We drove north about an hour from Lake George to Fort Ticonderoga. This fort was built at the bottom end of Lake Champlain by the French to protect their interests in the early colonial days. It controlled the vital trading route up Lake Champlain and the 3 1/2 mile portage over to Lake George. You can learn more of the history at this link.
The key thing I remembered from American history was that a small force lead by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured the fort in a surprise attack early in the American Revolution. Then a force lead by Henry Knox pulled the heavy cannon on sleds over land and over frozen Lake George in the dead of winter down to Boston. Those cannon were then installed in the heights over Boston and were instrumental in forcing the British to abandon Boston. This photo gives you a perspective of the size of some of the largest cannon similar to those moved by Henry Knox’s force.
We enjoyed watching the fife and drum corps perform on the fort’s parade ground.
Later the fife and drum members conducted a demonstration firing of one of the fort’s cannons.
Another reenactor demonstrated the loading and firing of a musket. He could fire and reload the musket in less than 20 seconds. In the Revolutionary War, soldiers could fire about 3 volley every minute.
He was a delightful young man and gave an entertaining lecture on the history of the fort.
There was a lovely garden associated with the fort. Naturally I had to take a few flower pictures.
It was a lovely day and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the fort.
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