Saratoga, 1777

by Brendan Morrissey

Osprey's examination of the Saratoga campaign, which was a watershed, and is widely believed to have been the turning point of the American War of Independence (1775-1783). For the first time British regulars were beaten in open battle by equal numbers of Americans. The Continentals bore the brunt of the fighting, supported by 'hordes' of militia who proved adept at attacking detachments or lines of communication.The after-shock in America (on both sides) and Europe transformed a civil war into a global struggle against the two colonial superpowers of the day, France and Spain, and eventually lost George III his American colonies.

Brendan Morrissey trained as a lawyer before working as a PR consultant and writer in the defence industry, principally with British Aerospace. He has a long-standing interest in military affairs and Anglo-American relations. Brendan has written several titles on this subject for Osprey, including Campaign 37 Boston 1775, and Campaign 47 Yorktown 1781. He is married and lives in Surrey, UK.

The road to Saratoga; the seat of war; opposing commanders; opposing forces; the Grand Plan; Burgoyne moves south; the St Leger Expedition; the first battle - Freeman's Farm; the second battle - Bemis Heights; aftermaths; the battlefields today; wargaming the Saratoga campaign.