_Page_ THE BRITISH PLAN OF 1777 3 THE BURGOYNE CAMPAIGN 4 RETREAT OF THE AMERICANS 6 THE ST. LEGER EXPEDITION 8 THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON 10 THE AMERICAN LINE 11 COMPOSITION OF THE AMERICAN ARMY 12 THE BATTLE OF SEPTEMBER 19 12 THE BATTLE OF OCTOBER 7 19 RETREAT AND SURRENDER 24 GUIDE TO THE PARK 31 The American River Redoubts 31 Site of Fort Neilson 32 The Neilson House 32 American Powder Magazine 33 Freeman’s Farm 33 Balcarres Redoubt 33 Breymann Redoubt 34 First Line of Battle, October 7 34 The Gen. Philip Schuyler Property 35 HOW TO REACH THE PARK 35 ABOUT YOUR VISIT 36 ADMINISTRATION 36 SUGGESTED READINGS 36 [Illustration: _Looking east from the site of the Balcarres Redoubt. The immediate foreground was the scene of desperate fighting in both battles of Saratoga. Scouts signaled the movements of Burgoyne’s army from Willard Mountain in the left distance._ Courtesy Life Magazine.] [Illustration: Benedict Arnold monument] Few battles in world history have had a more stirring climax than Saratoga and probably none have had more far-reaching consequences. Here, a ragged but inspired rebel army convincingly demonstrated its ability to rise to brilliant victory after absorbing staggering blows. In dramatic fashion Saratoga not only rescued the colonists from almost certain defeat, but also pointed significantly to the fate which likely would befall any enemy force penetrating into the interior of America and operating independently of the sea.