Horatio Gates was a General in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. When the war started, he was commissioned as Brigadier General in the Continental Army. He commanded Americans to victory at Saratoga but lost at Camden. His time in the army was plagued by jealousy of George Washington.
Yes, Horatio Gates has a nickname. In fact, he is often referred to by two different nicknames — “The Hero of Saragota” — for leading the army to victory in the Saratoga Campaign — and “The Coward of Camden” — for tactical errors that led to his defeat at Camden.
Horatio Gates is referred to as the “Hero of Saragota” because he was in command of the American forces that fought in the Saratoga Campaign. When the British army retreated north, Gates followed. He surrounded them at Saratoga and forced them to surrender — a major turning point in the war.
Horatio Gates was given the second Congressional Gold Medal by the Continental Congress for the victory over British General John Burgoyne and the British army at the end of the Saratoga Campaign. It was approved by Congress on November 4, 1777.
Horatio Gates is called the “Coward of Camden” because he made tactical errors at the Battle of Camden that led to the defeat of the American army and around 2,000 casualties, including the death of Baron de Kalb. Afterward, Alexander Hamilton accused Gates of cowardice and abandoning his army.
Nathanael Greene replaced Horatia Gates after the Battle of Camden.
