After their victory in the Battles of Saratoga, American troops pursued British forces that retreated to these grounds. Following a brief siege, the British surrendered and marched down this hill to lay down their weapons on October 17, 1777, a crucial event in winning American independence. One hundred years later, as the nation recovered from the Civil War and welcomed millions of immigrants, centennial celebrations emphasized the "noble" spirit of the Revolutionary War as a way to heal, educate, and guide the young country forward, inspiring local citizens to build a 155-foot granite structure in honor of a hometown victory that helped forge a democratic nation.