7 October 1777, evening
Saratoga: the redoubts
The right of the British camp rests on two redoubts. The outer one is held by about 300 Germans under Heinrich von Breymann, the other by Lord Balcarres, with a few Canadians in the ground between them. Most of the retreating troops make for the Balcarres redoubt.
Arnold, removed from his command after a quarrel with Gates, rides out to join the fight. He leads Poor’s men against the Balcarres redoubt, which holds. He then rides between the lines to Learned’s brigade and leads it through the gap between the redoubts into the rear of Breymann’s position, while Morgan’s men come round from the far side. The redoubt is taken and Breymann is killed. Arnold’s horse is shot and his leg is broken.
The burial of General Simon Fraser after the battle, after a painting by John Graham, about 1800Wikimedia Commons, John Graham, Public domain (John Graham (1755-1817) (after) - The Burial of General Simon Fraser (1729–1777), after the Battle of Saratoga, 1777 - NAM. 1960-12-200 - National Army Museum.jpg)
The loss of the Breymann redoubt lays the British camp open, but darkness falls. Some Germans who try to retake it are captured when an unreliable guide leads them into the American line.
Sources
- Richard M. Ketchum, Saratoga (1997).
- Rupert Furneaux, The Battle of Saratoga (1971).
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