American Revolution | Saratoga | 4

21:38So the residents of Philadelphia had mixed reactions as they watched Washington ride at the head of the column on his white horse, his soldiers marching twelve abreast behind him to the beat of a fife and drum. Riding by his side was the Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French aristocrat and newly appointed major general in the Continental Army. Idealistic and hungry for glory, Lafayette had fled a life of boredom to join the war, financing his own voyage to America. He had yet to prove himself in battle, but he brought wealth, supplies, and connections at the French court. Recognizing his diplomatic value, Washington added the teenage general to his staff and his inner circle of aides.

22:18But Washington's parade wasn't all for show. The British were still bearing down. The day after the parade in Philadelphia, 50 miles to the southwest, British General Howe landed his 15 ,000-man army in northern Maryland following five punishing weeks at sea. Rough weather and shifting winds had delayed the voyage and caused food shortages, forcing the soldiers to get by on spoiled rations. So after letting the troops rest for a few days, Howe began marching them through the Pennsylvania countryside, where he hoped to lure Washington into a major battle. For his part, Washington was just as eager for a decisive confrontation.

22:56Rallying his troops, he declared, Now is the time for our most strenuous exertions. One bold stroke will free the land from the rapid devastations and burnings. But he also reminded them that anyone who fled would be shot, while issuing extra rations of rum to steady the soldiers' nerves. To block the British advance, Washington positioned his army along Brandywine Creek, a natural line of defense 30 miles southwest of Philadelphia. He concentrated the bulk of his forces at a crossing point known as Chad's Ford, believing Howe would mount his main assault there. It was a decision that proved fatal.

23:31With the help of local loyalists, Howe learned that Washington had failed to station troops at two Fords further north. So on the foggy morning of September 11th, Howe began advancing his army. He sent a third of his force to Chad's Ford as a distraction, while marching the rest around the American lines to surprise them from the rear. After heavy fighting, the Americans suffered a thousand casualties. Washington was forced to withdraw his army to safety, leaving the road to Philadelphia wide open. The British met little resistance as they marched into the Capitol on September 26, their military bands playing God Save the King to herald their arrival.

24:10And as the British descended on Philadelphia, the Continental Congress fled the city. But after reconvening in a county courthouse in York, Pennsylvania, the delegates poured their energies into resuming debates on the Articles of Confederation, the blueprint for the nation's first central government. Heated arguments over taxation, representation, and state autonomy had made the process agonizingly slow. But the fall of Philadelphia added new urgency, because the delegates were acutely aware that the loss of the capital could undermine Benjamin Franklin's efforts in Paris unless they could show the French that they could bind the 13 former colonies together under a functioning government.

24:49Still, they feared recreating the very tyranny they were fighting to escape. So by design, the Articles created a weak central authority. Congress had no power to levy taxes, and having rebelled against British taxation, the states were reluctant to grant that power to any central body. Instead, Congress was forced to rely on the states for voluntary contributions, and the lack of reliable revenue would hinder the war effort as time wore on. At the same time, despite having Congress on the run, the British were no closer to winning the war. They held Philadelphia, New York, and Newport, Rhode Island, but control of three cities was a far cry from conquering the entire country and its people.

25:30Still, General John Burgoyne believed he could accomplish this goal by isolating New England from the rest of the colonies. So in the fall of 1777, he pressed forward with his plan to seize control of the strategically vital Hudson River Valley, even without the help of forces under General Howe and Colonel Barry Sillinger. In mid-September, Burgoyne's reduced army crossed the Hudson River near Saratoga, New York. Nine miles to the south, Patriot General Horatio Gates had entrenched his troops on Bemis Heights, a series of bluffs rising 200 feet above the Hudson River. These fortifications epitomized Gates' approach to warfare.

26:08A cautious commander who preferred to rely on strong defensive positions, he clashed with the more aggressive officers under his command, none more so than Benedict Arnold. Arnold thrived in the chaos of battle and had shown bold, intuitive leadership in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the grueling march to Quebec, and his brave defense of Lake Champlain. But despite his impressive record and a recommendation from General Washington, earlier in 1777, Congress had passed Arnold over for a promotion. Now, as Burgoyne's army crept toward the American lines, Arnold was desperate to burnish his reputation by taking the offensive.

26:49Imagine it's the morning of September 19th, 1777, near Saratoga, New York. You're a major general in the Continental Army, and you've rushed into the headquarters of General Horatio Gates. You run into the study, where Gates sits behind a desk, deep in conversation with another officer. General Gates! He looks up at you with irritation. What is it now?

27:11American History Tellers:Your eyes dart to the window, toward the direction of the British lines. General, the army is marching toward us. Our scouts on the Hudson have spotted several columns approaching. This is the moment we've been preparing for. Allow me to send riflemen to the woods next to Freeman's Farm to meet the British head-on before they have a chance to breach our defenses. Gates shares a knowing look with the other officer before returning his gaze to you. And why should I? Our army is well supplied while Burgoyne is running out of provisions. No, we will delay as long as possible. Sir, you're playing right into Burgoyne's hand.

27:44American History Tellers:I'm certain that he's counting on you to be cautious. Better cautious than reckless. I want this army safe behind our barricades. If I force them to fight in exposed lines down at Freeman's Farm, I may as well be sending them to the slaughter. Sir, it would be foolish to wait around for the British to roll their cannons toward us and start bombing our defenses. Our forces will be destroyed by their superior artillery. I have my doubts about that. I say let them try. You groan and start pacing the floor, determined to wear him down. Please, sir, we cannot allow the British to get any closer. This is madness.

28:17American History Tellers:Will you ever stop pestering me? No, not until you see reason. Gates throws up his hands in surrender. Fine, if it will get you to leave, I'll let you send out a reconnaissance force. Thank you, sir, you won't regret it. Flushed with triumph, you rush out of the headquarters to gallop off to battle. You know you're right, and you're determined to make Gates see it. As far as you're concerned, the only thing standing in the way of victory is the caution of your superiors.

28:49On September 19, 1777, Burgoyne sent three columns of troops south toward Bemis Heights. Gates preferred to dig in behind their defenses, but Benedict Arnold begged him to engage the enemy directly. Finally, Gates gave in and let him march out with a company of Virginia riflemen, later joined by 300 light infantrymen. These Americans collided with the British at a 15-acre clearing known as Freeman's Farm in a fierce battle that raged all afternoon. One witness described how Arnold rode in the front of the lines, his eyes flashing, pointing his sword at the enemy, a sight that electrified the line.

29:26During this battle, Arnold rode back to headquarters to ask Gates to send additional men, but Gates refused, and without reinforcements, the Americans were forced to withdraw to Bemis Heights. At the end of the day, the British held the field, but he came at a staggering cost, nearly 600 casualties compared to 300 on the American side. Afterwards, Gates refused to credit Arnold's contributions in a report to Congress. The ultra-sensitive Arnold was outraged by the snub. He stormed into Gates' tent to confront him, and the two men got into a shouting match that ended with Gates stripping Arnold of his command and confining him to quarters.

30:03Then, on October 7th, Burgoyne launched a second attack against the American position in what became known as the Battle of Bemis Heights. And in the middle of this conflict, Arnold disobeyed orders by galloping into the fray, leading American troops in a furious charge against the British. A fellow officer said that he behaved more like a madman than a cool and discreet officer. During this charge, a bullet shattered Arnold's thigh bone and struck his horse, who fell dead on top of him. But even as he lay trapped beneath the horse, he continued shouting orders to rally his men, and by nightfall, the British had lost another 600 soldiers and were forced to retreat.

30:41The next day, the British attempted to flee north, but heavy rain forced them to camp in the woods near Saratoga, and soon the Americans had them surrounded. A British sergeant described how the Patriots swarmed around the little adverse army like birds of prey. The British were trapped, with nowhere to hide from Patriot bullets and artillery. One general remembered the sick and wounded would drag themselves into a quiet corner of the woods and lie down to die on the damp ground. Not even here were they safe, since every little while a ball would come crashing down among the trees. With no food, no sign of reinforcements, and no hope of escape, Burgoyne knew his army was doomed.

31:19A few days into the siege, he had no choice but to begin negotiating terms of surrender. A cold rain fell down on October 17th as Burgoyne offered his sword to Gates in an official gesture of surrender. Afterwards, nearly 6 ,000 men were taken prisoner. As these defeated soldiers marched out, an American military band started playing Yankee Doodle, which a British officer said was not a little mortifying to hear. This American victory at Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. It restored faith in the Patriot cause after the loss of Philadelphia and paved the way for the urgently needed aid from France.

31:59When the news of the victory at Saratoga arrived in Paris in December, Benjamin Franklin was able to convince the French foreign minister that intervention was worth the risk. The French soon agreed to recognize the independence of the United States, and they offered to sign two treaties, one creating a military alliance, the other an agreement on friendship and trade. And ultimately, this French military support, funding, and naval power would transform the course of the war. But for the time being, the fate of George Washington's army hung in the balance. As 1777 drew to a close, his ragged, hungry soldiers settled into winter quarters to regroup.

32:37American History Tellers:Already worn down by battle, they now face six months of unrelenting misery at a place called Valley Forge.

32:50You there, tis I, Queen Mortuana of the Night Realm, a.k.a. Kate McKinnon, and her Raven Minion Jojo, a.k.a. Emily Lynn. If you do not download and binge my show, Heads Will Roll, Air Apparent, on Audible, I will cut off your head! Oh no, maybe just tell them about the guest stars, like Richard Kind, Carrie Coon, Jimmy Fallon, at all. But they were in it, and if you don't listen to them, then I will cut off your tongue! Then cut off your head, and then put the tongue in the head hole. Aw, you tried. Listen now exclusively on Audible and Donald the Audible app today, or off with your head! I'm kidding.

33:43In December 1777, George Washington led his army into winter quarters at Valley Forge, an exposed, hilly landscape 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The main advantage of Valley Forge was its location. It was close enough to keep an eye on the British occupying Philadelphia, but far enough away to protect the Army from a surprise attack, because Washington soldiers could hardly withstand another assault. The Army arrived at Valley Forge battered and broken. Of 11 ,000 men, nearly 3 ,000 were declared unfit for duty. And despite the fact that they had been fighting for months, they had not been paid since August.

34:20Clothing shortages forced soldiers to recycle what was left of their dead comrades' uniforms, and rations were meager. They went days with nothing to eat but baked mixtures of flour and water. Even worse, the open countryside offered little shelter, and the men were forced to build their own crude log huts. The army endured frostbite, gangrene, and hyperthermia, and contagious diseases like typhus, typhoid, and smallpox spread rapidly through the ranks. One army surgeon wrote in his diary, I am sick, discontented, and out of humor. Poor food, hard lodging, cold weather, fatigue, nasty clothes, nasty cookery.

34:58Why are we sent here to starve and freeze? In light of the Army's suffering, Washington wrote to Congress at the end of December, informing them that 3 ,000 men were barefoot and otherwise naked. He warned that without immediate supplies, the Army would either starve, dissolve, or disperse. And to further emphasize the desperation in the ranks, he informed them of a dangerous mutiny that was only suppressed by the spirited exertions of his officers. But even as Washington begged Congress to save his troops, he faced criticism for withdrawing the army instead of trying to recapture Philadelphia.

35:34Critics noted that he had failed to win any victories comparable to Saratoga, with some members of Congress suggesting that Horatio Gates should replace him. But for now, it was still Washington's army, and to ease their hunger crisis, Congress advised Washington to commandeer food from the surrounding area. He delayed, fearing that foraging would alienate the local population, but soon the mounting death toll left him with no other choice. By the end of winter, 2 ,500 men would die from starvation, disease, and exposure, with nearly half of the deaths occurring in February 1778 alone. So with the troops reaching their breaking point, the time had come for desperate measures.

36:18Imagine it's a snowy morning in February 1778 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. You're a major general in the Continental Army, and you're leading a foraging party out on a search for livestock and other provisions. As you force open a barn door, a farmer comes running out of the adjacent house still wearing his nightclothes.

36:37American History Tellers:What are you doing? Get out of there! You ignore him and step over the threshold, immediately spotting bales of hay piled in uneven stacks along the walls. All right, boys, let's start gathering up this hay. As the soldiers get to work, you walk down the aisle. There's an old plow and plenty of rusted tools, but no horses or cattle. You turn around to the farmer, who avoids your gaze. Where are your animals? I don't have any. Then what are you doing with all this hay? Well, I had animals, but they got sick. They didn't survive the winter. You're lying. You walk back out the back door of the barn, the farmer following.

37:14and as you enter the woods behind the building, you find five cows tied up to trees. You approach one of them and start fumbling with the knot.

37:22American History Tellers:They didn't survive, huh? We're requisitioning these for the army. You can't. Those cows are my livelihood. Our soldiers are starving at Valley Forge. The army needs the cattle more than you do. I can offer you a promissory note. You'll receive payment at a later date. I'm not interested in some meaningless scrap of paper. Well, I'm not going to let you keep these cows, just so you can bring them to Philadelphia to fatten the British Army. Well, at least a British pay. You should be grateful that you have a bed to sleep in and a roof over your head. My men have gone days at a time with no food at all, fighting a war for your freedom.

37:56American History Tellers:Oh, damn you and your army. If this is how it's going to be, maybe I won't even plant my fields this year. See how your soldiers fare when there's nothing left to take. You take the cow by the rope and lead it back to your wagons. As he pushed past the farmer, he angrily kicks at the snow. But after the winter you've suffered, you have no sympathy left.

38:21In February 1778, General George Washington sent 1 ,500 men out from Ballyforge to scour the countryside for provisions. He issued appeals to New England governors, and he also urged local farmers to fatten their cattle and sell them to the army, promising to pay them at a later date. Washington appointed Nathaniel Green as quartermaster general to organize logistics. But much to Green's frustration, farmers often hid horses and cattle from the foraging parties in the hopes of selling them to the British in Philadelphia. And when these farmers protested, Green brushed off their complaints, telling Washington, They cry out and beset me from all quarters, but like Pharaoh I harden my heart.

39:02I am determined to forge the country very bare, nothing shall be left unattempted. And by March, through the relentless efforts of Green and Washington, herds of seized cattle and sheep began arriving at Valley Forge, along with wagons carrying uniforms, weapons, and essential supplies. As these provisions flowed in, so too did new recruits and returning soldiers. So Washington decided it was time to give his men formal military training to help them overcome their weaknesses on the battlefield. To accomplish this, he turned to Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian officer and self-styled baron who had arrived in Valley Forge at the end of winter with a commission from Congress.

39:41While Prussia was officially neutral, von Steuben was one of several Prussian military officers who offered their services to the patriot cause. And despite his limited knowledge of English and his famously volatile temper, he brought valuable professional military experience. Von Steuben began by personally drilling a hundred-man model company, using aids to translate his shouted commands. These soldiers then taught the rest of their regiments. The troops learned efficient marching, maneuvering, and bayonet tactics, but they also learned to take pride in their service. By spring, morale had risen and the threat of desertion and mutiny had subsided.

40:19In just two months, Baron von Steuben had managed to mold the patchwork of regiments into a unified professional army. And there was more cause for celebration in May of 1778, when the Patriots finally learned that Benjamin Franklin had secured an alliance with France. Washington reflected, this great, glorious news must put the independence of America out of all manner of dispute. But French intervention also forced the British to expand their view of the war. The 13 former colonies were just one part of the far-flung British Empire. And now, with France involved, the revolution became a global war.

40:55Britain would need to defend all its holdings, not just in North America, but in the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, where France competed for influence. And with this in mind, in June 1778, British peace commissioners arrived in Philadelphia to negotiate an end to the war with an offer of self-rule within the British Empire. This was exactly what Americans had asked for in 1775, but from their perspective, too much time had passed and too much blood had been shed. Congress rejected the offer. They would accept nothing less than full independence. But along with this diplomatic overture, British officials decided on a change in military leadership too.

41:36They sent Sir Henry Clinton to Philadelphia to replace William Howe as commander-in-chief. Wary of the French fleet, Clinton evacuated Philadelphia on June 18 to concentrate British forces in New York City, a more defensible and strategically vital location. The very next day, Washington marched his army out of Valley Forge to follow the British north. On June 28, the Patriots attacked the rear of the British march at Monmouth Courthouse in New Jersey. After brutal fighting in blazing heat, the battle ended in a draw with both sides claiming victory. But the newly disciplined Continental Army had proved themselves equal to the British.

42:13Even a British officer admitted that the Patriots had dealt his army a handsome flogging. The army's performance at Monmouth also silenced Washington's critics. The president of the Continental Congress wrote to Washington with high praise for his leadership in the battle, predicting that Washington's name would be revered by posterity. The Battle of Monmouth also helped crystallize Washington's growing understanding that he didn't need to defeat his enemy outright. Instead, to sustain the revolution, he simply needed to keep his army from being destroyed. Monmouth would be the last major battle in the north, and as the war dragged on, the focus shifted to the south, where the British hoped to exploit the support of southern loyalists.

42:54And to counter the British, the patriots looked to French aid to carry them to victory. But hopes of a quick resolution faded as all sides faced the threat of a grinding war of attrition. From Audible Originals, this is Episode 4 of our six-part series on the American Revolution from American History Tellers. In the next episode, Continental Army soldiers lead a brutal campaign of terror against Iroquois villages. General Washington struggles to sustain his army in the face of mutiny, economic despair, and shocking betrayal. And civil war erupts in the South Carolina countryside, pitting neighbor against neighbor.

43:35Follow American History Tellers on the Audible app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to all episodes of American History Tellers ad-free by joining Audible. And to find out more about me and my other projects, including my live stage show coming to a theater near you, go to notthatlindsaygram.com. That's notthatlindsaygram.com. American History Tellers is hosted, edited, and produced by me, Lindsey Graham, for Airship. This episode is written by Ellie Stanton, edited by Dorian Marina, senior producers Alita Rosansky and Andy Herman, managing producer Desi Blaylock, audio editing by Mohamed Shazib, music by Thrum, sound design by Molly Bach, executive producer for Audible Jenny Lauer Beckman, head of creative development at Audible Kate Navin, head of Audible Originals North America Marshall Louis, chief content officer Rachel Giotts, copyright 2026 by Audible Originals LLC.

44:33Sound recording copyright 2026 by Audible Originals, LLC.