Good morning, Whitewater.
The work week ends with mostly cloudy skies, only a slight chance of rain, and a high of fifty-six.
On this day in 1777, British Gen. Burgoyne surrenders at Saratoga:
Surrender of General Burgoyne by John Trumbull, 1822; This painting hangs in the United States Capitol Rotunda. Via Wikipedia.
Burgoyne’s strategy to divide New England from the southern colonies had started well, but slowed due to logistical problems. He won a small tactical victory over General Horatio Gates and the Continental Army in the September 19 Battle of Freeman’s Farm at the cost of significant casualties. His gains were erased when he again attacked the Americans in the October 7 Battle of Bemis Heights and the Americans captured a portion of the British defenses. Burgoyne was therefore compelled to retreat, and his army was surrounded by the much larger American force at Saratoga, forcing him to surrender on October 17. News of Burgoyne’s surrender was instrumental in formally bringing France into the war as an American ally, although it had previously given supplies, ammunition and guns, notably the de Valliere cannon, which played an important role in Saratoga.[9] This battle also resulted in Spain joining France in the war against Britain.
Google-a-Day asks a zoology question:
What does the name given to the Aldabra giant tortoise, considered one of the longest-living animals on record at the time of his death, mean in English?