While the Americans were not so fortunate in another encounter with the British navy later that year, the Battle of Valcour Bay on Lake Champlain in October bought much needed time for the Continental Army and is generally credited as being a major turning point in the war. After forcing the Americans from Canada, Sir Guy Carleton, the British governor, set sail down the St. Lawrence for the Hudson River. At Valcour Island, opposite today's Plattsburgh, N.Y., his squadron of armed ships met Benedict Arnold's small make-shift navy of gunboats and inexperienced sailors. The Americans were almost totally destroyed but the delay caused Carelton to reconsider his timetable. It was not until the following year that the British again tried the northern route--this time to meet defeat at Saratoga.

The British were quick to react to Washington's success at Trenton. Cornwallis brought troups up on January 2 but instead of attacking immediately decided to "bag the fox" the following morning. That night Washington slipped around Cornwallis and successfully attacked British reinforcements at Princeton. Cornwallis fell back to Brunswick and Washington went into winter quarters at Morristown. The new year began on a victorious note.
By the spring of 1777 Washington's army was 10,000 strong but it ws to see relatively little action. The main thrust of the British had shifted to the north in New York. The Lake Champlain-Hudson River invasion route was again considered. On June 17, Gen. John Burgoyne moved south from Canada with 10,000 troups with understanding that he would be supported in his drive to divide the colonies with a sizeable force heading north from New York City. Fort Ticonderoga fell on July 6. Then things started going wrong. Attempts to take Fort Stanwix at Rome, NY, and a supply depot at Bennington, VT, failed with substantial losses. By this time it was obvious that there would be no troups from New York, yet Burgoyne pressed on.

On September 13, Burgoyne ran into Gen. Horatio Gates' 9,000 Americans well positioned near the village of Stillwater, NY. On September 19 and agian on October 7 Burgoyne tried to gain the upperhand. Both Battles of Saratoga ended in British defeat. On October 17 Burgoyne surrendered his army. Saratoga was a great moral victory for the Americans. When the news reached Europe, France recognized the American independence and pledged their assistance.

Meanwhile Washington's army was on the defensive again. Instead of going to Burgoyne's aid, Howe had headed for Philadelphia by way of the Chesapeake Bay. The two armies clashed at Brandywine Creek while the Continental Congress fled first Lancaster and later York, PA. The British occupied Philadelphia on September 26.
A "surprise" attack on the British encampment at Germantown failed on October 4 and Washington was forced into winter encampment, this time at Valley Forge, one of the most tragic experiences of the Revolutionary years.

TOP