Horatio Gates

Horatio Gates began his military career within British Empire, and then concluded it serving in the Continental Army against the British in the American Revolution. An early supporter of American Independence, he rose to the rank of major general, and he oversaw American success at Saratoga while leading the Northern Army. However, his career suffered from political tension with George Washington and failures in the Southern Theater of the war.

Before the American Revolution

Born on July 26, 1727, in Maldon, England, Horatio Gates came to America at the age of twenty-two as a volunteer with the governor of Nova Scotia, Edward Cornwallis. In 1754, Gates rose to the position of captain and fought during the Seven Years’ War, suffering a wound during Major General Edward Braddock's defeat in western Pennsylvania in 1755. After the French and Indian War, Gates returned to England and retired from the Royal American Regiment. In 1772, Gates returned to America and purchased a plantation in Berkeley County, Virginia.

Horatio Gates and the New York Campaign

When the American Revolution broke out in 1775, Gates was a strong supporter of independence. He commissioned as a brigadier general given his previous experience in the military. When he promoted to major general, he took command of the Northern Army overseeing troops in New York. Despite initial difficulties, Gates was instrumental in the victories achieved by the Continental Army on the New York Campaign.

In October of 1776, he was able to hold of the invasion of British forces under Major Guy Carleton. The victory gave the Americans time to prepare for the second British invasion the following year.

When British troops under the command of Major General John Burgoyne invaded New York in 1777, Gates' army defeated Burgoyne twice, on September 19, 1777 and October 7, 1777 at the Battle of Saratoga. Gates' troops forced Burgoyne to surrender his 5,700 man army near Saratoga on October 17, 1777. Washington celebrated this victory, writing, “An Event that does the highest honor to the American Arms, and which, I hope will be attended with the most extensive and happy consequences.”¹  This victory was a major turning point of the American Revolution, and convinced France to form an alliance with the Americans against Great Britain in 1778.

Conway Cabal

Tensions between Gates and General George Washington grew immediately following Saratoga, after Gates informed Congress directly of his victory rather than informing his Commander-in-Chief first. Washington was further angered that Gates did not promptly return troops sent to help Gates during his campaign.

General Washington was also convinced that Gates played a role in the Conway Cabal in late 1777, which was a supposed plot to remove Washington from command and replace him with Gates. In November 1777, Gates became president of the Board of War, so he technically became Washington's superior. Bickering continued between the two men as Gates drew up plans for an invasion of Canada without consulting Washington.

At Valley Forge, Washington wrote to Gates about his failure to communicate with him directly, writing, “Your Letter of the 8th Ulto came to my hands a few days ago; and, to my great surprize informed me, that a copy of it had been sent to Congress—for what reason, I find myself unable to acct; but, as some end doubtless was intended to be answered by it, I am laid under the disagreeable necessity of returning my answer through the same channel.”²

In the spring of 1778, Gates returned to field command in the north, controlling troops in New York and Massachusetts.

Commanding the Southern Army

In response to British Southern Strategy, Gates took command of the Southern Army in South Carolina in July 1780. Earlier that year, the British army that had invaded that state and continued to move into the southern interior. Abandoning the cautious strategy that he employed against Burgoyne in 1777, Gates marched his army toward the British troops in Camden, South Carolina, despite the fact that his men were running low on supplies.

This action led to the Battle of Camden on August 16, 1780, which was one of the largest American defeats of the war. As the American troops retreated, Gates left the battlefield and abandoned his army, riding nearly 200 miles in three days. In response to his behavior and the loss, Washington wrote him, “The shock was the greater, as the operations, a few days preceding the Action, were much in our favor. The behavior of the Continental Troops does them infinite honor.”³ Accused of cowardice, his reputation was ruined. As a result, Gates was removed from command in October 1780 and replaced by Nathanael Greene.

Congress briefly reinstated Gates into the army in the summer of 1782, but after uneventful service he left for the final time in 1783.

After the American Revolution

In 1790, Gates sold his Virginia plantation, manumitted those he enslaved there, and bought an estate in New York called "Rose Hill Farm." He ended his career serving one term in the New York legislature from 1800-1801. Gates died on April 10, 1806.

James Scythes Instructor, History West Chester University, updated by Zoie Horecny, Ph.D., 24 April 2025

Notes:

1. “From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 30 October 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives.

2. “From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 4 January 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives.

3. “From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 8 October 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives.

Bibliography:

Billias, George A., "Horatio Gates: A Professional Soldier," ed. George A. Billias, George Washington's Generals. New York: William Morrow and Co., 1964.

Lender, Mark Edward. Cabal! A Plot Against General Washington, the Conway Cabal Reconsidered. Westholme Publishing, 2024.

Mintz, Max M. The Generals of Saratoga: John Burgoyne and Horatio Gates. Yale University Press, 1990.

Nelson, Paul David.  General Horatio Gates: A Biography.  Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1976.

Patterson, Samuel W.  Horatio Gates: Defender of American Liberties. New York: Columbia University Press, 1941.