Tuesday 22 February 2011

ABC Wednesday – F is for Freeman’s Farm

The Battle of Freeman’s Farm (also known as First Saratoga) took place during the American Revolutionary War (American War of Independence) on 19th September, 1777.
It was fought in New York State in a clearing known as Freeman’s Farm  on the west bank of the Hudson, north of Albany. (Freeman was a Loyalist who had left to live in Canada) The engagement was conducted by British, German, Canadian, native Indian and loyalist Americans against the Colonists.

Following the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War the Continental Army was established in 1775 by the British colonies that later became the United States of America. The objective was to orchestrate the military endeavours of the Thirteen Colonies as they rebelled against Great Britain’s rule. The Continental Army was supported and supplemented by local militias and other troops remaining under the control of individual states. Both sides employed muskets and rifles. The muskets were quickly charged but imprecise while rifles took longer to load but were more accurate.

General George Washington was Commander-in-Chief throughout the war.  He was not in favour of rifles and would have preferred his troops to continue with muskets only.

Freeman’s Farm was a hard won, barely won victory. The British army was in poor condition, their horses starving, and supplies and troop replacements were not quickly forthcoming. The Americans, however, had reliable supply lines and a constant reserve of fresh troops to replace dead and wounded.

Thus, Second Saratoga, the Battle of Bemis Heights, on 17th October, 1777, was a victory for the Continental Army. The two battles marked a turning point in the war in the North. After this defeat of the British, France opted to support the American War of Independence.

(Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, wrote an historical novel about the war in the Deep South of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Called ‘The Hornet’s Nest’, it is a carefully researched book, full of historical detail interwoven with a story of one family’s experiences. Some of the characters are based on Carter’s ancestors. 

Occasionally, I found the minutiae difficult to follow, but it is a remarkable book, quite 
shocking in parts and giving a fair and balanced view of events.)

Thank you to the Fabulous Denise Nesbitt and her Fantastic and Faithful Folk who organise and host this weekly meme. Click here to see more Fs! 

21 comments:

  1. Are we the first? Yoo hoo!

    George washington preferred muskets to rifles??
    Oh Well! You do come up with interesting bits of history.

    Anyway, both of us seem to be ahead of the ABC Team! They haven't opened their linky tool yet!

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  2. FAbulous history lesson!
    Congratulations, excellent post,
    and thanks so much!
    Léia - Bonjour Luxembourg

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  3. What a terrific, interesting post for the F Day, as always! I love your look back into history and this one was particularly interesting. I'm going to have to pick up Carter's book, I've been looking for a new read this week anyway! Thanks for the tip! Have a great week, Janice!

    Sylvia
    ABC Team

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  4. Fascinating history here! Hope your week is full of fun.

    Leslie
    ABCW Team

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  5. Fantastic post. Now I want to visit the area to see what I can see. :)

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  6. Fascinating information. I'm afraid my knowledge of my country's history leaves a lot to be desired.
    I may have to look up Carter's book and get "educated".

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  7. hey, this is MY neck of the woods.
    great telling.

    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  8. A wonderful post - so much history is lost or goes unlearned. Thanks for this post!

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  9. Once again, blogging has taught me something new! Maybe British History hushed it up as we didn't come out of it too well! Luckily I don't bear a grudge!

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  10. Nice post. Very informative.

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  11. Very interesting, Janice. I didn't know so many different people were involved in the American Revolution. I've wondered, though, what happened to the homes and land of the Loyalists who left - and it seems their farms became battlefields.
    -- K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  12. I have thought about battles being fought through ordinary fields and along ordinary lanes and roads...when we were in France, near Falaise, I thought about Charles' brother being killed on an ordinary knoll, and then again in the Moyland woods, of his other brother dying in a place which we would find so beautiful to wander in. I have been reading recently about the battles in the Mohawk Valley where my Loyalist ancestors lived, and I think how dreadful it is that these beautiful places should endure such violence.

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  13. This historical post was very interesting!

    Aha! A trip to Hawaii, hunh?

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  14. As always, an intriguing, informative post! Love reading them!

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  15. That sounds like my kind of book, I'm going to check it out. Thanks for the tip!

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  16. Such an interesting F post and I remember adding Jimmy Carter's novel on my list...wonder where that is?
    Also, we've been re-watching the old BBC serial Poldark and was reminded that the main character had fought in the colonies and later returned with a scar & limp to Cornwall. Have you watched this?

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  17. wow! very informative...thanks for sharing!

    Hope you can check out my ABC Wednesday entry as well. Thanks!

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  18. Very wonderful and intriguing facts of history. Thanks for the journey.

    Thanks for your comments and prayers for Don.. He did great, procedure successful.

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  19. Although my first six years of schooling was by American nuns, I was taught precious little American history. I enjoy learning tidbits of this history in your blog, Janice.

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  20. A very informative post! Love the history of that time!

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  21. Another interesting history lesson!

    I had no idea that Jimmy Carter had written an historcal novel. I'd like to take a look at it and maybe read it. (If I can find a copy, that is!)

    Thank you for sharing!

    Best wishes,
    Anna

    Anna's ABC-F and AT-T: Tooth-Faerie

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