Category: Ticonderoga

Learn more about how an unassuming Boston book seller moved 14 mortars, 43 cannons, and other artillery to Boston in the winter of 1776 at Fort Ticonderoga’s upcoming living history event.

Discover the story of Henry Knox’s noble train of artillery at Fort Ticonderoga’s upcoming living history event, Saturday, December 1, from 10 am – 4 pm. The event will feature a lively program highlighting Henry Knox’s arrival to Fort Ticonderoga and recreate the beginning of the epic feat that ultimately forced the British evacuation from Boston on March 17, 1776. Admission to the “The Noble Train Begins” living history event is $10 per person and payable at the door.

The siege of Boston, April 19, 1775 – March 17, 1776 was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War in which New England militiamen, who later became part of the Continental Army, surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within. In November 1775, Washington sent a 25 year-old bookseller-turned-soldier, Henry Knox, to bring heavy artillery that had been captured at Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. In a technically complex and demanding operation, Knox brought the cannon to the Boston area in January 1776. In March 1776, these artillery pieces were used to fortify Dorchester Heights, overlooking Boston and its harbor and threatening the British naval supply lifeline. The British commander William Howe, realizing he could no longer hold the town, chose to evacuate it. He withdrew the British forces, departing on March 17, for Halifax, Nova Scotia.

“Visitors to the ‘The Noble Train Begins’ living history event will meet Henry Knox, the unassuming Boston book seller whose physical and mental might was first tested with the epic feat of moving more than 14 mortars, 43 cannon, and other artillery to Boston in the winter of 1776,” said Stuart Lilie, Fort Ticonderoga’s Director of Interpretation. “See man and horse power in action as the artillery is selected for the journey. Meet the soldiers left to guard this frontier outpost as the first winter of the Revolutionary War takes hold.”

Henry Knox: Washington’s Artilleryman by Rich Strum

“The Noble Train Begins” living history event will feature interpretive staff working with horses as they move the artillery in place for the journey, cannon tours and cannon demonstrations. The event will also feature Rich Strum, author of Henry Knox: Washington’s Artilleryman, who will present an overview on Henry Knox. Strum’s presentation will take place at 12 pm inside the Mars Education Center followed by a book signing.

Chocolate played an important role in the diet of a revolutionary war soldier.

Did you know that in 1775, the Connecticut Assembly passed the following resolution:

“As per May 11, 1775 the Connecticut Assembly Resolves Connecticut soldiers serving at Fort Ticonderoga were to receive as part of their rations, ‘Milk, Molasses, Candles, Soap, Vinegar, Coffee, Chocolate, Sugar, Tobacco, Onions and Vegetables’ in season…”

“Yes, Chocolate!” said Stuart Lilie, Fort Ticonderoga’s Director of Interpretation. “These rations made it all the way to Ticonderoga, and became a bone of contention with the New York soldiers who were not nearly as well provisioned that year.”

On Saturday, October 13th meet re-enactors of the Connecticut soldiers posted in the fall of 1775 at Fort Ticonderoga, and discover how chocolate was a simple luxury enjoyed by enlisted soldiers as well as officers. Step into the enlisted barracks and talk with soldiers about their sweet chocolate rations enjoyed in various forms to break the monotony of their usual stews. Visit the officer’s mess, where hot drinking chocolate makes the perfect final course to an early breakfast or late day supper. Rodney Snyder, Chocolate History Research Director for Mars Chocolate NA, will also be on hand to share the importance of chocolate in American history.

Free samples of hot chocolate featuring American Heritage Chocolate, an authentic colonial chocolate recipe made only from ingredients available in the 18th century made by Mars Chocolate, will be available throughout the day. Admission to this living history event is included with Fort Ticonderoga’s general admission ticket. Fort Ticonderoga is open from 9:30 am until 5 pm daily.

Amos Chaffee Revolutionary War powder horn. Photo courtesy of Fort Ticonderoga.

On July 7th Fort Ticonderoga will receive a remarkable donation. For over two centuries the Chaffee family has preserved their ancestor, Amos Chaffee’s, engraved powder horn, musket and walking stick. Now the family is entrusting the Fort Ticonderoga Association to preserve their ancestor’s Revolutionary War objects for future generations. The Chaffee family donation will be formally presented to Fort Ticonderoga at a ceremony on Fort Ticonderoga’s parade ground at 1pm, Saturday, July 7. The public is invited to attend.

“We met with curators from both the Smithsonian Institution and Fort Ticonderoga before deciding which institution to donate our historic items to,” said Hal Chaffee of Chicago, Illinois. “We chose Fort Ticonderoga for three reasons – one is that Amos Chaffee served there; the second is that at Fort Ticonderoga they are interested in keeping the items that a particular person owned even if they have similar items in their collection; and the third is they have a collection of about 150 powder horns from that era.”

“Fort Ticonderoga’s collection is greatly enhanced by the addition of these objects,” said Chris Fox, Curator of Collections. “It gives us the extraordinary opportunity to directly link a personal and powerful story of someone who served at Fort Ticonderoga to our object holdings.”

Amos Chaffee (1744-1815) served at Fort Ticonderoga between mid-January to mid-March 1777 with the Hampshire County Militia. Raised in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, the militia served as part of the Fort’s garrison guarding the Fort, going on scouts to spy on the British, and working to maintain Ticonderoga’s fortifications and sustain it through a long, cold winter season.

Amos Chaffee’s powder horn was made at Woodstock, Connecticut in 1762 and is inscribed with his name and an image of a globe showing a detailed map of the western hemisphere. His musket, which has seen heavy use and was repaired after the war as well as his walking stick were likely also made in Connecticut.

Fort Ticonderoga’s collection of 18th-century military objects is celebrated as one of the best of its type in the world. The collection of engraved powder horns numbers about seventy-five pieces spanning the French & Indian War and American Revolution.

Dozens of engraved powder horns are exhibited in the museum each season and many will be featured in the museum’s newest exhibit Bullets & Blades: The Weapons of America’s Colonial Wars and Revolution which opened in May 2012.