Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign: His Papers
The American victory over the British at Saratoga in 1777 was arguably the pivotal event of the American Revolutionary War. The British defeat led France and Spain to declare war on Britain, transforming a colonial uprising into a world war and, by distracting the British with a European conflict, assuring the colonists’ success. The British troops at Saratoga were led by Lieutenant General John Burgoyne, and two years after his defeat he faced a parliamentary investigation into his conduct of the campaign.

In Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign, Douglas R. Cubbison presents the papers that Burgoyne gathered preparatory to his appearance before Parliament, together with Cubbison’s own interpretive narrative of the campaign, based on these documents and other sources. The papers, most of them published here for the first time, comprise Burgoyne’s correspondence with the governor general of Canada, the British secretary of state for America, and the commander of the British army during the Saratoga expedition. The letters and reports outline the campaign’s political organization and planning, logistical preparations, and implementation.

Burgoyne is one of the most colorful and fascinating figures of the American Revolution. A successful British commander in Portugal during the Seven Years’ War, he was also a popular playwright, and those of his letters included and carefully annotated here reflect his literary gifts. At the outbreak of the revolution in 1775, Burgoyne was promoted to major general. Thanks largely to his political connections, he was dispatched in 1776 to lead the detachment of the British army sent to stop the rebels from seizing Canada. Cubbison concludes that the ultimate defeat of this expedition at Saratoga was due to lax planning in London and in the field. Burgoyne’s cavalry career in Europe had not prepared him for warfare along the waterways and deep in the woods of Canada and New York. The general also seriously underestimated the capabilities of the American rebels.

The documents Burgoyne assembled in 1779—and Cubbison’s narrative and analysis of the challenges faced by Burgoyne and his associates—are crucial for understanding this turning point in the Revolutionary War.
"1110871060"
Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign: His Papers
The American victory over the British at Saratoga in 1777 was arguably the pivotal event of the American Revolutionary War. The British defeat led France and Spain to declare war on Britain, transforming a colonial uprising into a world war and, by distracting the British with a European conflict, assuring the colonists’ success. The British troops at Saratoga were led by Lieutenant General John Burgoyne, and two years after his defeat he faced a parliamentary investigation into his conduct of the campaign.

In Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign, Douglas R. Cubbison presents the papers that Burgoyne gathered preparatory to his appearance before Parliament, together with Cubbison’s own interpretive narrative of the campaign, based on these documents and other sources. The papers, most of them published here for the first time, comprise Burgoyne’s correspondence with the governor general of Canada, the British secretary of state for America, and the commander of the British army during the Saratoga expedition. The letters and reports outline the campaign’s political organization and planning, logistical preparations, and implementation.

Burgoyne is one of the most colorful and fascinating figures of the American Revolution. A successful British commander in Portugal during the Seven Years’ War, he was also a popular playwright, and those of his letters included and carefully annotated here reflect his literary gifts. At the outbreak of the revolution in 1775, Burgoyne was promoted to major general. Thanks largely to his political connections, he was dispatched in 1776 to lead the detachment of the British army sent to stop the rebels from seizing Canada. Cubbison concludes that the ultimate defeat of this expedition at Saratoga was due to lax planning in London and in the field. Burgoyne’s cavalry career in Europe had not prepared him for warfare along the waterways and deep in the woods of Canada and New York. The general also seriously underestimated the capabilities of the American rebels.

The documents Burgoyne assembled in 1779—and Cubbison’s narrative and analysis of the challenges faced by Burgoyne and his associates—are crucial for understanding this turning point in the Revolutionary War.
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Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign: His Papers

Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign: His Papers

by Douglas R. Cubbison
Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign: His Papers

Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign: His Papers

by Douglas R. Cubbison

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Overview

The American victory over the British at Saratoga in 1777 was arguably the pivotal event of the American Revolutionary War. The British defeat led France and Spain to declare war on Britain, transforming a colonial uprising into a world war and, by distracting the British with a European conflict, assuring the colonists’ success. The British troops at Saratoga were led by Lieutenant General John Burgoyne, and two years after his defeat he faced a parliamentary investigation into his conduct of the campaign.

In Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign, Douglas R. Cubbison presents the papers that Burgoyne gathered preparatory to his appearance before Parliament, together with Cubbison’s own interpretive narrative of the campaign, based on these documents and other sources. The papers, most of them published here for the first time, comprise Burgoyne’s correspondence with the governor general of Canada, the British secretary of state for America, and the commander of the British army during the Saratoga expedition. The letters and reports outline the campaign’s political organization and planning, logistical preparations, and implementation.

Burgoyne is one of the most colorful and fascinating figures of the American Revolution. A successful British commander in Portugal during the Seven Years’ War, he was also a popular playwright, and those of his letters included and carefully annotated here reflect his literary gifts. At the outbreak of the revolution in 1775, Burgoyne was promoted to major general. Thanks largely to his political connections, he was dispatched in 1776 to lead the detachment of the British army sent to stop the rebels from seizing Canada. Cubbison concludes that the ultimate defeat of this expedition at Saratoga was due to lax planning in London and in the field. Burgoyne’s cavalry career in Europe had not prepared him for warfare along the waterways and deep in the woods of Canada and New York. The general also seriously underestimated the capabilities of the American rebels.

The documents Burgoyne assembled in 1779—and Cubbison’s narrative and analysis of the challenges faced by Burgoyne and his associates—are crucial for understanding this turning point in the Revolutionary War.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780806144610
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Publication date: 01/07/2014
Edition description: Reprint
Pages: 400
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Douglas R. Cubbison, a former U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer and Command Historian, is curator of the Wyoming Veterans’ Memorial Museum in Casper and author of The American Northern Theater Army in 1776: The Ruin and Reconstruction of the Continental Force and Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign: His Papers.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations 13

List of Maps 14

Acknowledgments 15

Editorial Procedures 17

Introduction 19

Lieutenant General John Burgoyne and His Leadership in the Saratoga Campaign 25

Papers of Lieutenant General John Burgoyne Relating to the Saratoga Campaign, 1777 147

Major General John Burgoyne to Lord Stanley, Boston, June 25, 1775 147

Burgoyne to Major General Henry Clinton, Fort Chambly, July 7, 1776 150

Lord George Germain to Sir William Howe, Whitehall, August 22 (extract) 153

Germain to Sir Guy Carleton, Whitehall, August 22 (extract) 153

Major General William Phillips to Burgoyne, Fort Crown Point, October 23 155

Burgoyne to Clinton, Quebec, November 7 157

Howe to Germain, New York, November 28 (extract) 161

Burgoyne to Germain, London, January 1, 1777 162

Memorandum relative to the next campaign (Carleton to Burgoyne), n.d 163

Phillips to Carleton, St. John's, Canada, November 9, 1776 164

Orders for "Winter Quarters for the British Troops in Canada" (Carleton), November 1 167

Carleton [to ?], dated November 25 (extract) 169

"Memorandums & Observations related to the Service in Canada" (Burgoyne to Germain), n.d. 169

"Thoughts for conducting the War, from the Side of Canada" (Burgoyne), London, February 28, 1777 178

Burgoyne to Captain Philemon Pownell, London, March 2 187

Germain to Carleton, Whitehall, March 26 (extract) 188

Howe to Germain, New York, April 2 (extract) 192

Howe to Carleton, New York, April 5 192

Carleton to Germain, Quebec, May 9 (extract) 194

Carleton to Germain, Quebec, June 26 (extract) 194

Carleton to Burgoyne, Montreal, June 10 196

Howe to Germain, New York, July 5 (extract) 197

Burgoyne to Germain, Camp on the Paver Bouquet, June 22 (extract) 197

"To the Indians in Congress at the Camp upon the River Bouquet June the 21st, 1777, And of their Answer" (Burgoyne) 198

"Manifesto issued by Lieut. Genl. Burgoyne," Camp at the River Bouquet, June 24 201

General Orders (Burgoyne), June 30 203

Howe to Germain, New York, July 15 (extract) 204

Burgoyne to Howe, Ticonderoga, July 2 205

Monthly General Returns of the British Troops, Canada, May 1 206

Monthly General Returns of the German Troops, Canada, May 1 214

Return of the Additional Companies, Quebec, July 1 219

Monthly General Return of the Army in Canada, October 1 223

Correspondence of Carleton relating to Burgoyne's Expedition, 1777 (list) 228

1 Carleton to Germain, Quebec, May 20 (extract) 230

2 Carleton to Phillips, Quebec, April 8 231

3 Carleton to Phillips, Quebec, May 12 232

4 Orders for the Troops to serve under Burgoyne, Quebec, May 10 232

5 Captain Foy to Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger, Quebec, May 12 233

6 Lettre Circulaire aux Colonels des Milicies & aux Commissaries Canadiens de Transport, Quebec, May 12 234

Translation: Circular Letter for the Militia Colonels and Commissaries of Canadian Transport, May 12 234

7 Foy to Captain Alexander Fraser, Assistant Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Quebec, May 13 235

8 Carleton to Burgoyne, Quebec, May 19 236

9 Carleton to Lieutenant Colonel Bolton, Quebec, May 18 236

10 Carleton to Officer commanding at Oswegatchie, Quebec, May 18 237

11 Carleton to Colonel John Butler, Quebec, May 18 238

12 Foy to Captain Mackey, May 19 239

13 Burgoyne to Carleton, Montreal, May 26 (extract) 239

14 Proposed Disposition of the Hospital for the Service in Canada, Montreal, May 26 241

15 List of the Staff proposed for the Expedition under Burgoyne, n.d. 242

16 St. Leger to Burgoyne, May 15 243

17 Carleton to Burgoyne, Quebec, May 29 (extract) 245

18 Carleton to Burgoyne, Quebec, May 28 (extract) 246

19 Carleton to Lieutenant Governor Cramahé, Montreal, June 9 (extract) 247

20 Burgoyne to Carleton, Montreal, June 7 248

21 Proposal for furnishing Horses, Carriages, and Drivers for the Service of the Army, Montreal, June 6 249

22 Proposals for furnishing Horses and Drivers for the Service of the Artillery, Montreal, June 6 250

23 Carleton to Burgoyne, Montreal, June 7 251

24 Secretary at War to Carleton, August 17, 1776 (extract) 252

25 Secretary at War to Carleton, March 25, 1777 (extract) 253

26 Foy to St. Leger, Montreal, June 10 253

27 Carleton to Burgoyne, St. John's, June 13 254

28 Burgoyne to Carleton, St. John's, June 15 254

29 Carleton to Burgoyne, Montreal, June 17 255

30 Phillips to Carleton, St. John's, June 17 256

31 Phillips to Carleton, St. John's, June 17 257

32 Carleton to Phillips, Montreal, June 18 259

33 Orders, Montreal, June 18 260

34 Phillips to Carleton, St. John's, June 19 261

35 Carleton to Phillips, Quebec, June 26 263

36 Carleton to Burgoyne, Quebec, June 26 264

Burgoyne to Germain, Skenesboro, July 11, 1777 265

Burgoyne to Germain, near Fort Edward, July 30 275

Carleton to Germain, Quebec, July 9 (extract) 277

Butler, Superintendent of Indian Affairs [to ?], Fort Niagara, June 15 (extract) 278

"A List of Officers employed in the Indian department, with their Rank and pay," n.d. 278

"A List of Persons employ'd as Rangers in the Indian Department," n.d. 279

Carleton to Germain, Quebec, September 20 (extract) 281

Butler [to Carleton], Fort Ontario, July 28 (extract) 283

Butler to Carleton, Fort Stanwix, August 15 (extract) 285

St. Leger to Carleton, Fort Oswego, August 27 (extract) 286

Burgoyne to St. Leger, n.d 292

St. Leger to Carleton, Fort Oswego, August 27 (extract) 293

Daniel Claus, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, to Carleton, Fort Oswego, August 28 (extract) 294

"Beating Order to John Butler," n.d. 294

"Instructions to Major John Butler," n.d. 296

St. Leger to Burgoyne, Fort Stanwix, August 11 (extract) 297

Burgoyne to Germain, near Saratoga, August 20 298

Baron de Riedesel to Germain, Jones Farm, August 28 (trans, copy) 302

"Instructions given to Lieut. Colonel Baum" (Burgoyne), Fort Edward, August 7 303

"Account of an Affair which happened near Wallon Creek, August 16" 305

"Relation of the Expedition to Bennington" (Riedesel), August 28 308

Howe to Germain, Philadelphia, October 21 (extract) 312

Burgoyne to Howe, Fort Edward, August 6, "with a Note annexed-received from Sir Henry Clinton, October 7" 312

Burgoyne to Clinton, dated September 23 (note) 315

Burgoyne to Clinton, September 28 316

Clinton to Burgoyne, Fort Montgomery, October 8 317

Burgoyne to Clinton, September 27 318

Burgoyne to Major General Horatio Gates, October 9 319

Burgoyne to Germain, Albany, October 20 321

Burgoyne to Gates, and his answer, October 13 (note) 333

Burgoyne to Gates, by Major Kingston, October 14 (message) 333

Gates's Proposals and Burgoyne's Answer, October 14 334

Burgoyne to Gates, by Major Kingston, October 14 (2nd message) 335

Burgoyne's Proposal and Gates's Answer, October 15 336

Burgoyne to Gates, by Major Kingston, October 15 (3rd message) 338

Burgoyne to Gates, October 16 (message) 339

Articles of Convention between Burgoyne and Gates, October 16 339

Minutes of a Council of War held on the Heights of Saratoga, October 12-15 342

Burgoyne to Major General William Heath, Cambridge, Mass., November 18 346

Burgoyne to Mr. David Geddes, Assistant Pay Master General, Cambridge, Mass., March 6, 1778 347

Burgoyne to General Frederick Haldimand, Cambridge, Mass., April 4 348

Burgoyne to Carleton, Cambridge, Mass., April 4 348

Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Skene to Carleton, Cambridge, Mass., April 16 349

Burgoyne to Mr. Henry Laurens, President of the Congress, Cambridge, Mass., February 11 350

Resolution of the Continental Congress, York, Penn., March 3, issuing Parole to Burgoyne 352

Conclusions 353

Appendix: Calendar of the Papers 359

Bibliography 377

Index 385

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