Organization of General Gates' Forces for 2nd Battle of Saratoga
In part due to the disorganization of the combined battle losses at Freeman's Farm and the arrival of new units to join in the fighting, Gates reorganized the American forces at Bemis Heights. He also used the reorganization of his forces as an attack upon Benedict Arnold, whom he purposefully relieved of command in the new structure.
This action came as the culmination of heated arguments between Generals Gates and Arnold which ensued after the Battle of Freeman's Farm. However, Arnold managed to find a way to lead at the close of the battle without legitimate command status. This action proved to be beneficial to Gates, providing a decisive victory over Burgoyne.
| Gates' Reorganized Bemis Heights Forces | ||
|---|---|---|
| LEFT WING | CENTER | RIGHT WING |
| Commander - Major General Horatio Gates |
Commander - Brigadier General Ebenezer Learned |
Commander - Major General Benjamin Lincoln |
| COL Morgan Elite Light Infantry Corps COL Morgan - Morgan's Rifle Corps MAJ Dearborn - Light Infantry Corps (Roughly 500 men) Poor Continental Brigade |
Learned Continental Brigade COL Bailey - 2nd MA Cont'l Reg LTC Brooks* - 8th MA Cont'l Reg COL Wesson - 9th MA Cont'l Reg COL Livingston - 1st Canadian NY militia Reinforcements - 2 unknown NH militia |
Glover Continental Brigade COL Vose - 1st MA Cont'l Reg COL Shepard - 4th MA Cont'l Reg COL Wigglesworth - 13th MA Cont'l Reg (unknown) - 15th MA Cont'l Reg COL Wemple - 2nd Albany NY militia COL Whiting - 17th Albany NY militia COL Graham - Dutchess/Ulster NY militia Nixon Continental Brigade Paterson Continental Brigade Ten Broeck NY Brigade Warner MA Brigade |
| *COL Hale captured at Hubbardton | *COL Hale captured at Hubbardton | *COL Francis killed at Hubbardton |
| Approximately 1,300 men | Approximately 1,400 men | Approximately 8,500 men |
| CAVALRY | LT Seymour - 2nd Troop, 2nd Reg Cont'l Lt Dragoons MAJ Hyde - 2nd Reg CT Light Horse Cavalry (Possibly reinforced by troops of CT militia Lt Horse) Estimated Strength - 200 to 250 strong |
|
| ARTILLERY | MAJ Stevens - Indep BN of Cont'l Artillery 22 cannon of various types Estimated Strength - 400 strong |
|
| ARTIFICERS | COL Baldwin - Approximately 140 Artificers | |
| Force Total Estimated 12,000 men - 11,200 Infantry (6,700 Continental Infantry plus militia) | ||
Numbers are approximations based upon the historical research of COL John R. Elting. His figures are published in The Battles of Saratoga.
See Unit Definitions for estimated unit sizes.
