The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
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Institutional Affiliation
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
The battle and siege of Fort Ticonderoga are one of the famous stories during the American revolution. The French occupants of North America constructed the fortress in the shores of Lake Champlain in 1755 (History.com Editors, 2010). Originally named Fort Carillon, the stronghold served as a strategic point, facilitating access to both the Hudson River valley and Canada during the French and Indian war, also known as the seven-year battle of 1756-1763(History.com Editors, 2010; Central Intelligence Agency, 2013). The position of the fort made an essential link for the supply of essential and coordination of communications between New York and Canada. Attempts to capture the fortress began in 1758 when British forces launched a failed attack, only for an army led by General Jeffrey Amherst to return in 1759 and force out the French (History.com Editors, 2010). The new owners changed the name of the castle to Ticonderoga, after rebuilding most of the structures damaged during the eviction.
Nevertheless, conflicts at Concord and Lexington, Massachusetts, between the British and Patriot forces in 1875 reduced the number of men manning the fort. The latter was interested in the military gear posited to be held in the port, resources that could prove useful to the American Continental Army. To gain such supplies, an attack was planned.
In 1775, the Massachusetts committee of safety granted Benedict Arnold colonel command over 400 men, who would collaborate with the Green Mountain Boys, a Vermont militia group led by Colonel Ethan Allen. Both leaders agreed on a shared authority after the Mountain Boys refused to be led by a “foreigner” (Central Intelligence Agency, 2013). The attacking teams were ready at the shores of the lake in the early morning of May 10, 1775. Intelligence reports indicated that the fortress had only 42 guards, a number that was insignificant in the face of the attackers (Central Intelligence Agency, 2013). Additionally, the British were unaware of an impending attack or the presence of the forces. The fort was captured without a battle as the British surrendered to the newcomers.
The seizure of Ticonderoga had immediate and future implications. Primarily, the American Continentals received a boost in their armory and morale, setting the foundation for victories in Fort Crown. Equally, the supplies from Ticonderoga were used by Gen. Henry Knox to defeat the British in Boston (Central Intelligence Agency, 2013). The severed link between Canada and New York also disrupted the control of the British in the region, leading to a separation in command, a factor that weekend them and aided future American Success.
References
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (2013, April 30). Intelligence throughout history: The capture of Fort Ticonderoga, 1775. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2010-featured-story-archive/capture-of-fort-ticonderoga.html
History.com Editors. (2010, March 8). The capture of Fort Ticonderoga. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/capture-of-fort-ticonderoga