The Turning Point Trivia Quiz

Answer: Benedict Arnold

General Arnold fought gloriously for the American army until his ambition and frustration made him turn into one of history's most notorious traitors. Because of this, the monument to him at the Saratoga battlefield depicts only his leg.

Answer: 2

Although many small skirmishes probably occurred between opposing forces, there were only two major battles. They occurred on September 19 (Battle of Freeman's Farm) and October 7 (Battle of Bemis Heights), 1777. After the first battle, there was no clear victor. Both the American and British forces pulled back and waited to see what the other would do.

However, in the subsequent battle, the Americans were the winners, the first major victory for the American army in the Revolution.

Answer: John Burgoyne

"Gentleman" Johnny Burgoyne commanded the British army at Saratoga. From a wealthy family, this pampered aristocrat insisted on bringing a large number of personal possessions along. Traveling through the upstate wilderness of New York, encumbered by his many wagons of his property and attendants, slowed his progress, which allowed the American forces to gather manpower and muster at Saratoga to try and stop Burgoyne from reaching his destination - Albany.

Answer: Schuylerville

The original town name was Saratoga, but the Saratoga of today is about 12 miles west of that site. The community in that location is now known as Schuylerville in honor of General Philip Schuyler who maintained a summer home there which is open to the public at certain times.

Answer: The death of Jane McCrea

Jane McCrea was a young woman engaged to an officer in the Burgoyne's unit. She was being escorted by a band of Indians in the British employ to see her fiancé. When they encountered another group of marauding Indians, the Indians began to fight each other, and Jane McCrea was killed by a spiteful Indian.

When word of this atrocity came to light, the Americans used it as war propaganda to stir up anti-British sentiment and bolster military enlistments. James Fenimore Cooper used this plot in his book "The Last of the Mohicans" in the character of Cora.

Answer: Barry St. Leger

Fort Stanwix, now Oriskany, was the site of another British defeat which prevented St. Leger from advancing down the Mohawk River valley and meeting up with gathering British forces at Albany. After so many defeats in New York, the war moved southward after 1777.

Answer: 1000

Historians estimate that Burgoyne's unit lost 1000 soldiers and most of his senior officers, mainly during the second battle of Bemis Heights. The Americans lost around 500 men, but still outnumbered the British about 3 to 1.

Answer: Granny

General Gates earned the sobriquet of "Granny" amongst the men he commanded because of his reticence to engage in battle. He was not so lucky after Saratoga. After the battle of Camden, New Jersey, charges were brought against him. As a result, he was never given active command again.

A widower, after the Revolution he retired to his estate in Virginia and married for the second time. He moved back to New York and served in the New York legislature. Gates died in 1806 and is buried somewhere in Trinity churchyard.

Answer: convention

His insistence on the use of "convention" in lieu of "capitulation" almost started another battle. Fortunately, Burgoyne's officers convinced him to make this one small compromise. When he surrendered his sword to General Gates, he said, "The fortunes of war have made me your prisoner." However, Gates quickly returned the sword and the British army was treated with great humanity.

Answer: John Trumbull

Trumbull painted a series of depictions of Revolutionary War themes, most notable being the signing of the Declaration of Independence which is used in the reverse of the U.S. two-dollar bill. He also painted portraits of many Revolutionary War notables.