18th Century Winter Encampment

[snapper]

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sred...gQE&feat=email

Hey all - I'm not really sure where to place this because it doesn't truly fit either this category or the winter camping one. Hopefully it will be of some interest nonetheless and hey, if the moderators need to move it, I certainly understand.

This past weekend I was invited to an overnight winter encampment at Fort Ticonderoga. For those who aren't familiar with the fort, it was built by the French in the 1750s and is located on Lake Champlain. The fort is on the NY side of the lake but VT is just a stone's throw away. At some point in the history of the fort it was the military property of the French, English and Americans. Suffice to say, there's a great deal of early North American history that took place here. If you see the photo of the plaque by the entry way you'll see the names of some very important people who have passed through these same passages. It's pretty humbling when you read that list of "Who's Who" and realize you're standing & walking where they did.

I was invited to be a part of this group by one of our newer members to this forum and felt truly honored to be there. We stayed in the original barracks and scouted outside the fort and along the lake shore as part of the weekend. Since there are exhibits in the space above the barracks all cooking was done inside the fort but outside the buildings. Historically we would have used the fireplaces inside the sleeping rooms. At one point on Saturday night I went up to the parapet wall alone to see if I could get the sense of loneliness these men must have felt. While modern lights twinkled in the distance it was still easy to be transported back into time and get that sense of forlorness they had to have experienced. It was truly a unique experience and one I was glad to be able to share in.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...Be well.

snapper

PS - I posted this because of a thread that was started about a week ago on living history. Since that thread had some interest I figured others might like to see these photos as well. I hope you all enjoy them.

[Kerri]

That is beyond cool thanks for sharing

[foresterfrench]

Fort Ticonderoga is one of my favorite places. I am originally a Vermonter so was able to visit often. They have a great collection of powder horns.

[MtnManJoe]

Very Cool .. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[foxfire]

That Fort is steeped in history. As is the state of NY in the birth of our nation. Thanks for sharing with us.

[Skab]

That looks like a blast! Thanks for sharing.

[mlp2147]

Looks colder than a well digger's butt.... and so much fun! Thanks for sharing.

[bigbore442001]

Fort Ti is a great place. I was there last August for a geography teachers conference. They do offer a great deal to many.

[bharen]

That Fort is steeped in history. As is the state of NY in the birth of our nation. Thanks for sharing with us.

I just finished reading 'Bloody Mohawk' and I'm about 1/3 of the way through 'War On The Run', the biography of Robert Rogers of Rogers Rangers fame. You are correct, folks have little idea of the overall importance of New York, and in particular the control of the Mohawk Valley, in the formation of the United States. It was pretty simple - control the Mohawk Valley and you control the fur trade and land access to the New England colonies. That whole region is steeped in history. And blood.

[rdec]

A fine historical novel of the area is Northwest Passage by Kenneth Roberts.