There is much talk of "battles" in the historical myths surrounding the American War of Independence.

Here is the front page of a US school book ...:




But if one undress the story of these myths, then there were many of these "battles" not at all, or they were mere maneuvers, in which no shot was fired and no one was injured (from blisters on the feet of some soldiers maybe once apart).

So it was with the "Battle for Fort Ticonderoga" in 1777! The "epic battle" did not exist!

This is the true story about Fort Ticonderoga:

At the end of spring 1777, 2,500 men of American soldiers and militia members ...



... occupied the empty old fort. They were led by "general" Arthur St. Clair...:



I deliberately write "general" in quotation marks, because the gentleman wore thick golden epaulettes with two general stars, but in truth he was a doctor, anatomist - and a politician in his main job.

And apart from the well-oiled mouth typical of politicians, he had no idea of military matters!

Well, under St. Clair's command, his men worked like animals for two months to prepare the fort for defense!



They erected new buildings, new fortifications - and even a brand new bastion - Fort Independence - on the opposite side of Lake Champlain - and also built a pontoon bridge there!



The great strategist St. Clair had overlooked just one thing:

Very close to Fort Ticonderoga, a hill called "Sugar Loaf" (now "Mount Defiance") towers over both forts; a possible attacker who positions long-range heavy cannons there can calmly shoot all the glory together without exposing himself to any danger.

Defenders can't shoot back with the cannons of the fort, because the elevation angle of the pipes cannot be increased so much there!

This is the view of Fort Ticonderoga when you stand on top of the hill! At the bottom of the other side of the lake you can see the place where Fort Independence stood. In between the bridge stretched ...:



As the news spread, the highly professional British general Sir John Borgoyne ("Gentleman Johnny") ...



... closer with more than 5,000 British regulars ...





... and several Indian allies...



...sends the American commander-in-chief responsible for this section of the front "general" (large landowner and politician!) Philip Schuyler ...



... 3,500 men militia to reinforce his colleague St. Clair in a hurry.

On July 2, 1777, Borgoyne appeared with his troops in front of Ticonderoga - and it didn't take long to assess the situation correctly.

The very next day, the British begin to position heavy artillery on the "Sugar Loaf". The Redcoats had been able to occupy the hill without a fight, because the American "general" had not even thought of stationing at least one detachment there.

On July 4th, the Americans celebrate the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence - and the next morning hungover over their fortifications, they realize that the British have now deployed several heavy guns on the hill ...:



The Americans also see the British launching more cannons on the hill throughout the day.

"General" St. Clair now has two options:

First, he can wait for the British to open fire and shoot him, the fort, and his troops to pieces. And secondly, he can quickly retreat before being locked up.

Because on the other side of Lake Champlain, almost 4,500 troops Brunswick Troope allied with the British are moving ...



... under general Friedrich Adolph von Riedesel ...



... to close the mousetrap!

St. Clair of course opts for the second option (his own life is dear to him) and moves with his people over the pontoon bridge on the night of July 6, 1777.

He leaves behind all material, including artillery, ammunition reserves, supplies and food. And the fort has a lot of cannons ...:



Sick, wounded and other soldiers who cannot march are left behind. And a couple of men as "rearguard" - what for?

They later explain that they had been ordered to destroy the pontoon bridge after the withdrawal of the main power (and thereby cut off the escape route themselves).

When the British realize on the morning of July 6 that Fort Ticonderoga is deserted, they approach cautiously.

They find the entire American rearguard asleep and seriously drunk. The soldiers had discovered a wine barrel that had not yet been emptied and apparently continued the celebration of the anniversary of the declaration of independence in a small circle.

So the British conquer Fort Ticonderoga completely bloodless!

That was it, the "epic battle" for Fort Ticonderoga!

Borgoyne sends his under-general Simon Fraser ...



... immediately with a detachment to persecute the fleeing Americans ...:



The "epic battle" also had an aftermath:

When the circumstances became known, the American Continental Congress forced Philip Schuyler to resign as commanding officer of the "Northern Department of the Continental Army".

He will be replaced by general Horatio Gates, a professional who learned his craft from scratch (as a leftenant) in the British Army - including as a captain during the Bavarian War of Succession in Germany ...:



"General" St. Clair, who stubbornly insists that his actions were "honorable", is brought before a court martial - and acquitted. He can even return to work - but never gets an independent command again.

However, as one of the riders on the right, he will be there when General Sir Charles Cornwallis surrenders in Yorktown on October 19, 1781 and the Americans have finally won the war...:

Love these snippets from history Martin. Thanks for taking the time to put them together, keep them coming. ,,

Keith

Thank you!

In my own German Figure Forum I have been writing a post like this every day for six years (when I am not traveling) because I think that our hobby has a lot to do with history.

For me, the figure hobby is even much more, namely "painted history"!

Hundreds of such articles have accumulated in the meantime, many of them should not interest you very much (special German things), some is also satire and not allowed here by the forum rules (like a supposedly planned Merkel memorial in the Alps, which I thought up) ...



... but some things may also be interesting for you.

I would be happy to continue this - maybe Nap can set up a rubric ("A Day in History") - and maybe someone would still like to participate ....


Cheers

Martin, yet again, this is superb stuff. Thanks as always

3rd Bn The Royal Regiment of Scotland celebrate Ticonderoga day ON THIS VERY DAY every year

Not for this Battle, but their Valour in the French Indian Wars.....

During the French-Indian War in North America, General Abercromby took charge of the expedition against the French at Fort Ticonderoga on the 8th July 1758, with a force of 15,390 men, including 6337 Regular soldiers. The 42nd (Black Watch) were part of the regular force. Fort Ticonderoga was surrounded on three sides by water with part of the fourth side protected by a morass; forming a most formidable defence. The fort was garrisoned by 5000 men, including nearly 3000 French troops of the line.

The British forces advanced at speed towards the Fort entrenchments, which they found to be much more formidable that they expected. The 42nd pushing forward to the front, endeavoured to cut their way through trees with their broadswords and in the face of a destructive fire, maintained their ground without flinching. After a desperate struggle, which lasted about four hours, General Abercromby seeing no possible chance of success, gave orders for a retreat. It was with difficulty that 42nd could be prevailed upon to retire and it was not till they received the third order that they were induced to retreat after more than half the men and twenty-five officers had been either killed or wounded.

The intrepid conduct of the 42nd during the battle was made the topic of universal praise and admiration in Great Britain, and the public spirits teemed with honourable testimonies to their bravery. The Regiment’s fighting spirit was further enhanced by written testimonies from other soldiers on the same battlefield. An officer from the 55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot stated:

“With a mixture of esteem, grief, I consider the great loss and immortal glory acquired by the 42nd in this late bloody affair. Impatient for orders, they rushed forward to the entrenchments, which many of them actually mounted. They appeared like lions breaking from their chains. Their intrepidity was rather animated than damped by seeing their comrades fall on every side. I have only to say of them, that they seemed more anxious to revenge the cause of their deceased friends, than careful to avoid the same fate”

The battle was the bloodiest of the war, with over 3,000 casualties suffered. The 42nd paid dearly with more than 300 men (including 8 officers) killed, and a similar number wounded. King George later that year designated the 42nd a “Royal” regiment, due to its gallantry in earlier battles, and issued letters of service for adding a second battalion as a testimony of his Majesty’s satisfaction and approbation of the extraordinary courage, loyalty, and exemplary conduct of the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot.

Aftermath

General Abercrombie never led another military campaign. William Pitt, the British Secretary of State who had designed the British military strategy and received word of the defeat in August, wrote to Abercrombie that the “King has judged proper that you should return to England. Abercrombie continued to be promoted, eventually reaching the rank of full General. In 1759 the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment returned to the same battlefield at Ticonderoga and victory was won within 30 minutes.


So...choosing today to post this is both morally very wrong, and saying there wasn't a battle there is
I correct, and detrimental to the bravery and dead of both sides.

God Bless the Black Watch.

But if one undress the story of these myths, then there were many of these "battles" not at all, or they were mere maneuvers, in which no shot was fired and no one was injured (from blisters on the feet of some soldiers maybe once apart).

So it was with the "Battle for Fort Ticonderoga" in 1777! The "epic battle" did not exist!

This is the true story about Fort Ticonderoga:

Seriously! Are you trying to say that this battle didn’t exist! Please explain the reason as to why it is a battle honour on the colours of the 42nd The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) now 3 Scots, Royal Regiment. To save time, I will answer for you. What you have posted about this being nothing but “manoeuvres” is pure nonsense! Basically you’ve said that historians have got it wrong over the centuries and you’re bringing the 42nd The Black Watch into disrepute. You try getting in touch with the archivist at the regimental museum this and I bet you’re reply from them will not be pleasant.

Rant over!