October 7, 1777 · Northern Theater
October 7, 1777
Burgoyne made a final desperate reconnaissance in force, which American forces turned into a decisive defeat. Benedict Arnold, who had been relieved of command by Gates, rode onto the battlefield without orders and led a furious attack that stormed the Breymann Redoubt. Burgoyne's army, surrounded and out of supplies, surrendered 5,895 men on October 17th — the largest British surrender of the entire war.
Commanders