Fort Ticonderoga: 1758 Battle of Carillon Re-enactment This Weekend

Join Fort Ticonderoga for an exciting two-day battle re-enactment highlighting the epic 1758 Battle of Carillon! Witness how the British amassed the largest army in North American history to date yet was stunningly defeated by a French army a quarter of its size. The event takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21, 9:30am to 5 pm.

“During this dramatic event, visitors will discover how the Battle of Carillon sealed the reputation of Ticonderoga for generations to come,” said Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga’s President and CEO. “The July 8th battle resulted in the greatest number of casualties in one day until the American Civil War and as a result, Ticonderoga became a legend in its own time.”

Highlighted programming featured throughout the weekend brings to life the story of the courageous French soldiers that protected their lines of defense against all odds. Visitors will meet the British and Provincial soldiers who gave their utmost to drive the French from the rocky peninsula and fortress of Carillon, later named Ticonderoga.

Experience the fog of war and smoky haze of battle as the French and British armies maneuver across Fort Ticonderoga’s historic landscape at battle re-enactments at 1:30 pm each day.

Admission to the reenactment is included in a Fort Ticonderoga’s general admission ticket.

For the full event schedule and to learn more about the event visit www.fortticonderoga.org or call 518-585-2821.

About the Historic Battle

“In July 1758 the British army attacked the French at Carillon (Ticonderoga) attempting to capture the Fort and take control of the portage between Lake George and Lake Champlain. On July 5th, the largest military force ever assembled in North America embarked by bateaux down Lake George,” said Stuart Lilie, Fort Ticonderoga Director of Interpretation.

Battle of Carillon Reenactment Soldiers (Credit: Fort Ticonderoga)

“Abercromby’s army of British and Provincial soldiers landed at the north end of Lake George, after a long night packed into the fleet of bateaux. Sweeping through the La Chute valley, Brigadier General Lord Augustus Howe and the advanced guard encountered a lost patrol of French soldiers. In the ensuing confusing battle on July 6th Lord Howe was shot through the chest, and killed on the spot. The death of this leader, known as the darling of the army, struck a blow to British morale and tactical command.”

“On the 7th of July the French at Ticonderoga constructed a half mile-long log wall protected in front by a dense tangle of treetops and sharpened branches to serve as a barrier against the British attackers. This fortification was known as the French Lines. On July 8th, the British attacked. After seven hours of fighting, the British had suffered casualties of nearly 2,000 men killed and wounded. Broken and dismayed, the British retreated back to their camp at the southern end of Lake George.

The retreating soldiers brought with them the story of this great battle, taking the name Ticonderoga home to taverns and newspapers in America and Britain. This fight for the Heights of Carillon at that time was the single most-bloody day in American history, and gave Fort Carillon a formidable reputation. News of this miraculous victory reached France by the fall of that year and marked France’s greatest victory of the French and Indian War (1754-1763). On October 1st, 1758 the French army staged a reenactment of the battle, to accompany fireworks to celebrate in front of Paris city hall.”

The reenactment of this event is made possible by generous funding support from the History Channel and Peter S. Paine, Jr.

Event Schedule, July 20-21:

Saturday, July 20

9:30 am Fort Opens to Visitors
9:45 am Flag Raising
10 am Inspection of the Armies–Watch as the French forces of General Montcalm assemble on the parade of Fort Carillon to be inspected and issued orders for these climactic days of 1758. At the bivouac of General Abercrombie’s British and Provincial Army, soldiers and sentinels assemble to prepare for their advance on Fort Carillon.
10:15 am Fort Guided Tour–Explore Fort Carillon in the summer of 1758. Discover how and why this remote French outpost was constructed. Examine why General Montcalm used this lakeside citadel to make his stand for the defense of New France.
11 am French Drill & Musket Demonstration–Discover the form and function of the French fusil. Watch as individual soldiers drill to coordinate their firepower together for potentially devastating effect.
11:30 am Garden March–Follow the amassed military musicians of the French Army as they provide a musical escort from Fort Carillon to the King’s Garden.
Fort Ticonderoga with horses (Photo Credit: Fort Ticonderoga)
11:30 am Personal Stories from the Battle of Carillon (lecture)–Inside the Mars Education Center Great Room gain an understanding of the July 8, 1758, Battle of Carillon from the on-the-ground perspective of Massachusetts provincial soldiers. Using petitions filed by several provincials after their involvement in the war, Curator of Collections, Chris Fox, examines how the experience of battle affected these men physically and how their service at Ticonderoga had lasting impact on them and the lives of their families.
11:45 am Garden & Grounds Tour–Walk the French soldiers’ garrison garden to learn discover how soldiers supplemented their rations with vital vegetables. Learn about the Pell family’s legacy in preserving this legendary Fort and Battlefield through this King’s Garden tour.
12:30 pm Fort Guided Tour–Explore Fort Carillon in the summer of 1758. Discover how and why this remote French outpost was constructed. Examine why General Montcalm used this lakeside citadel to make his stand for the defense of New France.
1 pm Fife & Drum Parade to Re-enactment Battlefield–Follow the amassed military musicians of the French Army as they provide a musical escort from Fort Carillon to the re-enactment battlefield.
1:30 pm Re-enactment Battle: The Advance from Lake George Landing–Watch as General Lord Howe leads the advanced guard of the British Army from Lake George down through the La Chute Valley from the eerie twilight underneath the canopy of virgin pine forest on the heights of Carillon. See the deadly consequences of a brief encounter with a lost French patrol which killed Lord Howe, a favorite commander of the British Army.
2 pm Carillon Battlefield Tour–Tour the real Carillon Battlefield with a soldier of the Black Watch, whose legendary sacrifice charging the French lines helped immortalize the battle world-wide. Discover how this battlefield preserves both the memory and the remains of this battle.
2:30 pm Discover the British and Provincial Army in their Camp

Fort Ticonderoga reenactment on lake — Fort Ticonderoga reenactment scene on lake (Photo Credit: Fort Ticonderoga)

The Death of Lord Howe: British Command
As the news of the death of Lord Howe sweeps the British command, discuss British strategy: how the high command will execute his plan for the invasion of New France. Learn what his leadership meant to this 16,000-man army and tactics for the next day’s attack towards Fort Carillon.

Captain Job Winslow’s Company of Massachusetts Provincials
Meet the men of Captain Job Winslow’s company as they appeared before the July 8th 1758 Battle of Carillon. Who are they and why did they serve? Discuss what it was like to be a Massachusetts soldier serving alongside British regular soldiers in this campaign against New France.

3 pm Fife & Drum Parade to Fort Carillon–Follow the amassed military musicians of the French Army as they provide a musical escort from the heights of Carillon to the Fort below.
3:15 pm Fort Guided Tour–Explore Fort Carillon in the summer of 1758. Discover how and why this remote French outpost was constructed. Examine why General Montcalm used this lakeside citadel to make his stand for the defense of New France.
4:30 pm Flag Lowering
5 pm Fort Closes to Visitors

Sunday, July 21

9:30 am Fort Opens to Visitors
9:45 am Flag Raising
10 am Inspection of the Armies–Watch as the French Forces of General Montcalm assemble on the parade of Fort Carillon to be inspected and issued orders for these climactic days of 1758. At the bivouac of General Abercrombie’s British and Provincial Army, soldiers and sentinels assemble to prepare for their advance on Fort Carillon.
10:15 am Fort Guided Tour–Explore Fort Carillon in the summer of 1758. Discover how and why this remote French outpost was constructed. Examine why General Montcalm used this lakeside citadel to make his stand for the defense of New France.
11 am French Drill & Musket Demonstration–Discover the form and function of the French fusil. Watch as individual soldiers drill to coordinate their firepower together for potentially devastating effect.
11:30 am Garden March–Follow the amassed military musicians of the French Army as they provide a musical escort from Fort Carillon to the King’s Garden.
11:30 am Personal Stories from the Battle of Carillon (lecture)–Inside the Mars Education Center Great Room gain an understanding of the July 8, 1758, Battle of Carillon from the on-the-ground perspective of Massachusetts provincial soldiers. Using petitions filed by several provincials after their involvement in the war, Curator of Collections, Chris Fox, examines how the experience of battle affected these men physically and how their service at Ticonderoga had lasting impact on them and the lives of their families.
11:45 am Garden & Grounds Tour–Walk the French soldiers’ garrison garden to discovery how soldiers supplemented their rations with vital vegetables. Learn about the Pell family’s legacy in preserving this legendary Fort and Battlefield through this King’s Garden tour.
12:30 pm Fort Guided Tour–Explore Fort Carillon in the summer of 1758. Discover how and why this remote French outpost was constructed. Examine why General Montcalm used this lakeside citadel to make his stand for the defense of New France.
1 pm Fife & Drum Parade to Re-enactment Battlefield–Follow the amassed military musicians of the French Army as they provide a musical escort from Fort Carillon to the re-enactment battlefield.
1:30 pm Re-enactment Battle: Defending the French Lines, Defending New France–Secured behind logs stacked eight feet high, French soldiers fired for their lives to keep their foothold on the heights of Carillon. Watch the assault at the recreated French lines as waves of British and American soldiers rushed through French bullets in an attempt to dislodge this tenuously fortified position.
2 pm Carillon Battlefield Tour–Tour the real Carillon Battlefield with a soldier of the Black Watch, whose legendary sacrifice charging the French lines helped immortalize the battle world-wide. Discover how this battlefield preserves both the memory and the remains of this battle.
2:30 pm Raising Montcalm’s Cross–Just as General Montcalm raised a cross in thanks for the victory of his army in the Battle of Carillon, join us as we raise Montcalm’s Cross in remembrance of the lives lost and forever changed by this tremendous battle.
3 pm Fife & Drum Parade to Fort Carillon–Follow the amassed military musicians of the French Army as they provide a musical escort from the heights of Carillon to the Fort below.
3:15 pm Fort Guided Tour–Explore Fort Carillon in the summer of 1758. Discover how and why this remote French outpost was constructed. Examine why General Montcalm used this lakeside citadel to make his stand for the defense of New France.
4:30 pm Flag Lowering
5 pm Fort Closes to Visitors

About Fort Ticonderoga

Located on Lake Champlain in the beautiful 6 million acre Adirondack Park, Fort Ticonderoga is a not-for-profit historic site and museum that ensures that present and future generations learn from the struggles, sacrifices, and victories that shaped the nations of North America and changed world history.

Serving the public since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga engages more than 70,000 guests annually and is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Fort Ticonderoga’s history. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Fort Ticonderoga offers programs, historic interpretation, tours, demonstrations, and exhibits throughout the year and is open for daily visitation May 17 through October 20, 2013.

Admission price is $17.50 for adults, $14.00 for seniors (62 years and older), $8 children 5-12 years old, and children 4 years and under are free. Friends of Fort Ticonderoga also enjoy free admission.

Visit www.FortTiconderoga.org for a full list of ongoing programs or call 518-585-2821. Fort Ticonderoga is located at 100 Fort Ti Road, Ticonderoga, New York.