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The July 20th and 21st Defiance and Independence encampment at Fort Ticonderoga promises to be an exciting commemoration of both the 50th birthday of the Brigade of the American Revolution and the 235th anniversary of the capture of the Fort in 1777. This event will celebrate the great history of this organization by doing what the BAR has always done best: recreating the soldiers of an important event during a critical campaign of the American Revolution. It will also provide the opportunity for participants to immerse themselves in a unique experience.
Fort Ticonderoga and its network of fortifications stood as the first defensive line against General Burgoyne's drive to capture Albany in 1777. The backdrop of this campaign is beautiful, set on the shores of Lake Champlain below the Adirondack Mountains. But the beauty of the scene belied the health and supply problems of this remote post. Regulars and militia levies from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and modern-day Vermont busily repaired the interlocking redoubts and trenches around Ticonderoga, Mount Hope, and Mount Independence during that spring of 1777. Despite this work, the 3,600 effective soldiers were spread thin in defensive works that had held three times that number the previous fall. During constant skirmishing, Burgoyne's British and German regulars hemmed in General Arthur St. Clair's Continentals despite a fierce resistance.
The Fort was captured after days of subtle maneuver in the hills and valleys around Ticonderoga, with General Burgoyne carefully moving men just out of range of the considerable Continental artillery batteries.
Using Fort Ticonderoga's 2,000 acres, July's encampment will recreate the various skirmishes in the wooded hills around the Fort which eventually lead to its capture. During the day British and United States units will rotate taking their place on the front line in opposing pickets. These pickets will escalate into our public tactical demonstrations. These recreated skirmishes will be fast-paced and fast-moving as a mounted general staff will relay orders in real time. Saturday evening will feature a unique opportunity for volunteers to recreate of one of the great feats of military engineering during the American Revolution. This action was the death blow to Fort Ticonderoga, wielded by General Phillips of the Royal Artillery.
Under the cover of darkness, he led the construction of a road up the steep wooded slope of Sugar Hill, now called Mount Defiance, to have a battery of artillery gain its summit by the morning of July 5th. During this action he coined the motto for this feat, "Where a goat can go, a man can go. Where a man can go, he can haul a cannon." In this summer's event, volunteers will have the opportunity to recreate the hauling of these guns up to the summit of Mount Defiance, beginning with a parade through the town of Ticonderoga, on their way to recreating the artillery battery which outflanked Fort Ticonderoga, forced its evacuation, and ended the battle.
United States forces, portraying Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont soldiers, will encamp in and around the Fort's walls, with some units and officers using the recreated barracks rooms of the Fort. United States forces will have their formations on the parade inside Fort Ticonderoga. Recreated here too will be General Saint Clair's command staff, transcribing unit returns, inspections, and written orders for the event inside the Fort. British, German, and Loyalist forces, recreating their counterparts in General Burgoyne's Army will encamp in the King's Garden, right along the shore of Lake Champlain. This colonial revival garden historically was the soldier's garden, supplementing the rations of generations of soldiers from 1755 to 1777. This cool, shaded orchard is both close to merchants and amenities, while still out of view of the American camp.
For this event units are encouraged to tailor their impressions with some of the distinctive features of the Burgoyne campaign. In other words units doing early or late war impressions should consider modifying their appearance to more closely resemble that of the actual units involved in the Burgoyne campaign. The philosophy guiding this is basically the same as that for the "Battle Road" events. To assist in this effort Fort Ticonderoga will be posting documentation about the soldiers on both sides. Additionally, Fort Ticonderoga and the BAR will be hosting workshops on the construction of some uniform pieces that will make this event a uniquely authentic experience for visitors and participants alike.
With a beautiful backdrop, an incredible fort, and a great piece of history to recreate, the July 20th and 21st Defiance and Independence event is one not to miss.
From the Brigade Courier, Vol 28 No. 2, April/May
Here is a more detailed description of the Event than published in the February/March issue of The Brigade Courier.
ORGANIZATION
The Brigade will field Congressional and Crown armies with each organized into battalions representing the brigades in and around Fort Ticonderoga in July of 1777. These battalions will be comprised of companies and platoons. Smaller units should be prepared to amalgamate with other units in order to form realistic sized platoons/companies. It is important that unit commanders contact their respective army commanders (noted below) as soon as practicable and advise him of their anticipated strength. From these rolls, staff and field assignments will be made (to be published in the June/July Courier) and updated on this page.
Fully functioning Army & Battalion staffs will manage the forces in a proper military manner all the way down to the company level. The Fort will be providing appropriate 18th centruy forms to record all pertinent data.
As mentioned previously, participants are highly encouraged to tailor their impressions to resemble those of the troops engaged in July of 1777. Guidelines for accomplishing this can be found at the Fort's website: www.fortticonderoga.org Scroll down to the Re-Enactors link then click the Re-Enactor Information link (deep links to these pages are prevented).
CAMPS
The rugged terrain will allow for unique opportunities. The Congressional camps will be located adjacent to the Fort proper. The Crown camp will be at the King's Garden, a short distance from the fort. Each camp will have communal kitchen areas. Cooking gear and camp furniture should be seriously limited and, of course, all visible items must be of 18th C. appearance, design and function. (With the exception of tentage, if you couldnŐt carry it on the march, donŐt bring it.) Coolers, milk jugs, sleeping bags and the like should be tucked away in closed tents. The camp provosts will be on the watch. Tavern space will be available adjacent to the camps.
LOGISTICS
All attendees must sign-in upon arrival. Congressional registration will be adjacent to the Fort. Crown registration will be next to the gravel road to the King's Garden.
Have your car's color, make, model and license plate number ready for a parking pass. Please remove vehicles to the participant parking area as soon as you are unloaded.
All vehicles must be in the participant parking area before 9:00 AM on Saturday.
Wood, water, straw and porta-sans will be provided in several convenient locations.
Real restrooms are located on site at the Mars Education Center and the Log Cabin restaurant which also serves breakfast and lunch at reasonable costs.
Fires will be limited to designated areas. Because the site is so archaeologically sensitive, digging or any disturbance of soil or stone is strictly prohibited!
Automobiles will not be permitted off road except at designated areas. Therefore, be prepared to carry your baggage up to 100 yards to your tent site.
Horses, boats and artillery are welcome! Please register your plans for attendance as soon as possible with your army commander.
SUTLERS AND MERCHANTS
Merchants need to pre-register with Fort Ticonderoga. Please call Stuart Lilie, Director of Interpretation at the Fort (518-585-6190) or Peter Schaaphok, BAR Event Coordinator to register and get information on the fort's requirements.
As always, BAR sutler and merchant guidelines apply. Only period products presented in a period manner may be displayed.
For further details contact BAR Inspector of Merchants, Roy Najecki (401) 647-3631
NOTE FOR HORSES
The site is quite rocky with numerous hidden holes and thorny shrubs. Riding should be limited to roads, trails and cultivated grassy areas. In the event a horse is ridden, or runs loose, into an un-mowed or overgrown area serious injury can occur. Horsemen must contact Stuart Lilie at the fort for all horserelated details.
FRIDAY
9:00 AM-11:00 PM: Registration open in British and American Camps
8:00 PM: Officers Meeting
All officers and unit commanders who have arrived by this time are asked to meet by the Log House to discuss the weekend's schedule, safety, and logistical concerns.
SATURDAY
7:00 AM: Reveille in British and American Camps
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Registration open in British and American Camps
All vehicles must be in participant parking before 9:00 AM Saturday.
8:00 AM: Officer's Meeting
9:30 AM: Fort Opens to Visitors
10:00 AM Inspection: British Army on its Parade, Continental Army on the Fort's Parade Officers and NCOs responsible for their units must have a written return of their units to be delivered to the adjutant at parade. Arms will be inspected for safety by each unit's officers, under the supervision of the BAR IG and the Fort's Safety officers.
10:30 AM British & American Guards and Pickets Posted. British and American Guards are posted in opposition to each other. They are allowed to clear brush and fire upon each other if the situation warrants it. Officers with guards are accountable for the safe and appropriate conduct of their men while on guard. All guards must have their arms inspected prior to leaving camp.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Program: Mapping Ticonderoga, Surveying the Northern Army.
11:30 AM Program: Artillery Demonstration, adjacent to the British Camp.
1:00 PM Alarm, Assembly & Inspection. Guards will begin an increased, but sporatic fire on post. British and American Forces will form up. Arms will be inspected for safety by each unit's officers, under the supervision of the BAR IG and the Fort's Safety officers. Visitors must stay with the Continental Army Staff, who will be maintaining a safe margin between visitors and the participant forces. It is incumbent on every BAR participant to help with this process, as the Skirmish will not begin until visitors are safely located.
1:30 PM: Skirmish at Recreated French Lines
2:00 PM: Alarm and Skirmish on Heights of Carillon
2:30 PM: Retire from Battlefield
3:00 PM: Program: The Northern Army of 1777 - Stuart Lilie & the Northern Department General Staff.
3:30 PM Program: People of the Brigade - Soldiers and Citizens in July of 1777.
4:00 PM Program: British Engineers discuss and Demonstrate the Science of their Trade.
4:30 PM Program: Sutlers for the Army - Phil Dunning explains the role of sutlers within the Continental and British Armies.
5:00 PM: Fort Closes to Visitors
5:30 PM: Artillery Limbered for Transport to Mount Defiance
Royal Artillery gun crews who volunteer to haul guns to the summit of Mount Defiance will begin to move guns either on foot or by vehicle. British or Loyalist infantry units who are helping haul guns will move out as well.
6:30 PM: Royal Artillery Gun crews haul their cannons through downtown Ticonderoga, on their way to the summit of Mount Defiance.
8:00 PM: Guns Emplaced on Mt. Defiance RA Gun crews and supporting infantry will encamp for the night atop Mount Defiance.
11:00 PM: Tattoo
SUNDAY
7:00 AM: Reveille
9:00 AM: Divine Service on the Parade of Fort Ticonderoga
9:30 AM: Fort Opens to Visitors
9:30 AM: Guns on Mount Defiance Open Fire
10:00 AM: Continental Musick beats "The General"
Units who are willing to spend the day living out of their knapsacks are encouraged to pack their tents as if awaiting transport.
10:30 AM: Guards and Pickets Posted British and American Guards are posted in opposition to each other, they are allowed to clear brush and fire if necessary, while posted. Officer's with guards are accountable for the safe appropriate conduct of their men while on guard. All guards must have their arms inspected prior to leaving camp.
11:00 AM-12:00 PM Program: Joel Anderson describes the flight of the Continental Army from the Fort.
11:30 AM: Artillery Demonstration
1:00 PM: Alarm, Assembly & Inspection Guards will begin a more sporadic fire on the post. British and American Forces will form up. Arms will be inspected for safety by each unit's officers, under the supervision of the BAR IG and the Fort's Safety officers. Visitors must stay with the Continental Army Staff, who will be maintaining a safe margin between visitors and the participant forces. It is incumbent on every BAR participant to help with this process, as the Skirmish will not begin until visitors are safely located.
1:30 PM: Skirmish
2:00 PM: Retire from Battlefield
2:30 PM Program: The Northern Army of 1777 - Stuart Lilie & the Northern Department General Staff.
3:00 PM: Continental Army Evacuation
4:00 PM: Cars Allowed into camp
DIRECTIONS
From all points take I-87 to Rt. 74 east to the town of Ticonderoga, NY and follow tourism signs.
For a slower but more scenic route, exit I-87 at Lake George and follow Rt. 9N north to Ticonderoga.
TRAFFIC
Enter the site by the lower access road.
To get there, drive past the old main gate, over the railroad tracks and take your next right.
That road will lead you through the lower gate, and around to the Fort. Please follow signs for the appropriate army registration and camps areas. All participant traffic is to enter and exit the site through the lower gate. Parking and modern camping will be in the fields near the lower gate.
HOTELS
Belfred Court Motel
341 Montcalm Street, Ticonderoga, NY
518-585-7000
Best Western Ticonderoga Inn & Suites
260 Burgoyne Road, Ticonderoga, NY
518-585-2378 or 877-578-7000
bestticonderogahotel.com
Circle Court Motel
440 Montcalm Street, Ticonderoga, NY
518-585-7660
www.circlecourtmotel.com
Congressional Commander:
Peter Schaaphok, 2nd N. York Regt.
(518)369-0910
Crown forces Commander:
Ken Siegel, 23rd Regt of Foot, RWF
(781)718-5884
Emergency Contact:
Fort Ticonderoga (518) 585-2821