This Englishman, the godson of Horace Walpole, had gained by successful intrigue powerful support in Congress.
That body was always paying too much heed to local claims and jealousies and on the 2d of August it removed Schuyler of New York because he was disliked by the soldiers from New England and gave the command to Gates.
Washington was far away maneuvering to meet Howe and he was never able to watch closely the campaign in the north.

Gates, indeed, considered himself independent of Washington and reported not to the Commander-in-Chief but direct to Congress.

On the 19th of September Burgoyne attacked Gates in a strong entrenched position on Bemis Heights, at Stillwater.

There was a long and bitter fight, but by evening Burgoyne had not carried the main position and had lost more than five hundred men whom he could ill spare from his scanty numbers.
Burgoyne's condition was now growing desperate.

American forces barred retreat to Canada.