Field Trips
- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
Ready-to-use materials for teachers can greatly contribute to a meaningful educational experience for students and teachers alike. This activity accompanies a self-guided battlefield tour during the course of a visit to Saratoga National Historical Park.
Read through the activity in advance. At each stop, reading aloud the introductory text for the tour stop will help put that site in context for your students. Then, have them complete the questions for that site. Whenever possible, a few minutes should be allowed for students to physically explore the tour stop; a sense of connection with and appreciation for the historic site is a crucial part of the battlefield tour experience.
Vocabulary
FORTIFICATIONS --constructed defensive positions; here, they were built with logs and piled earthARTILLERY --cannon, singular or plural
RIDGE --long, raised geographic feature, often overlooking a lower area
REDOUBT (re-DOWT or RE-dowt) --temporary field fortification built of a zig-zagging log wall (design gives defenders overlapping lines of fire), either vertical or horizontal logs, with 2-4 feet of dirt piled up against the wall in front of artillery positions, and with cut branches piled up 5-10 yards in front of the line as another barrier to attacking troops
Welcome to Saratoga National Historical Park!
During your visit, you will be exploring the Saratoga Battlefield portion of the park. This is where the invading British army of General John Burgoyne faced the defending American army of General Horatio Gates in the Battles of Saratoga, September 19 and October 7, 1777.
While here, you’ll be able to experience something called “sense of place.” What is that? It’s standing (or sitting) in the footsteps of history! It’s having powerful historic places reach your five senses, and having these place stir your thoughts, your feelings, and your imagination!
The following are some descriptions of five key locations at Saratoga. These were either encampment and fortification areas, or battle sites, and sometimes both!
As you visit each site, you’ll read the site descriptions and answer some questions for that site. You may also be using your phones, or working in small groups with those who brought them, to hear history-based narrations voiced by three middle school students!
Tour Road Stop 2—John Neilson’s Farm
The small, red farmhouse was built here by John and Lydia Neilson back in 1775 or 1776. It’s the only standing structure at Saratoga Battlefield from the time of the Battles of Saratoga.
Late summer 1777:
General John Burgoyne’s British army was getting closer. Everyone around here prepared to evacuate. Most fled south toward Albany and General Horatio Gates’ American army. John and Lydia, with their young family and all their possessions, did too. Lydia and family may have stayed with family or friends. John was called into service with his militia regiment to help Gates’ army. His used his own wagon and oxen team to bring equipment north to Bemus Heights and the area inland to the west, including Neilson’s own house!
September 12, 1777:
Gates’ army, with around 8,200 soldiers, arrived here and at Bemus Heights. They immediately started building extensive and very strong fortifications. They included:
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A log-and-earth wall— a zig-zagging wall, 5-6 feet tall, roughly 2 miles long, built in a huge, square bracket-like shape (if seen from above).
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Open clearings—thousands of trees cut for the log wall left large, open clearings. This also made it easier to see any approaching enemy soldiers.
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Abatis (pronounced “ah-bah-tee”)—a long, running pile of entangled branches in front of the log wall would slow any attacking enemy soldiers.
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Cannons—the Americans had 22 cannons, though most of these were at the other end of the line at Bemus Heights.
September 19 and October 7, 1777:
No fighting happened here, but American soldiers used a road running by here to advance toward the British. Tensions surely ran high with the distant fighting!
Today, white marker posts with blue tops show where the Americans’ fortified wall once stood. Copies of cannons stand where some of the originals once did.
1) If you were an American soldier, why might you have felt safe here? Give three reasons.
2) How do you think the Neilsons, who supported American independence, may have felt having to leave their home when the British were invading into New York?
Tour Road Stop 3—Bemus Heights
Standing on this ridge, you are on Bemus Heights. It was named for a nearby farmer and tavern owner, Jotham Bemus. This spot, at the right side of the Americans’ square bracket-shaped line, was the solid anchor of the American defenses.September 12, 1777:
American General Horatio Gates’ army of around 8,200 soldiers arrived here. Some moved inland toward John Neilson’s house. All quickly started building fortifications both for defense and to prevent the British from going through here toward Albany. Defenses here included:- Log-and-earth wall along the ridge top—the same zig-zagging, 5-6 foot tall log wall. Dirt piled up against the front of the wall where the cannons were positioned gave better protection against enemy cannon fire.
- Line of sight—from here, cannons could hit any British supply boats on the Hudson River and any British soldiers and wagons on the road that followed the river.
- Natural terrain—the ridge-top fortifications would be very difficult to reach and attack.
- Log walls below—American defenses included a long, zig-zagging wall of logs nearly from the base of the ridge out across the fields most of the way to the river, and two similar but shorter walls, one just north (left) of that line, and another just south (right) of it.
September 19 – October 7, 1777:
These defenses did their job. They prevented the British from trying to move through here. Two miles north, they tried moving inland and around these defenses. American soldiers here would surely have been on high alert when they heard fighting in the distance!
Today, white marker posts with blue tops show where the log wall stood. Copies of cannons are found where some of the Americans’ cannons were.
1) Why do you think the Americans built fortifications here? Give three reasons.
2) Use the link for the Wilkinson Trail (hiking) Kids’ Tour and select the narrations for Stations A and B (the first one for B, not Part 2). Listen to the narration and answer the following questions:
A. What was the role or position of Mary Morton?
B. What are her responsibilities in that role?
C. How does she seem to feel about being here?
D. What is George Williams’ role or position with the army?
E. What are his responsibilities in that role?
F. How does he seem to feel about being here?
Tour Road Stop 6—Freeman’s Farm
You are standing on the leased (rented) farm of John and Ephelina Freeman and family. It was the center for much of the Battles of Saratoga.
Late summer 1777:
Like others in this area, the Freemans learned of the British army moving south from Canada into New York. They, too, moved out of harm’s way, but for a different reason. The Freemans were Royalists (Loyalists)—they supported British rule. They moved northward to get behind the protection of British General John Burgoyne’s army. In fact, John and his oldest son, Thomas (age 12!), joined a Royalist unit with Burgoyne’s army.
September 19, 1777:
Burgoyne’s army, with around 7,500 soldiers, learned of American defenses at Bemus Heights. On September 19th, the British split up in three columns (groups) following three main roads. The left stayed along the Hudson River. The center moved about 1 mile inland (west). The right moved about 2 miles inland. With a pre-arranged cannon blast, they would all proceed south toward, and hopefully around, the Americans.
Shortly after 12 noon, that second column encountered American soldiers here at Freeman’s farm. The fighting was intense but evenly matched. Later, additional Crown forces and arrival of dusk forced the Americans back to their own fortified lines. The British won the day but got no farther.
September 21 ̶ October 6, 1777:
The British built several fortified lines. One was right here on Freeman’s farm. Defenses here included:
- Log-and-earth walls: the walls were 5-6 feet high, in a zig-zagging line, with dirt piled up in front of cannon positions. The wall was shaped like a bent staple, giving good protection from all sides.
- Artillery: eight artillery pieces guarded the line—six cannons and two howitzers (pronounced “how-it-zurs”; like cannons, but shorter, and could fire solid cannonballs or hollow, exploding shells).
- Abatis: Large, entangled tree branches were also arranged on the ground in front of the wall. They would slow the near approach of any attacking American soldiers.
- Height: Built on top of the ridge, the wall would seem taller to approaching enemy soldiers.
October 7, 1777:
British forces now numbered around 6,700. Unknown to the British, American forces now numbered around 12,000. Around 2:00 PM, a large scouting force of around 1,700 British soldiers tried to get around the Americans’ left side. Before getting close, they encountered American troops in a wheatfield around ¾ mile south of Freeman’s farm. Fierce fighting started and pushed the British back to their own defenses. Most came here, to Freeman’s farm. The line here held out against the attacking American soldiers, but Freeman’s house was badly damaged.The loss of nearby Breymann’s camp to American forces at sundown meant Freeman’s farm was not safe. Overnight, the British abandoned all their fortifications and began to retreat.
Today, white marker posts with red tops show where the British line was. Copies of artillery show where the British artillery stood.
1) If you were a British soldier here between September 21st and October 6th, would you have felt safe here? Give two examples or reasons why.
2) How do you think the Freemans might have felt with the fighting happening on their farm?
3) Using the for the Wilkinson Trail (hiking) Kids’ Tour and select the narration for Station D. Listen to the narration and answer the following questions:
A. How does George seem to feel about events on September 19th?
B. How does Mary seem to feel about events on September 19th?
Tour Road Stop 7—The Decisive Moment (Breymann’s Camp)
This scenic field area between you and the Visitor Center on the far hill went from quiet to critical in a few weeks in October 1777.
September 19, 1777:
Part of the British army followed a roadway southward through these fields—right to left as you look across the field. This was the third column of soldiers mentioned above in the Freeman Farm description. No fighting happened in this area, though, just soldiers marching.
October 2, 1777:
Crown forces commanded by German Colonel Heinrich Breymann encamped here and started building a defensive line. The combined German soldiers, American Royalists, and French Canadians also encamped behind the 5-6 foot tall, zig-zagging log wall. That line was open to the sides and rear, which would prove a historic mistake.
October 7, 1777:
In late afternoon, American forces pushed the British back from that wheatfield a mile south. Only around 300 combined Crown forces fell back here to Breymann’s armed camp.
Around 4:00 PM, well over 1,100 American soldiers attacked this fortification. They hit both the front and the left side of the line. Only two small cabins, held by French Canadians, protected the left side. They were quickly taken by the Americans.
Around sundown, the American troops flooded this line from all sides. They overwhelmed the defenders and forced them to flee. Once inside, the American soldiers could have attacked other British positions, like at Freeman’s Farm, from behind. They didn’t, but the British had no choice but a full retreat overnight and into the next day!
Today, white marker posts with red tops show where the fortified line was, and copies of cannons mark the cannon locations. Two sets of four posts show where the Canadian cabins were.
1) How might the British have felt about this line on October 7th? The Americans?
2) Using the link for the Wilkinson Trail (hiking) Kids’ Tour and select the narration for Station C, Part 2 —nearing the end of the tour audio narrations. Listen to the narration and answer the following questions:
A. How does Mary Morton seem to feel at the start of the fighting on October 7th?
B. How does George Williams seem to feel at the start of the fighting on October 7th?
Tour Road Stop 9—Loss and Victory (Great Redoubt)
What started for Burgoyne’s army in June 1777 as a grand invasion from Canada south into New York had turned upside down.
September 19, 1777:
The left column of Burgoyne’s army stayed along the road at the base of this hill. This included British sailors remaining with the many boats used to float supplies down the river.
September 21 – October 6, 1777:
After a day’s wait, Burgoyne ordered his troops to build defensive positions and wait for assistance.
October 7, 1777:
Burgoyne ordered a large scouting force to try going around the Americans’ left side. They were pushed back, resulting in the loss of Colonel Breymann’s position. That left the rest of the British lines vulnerable, leading to a full retreat.
Those British forces fell back here and to the level ground just downhill. By the next evening, they were heading north (left as you look toward the Hudson River), and desperate to reach Fort Ticonderoga, some 60 miles north.
Cold rain, mud, and the burden of heavy equipment greatly slowed the British. One day later, they only made it eight miles to the village of Saratoga (Schuylerville today). Their escape route was cut off by newly arriving American forces. Then, Gates’ main army moved up the valley behind Burgoyne’s army. Nearly out of food and ammunition, the British were also out of time. There would be no help, and no escape.
October 17, 1777:
For the first time in history, an entire British army had surrendered! Burgoyne handed over his sword to Gates (who returned it as a “gift”), and the British troops were marched into captivity as prisoners of war.
America’s War for Independence was far from over, but the Americans clearly won the Battles of Saratoga. That victory boosted American morale, helped secure important recognition and help from France (and later Spain and the Netherlands also), and earned Saratoga the nickname, “Turning Point of the American Revolutionary War.”
1) If you were a soldier with Burgoyne’s army, how might you have felt being forced from the battlefield, retreating, and having to surrender?
2) If you were a soldier with Gates’ army, how might you have felt witnessing the first time in history a whole British army had to surrender, with your own side victorious?
Materials
Last updated: January 14, 2025