Fort Ticonderoga

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The Continental Army at Ticonderoga gave hope to this new nation with their victory over the British Army on October 28, 1776, beginning their long watch over the winter to come.

Join Fort Ticonderoga on December 7th for a one-day living history event and witness soldiers’ preparations to hold the line of liberty, maintaining their discipline through the hardships of winter and discover the adversities they had to overcome each day as they continued to prepare Ticonderoga’s defenses.

Immerse yourself in history at Fort Ticonderoga this winter! Visit https://www.fortticonderoga.org/ft_events/for the full event schedule and details. Appropriate winter footwear is highly recommended for undetermined walking conditions during events.

#LivingHistory #WinterQuarters #FamilyFun #winterevents

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Happy #ManuscriptMonday and happy Thanksgiving week!

Thanksgiving officially became an American national holiday in 1863 and was celebrated in most states by the start of the 19th century, but its history is much longer than that. The roots of the holiday stretch back much to the 16th-century Protestant Reformation in England, when days of fasting and days of thanksgiving became part of the liturgical calendar. Days of thanksgiving were called for by the government to celebrate events viewed as blessings from God, either as one-time holidays or as annual remembrances. An annual day of thanksgiving celebrating the failure of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot eventually became the modern Guy Fawkes Day. Military victories were also a common reason for proclaiming days of thanksgiving.

One of the earlier documents in our archives, MS.7260, part of the Robert Nittolo Collection, is one such proclamation. This act was passed on October 11, 1649 by Parliament, then the ruling body of Britain after the execution of King Charles I. The act calls for a “Day of Publique Thanksgiving to be observed throughout England and Wales, on Thursday the First of November, 1649”. The day of thanksgiving is called to celebrate God’s role in Parliamentary victories in their war with Ireland, including “the Goodness and Power of God in the late wonderful Victory, which he hath been pleased to give unto the Parliaments Forces there before Dublin (never to be forgotten)”. Unlike Thanksgiving today, the day was not celebrated with a feast with family or friends, but rather with more time in church. The act orders that England’s ministers notify their parishes of the holiday in advance so that “the People of their several Congregations may the more generally and diligently attend the Publique Exercise of God’s Worship and Service, there to be Dispensed upon this Occasion”.

Whether you celebrate with a church service or a feast, and whatever good things you are celebrating this year, we hope you have a happy Thanksgiving.

This document can be found on our online database in the link below. #TiconderogaCollections #OpeningTheVault https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/31058

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Fort Ticonderoga invites history buffs and families alike to step back in time with a special living history event, "To Render This Place as Tenable as Possible," on December 7th, 2024, from 10am to 4pm.

This immersive experience will transport visitors to a pivotal moment in the American Revolution – the winter of 1776. Following the Continental Army`s victory at Ticonderoga on October 28th, the event explores the challenges and triumphs faced by the soldiers as they prepared for a long, harsh winter and the uncertain future of the war.

Experience the raw labor that secured liberty, as soldiers fortify Ticonderoga against a potential British invasion. See firsthand how the Northern Continental Army rallied its troops, thanking them for their service and encouraging them to reenlist. Explore the hardships faced by soldiers and learn about the nurses who tirelessly worked to bring them back to health. Discover how soldiers prepared for the coming year, from crafting essential supplies to strategizing for General Washington`s aid.

The victory at Ticonderoga in late 1776 was a beacon of hope during a critical time for the Continental Congress. This living history event recreates the aftermath, showcasing the dedication required to defend Ticonderoga and its enduring impact on the American Revolution. Through these compelling programs, we share the importance of Fort Ticonderoga in the fight for independence.

View the visitor schedule: https://www.fortticonderoga.org/ft_events/living-history-event-to-render-this-place-as-tenable-as-possible/

#WinterQuarters #LivingHistoryEvent #LifeLongLearning

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Happy #ManuscriptMonday! During Fort Ticonderoga’s time as an American fort in the Revolutionary War, it was commanded by several different men. Major General Philip Schuyler led the army’s Northern Department for most of Ticonderoga’s time in American hands. When Schuyler was at Ticonderoga, he served as the fort’s commander. However, he spent most of his time elsewhere, leaving day-to-day command of the fort in the hands of a succession of subordinates.

Today’s manuscript, 2012.0238.001, is a November 23, 1776 letter from Schuyler to the fort’s new commander, Colonel Anthony Wayne. In the letter, Schuyler gives Wayne orders on how to manage the fort that was now his responsibility. He states, “I have the fullest confidence in your vigilance, attention, and Foresight to guard against a surprize, and do every thing that may have a Tendency to secure your post & promote the weal of the service, and that you will not lose the least Time in putting yourself in the best posture of Defence possible”. While the British had retreated to Canada for the winter, he orders Wayne to continually send out scouting parties to guard against a surprise attack. Wayne should write frequently and keep Schuyler informed of the fort’s needs; he requests “a minute Return of all the ordnance ammunition and artillery stores at the post you command, with an Estimate of whatever is wanted.” Wayne’s job included not just managing supplies, but also managing his men. Schuyler instructs him to keep his soldiers disciplined and healthy: “the greatest attention should be paid to the Health of the Men—Cleanliness in their persons and Quarters, and having their victuals properly dressed are capital points and greatly tend to the preservation of the men.” Commanding the garrison was a difficult job, particularly controlling the soldiers—Wayne’s tenure saw a Christmas Day riot where Pennsylvania men ransacked the camp of a Massachusetts regiment and attacked its colonel—but Wayne rose to the challenge, serving until April 1777.

This document can be found on our online database in the link below. #TiconderogaCollections #OpeningTheVault https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/29513