For nearly three weeks, the two enemy forces at Saratoga licked their wounds. As autumn days grew shorter and the nights turned colder, General Burgoyne had a decision to make. Should he retreat back to Canada and accept defeat? Or continue his advance toward Albany and a possible junction with British forces sailing up the Hudson River from New York City? On 7 October 1777, he authorized a large reconnaissance force to advance against the Patriot lines. The move stirred up a hornet’s nest. Thousands of Revolutionary troops, some of them led by Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold, staged a ferocious counterattack that halted the British advance. When the fighting finally sputtered out after nightfall, the British counted their losses at 630 dead and wounded, among them the lifeless body of Brig. Gen. Simon Fraser, Burgoyne’s second-in-command. Patriot losses came to around 150 dead and wounded. It was a crushing defeat for the British cause.
"uesdy, 7th Five Prisners were taken this Morning with a Number of Cattle Sheep &c. This Afternoon about three O'Clock Burgoyne's flying Camp, commanded by Frasier, Advanc'd within about half a Mile of our advanc'd Piquet to Drive them from a Hill where Capt Blague and fifty men and myself one of the Number were Posted, at which they kept a smart Cannonade for a Quarter of an Hour, while our Men muster'd along and sent a party to come upon their Backs, where they soon fell at it on all sides & Drove the Enemy from their Artilliry upon the full go to the Hessian Camp where our Genrl [Benedict Arnold], Little thought of Danger, fors't his way through & Spar'd none till a Ball Break his Leg & kill'd his Horse."
Pvt. Oliver Boardman, 10th Connecticut RegimentCourtesy Saratoga National Historical Park Historian Eric Schnitzer.