Battle of Ticonderoga (1777)

For other battles at Fort Ticonderoga, see Battle of Ticonderoga.

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The Battle of Ticonderoga on July 5 and July 6, 1777 was more a battle of maneuver than a direct conflict in the American Revolutionary War. The British army, led by John Burgoyne, occupied the fort after forcing American General Arthur St. Clair to withdraw the defenders.

Background

The British and Hessian advance of the previous summer was halted at the Battle of Valcour, but everyone knew they would return. Fort Ticonderoga was manned at this point by several under-strength regiments of the Continental Army and militia units from several states. In all, General Aurther St. Clair had about 2,500 men in the area. They had worked for months to repair the old fort, and built several new blockhouses. They also strengthened Fort Independence across the lake, and had constructed a pontoon bridge where the La Chute River entered Lake Champlain to support communication between the two.

The American effort was made useless as they overlooked one key point. A height called Sugar Loaf overlooked both forts, and large cannon on that height would make their positions impossible to defend. John Trumbull had pointed that out earlier in the year when General Gates had been in command. Gates felt it was impossible. After Gates left to lobby Congress, General Schuyler also declared that the concern was pointless, so the threat was ignored. With Gates and Schuyler locked in a political struggle for command of the Northern Department, when General St. Clair was left in command, he refused to override Schuyler's orders. He held to his position even after Tadeusz Kosciuszko repeated Trumbull's warning and Benedict Arnold with his bad leg climbed to its top. Since Gates now endorsed Kosciusko's advice, Shuyler and St. Clair ignored it.

Burgoyne's force of around 8,000 men with artillery and naval support was enough to overwhelm St. Clair's position. Schuyler ordered St. Clair, with his force grown to about 3,500 by arriving militia, to hold out as long as he could before withdrawing, while additional forces were gathered nearer to Albany. By early July, the Burgoyne expedition arrived in the area.

Evacuation and fall

British reconnaissance also discovered the strategic position of Sugar Loaf. Starting on July 2 they cleared and fortified gun emplacements on top of that height. They also spent several days drawing some of their larger guns up the slope, using winches to move from tree to tree. On July 4 the Americans held a quiet celebration with some toasts to commemorate the previous year's Declaration. But on the morning of July 5, 1777 they awoke to discover the completed British position, with more guns arriving throughout the day.

A plunging fire would reduce the fortress to rubble. Trumbull had already demonstrated that fire from the American guns couldn't reach the summit. That night General St. Clair withdrew his force under cover of darkness. The guns at Ticonderoga, most remaining supplies, and some men too ill and wounded to move were left to the British. A handful of men were left at Fort Independence with loaded cannon and lit matches to fire on the pontoon bridge after the withdrawal. But they made use of some remaining supplies, opening a barrel of wine. The next morning, British troops captured them and occupied the forts without firing a shot. General Simon Fraser set out in pursuit of the retreating Americans.

Aftermath

The withdrawal from Ticonderoga was hurried, but was a part of the American defensive strategy adopted by General Schuyler in response to the British Saratoga Campaign. Fraser's pusuit resulted in the Battle of Hubbardtown as they caught up with the rear guard. St. Clair, meanwhile, brought most of his men to join forces with Schuyler at Fort Edward, and prepare for the Battle of Saratoga. Ticonderoga did not substantially delay Burgoyne's advance, but he did have to leave several regiments and much of his Canadian force as a garrison.

The political impact of the surrender was much stronger. Congress was appalled, and they censured both Schuyler and St. Clair for the loss. Schuyler was removed as commander of the Northern Department and replaced with General Horatio Gates. Arthur St. Clair maintained that his conduct had been honorable. He demanded that his actions be reviewed by a Court martial, and when this was done he was completely exonerated.

After the American victory and Burgoyne's surrender at the Battle of Saratoga, the British Forces in turn withdrew to St. John's, and the Americans re-occuped the fort with no major incidents.