In the autumn of 1777, near Saratoga, New York, an inexperienced and improvised American army led by General Horatio Gates faced off against the highly trained British and German forces led by General John Burgoyne. Despite inferior organization and training, the Americans exploited access to fresh reinforcements of men and material, and ultimately handed the British a stunning defeat. Assimilating the archaeological remains from the battlefield along with the many letters, journals, and memoirs of the men and women in both camps, Snow provides a narrative of the two battles fought at Saratoga over the course of thirty-three tense and bloody days.

The opening -- The Battle of Freeman's Farm -- The middle game -- The Battle of Bemis Heights -- The end game.