On this day in 1777, the Second Battle of Saratoga was fought resulting in a decisive victory of the American Continental Army over the British Army. It was a decisive American victory, and the surrender of the British army there. The outcome greatly affected the course of the war, persuading France to enter the war as an American ally.
The British Army’s campaign in New York was aimed at dividing New England from the middle and southern colonies. General Burgoyne led an invasion army southward from Quebec, Canada with the goal to take Albany, New York while General Howe would lead his troops northward from New York City. The strategy began promisingly, but stalled due to logistical issues.
The American army opposed to Burgoyne under General Gates was growing in size following calls by state governors, the success at Bennington, and widespread outrage over the slaying of Jane McCrea, the fiancée of a Loyalist in Burgoyne’s army by Indians under Burgoyne’s command. This massive outpouring of militia continued as the battle progressed (and Burgoyne had no way of obtaining reinforcements). This sealed Burgoyne’s fate. By the end of the battle, Burgoyne’s army totaled 5,791, and the effective colonial force was about 12,000 men.
The Death of Jane McCrea by John Vanderlyn. The slaying of Jane McCrea by Native Americans under Burgoyne’s command was widely published in newspapers throughout the colonies. This led to a massive turnout of colonial militia, outnumbering Burgoyne’s army by two to one.
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Today on “Did I just read that properly?”
October 6, 2026by Mike
Time for EXERCISE!
BADA BING!
From a retired AP History teacher… I actually had a student write in an essay, “the Vietnam war was a mistake from the gecko.”
Still laughing over a fuming one star review in which the reviewer declared a restaurant’s service to be “abdominal”.
Yes, the Halloween candy is on sale right now but no, you should not buy it. It’s a trick. Buy it now and you’ll shame eat it on your couch and have to buy it all over again. Very clever, candy companies, but you can’t fool me a 54th time.
Dating is like buying a computer. You look for features, performance, compatibility, reliability, and most of all, no viruses.
My typical weekend of working around the house. At the end, three things are now fixed. But six things that were working are now broken.
I’m currently experiencing life at the rate of several “WTF’s” per hour.
Albert Einstein’s second wife was his first cousin. This was special relativity. Other observers did not see this as he did. He failed to realize the gravity of the situation.
Trump warns Iran to accept his ultimatum or face the wrath of his next ultimatum.
“I read this article and it said that, apparently, there was a time in our history when we didn’t all stagger around in horrified disbelief.”
I’m so tired of worrying about everything, for everyone, every second of the day. But I’m also worried that nobody will worry as good as I do, about all the things that need worrying about.
Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.
Today is the birthday, in 1951, of American singer and songwriter, John ‘Cougar’ Mellencamp, who had the 1982 US No.1 and UK No.25 single ‘Jack And Diane’, and the 1982 US No.1 album American Fool. He has had fourteen top 20 hits in the United States and holds the record for the most tracks by a solo artist to hit No.1 on the US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart, and has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, winning one, as Best Male Rock Performer for ‘Hurts So Good’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h04CH9YZcpI
