Summary of Production Script

Excerpt from Production Script
Battle of Saratoga

ANNCR: AThis is the story of the surrender of General John Burgoyne, the British Military commander at Saratoga, New York. Saratoga, the turning point in the War for Independence, is situated in upper state New York along the route that General Burgoyne took from Canada.@

ANNCR: AOn October 17, 1777, General John Burgoyne surrendered his entire command to the American General, Gates. The tide of the war was now in the American=s favor.@

NARR: AThis is William McFaden, corporal in the army of Benedict Arnold. William has been in the army for nearly two years. For most of the two years, he, along with the entire Northern Continental Army, had been on the retreat from defeat after defeat. William was tired and demoralized. Especially after hearing how the British, under the command of General Burgoyne, had decimated the American General St. Clair at Ticonderoga.@

SOLDIER: AWill, you look like you=re asleep.@

Will: AWhat? O. sorry. Ever since we have been retreating from Ticonderoga nothing seems to matter.@

NARR: AGeneral St. Clair, once a British Army officer, was in command of 2,300 Continentals and 900 militiamen, at Ticonderoga. General Burgoyne had 6,700 infantry, 600 artillerymen, 250 dismounted German dragoons, 650 Canadians and Tories and 138 cannon. On July 5, 1777, St. Clair wisely orders retreat.@

St Clair: (To his officers). AGentlemen, we can no longer hold this fort. I am ordering an immediate retreat. General Allen will lead his army southeast. General Arnold, you will head south to Lake Champlain. I will advance west.@

NARR: AThe army of St. Clair split and fled. However, the command of General Allen was almost destroyed by the British at Hubbardton, Vermont. General Schuyler, an American general, was in the vicinity and intervened. Thus, the British were momentarily halted, and Allen was able to escape.@

BRIT. OFFICER: ALeftennant, call for a retreat. They=ll escape, but we will pursue them.@

NARR: AIn the meantime, the forces under General St. Clair were also attacked and almost destroyed.@

SOLDIER: AWe=re beaten. Run for your lives.@

AM. OFFICER: AFall back. Everyone fall back.@

ST. CLAIR: ALet=s get out of here before we are completely obliterated.@

NARR: AThe survivors joined the army of Schuyler or else returned to the fray. Only the command under General Arnold retreated to safety. Thus Ticonderoga was a devastating defeat to the rag tag Americans. To the thousands of American soldiers, the cause of the war seemed far away.@

NARR: AThe Continental Congress was furious over the fiasco of Ticonderoga. St. Clair was removed from his command, and for a period of time, faced execution.@

SPK. HS: AThe ay=s have it.@

SPK. HS: ASchuyler is now in command of the American Army in the north.@

NARR: ABurgoyne now was riding on a dream that he would defeat the retreating rag tag Americans. However, Gentleman Johnny was soon to be dealt a hard blow. Not by the retreating Americans, but by the patriots in the Mohawk Valley. Burgoyne underestimated the strength of the patriots and sent in General St. Leger to secure the area. St. Leger too though Fort Stanwix would be easy to capture.@

ST. LEGER: AWhat is the date aide?@

AIDE: AAugust the 3^rd, Sir.@

ST. LEGER: AA good day for a victory. Leftennant, we=re going to show these rebels our strength. Perhaps they will contemplate surrender before their demise.@

NARR: AIn Fort Stanwix, Colonel Willett and Colonel Gansevoort, prepare for the siege.@

WILLETT: AHe thinks to frighten us by showing his forces. He=ll be surprised at our strength.@

NARR: ASince the British Army was now split into two halves, the American general, Nicholas Herkimer attempted to defeat St. Leger and rescue Ft. Stanwix. However, St. Leger learned of the approaching American Army aand sent out 400 Indians and Tories to repell them.@

NARR: AThe battle was bloody and fierce. For nearly two hours the horrendous battle was waged in hand-to hand combat. Finally, the Americans were forced to retreat down the Mohawk Valley. Although the Americans did not complete their mission, they sent terror through the hearts of St. Leger and his men.@

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