 |
| Looking out over the Saratoga National Historic Park |
 |
| National Battlefield Map |
The Battle of Saratoga is really three separate incidents. In the Summer of 1777, a British Column led by General Burgoyne marched south from Canada with the intent of splitting the radical New England colonies from the less radical rest of the United States. The idea was to divide and crush New England while welcoming the Southern Colonies, who were less interested in independence back into the fold.
Moving South, Burgoyne took Lake Champlain and Fort Ticonderoga. The American general, Philip Schuyler was relieved of command and General Gates took his place. Gates followed Schuyler's plan of fortifying the Brmis Heights along the Hudson River. This cut off the Albany Road to the advancing British and would have required they: a) run the gauntlet along the river under heavy cannon fire; b) traverse through the wooded hills to the west of the American position; or, c) attack the Americans on their high ground.
 |
| Urvi mans one of the cannon at Bemis Heights |
Burgoyne chose a bit from a) and a bit from c).
 |
| First Battle of Saratoga, September 19, 1777 |
On September 19, 1777 Burgoyne moved his troops into position to attack the American position from the West while he sent the Hessian mercenaries and the baggage to run the gauntlet to the East of the American position. These attacks were met by resistance at Freeman Farm by Generals Poor, Learned and Benedict Arnold (Yes that Benedict Arnold). The British were driven back to their camp along the Hudson.
Apparently Gates had some sort of issue with Arnold and didn't include him in his official report. Arnold and Gates had a huge argument and Arnold was relieved of command.
 |
| Me at a replica of Gates' headquarters |
 |
| British cannon guarding the camp next to the Hudson |
By October, it didn't seem as Clinton was coming (he wasn't). On October 7, Burgoyne sent some lightly armed men for reconnaissance and foraging.
 |
| Second Battle of Saratoga, October 7, 1777 |
These troops met the Americans who drove them back. Then Arnold entered the fray. (There is dispute whether this was with or without the blessing of General Gates.) Either way, Arnold led the charge on Breymann Redoubt and helped send the British Army into retreat. Arnold was wounded in the leg - and again was not fully recognized by Gates.
 |
| The unnamed "Boot Monument" that celebrates the actions of Benedict Arnold at Saratoga without mentioning him by name |
It's a cool place with good beer. I wouldn't make a special trip to it; but, if you're in Saratoga it is worth the stop.
 |
| Flight at Druthers |
Saturday, August 31 - Saratoga Race Track
 |
| Scott, C-A, Melissa and Nichole, getting their hats on |
But, the big attraction of the day was 3 hours at the race track. After some confusion with our Uber driver (I ended up paying the guy cash), Urvi, Nichole, Brian and I met up with the rest in the picnic area on the outside. It was a nice mix. Scott commented that he liked just having a picnic area and eating and drinking. He didn't even need to gamble.
 |
| "Down the Stretch They Come" We all lost money in this race. The only reason Scott and Brian's horse didn't come in last was that he made a surge to pass mine at the end of the 7 furlong race. |
I, of course, was going for the experience. If I was going to be at a horse track, I was going to bet the ponies. I went down there with my hat caved in and went back home with a pocket fulla tin. While the first race I doubled my money, I didn't have the same luck again. But, outside of following Kevin's advice to box three horses in an exacta (there's $12 I'll never see again), didn't lose big. Went in with $70 and after the betting and chicken fingers and some perfectly fine local DIPA, I walked out with $29.
We all finished up and split up either to the rehearsal dinner or a group of us went to Brook Tavern for dinner.
Sunday September 1 - Wedding Day
Running to Victory
 |
| Saratoga Monument - on Brian's and my 10 miler |
As seen above on October 8th, 1777 Burgoyne and the British troops retreated from their position near what is now Stillwater. They retreated North to some high ground. The Americans surrounded and besieged them for 8 days. On October 17, Burgoyne agreed to the Convention of Saratoga. While Burgoyne declared it was only a temporary convention, it was really a surrender of his army, which he agreed would not fight on North America again.
Brian and ran to and up the Monument that is near the surrender site.
 |
| View from the top of the Monument |
 |
| Victory Woods trail |
Yaking the Fish
 |
| Map of our out and back kayak upon Fish Creek |
We usually kayak several times a summer. But this year - between keep up with her new job and my dragon boating, it hasn't worked out. So a nice kayak on the pretty creek was just what the doctor ordered for the early afternoon before Melissa and Kevin's wedding.
We finished off with lunch from Beer Wine Pizza where I had a Fiddlehead and returned home to get ready.
The Wedding
In a lovely ceremony, Kevin and Melissa tied the knot. Nichole handled the ceremony very well.
The ceremony was out on the patio of the Saratoga National Golf Course. Meanwhile the cocktail hour was up on the veranda and the reception was in the Ballroom on the second floor.
The first dance was a lively mix of a slow dance and a few pop tunes. The picture I took was so good that I decided not to take any more the rest of the night.
 |
| Melissa and Kevin's first dance |
 |
| The SRR boys and I get a picture with the Bride |
Monday, September 2nd - the Notorious MVB
Urvi and I drove back through a monsoon. We stopped in Old Kinderhook at a diner and stopped t see Lindenwald, the homestead of our 8th President - "the Red Fox of Kinderhook" - Martin van Buren.
 |
| Lindenwald at the Martin van Buren Historic Site |
 |
| Yes, Scott, we all like Shenanigans |
No comments:
Post a Comment