Bridge of Boats

Bridge of Boats. Hudson Crossing Park. , In 1777, British General John Burgoyne led an invasion from Canada, hoping to take control of the Hudson River and Lake Champlain corridor. By August, Burgoyne had advanced to the Hudson River. He decided to continue south by crossing from the east to the west bank of the Hudson. His plan was to march on to Albany. On the west side, Burgoyne’s army would have access to a better road. This path would also lead to decisive battles with the Rebel army., The British had an enormous amount of equipment to carry, so Burgoyne resolved to build a bridge of boats across the Hudson. Burgoyne’s troops lashed bateaux , (oversized rowboats) side-by-side across the river and covered them with planks. They were anchored to both shores and provided a quick , if somewhat unsteady , bridge., Heavy rains caused the bridge to break apart, briefly dividing Burgoyne’s army on both sides of the river. Repairs were made and Burgoyne’s men began their advance toward destiny, abandoning headquarters at the Duer House in Fort Miller on September 10. Looking north, there are visible cuts in the riverbank that may indicate where the troops accessed the bridge of boats., [Captions:] , An example of the type of bateau used to create the bridge of boats, Bridge of Boats. Artist rendering by Tim Forbes, Diagram of Bridge of Boats Construction. Illustration by J. B. Lossing, Detail of View of the West Bank of the Hudson’s River 3 Miles above Still Water (London, 1789) showing use of bridge of boats. Photo courtesy of Saratoga National Historical Park.