American Revolution | Saratoga | 4

American History Tellers - Audible

This episode explores the pivotal 1777 Saratoga campaign, highlighting key battles, shifting alliances, and the critical role of French support in turning the tide of the American Revolution. It examines military strategies, Native American involvement, and Washington’s leadership during Valley Forge. The episode also covers the broader global implications of the war after France entered the confl

Key takeaways

• Saratoga was a turning point due to British strategic missteps.
• French alliance hinged on American military success.
• Native American factions split, with some supporting Britain over land rights.

Transcript preview

Hello American history teller listeners I have an exciting announcement I'm going on tour and coming to a theater near you this live show is a thrilling evening of history storytelling and music with a full band accompanying me as we look back to explore the days that made America and they aren't the days that you might think sure everyone knows July 4th 1776 we'll be hearing a lot about that date this year but there are many other days that are maybe even more influential so come out to see me live more on tickets and upcoming dates, go to American History Live.com. That's American History Live.com. Come see my days that made America tour live on stage. Go to American History Live.com. Imagine it's June 1777. The afternoon sun bears down on you as you stand in an open field beside a river in Unadilla, New York. You're a Mohawk leader and you're meeting with your old neighbor, Patriot General Nicholas Herkimer. 100 of your warriors lurk in the forest, but Herkimer has brought 400 militiamen with him in a clear show of force. Herkimer steps forward, extending his hand. It's good to see you again. You grip his hand firmly and narrow your gaze. Is it? Of course, as you well know, I've long admired the Indians. Some of them are my closest friends, and I've come today in the name of peace. Peace. And yet you bring hundreds and yet you bring hundreds, armed men with you, men who would delight in the chance to kill me." Herkimer's jaw tightens and the warmth drains from his expression. Well, there here is a precaution. It's time you stop raiding settlements up and down the valley. All the stolen cattle, the families driven off their land, make peace with us, or better yet fight by our side. I've already chosen my path. My loyalty lies with the English king, as did my fathers, my grandfathers. A king who lives an ocean away? What does he care about your future? us. We are fighting for the blessings of liberty, building a new nation, a new future. I'm fighting for a future as well, a future for my people. You Americans look at Mohawk land and see only what you can take. Your people's hunger will never be satisfied. And you think the British are different. I know they are. When I travel to London and met the king, he gave me his assurances that our lands will be secure under his rule. Hermer takes a long breath, steadying himself. Well, look, I didn't come here, I didn't come here, I don't want to go to battle with your people and if you won't join us then please just lay down your arms go home stay out of this war this path can only lead to more bloodshed you glance past him toward the line of armed men standing in the field if war comes to this valley you should know we will be ready that the Americans will not rest until they have taken everything from you. You must do all you can to stand in their way. I heard a rumor that the CIA poisoned my granddad. Gordon Banks, the world's number one goalkeeper. It happened in Mexico, supposedly, at the World Cup in 1970. Sounds crazy, I'm an investigative journalist on the hunt for evidence. We needed to do some extraordinary things to counter the solvioioviants. This is a foul play, an unbelievable tale of sports, spies and family secrets. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or early and ad free on audible. I'm Raza Jaffrey and in the new season of the spy who, we go back in time to meet Benedict Arnold, the spy who betrayed the American Revolution. As America fights for freedom from Britain, Arnold emerges as one of the rebels greatest generals. But when his loyalty is pushed to the limit, he turns spy and devises a plot to shatter the rebellion, make George Washington a prisoner. Follow the spy who now wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen to the full season of the spy who betrayed the American Revolution early and ad free on audible. From audible originals I'm Lindsay Graham and this is American history tellers. Our history, your story. In June 1777, Patriot General Nicholas Herkimer tried to persuade Mohawk leader Joseph Brandt to stay out of the war with Britain, but Brandt refused, resentful of American encroachment on native land, he declared his loyalty to the crown and cast his lot with the British army. Later that summer, Herkimer and brant would meet again in one of the blood-beated. battles of the Revolutionary War. By 1777, the British had chased the Continental Army out of Manhattan and across New Jersey. Now a large invasion force moved down from Canada with the goal of conquering the Hudson River Valley. A separate British force targeted Philadelphia, determined to capture the rebel capital. And with the British striking on multiple fronts, the Continental Army faced a critical test. Many suspected that the Patriots could not hope to win the war without the aid of a Britain's long-time rival France, but only a major victory in the field would persuade France to enter the conflict. So late in the summer, the two armies converged in upstate New York for a battle that would turn the tide of the American Revolution. This is episode 4, Saratoga. In December 1776, 70-year-old Benjamin Franklin arrived in Paris on behalf of the Continental Congress seeking to enlist France as an ally the war against Britain. Almost immediately he took French society by storm with his folksy demeanor and beaver fur cap, but he had his work cut out for him. He knew that the fight for independence would be lost unless he managed to secure French military aid. Franklin was betting on the fact that France had plenty of reason to want to seek revenge against Britain their longstanding military and economic rival. Scarce 14 years had passed since France suffered a bitter defeat in the French and Indian war and was forced to relinquish all its North American territory to Britain. And since the spring of 1776, the French had secretly provided 300,000 pounds of gunpowder and 30,000 muskets to the Continental Army, using a dummy corporation to smuggle the supplies into America. But Congress wanted a formal military alliance, one that would legitimize American sovereignty and provide the Continental Army with badly needed funds, manpower, and naval support. So soon after Franklin's arrival in Paris, he began, meeting with the French foreign minister of the Comte de Vergen. But Vergen hesitated to agree to a formal alliance. The French and Indian War had depleted the French Treasury and recent Patriot defeats had done little to inspire confidence in the war effort. Not only had the American invasion of Canada ended in disaster, but the British had driven Washington's army out of New York City in the fall of 76. So Vergen insisted that he could not sign a formal treaty until America's military situation improved, meaning in 17 1717. Franklin's efforts and the entire fate of the revolution would depend on good news from the front. Soon enough it would come. The Continental Army had just won a pair of surprise victories against enemy garrisons in Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey, and General George Washington was determined to maintain the momentum. So in early 1777, while the Continental Army was camped in Morristown, New Jersey, Washington demanded new policies to strengthen the Army. Congress responded by raising the maximum punishment. a soldier could receive from 39 lashes to 100 lashes in an effort to improve discipline. But they also introduced longer enlistment terms, promising cash bonuses for soldiers who enlisted for three years and 100 acres of Indian land to anyone who served for the duration of the war. Seeing an opportunity, poor and propertyless men flock to the army, including free black men. And with these new recruits flooding the camps, Washington had 11,000 men under his command by the spring. And, and additionally, 17,000 men had joined the Continental Army's Northern Division in upstate New York. But meanwhile, the British were drawing up their own battle plans, determined to make a comeback after the losses of Trenton and Princeton. British War Minister, Lord George Germain described these as extremely mortifying. So in early 1777, the British launched a grand new strategy to win the war, devised by General John Burgoyne. Known as Gentleman Johnny, Bergoin was a popular playwright, a flamboyant man of fashion, a fashion, and fashion, and a fashion, and a fashion, a fashion, a fashion, a fashion, a fashion, a fashion, a fashion, a and while on leave in London he had convinced Lord Germain to let him lead a complex three-pronged campaign to divide the former colonies. His goal was to isolate New England by taking control of the Hudson River Valley. He envisioned three forces converging on Albany, New York. First, Burgoyne himself would lead the main force from the north, starting in Canada and advancing down Lake Champlain in the Hudson River. Second, Colonel Barry's Syllinger would lead a smaller force from the rallying support from Indians living in the Mohawk Valley. And third, General William Howe would move his army from the south, sailing to Albany from New York City. After the three forces converged in Albany, the British would control the entire Hudson Valley. And with this vital region in their hands, they could divide the colonies and strangle the rebellion. Burgoyne was so confident in this plan that he bet a rival in Parliament that he would return victorious by Christmas. But while his strategy was sound in theory, It fell apart in execution. Burgoyne expected General Howe to join forces with him in Albany later that summer, but Howell had different plans in mind. He wanted to capture Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States, and its largest city, to crush the rebellion with a single decisive stroke. Lord Germain, expecting how to take Philadelphia before supporting Burgoyne in Albany. But he failed to coordinate, and the result was that the two generals move forward with separate and separate and conflicting Stratford. refugees. Berghoyne began his push in June 1777, heading down Lake Champlain with a flotilla carrying more than 8,000 British and German soldiers. From the start, this army was weighed down by a massive baggage train, which included furniture, champagne and formal wear. But despite this burden, in early July, Berghoyne's army easily captured Fort Ticonderoga at the southern end of the lake, dealing a heavy blow to Patriot morale. But the rapid fall of Tic. But the rapid fall of Tic, was followed by more setbacks for the British. Burgoyne decided to march over land to his next target Fort Edward on the edge of the Hudson River, but he underestimated