Local History Groups Join with Fort Ticonderoga for Programs Commemorating Henry Knox's Artillery March
This article originally appeared in Lake George Battlefield Alliance press release.
The Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and the Warren County Historical Society are joining with Fort Ticonderoga to present an evening program on Monday, December 19 devoted to Henry Knox and the movement he led of over 60 tons of artillery equipment from Ticonderoga to Boston during the brutal winter of 1775-76. The program will be held at the Holiday Inn Lake George, 2223 Canada Street (Route 9) beginning at 7 PM.
Fort Ticonderoga Museum Curator Dr. Matthew Keagle will be the featured speaker at the event. His presentation will explore the patriots’ need for heavy cannon in 1775-76 and how it informed not only Henry Knox's famous expedition from Ticonderoga to Boston, but also the broader plans for the overall campaign in the Lake George/Lake Champlain Theatre.
The Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and the Warren County Historical Society have also extended this presentation by Fort Ticonderoga to the students at Lake George Jr.-Sr. High School as part of the 7th grade History curriculum. That presentation will occur on the morning of December 20 at the school. Fort Ticonderoga Vice President of Public History Stuart Lilie and Director of Interpretation Cameron Green will inspire these young minds with the monumental scale of moving this artillery by sleigh from the south end of Lake George.
Knox’s epic “noble artillery train”—ordered by Continental Army Commander in Chief George Washington to break a British stranglehold on Boston-- covered approximately 300 miles over an eight-week period. It began in early December 1775 from Ticonderoga south the length of Lake George to the area that now encompasses Lake George Battlefield Park. Knox remained here for much of the remainder of December as he frantically made arrangements to secure sufficient oxen, horses, sleds and other means of moving the materiel over an unforgiving landscape. He ultimately succeeded in transporting the critical cargo south through Queensbury, Glens Falls, and points south to Albany, and then eastward crossing the width of Massachusetts before reaching greater Boston at the end of January. Washington used the newly gained equipment to cow British Commander William Howe into evacuating his troops from the area, a major early victory for the fledgling Continentals.
Event co-sponsor Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance sees the Park’s connection to Knox’s heroic effort as a key moment in American history. "This program will be a wonderful tribute to Henry Knox's major accomplishment as we approach the 250th commemoration of his 'Noble Train of Artillery’ in three years,” noted historian and Alliance Trustee Bruce Venter. He added, “Knox's expedition brought Washington his first victory of the Revolution.” Venter, author of The Battle of Hubbardton and other works on the patriots’ fight for independence, applauded the initiative of the collaborating organizations. “The mutual cooperation of Fort Ticonderoga and the Alliance in producing this program with the Warren County Historical Society bodes well for future 250th anniversary events in the Lake George area.”
The event is free to the public. Those planning to attend are encouraged to register at the following email address for important notifications in case of inclement weather: info@lakegeorgebattlefield.org.