The Northern Campaign of 1777 started as a major British military operation bent on furthering the destruction of the nascent United States but ended in the first British Army surrender in world history.  The American victory at Saratoga not only bolstered fledgling morale at home, it helped secure international recognition and an alliance by which the American War for Independence was won.

Eric Schnitzer has worked at Saratoga National Historical Park since 1997, becoming Park Ranger / Military Historian in 2000. He has dedicated his life's study to the organization, personnel, and material culture of the military forces associated with the Northern Campaign of 1777. He, his wife Jenna, and their two wacky cats live in an 18th -century house in the White Creek Historic District near Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site, N.Y.