Fort Ticonderoga - American

Revolution:

Seen as a key defensive position by

the Americans, two expeditions

were mounted in 1775, to capture it.

Led by Colonels Ethan Allen and

Benedict Arnold, the groups

encountered each other in the

wilderness and after some

disagreement decided to work

together. Moving forward, they

successfully stormed the fort on May

10, 1775, and captured Captain

William Delaplace's garrison.

Becoming a hub of activity, Fort

Ticonderoga served as the jumping

off point for the American invasion of

Canada in July 1775. Late that year,

Colonel Henry Knox arrived and

removed many of the fort's guns for

use in the siege of Boston.

Transporting the fort's guns through

the snow, Knox's artillery train

played a key role in forcing the

British to abandon the city. In 1776,

the American army in Canada was

thrown back by the British and

forced to retreat back down Lake

George area. Encamping at Fort

Ticonderoga, they aided Arnold in

building a scratch fleet which fought

a successful delaying action at

Valcour Island that October. The

following year saw Major General

John Burgoyne launch a major

invasion down the lake. In

anticipation of the British attack,

efforts had been made to fortify

nearby Mounts Independence and

Hope.