Battle of Fort Ann

Following the evacuation of Fort Ticonderoga, a skirmish at Fort Ann on July 8 represented another in the series of delaying actions as the retreating American forces tried to slow Burgoyne's advance southward. A small British advance party under Captain John Hill clashed with American forces under Colonel Van Rensselaer near Fort Ann.

The Americans initially drove the British back and Hill sent for reinforcements, claiming the Americans had received substantial reinforcement. The Americans eventually withdrew when British support arrived, abandoning Fort Ann and burning it to deny its use to the British. While technically a British victory, the engagement demonstrated that American forces were contesting every step of Burgoyne's advance and inflicting casualties that, cumulatively, weakened his army for the decisive battles ahead.

The series of rear-guard actions at Hubbardton, Fort Ann, and other points along the retreat route may not have stopped Burgoyne, but they imposed costs on his expedition and bought time for Gates to organize the defenses at Saratoga that would ultimately destroy the British invasion force.