Description

The Battle of Freeman’s Farm on September 19, 1777 was one of the longest land battles of the American Revolutionary War. It was a British tactical victory; they held the field of battle at the end of the day. Strategically, however, this was an American victory in that it prevented further advancement of the British Army. It was only on September 13-15 that Burgoyne’s army finally crossed the Hudson to begin the final leg of the march to Albany. Burgoyne’s Army packed up camp early on September 19 and marched south in anticipation of engaging the Americans.  Sentinels, which populated the woods as far north as the Great Ravine, encountered Burgoyne’s center column and this was reported to headquarters. Gates permitted Arnold to deploy Virginia’s Colonel Daniel Morgan’s Corps – the Detached Rifle Battalion and the Corps of Light Infantry (about 700 total) to harass the enemy advance, adding that Arnold may support them if necessary. The van of the riflemen ran into the British center column at Freeman’s farm shortly after noon and, after a sharp firefight, the riflemen were scattered, an event which triggered Arnold’s decision to send support. The British center column arrayed in line of battle on Freeman’s Farm and engaged the first wave of reinforcements sent by Arnold at about 3:00 pm. The principal phase of the battle was fought over the next four hours with little intermission. Both sides attacked and counterattacked across open fields and in the surrounding woods. As the battle waned that evening, both Arnold and Burgoyne required reinforcements to solidify victory. British losses of nearly 600 troops constituted yet another pyric British victory. Arnold’s attack, having lost 320, stymied Burgoyne’s advance completely.