The Battle of Saratoga was a really important fight during the American Revolutionary War. It actually involved two main battles, and the second one, on October 7, 1777, is often called the Battle of Bemis Heights. This battle was a big win for the American side and helped convince France to join the war and support the Americans.
This article tells you about the different groups of soldiers and their leaders who fought in the Battle of Bemis Heights. Knowing who fought where helps us understand how the battle unfolded!
British Army at Saratoga
The British forces were led by General John Burgoyne. His army was made up of different parts, including British soldiers, German soldiers (often called Hessians because many came from the German state of Hesse-Kassel), and some Native American allies.
Here's a look at how General Burgoyne's army was organized:
| Main Group |
Smaller Group (Brigade) |
Regiments and Other Units |
|
Advanced Corps
|
Brigadier-General Simon Fraser (sadly, he was killed in the battle)
|
|
|
Right Wing
Major-General William Phillips
|
1st Brigade
Brigadier-General James Inglis Hamilton
|
- 20th Regiment: Lieutenant-Colonel John Lind
- 21st Regiment: Major George Forster
- 62nd Regiment: Lieutenant-Colonel John Anstruther
|
| 2nd Brigade
Brigadier-General Henry Watson Powell
|
|
|
Left Wing
Major-General Friedrich Adolph von Riedesel
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1st Brigade
General Johann Specht
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- von Rhetz (Braunschweiger Regiment): Major Balthasar von Lucke
- von Specht (Braunschweiger Regiment): Major Carl von Ehrenkrook
- von Riedesel (Braunschweiger Regiment): Lieutenant-Colonel Ernst von Spaethe
|
| 2nd Brigade
Brigadier-General Wilhelm von Gall
|
- Prinz Friedrich (Braunschweiger Regiment): Lieutenant-Colonel Christian Praetorius
- Erbprinz (Hesse-Hanau Regiment): Lieutenant-Colonel von Lentz
|
| Reserve |
Lieutenant-Colonel Heinrich von Breymann
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- Grenadier Battalion: Lieutenant-Colonel Heinrich von Breymann
- Light Infantry Battalion: Major Ferdinand Albrecht von Bärner
- Braunschweiger Jagers Company
- Braunschweiger Dragoon Regiment von Ludwig: Lieutenant-Colonel Friedrich Baum
|
| Artillery |
Major Griffith Williams
|
- Royal Irish Artillery Detachment
- 33rd Regiment detachment: Lieutenant George Anson Nutt
- Hesse-Hanau Artillery company: Captain Georg Pausch
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American Army at Saratoga
The American forces, also known as the Continental Army and local militias, were commanded by Major General Horatio Gates. He had a team of important officers helping him.
Staff
Here's how the American army was set up for the battle:
| Main Group |
Smaller Group (Brigade) |
Regiments and Other Units |
|
Left Wing
Major General Horatio Gates
|
Learned's Brigade
Brigadier General Ebenezer Learned
|
- 2nd Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel John Bailey
- 8th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Michael Jackson
- 9th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel James Wesson
- Livingston's Canadian Regiment: Colonel James Livingston
- Drake's New Hampshire Militia: Colonel Abraham Drake
- Evans' New Hampshire Militia: Colonel Stephan Evans
|
| Poor's Brigade
Brigadier General Enoch Poor
|
- 1st New Hampshire Regiment: Colonel Joseph Cilley
- 2nd New Hampshire Regiment: Colonel Winborn Adams
- 3rd New Hampshire Regiment: Colonel Alexander Scammell
- 2nd New York Regiment: Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt
- 4th New York Regiment: Colonel Henry Beekman Livingston
- Cook's Connecticut Militia: Colonel Thaddeus Cook
- Latimer's Connecticut Militia: Colonel Jonathan Latimer
|
| Ten Broeck's Brigade New York Militia
Brigadier General Abraham Ten Broeck
|
- 1st Regiment: Colonel Jacob Lansing
- 3rd Regiment: Colonel Francis Nichol
- 4th Regiment: Colonel Robert Killian
- 5th Regiment: Colonel Gerrit G. Ven Den Bergh
- 6th Regiment: Colonel Stephen John Schuyler
- 7th Regiment: Colonel Abraham Van Alstine
- 9th Regiment: Colonel Peter Van Ness
- 10th Regiment: Colonel Henry Livingston
- 11th Regiment: Colonel Anthony Van Bergen
- 12th Regiment: Colonel Jacobus Van Schoonhoven
- 13th Regiment: Colonel John McCrea
- Colonel John Knickerbacker's Regiment
- Colonel Lewis Van Woert's Regiment
|
|
Right Wing
Major General Benjamin Lincoln
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Glover's Brigade
Brigadier General John Glover
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- 1st Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Joseph Vose
- 4th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel William Shepard
- 13th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Edward Wigglesworth
- 15th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Timothy Bigelow
- 2nd Albany County Regiment New York Militia: Colonel Abraham Wemple
- 17th Albany County Regiment New York Militia: Colonel William Whiting
- Graham's Regiment of Dutchess & Ulster County New York Milittia: Colonel Morris Graham
|
| Nixon's Brigade
Brigadier General John Nixon
|
- 3rd Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel John Greaton
- 5th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Rufus Putnam
- 6th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Thomas Nixon
- 7th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Ichabod Alden
- 2nd Hampshire County Regiment of Massachusetts Militia
|
| Paterson's Brigade
Brigadier General John Paterson
|
- 10th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Thomas Marshall
- 11th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Benjamin Tupper
- 12th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Samuel Brewer
- 14th Massachusetts Regiment: Colonel Gamaliel Bradford
- South Berkshire Regiment of Massachusetts Militia: Colonel John Ashley
- 3rd York County Regiment of Massachusetts Militia: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Storer
|
| Warner's Brigade
Brigadier General Jonathan Warner
|
- Central Berkshire Regiment of Massachusetts Militia: Colonel John Brown
- 5th Middlesex Regiment of Massachusetts Militiia: Colonel Samuel Bullard
- 3rd Suffolk County Regiment of Massachusetts Militia: Colonel Benjamin Gill
- 1st Hampshire Regiment of Massachusetts Militia: Colonel Benjamin Woodbridge
- 4th Essex County Regiment of Massachusetts Militia: Colonel Samuel Johnson
|
|
Unattached Units |
- Morgan's Corps of Rifleman and Light Infantry: Colonel Daniel Morgan
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