From ‘Excellent Officer’ to ‘Little Consequence’: The Deterioration of Gates and Arnold’s Relationship at Saratoga

In 1852, British historian Sir Edward Creasy labeled the Battle of Saratoga as one of the fifteen most influential battles of the world. No other “military event,” he argued, could “be said to have exercised more important influence on the future fortunes of mankind, than the complete defeat of Burgoyne’s” army at Saratoga. 1 Creasy goes on to state that in this battle Benedict Arnold “did more for his countrymen than whole battalions could have effected.” 2