History comes alive at Fort Ticonderoga

Photo courtesy of George M. Jones III
Explore life at Fort Ticonderoga on the eve of the 1758 battle at Fort Ticonderoga’s upcoming living history weekend, July 7 and 8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the largest battles staged in North America prior to the Civil War will be discovered anew this weekend as Fort Ticonderoga holds its Battle of Carillon Living History weekend.

The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 7 and 8.

Throughout the weekend, visitors will be immersed in life behind the scenes of the French lines. They will be able to witness how French soldiers lived inside the fort, known as Fort Carillon at the time. They will watch re-enactors demonstrate the construction of the French lines during the battle, a half-mile-long breastwork made from a tangle of treetops and sharpened braches that successfully defended the fort against British forces.

“French soldiers” will fire muskets, demonstrating how they maintained a constant barrage of fire from the parapets.

The weekend relives what is considered France’s greatest victory of the French and Indian War. In July 1758, the British army attempted to capture the fort and gain control of the portage between Lake George and Lake Champlain. On July 8, the British attacked, but the French breastworks held, and more than 2,000 British soldiers were either killed or wounded. After the battle, the British retreated to its camp at the southern end of Lake George.

The site will be open each day at 9:30 a.m. with a ceremonial flag-raising and events will follow throughout the day. A demonstration of the construction of the French lines will be held at 10:15 a.m. and 2 p.m., and a musket demonstration will be presented at 11:30 a.m. A fife and drum concert will be held at 12:30 p.m., and an artillery demonstration at 2:30 p.m.

For more information, including a complete schedule of activities is available at www.fortticonderoga.org.