Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Looking Out From Fort Ticonderoga


Dr. Nassaney and I spent the weekend of May 18, 19 and 20th at America’s Fort, Fort Ticonderoga. A weekend filled with a variety of spectacles including many fascinating presentations from visiting scholars, hobbyists and war historians from around the United States, Canada and beyond.



The conference was the Seventeenth Annual War College of the seven Years’ War, and it attracted by all accounts a record turnout. For the first time in eleven years, the event was free of rain and thunderstorms, Dr. Nassaney, and I were delighted, because the panoramic view looking out from the battlements of the fort was nothing less than awe-inspiring.

The crowning experience for us was the unveiling of the brand new exhibit in the museum at the fort. An incredible collection of French and English firearms dating from the early eighteenth century through the Revolutionary War, including rare officer sabers and several pistols and other military paraphernalia from the period. This fantastic exhibit was built around the personal collection of Mr. and Mrs. Cook, great friends and supporters of Fort St. Joseph. Through his years of collection, Mr. Cook had accumulated an amazing display of artifacts that were actually used in the period. It was a great opportunity to actually see these weapons, Dr. Nassaney and I had a wonderful time. We made valuable contacts and listened to informative dissertations and demonstrations.

Saturday night we were treated to a reenactment of the forts capture by American forces on May 10, 1775, led by Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys and the infamous Benedict Arnold. The whole raid and capture lasted barely nine minutes and was quite interesting to learn the various details of the event that never make the history books.

Overall, Dr. Nassaney and I had a great time; we listened to great lectures, saw wonderful exhibits and enjoyed truly spectacular views looking out over Lake Champlain from the walls of Fort Ticonderoga.

Scott MacPherson