Gates, Horatio
Gates, Horatio( 1727–1806),British soldier in the French and Indian War, returned to England (1765–72), where he retired from the army. Urged by Washington, he moved to a West Virginia plantation, and at the outbreak of the Revolution became a patriot officer. In 1776, promoted to major general, he began to hold important commands, and the following year led the campaign against Burgoyne, which ended with the victory at Saratoga. His popularity at this time led to the Conway Cabal, a frustrated attempt to replace Washington by Gates as commander in chief. He continued in high commands until 1780, when, after the rout of his soldiers at Camden, he was replaced by Greene. A Congressional investigation of his actions was ordered, and he retired for two years. In 1782 the ordered inquiry was cancelled, and Gates served again at the close of the war. He figures often in historical fiction, e.g. Simms's The Partisan and Eutaw,...
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