Benedict Arnold

The Importance of Fort Ticonderoga

by J. Michael Flynn, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Ticonderoga is strategically situated on the most direct and easiest transportation route, approximately half way between Quebec in Canada and New York City. Ticonderoga was Britain's most important outpost in North America. Fort Amherst a sister fort, was located at Crown's Point. It and Ticonderoga, twelve miles north, were the linch pins on which, depending who held them, would either permit or deny invasion of either Canada or America. To understand their importance one must look back in time only 17 years to the French and Indian War.

Anyone who has seen the movie Hawkeye will recall the British defeat at Fort William Henry in 1756. This fort is located at the southern end of Lake George while Ticonderoga is at the northern end of the lake. A battle occurred at Ticonderoga during that war on July 4, 1758. Fifteen thousand British attacked approximately 4,000 excellently protected French defenders. A British frontal attack was launched hourly for seven hours. The result 1,900 British dead and a British defeat. This action was noted by one military historian as "one of the most incredible incidents of bravery and stupidity in the British Army" and Fort Ticonderoga gained its reputation as being impregnable.

After the French and Indian War Britain spent 2 million pounds to rebuild Ticonderoga and an additional substantial amount rebuilding Fort St. Frederic at Crown Point which the British renamed Fort Amherst. This money was authorized during the reign of King George III.

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© Copyright 1997 by David W. Tschanz.
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