They believed that they were being protected by Divine Providence during the war, and that God was on the side of their cause due to events which occurred.
On July 30, Burgoyne finally reached Fort Edwards. General Schuyler had long since abandoned the fort as he deemed the dilapidated fortress as indefensible. Schuyler had moved the army to Saratoga. Washington, who was keeping abreast of Burgoyne's movements, sent Benedict Arnold north to help raise an army to defeat Burgoyne. Washington, always the best judge of character, prophesied that Johnny would make a mistake. Washington wrote: "Though our affairs have for days past worn a dark and gloomy aspect, I yet look forward to a fortunate and happy change. I trust General Burgoyne's army will meet sooner or later an important check, and as I have suggested before... that the success he has had will precipitate his ruin. Burgoyne's practice of acting in detachments would certainly give room for enterprise on our part and expose his parties to a great hazard. Could we be so happy as to cut one of them off, though it should not exceed four, five or six hundred men. It would inspirit the people and so away with much of this present anxiety. In such an event they would lose sight of past misfortunes; and, urged at the same time by a regard for their own security, they would fly to arms and afford every aid in their power." The letter proved to be a remarkably accurate analysis and prediction; it demonstrated once more, if any demonstration was needed, the soundness of Washington's own strategic instincts. But beyond the strategy, intelligence, and instinct of General Washington, it showed that God was in the midst of the American cause. The man under the authority of the rulers of this world was about to encounter a battle with a people who called themselves Christians and who were led by a man of God. In these types of incidents we see the Providence of God in the American struggle against tyranny. Providence caused King George to put Burgoyne in charge and Providence caused Burgoyne to continue to make one exceptional blunder after another. The American army, Congress, every pastor and every citizen knew we could not win without Divine help, and Divine help was showing up every time Burgoyne spoke or moved his endangered army.