After the Battle of Saratoga, General Horatio Gates faced accusations of taking too much credit for the American victory.

Even though Gates served as the general commander, numerous leaders—particularly General Benedict Arnold—were thought to have been crucial to the battle's outcome. Tension between the commanders and disagreements over credit resulted from Gates's emphasis on highlighting his accomplishments. This debate brought to light the nuanced relationships inside the Continental Army and the difficulties faced by commanders in the Revolutionary War. Though the Saratoga triumph proved to be a turning point in the end, dividing the credit among the leaders proved to be a difficult problem.