2018 The Enemy is Refortifying Ticonderoga
Relive Revolutionary War history at the Living History Event: The Enemy is Refortifying Ticonderoga on November 10, 2018 at historic Fort Ticonderoga in Ticonderoga, New York. Explore how British soldiers and sailors prepared for one last campaign to be launched from Ticonderoga in the fall of 1781. Watch as cattle pull heavy provisions and guns. Discover how technologies designed for use on the water were applied on land to facilitate an active military campaign. Meet with refugees of the colonies seeking security within British territory. At The Enemy is Refortifying Ticonderoga, you can explore the trades and tools employed by soldiers and sailors to make and mend everything from sails to entire barracks. Will the British Army stay at Ticonderoga for long? Will they move further into New York, or retreat back north?
Living History Event: The Enemy is Refortifying Ticonderoga Mini-Gallery
As General Washington reveled in his victory at Yorktown in October 1781, British and Loyalist forces assembled at Ticonderoga to attempt a push down the Champlain Valley to control this strategic North American waterway. Witness as soldiers and sailors work to resurrect old cannons thrown in the lake in 1777 by evacuating armies. Witness tradesmen of the British army diligently repairing remnants of the fort to secure the vital ground at Ticonderoga. Simple machines were everywhere in 1781. Join Fort Ticonderoga on November 10th for our “The Enemy is Refortifying Ticonderoga” living history event to explore the uses of these astounding technologies! From moving boats to hauling heavy loads, watch oxen in action at our living history event “The Enemy is Refortifying Ticonderoga.”
Admission
Event tickets are $12.00. Free admission is offered to Members of Fort Ticonderoga, Ambassador Pass holders, and children age 4 and under. The Enemy is Refortifying Ticonderoga event runs from 10:00 am-4:00 pm.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location
Fort Ticonderoga
102 Fort Ti Road
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
For More Information: Phone: 518-585-2821; Email: info@fort-ticonderoga.org
The enemy is refortifying Ticonderoga, General Enos of Vermont says that on the 26th ultimo they had already covered the largest barrack and had two hundred cattle employed in drawing materials for the repairs of the fort. A Vermont scout consisting of a sergeant and seven men fell into the enemy’s hands. The sergeant was killed and the others were carried to Ticonderoga.
Daily Visitor Schedule
10:00 am Fort Ticonderoga Opens to Visitors
10:15 am Key to the Continent Tour (Begins at American Flag)
Ticonderoga was far from a quiet outpost in 1781. Explore how British soldiers and sailors repaired the fort, refit the ordnance, and readied themselves for a campaign into New England. Explore this chapter among many in the history of Ticonderoga, the Key to the Continent.
11:00 am Ropes, Levers, Pulleys, and Winches (Demonstration Area)
When the army arrived at Ticonderoga in October of 1781, they did not have an army artillery with them. Navy guns and their carriages were hauled off ships and placed in positions on land. Watch
as sailors with simple machines hoisted and hauled the ‘Great Guns’ into fortified positions.
11:30 am Who was the Average Redcoat? (Mars Education Center Great Room)
Join Fort Ticonderoga’s Curator, Matthew Keagle, to explore rare documents that provide a glimpse into the demographics of the British, German, and Loyalist forces that defended Canada late in the
Revolutionary War. Find out how tall, how old, and how much experience King George’s forces had when redcoats returned to Ticonderoga in 1781.
12:00 pm Strike the Tents (Parade Ground)
After 11 days of occupation, the British Army left Ticonderoga. Witness the preparations made to move 2,000 soldiers, sailors, and their equipment back north. From taking down tents to loading
equipment and men onto carts, experience the feat of logistics to decamp an army.
12:30 pm South America to Ticonderoga: Dining on Chocolate (Parade Ground)
Chocolate was a common ration among seamen and soldiers. Explore the long route that chocolate travelled to get to Ticonderoga and discover the recipes and uses of these 18th -century treats.
1:15 pm Key to the Continent Tour (Begins at the Large American Flag)
See 10:15 am description.
2:00 pm Cannon Demonstration (Demonstration Area)
Royal Navy sailors were both masters of the sail and masters of the great guns. Witness how sailors brought naval gunnery skills from ships onto land at Ticonderoga. Experience the meticulous
procedure designed for loading and firing cannons safe on sea and land.
2:30 pm Borgard to Blomefield (Parade Ground)
Tour the fort and examine some of the original British Naval cannon that armed their ships around the world. Explore the design and structure of these heavy iron guns and their evolution over the 18th century. Learn how trial and error lead to some of the most effective 18th -century naval cannon.
3:00 pm The Retreat (Parade Ground)
With tents packed and loaded and men and refugees assembled, watch as the army debarks, following the procession as the British Army leaves Ticonderoga for the last time.
4:00 pm Fort Ticonderoga Closes to Visitors
ONGOING 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Hands on Cannon for Kids! (Officer’s Quarters)
What do the markings on a cannon mean? Explore the original collection of cannon around the fort and identify what the numbers and symbols tell us about those cannon.
Ropes & Rigging (Demonstration Area)
From lifting the topsail to unloading barrels on land, see how skilled sailors rigged ropes and blocks to help move heavy loads. Try your hand at tying knots, securing rigging, and hauling on the lines. Discover the simple machines that made great campaigns possible.
Soldiers’ Dinner (by the Fort Archway)
‘Ships biscuit,’ wasn’t just for sailors in 1781. See how the challenges of feeding sailors on the high seas and soldiers on the march converged at Ticonderoga. Explore how kettles of dry or salted rations were cooked into meals, whether in an army camp kitchen or a ship’s galley.
Gunner’s Fatigue (Soldiers’ Barracks)
Guns, large and small, required daily care to work correctly. Watch as boiling water, oil, and brick dust kept muskets shiny, clean, and most importantly, ready to fire.
Sails, Tarps, and Hammocks (Officers’ Barracks)
Ship’s sails and seaman’s hammocks were a staple for British Naval forces around the world. Explore how a little hemp and wax with a sturdy needle turned rolls of sailcloth into useful materials
for war.
Officer’s Quarters (Officers’ Barracks)
British Naval officers were far from inactive in their free time. When not on the watch or overseeing the men, naval officers proactively studied sailing and gunnery. Explore the math and science it takes to run a ship, and how that applies today.
Refugees (Officers’ Barracks)
Over the summer of 1781, hundreds of women and children flocked to the shores of Lake Champlain in hopes of safety in Canada. Learn how loyalist families were willing to travel hundreds of miles to find a new home in the Province of Quebec.
Exhibit Spaces: Pieces of Eight • Sarah Pell’s Struggle for History and Human Rights • Iron & Stone: Building Fort Carillon • Artillery Court • 1781: A War Not Yet Won • Great Wars: Ticonderoga and World War I • Hands-on Artillery Laboratory.
About Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga, named Carillon by the French in 1755 and known to the soldiers in the American Revolution as “the old French Fort,” stood at the center of two wars and five battles. By 1820, the “old French Fort” had fallen into ruins when William Ferris Pell purchased the land and began one of America’s earliest preservation efforts. During the 19th century, the ruins of the fort stood at the center of inspiration for writers, artists, and travelers who visited the scenic and historic Ticonderoga peninsula. In 1908, the Fort’s restoration and reconstruction began launching the earliest restoration effort in America. Today, the fort sits at the center of the Ticonderoga experience where guests can explore museum exhibitions, interact with historic trades staff, and participate in lively daily programs and special events and reenactments. Whether it is your first time to Fort Ticonderoga or you have been visiting the fort for decades, it’s never too early to start planning your next adventure. In addition to the special activities of the Living History event, The Enemy is Refortifying Ticonderoga, the Fort calendar is filled with exciting daily programs and evening programs, behind-the-scene tours, and engaging special events for visitors of all ages!
Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Living History Event: The Enemy is Refortifying Ticonderoga in November at historic Fort Ticonderoga in Ticonderoga, New York.
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