Stark's Knob
Stark's Knob
In October 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, British General John Burgoyne’s army faced a disastrous defeat during the second Battle of Saratoga. With dwindling supplies and little chance for reinforcement, he was forced to retreat. Burgoyne stopped briefly at the Schuyler House to rest as they assessed their options and prepared to fall back to Canada.
As Burgoyne rested, the Rebel forces under American General Horatio Gates pursued from the south, in Burgoyne’s footsteps. American Generals John Fellows and Jacob Bayley took their position on the east bank of the Hudson River, and Colonel Daniel Morgan swept around the west, taking his position near Fish Creek.
Having defeated a contingent of Burgoyne’s army at the Battle of Bennington, John Stark’s army arrived from the north by way of Fort Edward and took possession of the heights above the British camp. Like a cork in a bottle, Stark’s arrival ended Burgoyne’s last hope for retreat. With no other option, Burgoyne was forced to surrender on October 17, 1777
Portrait of John Stark
by Samuel Perkins Gilmore. Used with permission from the University of Kentucky.
View
from Stark’s Knob
Plan of the Position which the Army
under Lt. Gen. Burgoyne took at Saratoga. Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Stark’s Knob c. 1938.
Courtesy of the New York State Archives.
