During the Saratoga campaign the Americans experienced leadership problems similar to their enemy, but they overcame these far better. Two of the most important relationships were between Horatio Gates and George Washington, and Gates and Major General Benedict Arnold; the latter erupted into a bitter quarrel that took place between the Battles of Freeman’s Farm and Bemis Heights, which threatened to derail the American efforts to stop Burgoyne. There was jealousy, hurt feelings, accusations, questions of competence, grumbling over promotions, and other issues, but they worked through these problems.
Of course, a senior military leader must be able to effectively conduct military operations. In the end, there were simply more senior American leaders who were able to take in all the available information and make timely and effective decisions. Burgoyne’s…
