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A Tale of Two Campaigns
39
Invasion from Canada
In June 1777, General John Burgoyne led an 8,000-man force of British
regulars, Hessians, and Canadian militiamen out of Quebec. Gentleman
Johnny, as Burgoyne was known, planned to move south to the Hudson
River. At the same time, a smaller force would head down the St. Lawrence
River to Lake Ontario, then move eastward along the Mohawk River. That
force, commanded by Brigadier General Barry St. Leger, would link up
with Burgoyne at Albany.
They would then drive south, down the Hudson River. General Howe,
meanwhile, would lead troops north from New York City to meet them.
Burgoyne thought the British would emerge from the campaign with
complete control of the Hudson River valley. This would cut off the four
New England colonies and, he believed, strangle the American Revolution.
At first, Burgoyne’s plan went smoothly. His force moved across the
length of Lake Champlain. In early July, they compelled the Americans
to abandon Fort Ticonderoga.
To the west, St. Leger was also making progress. His 1,700-man force—
consisting of redcoats, Canadian militia fighters, Loyalists, and Iroquois
Indians—began a siege of Fort Stanwix on August 2. The fort commanded
the headwaters of the Mohawk River.
An American attempt to relieve Fort Stanwix’s defenders was stopped
on August 6, at the uncommonly brutal Battle of Oriskany. But St. Leger’s
Words to UNDERSTAND IN THIS chapter
deplete
—to use up the resources of something.
letter of marque
—a government license that allows a pri-
vate ship owner to commit actions that would otherwise
be considered piracy, such as attacking and capturing
enemy ships. .
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