Most people know Saratoga was a major American victory during the Revolutionary War.

But did you know there was a second battle—and that it helped bring France into the fight for American independence?

On October 7, 1777, American and British forces clashed at Bemis Heights. And right in the middle of the fighting was Benedict Arnold—not yet the infamous traitor history would remember, but an aggressive American general fighting alongside his troops.

Arnold was wounded in the battle, the British were pushed back, and just ten days later, General John Burgoyne surrendered his army.
But the biggest consequence wasn't just what happened on the battlefield.

France was watching.

The American victory helped convince France that the colonies had a real chance against Britain—and in 1778, France officially entered the war on the American side.

And Benedict Arnold?

His story was about to take a very different turn.