Horatio Gates
Horatio Gates was a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War, initially serving as an officer in the British Army before purchasing his commission in 1749. His military career began during the French and Indian War, where he was wounded in the Battle of Monongahela and rescued by George Washington, forging a lasting friendship. With the onset of the American Revolution, Gates was appointed a general through Washington's recommendation, taking command of the Northern Department. He is best known for his pivotal role in the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, where, alongside Benedict Arnold, he forced the surrender of British General John Burgoyne. This significant victory helped secure French military support for the American cause and established Gates as a national hero. However, his fortunes waned after a major defeat at the Battle of Camden in 1780, leading to his disgrace. Gates spent the remainder of the war serving as an aide to Washington until the conflict concluded in 1783. His legacy reflects both the triumphs and challenges faced during a transformative period in American history.
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Horatio Gates
- Born: c. 1728
- Birthplace: Maldon, Essex, England
- Died: April 10, 1806
- Place of death: New York, New York
Born: c. 1728; Maldon, Essex, England
Died: April 10, 1806; New York, New York
Principal wars: French and Indian War, American Revolution
Principal battles: Monongahela (1755), Saratoga (1777), Camden (1780)
Military significance: Gates presided over the first strategic victory over the British at Saratoga in 1777. Three years later, he was responsible for one of the worst defeats ever suffered by American forces at Camden.
Horatio Gates purchased his commission in 1749, and in July, 1755, during the French and Indian War (1754–1783), he accompanied General Edward Braddock’s ill-fated expedition against Fort Duquesne. He was severely wounded at Monongahela in 1755 and saved from capture by Colonel George Washington, whom he subsequently befriended. When the American Revolution broke out in April, 1775, Washington convinced Congress to have Gates appointed a general. In this capacity, Gates replaced General Philip Schuyler as head of the Northern Department and prepared to resist a large British army under General John Burgoyne. Gates clashed repeatedly with his headstrong subordinate, Benedict Arnold, but the two men forced Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga, New York, on October 19, 1777. This victory assured French military assistance for the Americans and rendered Gates a national hero.
In the late spring of 1780, Gates was dispatched south in the wake of General Benjamin Lincoln’s surrender at Charleston. On August 16, 1780, he gave battle to British forces under Lord Charles Cornwallis at Camden and was disastrously defeated. Officially disgraced, he spent the remainder of the war until 1783 as Washington’s adjutant in New York.
Bibliography
Buchanan, John. The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas. New York: Wiley, 1997.
Ketchum, Richard M. Saratoga: Turning Point of America’s Revolutionary War. New York: Henry Holt, 1997.
Mintz, Max. The Generals of Saratoga: John Burgoyne and Horatio Gates. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1990.