Horsepower at Ticonderoga

Fort Fever Series Program March 15 Examines the Role of Horses in the Military

Fort Ticonderoga’s “Fort Fever Series” takes place on Sunday, March 15, at 2 pm with a presentation by Director of Exhibitions Stuart Lilie, titled “Horsepower at Ticonderoga.” (Image of Stuart Lilie on his horse at the 2014 Heritage Harvest and Horse Festival. Credit: Fort Ticonderoga)

Fort Ticonderoga launches its third “Fort Fever Series” with a special presentation by Senior Director of Interpretation, Stuart Lilie, who will examine the role of horses in 18th-century military campaigns and on the grounds of Ticonderoga. Lilie will help to piece together the evidence for the lives and labors of horses and logistics involved in their maintenance.

The program takes place on Sunday, March 15 at 2 pm in the Deborah Clarke Mars Education Center at Fort Ticonderoga. The cost for the program is $10 per person and will be collected at the door; free for Members of Fort Ticonderoga.

About Stuart Lilie

A member of the Fort Ticonderoga Museum staff since 2011, Stuart Lilie is the Senior Director of Interpretation. He has incorporated his wealth of expertise in 18th-century equestrian studies into numerous areas of Fort Ticonderoga’s museum programs, special events, and workshops. Lilie is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and has worked at numerous historic sites, including Colonial Williamsburg. He is considered a foremost authority in 18th-century saddlery and equine history.

Importance of Horsepower

“While Ticonderoga’s strategic location on Lake Champlain made water transport paramount, horses and horsepower played fascinating roles in the events here,” noted Stuart Lilie. “Horses at Ticonderoga were a crucial asset to military function, from the French horses hauling logs while building Fort Carillon to the teams of horses hired by Henry Knox to move the Guns of Ticonderoga to Boston.”

The “Horsepower at Ticonderoga” program will examine specific mounted troops related to Fort Ticonderoga history, including Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold’s 1775 capture of the Fort. It will also provide an overview of the role of mounted soldiers in keeping long lines of communications with the Continental Congress and General Washington, and their participation in the military actions of 1777.

The “Fort Fever Series” is just one of several programs taking place at Fort Ticonderoga this winter. Clothing and Accoutrement Workshops are offered one weekend a month January – April, and the Fourth Annual Garden & Landscape Symposium will be held on April 18th.

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Fort Ticonderoga Launches New Graduate Fellowships (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)

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.

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