E195 - The provinces of New York, and New Jersey; with part of Pennsylvania and the province of Quebec Battle Map - 1777
We return now to British invasion from Canada. This detail in the Holland map shows the route of Burgoyne's main column of over 8000 men. At first, all seemed to be going well as they captured Fort Ticonderoga without having to fire a shot and proceeded south. Then progress slowed as the large army had to make its way through the wilderness, building bridges and repairing roads. In mid-August, Burgoyne got a double dose of bad news. A large Hessian raiding force of nearly 1000 was defeated and captured at Bennington, Vermont , and nearly simultaneously, the column from the west, under Lt Col. Barry St. Leger, failed to take Fort Stanwix and retreated up the Mohawk. Now deprived of considerable strength, Burgoyne continued toward Albany, but a large American force was awaiting his arrival.
