ships arrived to take on the French. In the end, the attack was a failure, and was yet another minor setback for the Patriots.

As 1778 came to a close, the south was becoming the revolutionś battleground when the British realized it would be safer to be in the South were there was more loyalists, than in the North were there was more Patriots. Over the next few years, there would be many more battles in the South, including the battles of Savannah, Charleston, and Waxhaws. As the years went on, the Americans were slowly taking the upper hand. But along the way, they lost General Benedict Arnold, who became a traitor and joined the British.

The Southern Campaign 1778-1781 (National Geographic)

In 1781,the British sailed to Yorktown, Virginia, shortly after Washington's army had started the march to Yorktown. But the British had just walked into Washington’s mastermind trap. Yorktown was an inlet that could easily be blocked by sea, which was the British escape route. The Americans took advantage of that, and a French fleet quickly blocked of the route. With the British army trapped on land, the War had come down to Yorktown.

Chapter 3: The Battle of Yorktown

On September 28, Washington’s army and the French marched into Yorktown, shortly after the alarmed British force under General Cornwallis began digging fortifications. Washington was slowly advancing into Yorktown. His army was digging trenches toward the town, and after a few days they had completed a two mile long trench. Banastre Tarleton, a British general, was supplying the British with food and supplies from a base across the river. The Americans were inching closer every day to British fortifications, and by October 14 they were within 150 yards of redoubts. That night, the Americans and French attacked the redoubts. After a short, but brutal fight, the British fell. On October 15, the British attacked, but failed yet again. And after a failed escape attempt, the British had no choice but to surrender.

The surrender at the Battle of Yorktown

On October 19, a surrender agreement was sent to Washington from Cornwallis. Washington agreed to the terms, and said the Cornwallis’ troops should surrender by 2:00 pm. So many people were shocked that the British surrendered so easily. Cornwallis’ army was almost all of the British soldiers in American, and the parliament of England decided to not spend more money and time on the war. There was minor fighting in the next few years, but the battle of Yorktown was the last major battle. And in 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed between America and Britain, which officially ended the war. The United States of America was a free and  independent country

Conclusion

Throughout the Revolution, the heroics of the Americans in the most brutal and horrific battles ultimately won the war. The heroics of Benedict Arnold charging the British fortifications in the battle of Saratoga, and the mile long trenches the Americans dug at the Battle of Yorktown, shows that the Americans won the war by being brave and courageous in the most important battles.