Revolutionary weekend planned at Fort Ticonderoga
TICONDEROGA — Explore the Continental Army’s first major initiative during the Revolutionary War at Fort Ticonderoga’s upcoming living history weekend “Onward to Canada: Reinforcements Head North to Join the Attack on St. John.”
The Sept. 1 and 2 living history weekend will recreate how the American army prepared to invade Canada in the fall of 1775. Admission to “Onward to Canada” is included with Fort Ticonderoga’s general admission ticket.
Special programming throughout the weekend will recreate a unique and busy moment in Fort Ticonderoga’s history when the “Old French Fort” served as hub of activity for the fledging American Army and a launching point for an invasion into Canada. Programs will highlight close-order marching; the issuing of muskets, supplies, and clothing to the troops; special tours, weapons demonstrations; and regimental training exercises.
“Visitors can watch as Col. Seth Warner’s Green Mountain Boys are transformed from recruits into a regiment to join Brigadier-General Richard Montgomery’s invasion of Canada. Learn about the practical concerns of getting soldiers and supplies to the front lines during a military campaign in a land of expansive lakes and dense woods. See bateaux in action as they move men and materiel to and from Fort Ticonderoga as we celebrate 1775 and Vermont’s military history,” said Stuart Lilie, Fort Ticonderoga’s director of interpretation. “The event will explore how new soldiers learned to move, think and fight together as a team as they evolved into disciplined soldiers committed to defending the fledgling cause of liberty.”
The objective of the invasion of Canada was to gain military control of the British province of Quebèc, and convince the French-speaking Canadians to join the Revolution on the side of the 13 American colonies. In the fall of 1775, two invasion forces were launched with the goal of meeting in Quebèc. One expedition under the command of Brig. Gen. Richard Montgomery set out from Fort Ticonderoga, besieged and captured Fort St. John and very nearly captured British Gen. Guy Carleton when taking Montreal.
The other expedition left Cambridge, Mass., under Col. Benedict Arnold, and traveled with great difficulty through the wilderness of Maine to Quebèc City. The two forces joined there, but were defeated at the Battle of Quebèc in December 1775.
“Fort Ticonderoga offers an unparalleled and unique experience for visitors to be immersed in a dramatic moment in time,” said Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga’s president. “Programs such as ‘Onward to Canada’ highlight the logistical challenges faced by the fledging American army in 1775, the attempt to conquer another nation in the name of liberty, and the effort required to launch such a campaign.”
Fort Ticonderoga is located on Lake Champlain in the six-million acre Adirondack Park. It is a private, not-for-profit historic site and museum that ensures that future generations learn from the struggles, sacrifices and victories that shaped the nations of North America and changed world history. Open since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga engages more than 70,000 visitors annually and is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Fort Ticonderoga’s history. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Fort Ticonderoga offers programs, historic interpretation, tours, demonstrations, and exhibits throughout the year and is open daily |May 18 through Oct. 18.
This season features the fort’s newest exhibit, “Bullets & Blades: The Weapons of America’s Colonial Wars and Revolution,” which highlights more than 150 of the museum’s most important weapons.
Go to www.Fort-Ticon|deroga.org for a full list of ongoing programs or call (518) 585-2821. Funding for the 2012 season is provided in part by Amtrak. Fort Ticonderoga is open from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily.
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