Burgoyne victorious
“I have beat them!” exclaims a jubilant King George III. “I have beat all the Americans!”
The 39-year-old king of Great Britain and Ireland has good reason to jump with joy. He has received news that British Gen. John “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne and his 9,400-man army have captured Fort Ticonderoga. The fort guards northern New York for the American colonies colonies now in a struggle with the British to win independence. Taking Ticonderoga is the first major step in Burgoyne’s plan to crush the rebellion and end the Revolutionary War. So, George is a happy king.
Burgoyne now is free to march south to Saratoga and Albany. In Albany, he plans to join Sir William Howe and his large army who, Burgoyne believes, has moved northward along the Hudson River Valley from New York City. Burgoyne and Howe then are to join forces with Lt. Col. Barry St. Leger, whose army, Burgoyne believes, has captured Fort Stanwix the fort that guards the western entran