From St. Jean to Bound Brook: British Officers on Parole in America
By June 1776, the British prisoners captured at the sieges of Fort Chambly and Fort St. Jean had been in custody for over half a year, facing long journeys, local tensions, and unpleasant conditions. Conditions for captured officers, though, could be quite different than for the army’s enlisted men. Officers were considered to be gentlemen, and with that status […]
Chaos in Canada: General Schuyler Sends Instructions North
On June 6, 1776—250 years ago today—the situation in Canada was in such upheaval that when General Philip Schuyler wrote to the army in the field, he could not be entirely sure who the recipient would be. After the siege of Quebec was broken in early May, the army had begun a chaotic retreat. American reinforcements, including a new […]
The Disaster at the Cedars: Two Depositions, Two Different Perspectives
On May 19, 1776, the 400-man American garrison at the Cedars, near Montreal, surrendered to a British and Haudenosaunee force. On May 20, a 140-man relief force on its way to the Cedars was defeated and captured by the Haudenosaunee as well. The affair was chaotic and humiliating for the Americans, who saw about 500 men captured by a force barely […]
In One Month, Fort Ticonderoga Marks 250 Years of American Independence with Signature Reenactment “Return of an Army”
With exactly one month until the 250th anniversary of American liberty, Fort Ticonderoga is preparing to showcase the reality of battlefield struggles and the fragility of the American Revolution in July 1776. Fort Ticonderoga will present the REAL TIME REVOLUTION® Signature Reenactment Event: Return of an Army on July 3-5, 2026. Staff along with reenactors will […]
War News, Thomas Paine, and Remedies for Drowning in a Massachusetts Newspaper
On June 1, 1776—250 years ago today—the new issue of Newburyport printer John Mycall’s Essex Journal and New-Hampshire Packet had war on its mind. The issue includes an excerpt from a speech given in Parliament in October 1775 by British naval officer George Johnstone. Johnstone argues against using harsh military measures against America, not only because it is unjust, […]
Where the Revolution Was Won: Fort Ticonderoga Expands Cross-Border Heritage Network for America’s 250th
As America marks the 250th anniversary of its independence, Fort Ticonderoga today announced a major expansion of its Northern Department heritage network, now connecting more than 32 historic destinations, museums, tribal nations, and cultural sites across New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Québec, and Indigenous communities — creating one of the most comprehensive Revolutionary War heritage […]
Reverend Samuel West Preaches Independence
On May 29, 1776—250 years ago today—Massachusetts was celebrating Election Day. This holiday, actually the opening day of the year’s legislative session, was one of the colony’s few public holidays. For legislators, it was also a day of religious and moral instruction, as the Massachusetts General Assembly heard an Election Day sermon from a prominent minister. In 1776, the man chosen […]
Fort Ticonderoga Honors 250th Anniversary of American Independence with Special Exhibit Highlighting Soldier’s Knapsack and Its Powerful Message
For a limited time, July-August 2, Fort Ticonderoga will display one of its most significant objects: Benjamin Warner’s Knapsack. Carried by Revolutionary War soldier Benjamin Warner and handed down to his descendants, the knapsack has survived with a call to future generations to defend America’s hard-won liberty against all threats. The 250-year-old knapsack, made of painted […]
Keeping the Army Armed: Maintaining and Repairing Continental Firearms
Outfitting the army with firearms was a challenge for the American colonies in the early years of the Revolutionary War, but it was just the first step. To keep a unit’s firepower at full strength throughout the campaign season, its firearms had to be maintained and repaired. 18th-century muskets were complex machines with multiple components, any of which could […]
Celebrate the Scot in You at Fort Ticonderoga! Enjoy a day of Scottish heritage featuring immersive history, music, ceremony, and culture
Fort Ticonderoga invites visitors to celebrate Scottish heritage all day long with a packed schedule of immersive history, music, ceremony, and culture on June 13 from 9:30am-5pm. Explore Scottish clan tents and vendors featuring kilts, crafts, and Celtic goods; witness thrilling musket demonstrations showcasing Highland soldiers and their weapons; march alongside clans and the Black […]