Life as they knew it changed overnight. For years there had been fear, causing hardships day-by-day, but after this event their lives would never be the same. Much like our response to Pearl Harbor or September 11, October 16, 1780 was a day the people along Middleline Road in the Town of Ballston would never forget. [Read more…] about War on the Middleline: Munro’s Raid On Saratoga County in 1780
Battle of Saratoga
Schuylerville’s Revolution Era Lansing-Marshall House Celebrating 250 Years
This year’s commemoration of the Battles of Saratoga of October 1777 coincides with the 250th birthday of The Marshall House, a Schuylerville home that bore witness to those momentous events.
Albany merchant Peter Lansing began construction of the house overlooking the Hudson River in 1770. It was commandeered as a field hospital by the invading army of British General John Burgoyne in the fall of 1777. Following the British rout in the second Battle of Saratoga, the makeshift field hospital filled with wounded soldiers as well as women and children attached to the army. [Read more…] about Schuylerville’s Revolution Era Lansing-Marshall House Celebrating 250 Years
The Burning of Jones Mill During Battles of Saratoga
When most people think about the Battles of Saratoga, they think of those at Freeman’s Farm (Sept. 19) and Bemus Heights (Oct. 7). Also well known is the siege period in the modern Schuylerville area from October 10th to the 17th.
There were many combat actions however, both great and small, that get less notice. One small skirmish, occurred at Jones Mill, near Grangerville in the town of Saratoga on October 2, 1777. [Read more…] about The Burning of Jones Mill During Battles of Saratoga
Claims of Witchcraft In Salem, Washington County
There have been quite a number of witchcraft trials in what is now New York State, including in Westchester County, and on Long Island. In the midst of the American Revolution, in the town of Salem (now near the New York-Vermont border in Washington County, NY), there was another witch trial, of a sort.
Salem, NY, much like Salem, MA, has a very religious past. The community is said to be founded by Presbyterian Rev. Dr. Thomas Clark, who had emigrated from Ireland in the mid-1760s with his congregation, part of a Presbyterian schism. Clark’s congregation first settled in nearby Stillwater, on the Hudson River but eventually landed in what is now Salem, NY, where they purchased a 25,000 acres among the mostly New England settlers already established there. [Read more…] about Claims of Witchcraft In Salem, Washington County
Saratoga Sword Surrender Site Being Dedicated
Located one mile south of Schuylerville on Route 4, the Saratoga Surrender Site memorializes British General John Burgoyne’s surrender of his army to American General Horatio Gates after the Battles of Saratoga.
This surrender altered world history and assured America’s victory of the Revolutionary War. [Read more…] about Saratoga Sword Surrender Site Being Dedicated
Unique Illustrated Presentation of Saratoga Campaign, 1777
Historian Eric Schnitzer is set to give a presentation on his book Don Troiani’s Campaign to Saratoga – 1777, on Saturday, October 19th, at 2 pm, at the Marshall House, one of the few surviving structures from the Battles of Saratoga.
Don Troiani’s Campaign to Saratoga – 1777 chronicles the British attempt to gain control of the Lake Champlain/Lake George/Hudson River waterways in the early days of the American Revolution. It reveals the real circumstances of the murder of young Jane McCrea, whose death was thought to have helped rally American militia to oppose the British invasion, and the role of the Marshall House as a hospital for the British army. It debunks many myths associated with the campaign such as those related to the figure of British General John Burgoyne (known as Gentleman Johnny). [Read more…] about Unique Illustrated Presentation of Saratoga Campaign, 1777
Campaign to Saratoga 1777 Book Talk, Signing
Saratoga National Historical Park Ranger and Historian Eric Schnitzer is set to give a talk on his newly released book, Don Troiani’s Campaign to Saratoga – 1777, on Thursday, October 3rd at the Fort Plain Museum.
The Battles of Saratoga are cited as the turning point in the Revolutionary War. Historical painter Don Troiani and historian Eric Schnitzer combine their talents in this new book on Saratoga, the Revolutionary War campaign. This illustrated history features many new artworks, previously unpublished eyewitness accounts, photographs of important artifacts, and a solid, detailed historical narrative including background on the campaigns leading up to Saratoga. [Read more…] about Campaign to Saratoga 1777 Book Talk, Signing
A Benedict Arnold Letter That Changed History
On October 9th, 1777, Nathaniel Bacheller, a militia adjutant from New Hampshire, wrote a letter to his wife, Suzanna. It was discovered by historians when it appeared on the auction site eBay this past winter and was sold to an unknown buyer for $2,925. A digital copy was downloaded and a transcript of the letter was made before it went to join the buyer’s private collection.
What the letter holds is a first-hand, historically unbiased account of the conversations, command decisions and field actions of General Horatio Gates and General Benedict Arnold during the ongoing 1777 Battle of Saratoga. [Read more…] about A Benedict Arnold Letter That Changed History
New Historical Novel: The Ghosts of Saratoga
David R. Ossont and David Dampf’s new novel The Ghosts of Saratoga (Milford House Press, 2019) takes a look back at the American Revolution Battles of Saratoga.
In Ghosts of Saratoga, the fate of North America and maybe the world is at stake. It is June 30, 1777. A young scout of the Continental army watches the arrival of British general John Burgoyne and his invasion force of 8,000 men. Seventeen-year old Roland McCaffrey is a new soldier but already a skilled woodsman and crack rifleman.
Burgoyne’s plan is to cut the American colonies in two and crush the new rebellion. His army includes some of the best trained units in Europe. To stop them, the rebels must bring together inexperienced soldiers, militia and Daniel Morgan’s riflemen. [Read more…] about New Historical Novel: The Ghosts of Saratoga
Which NYS Battle Was Most Significant For The State?
Over at the New York History Blog Facebook Page we recently asked the following question:
Which battle in New York State’s history had the most significant impact on the state?
The answers were surprisingly varied and included answers from the 1643-45 Kieft’s War (the war between New Netherland settlers and the Native inhabitants of Hudson River Valley also known as the Wappinger War) to the Anti-Rent War of 1839–1845.
We’ve reviewed the suggestions, and came up with a short list of five battles* which stand out as the most important to us (with short descriptions from Wikipedia) – what do you think? [Read more…] about Which NYS Battle Was Most Significant For The State?