Moment of Victory

Spurred on by their success in the nearby wheatfield, nearly 1000 American soldiers attacked up the hill directly ahead as the defenders, already greatly weakened, struggled to hold their position. More than half of Colonel Breymann's men had gone out on the morning of October 7 in the probing force, and when they retreated, the survivors ran for safety to the closer British Light Infantry Redoubt on the other side of the defenses, with none returning here. At this moment, General Arnold arrived and led a handful of riflemen through the gap created when two cabins were abandoned. Outmaneuvered and outnumbered, the remaining defenders, women, and children fled for their lives. By the end of the day, General Burgoyne had lost about 450 men killed or wounded in the Second Battle of Saratoga, and the Americans captured 180 more, while General Gates lost about 150 Americans killed or wounded. The battle was over, and the United States had won a resounding victory.

Saratoga, New York · United States