Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga (Carillon), a "place between the waters," is strategically situated at the confluence of Lakes Champlain and George in upper New York. Built by the French in 1755 to protect CROWN POINT and the route to Canada, the Battle of Ticonderoga, in which the Marquis de MONTCALM smashed a superior British attacking force, was fought here in July 1758. The French abandoned Ticonderoga the following year. In May 1775, during the early stages of the American Revolution, the fort was taken without a struggle by colonial rebels. The British briefly reoccupied Ticonderoga in 1777 but withdrew later that year after the surrender of General John BURGOYNE at Saratoga, New York. Since about 1820, the Pell family has owned and administered Fort Ticonderoga, and it has been generally restored to its 18th- century appearance.
- - - - ROBERT S. ALLEN
The spark lit in Massachusetts at Lexington soon spread throughout the rest of the colonies. Whatever really may have happened in that misty dawn on Lexington Green, the news that speedy couriers, riding horses to exhaustion, carried through the colonies from New Hampshire to Georgia was of a savage, unprovoked British attack and of farmers rising in the night to protect their lives, their families, and their property. Lexington, like Fort Sumter and Pearl Harbor, furnished an emotional impulse that led all true patriots to gird themselves for battle. From the other New England colonies, militia poured in to join the Massachusetts men and together they soon formed a ring around Boston.
Other militia forces under Ethan Allen of Vermont and Benedict Arnold of Connecticut seized the British forts at TICONDEROGA and Crown Point, strategic positions on the route between New York and Canada. These posts yielded valuable artillery and other military stores. The Second Continental Congress, which assembled in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, found itself forced to turn from embargoes and petitions to the problems of organizing, directing, and supplying a military effort.
1775-David Wooster
1711-77, American Revolutionary officer, born in Fairfield, Conn. He served as an officer in the British army during the last of the French and Indian Wars. Wooster resigned his commission upon the outbreak of the American Revolution, was one of the promoters of the Ticonderoga expedition (1775), and was made brigadier general in the Continental army. He led Connecticut troops in the Quebec campaign. After the death of Richard Montgomery, Wooster was put in command (1776) of American forces at Quebec, but he was soon recalled by the Continental Congress because of his ineptitude. Wooster, commanding the Connecticut militia, was mortally wounded in battle near Danbury, Conn., against Tory raiders.
