Saratoga National Historical Park, New York — John Shaqi
Saratoga National Historical Park, New YorkWilshin, Francis
History
Saratoga National Historical Park, New York
Wilshin, Francis
Saratoga Campaign, N.Y., 1777; Saratoga National Historical Park (N.Y.)
No part of the battlefield witnessed heavier fighting than the area
known as Freeman’s Farm. Around this farmhouse and its oblong clearing
of 15 acres, the swirling tides of battle beat relentlessly in the
engagements of both September 19 and October 7. The original Freeman
farmhouse, owned at the time of the battles by Isaac Leggett, occupied
approximately the site of the present building by that name. Following
the battle of September 19, it was included within the fortification
known as the Balcarres Redoubt. The oblong clearing ran east and west
across the same small ridge on which the Freeman house stood.
[Illustration: _The John Neilson House. This structure, situated on
Bemis Heights, is the only contemporary building remaining on the
battlefield._]
BALCARRES REDOUBT.
Situated on the same ridge as the Freeman farmhouse, the Balcarres
Redoubt extended approximately 500 yards in a north-south direction. The
redoubt was an enclosed work mounting eight cannon, with walls from 12
to 14 feet in height and constructed of logs with earth thrown over
them. The front of this work was covered with a strong abatis built of
felled trees. The Balcarres Redoubt thus constituted the strongest
fortification of the British line. Under the command of the Earl of
Balcarres, the fortification was erected shortly after the Battle of
September 19 and was occupied by the British Light Infantry. In fierce
attacks, the American forces, on October 7, repeatedly assailed this
redoubt in vain. Arnold’s successful assault on the Breymann Redoubt,
however, finally served to outflank the position and force its
evacuation.
[Illustration: _This shaft was erected in 1931 by the Daughters of
the American Revolution of New York State as a memorial to the
American soldiers who died at Saratoga._]
BREYMANN REDOUBT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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