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Arguably the most significant Colonel in the Battles of Saratoga. Flamboyant! Rowdy! Troublemaker! When you hear these words, does a colonial in the military come to mind? Well it should!
Colonel Daniel Morgan is arguably one of the most significant and influential figures in American Military History. Morgan, an old Indian fighter, led a battalion of rowdy woodsmen dressed in long, Indian-style hunting shirts each carrying a tomahawk and scalping knife along with his long rifle. Morgan contributed greatly to the Saratoga Campaign because he and his men used partisan tactics to destroy the British morale as well as their offensive attacks. The American victory at Saratoga was so significant that it became known as the turning point in the Revolution because the French and Spanish entered the war in support of the Americans. Morgan was the man that made it happen. In the Battle of Freemans Farm on 19 September 1777, Colonel Daniel Morgan proved to be a significant figure because he slowed the British approach.
On 31 August 1777 Morgans Corps of 578 riflemen was sent north to join up with General Granny Gates. This proved to be a vital edition to the Continental Army. On the morning of September 19 Morgans Corps moved out in two irregular lines to find and to harass Burgoyne's men. While Burgoyne was ascending the heights toward Freemans Farm Morgan and his men were already hiding quietly in the woods. In no time a band of Canadian and Indian pickets, under Major General Forbes emerged from the underbrush. Morgan and his men immediately opened fire killing every British officer but one.
Morgan and his Corps frantically abandoned their cover and rushed after the fleeing British unit. Reinforcements came to the aid of Forbes, but they too panicked under the riflemen's deadly accuracy causing them to fire wildly, hitting many of their own men. Hit and run was the name of the game for Morgan and his sharpshooters. Although Burgoyne would go on, with the help of German reinforcements, to win the battle, they had been stopped about one mile north of the American line. At the operational level of the battle, the Americans had won the Battle of Freemans Farm because Morgan had halted the British's southern drive. The key to that performance had been Morgans superlative battalion of riflemen, useful not merely for scouting and sniping but for spearheading a major engagement.
Morgans job was not done however, because on 7 October 1777 Burgoyne decided to attack a second time. In the Battle of Bemis Heights Morgan and his marksmen picked off British sentries with uncanny accuracy. In one climactic incident, Morgan ordered Timothy Murphy, the foremost marksman in the ranks, to climb a tree and single out him (General Frazer) on the white horse. A few minutes later Frazer had a bullet through him and he had to be carried off the battlefield.
Dearborn and Morgan struck the British so hard that they were reduced to confusion. Once again Morgan had spearheaded the British attack and held their position. The total British army had sustained 184 killed, 264 wounded and 183 taken prisoners, while the Americans had about 30 dead and 100 wounded. Colonel Daniel Morgan and his infantry had shaken the British to point of retreat and after dark on October 8, Burgoyne and his remaining men began their disengagement north to Saratoga.
Colonel Daniel Morgan is arguably one of the most significant and influential figures in American Military History. All of Morgans decisions and actions contributed to the American battle at Saratoga. These battles had been won by virtue of Colonel Morgans excellent and bold leadership. He had assembled a very talented group of militiaman that severely diminished the British Army and morale. Although the Americans did not win the Battle of Freemans Farm, the British had suffered the loss of their strength and confidence due to Morgan and his infantry.
Partisan warfare was how Morgan preferred to fight hiding in the woods and attacking unannounced in the Battle of Freemans Farm. In the Battle of Bemis Heights, Morgan chose to lay back and let his sharpshooters take aim. His right hand man, Timothy Murphys shot General Frazer and put him out of commission, which severely weakened the ability of the British to control their army. The American victory at Saratoga is considered by many historians to be the turning point of the American Revolution. The French and Spanish entered the war after the victories at Saratoga because they realized that the Americans had a real chance of winning the war. Morgans quick and decisive actions truly contributed to the victories at Saratoga and led the Americans to victory in the campaign at Saratoga and eventually in the American campaign to freedom.
Bibliography: Work Cited Burke, Davis. The Campaign that Won America. New York: The Dial Press, 1970. Mintz, Max M. The Generals of Saratoga. New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1990.
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