A major miscalculation by British General Burgoyne during the Saratoga campaign was underestimating the numbers and resolve of the American forces.

Burgoyne believed that the Americans would be disorganized and less capable of mounting a serious defense. This assumption led him to proceed with his campaign without adequate intelligence and preparation for the level of resistance he would encounter. The Americans, bolstered by their unity and strategic positioning, ultimately outnumbered and outmaneuvered Burgoyne’s troops, contributing significantly to his defeat and surrender at Saratoga.