The Place of Two Waters

For those who have never been to Ft. Ticonderoga, the journey is well worth the trip despite the distance it may take. Every historical location has it’s own “feel” and Ticonderoga is no exception. Construction on what was then called Fort Carillon began in September, 1755 per order of Marquis de Vaudreuil, governor of New France (Canada) with the idea that the fort would be used to deny the British access to the lower end of Lake Champlain and its waterways.
Vaudreuil ordered his engineer, Michel Chartier de Lotbiniere, to construct a rectangular fortification at the junction of the lower end of Lake Champlain and the La Chute River, which according to local legend sounded like a carillon, which gave the fort it’s name.
Lotbiniere constructed the fort out of several rows of squared off timbers and filled the hollow space between with rock and other debris. The idea that wood was much better able to withstand direct fire from cannon than more brittle stone. He then constructed the four main bastions of the fort, which gave it the familiar star shape. Many areas of the outside walls were finished with stone, but this was never completely finished. When the fort was deemed ready, cannon were hauled in from Quebec and nearby Fort. St. Fredreck at Crown Point.
When the French commander in North American, the Marquis de Montcalm, initially surveyed the fort, he was very critical of the size of the main buildings, thinking them too tall and too much of a target and the overall quality of the fort itself was thought to be substandard. Nevertheless, on July 6th, Montcalm ordered the fort’s 3,600 troops to construct additional lines of entrenchments as well as abatis to repel the British troops who were moving up from Lake George to attack Carillon. In what was to become one of the bloodiest battles in North America, the battle for Carillon took place on July 8th, 1758 a distance away from the fort itself on what is now known at the Carillon Battlefield. Over 16,000 troops including regulars, militia and Indians under Major General James Abercrombie attacked the well entrenched French troops and suffered horrific casualties. The Black Watch Regiment, suffered a 60% casualty rate in their attempt to storm over the abatis and log breastworks. The British suffered over 1,000 men killed that day with over 1500 wounded. The French lost about 100 men killed. It was a bitter defeat for the crown forces.
After the French victory at Carillon, Abercrombie withdrew his forces back to Lake George. As winter approached, Montcalm withdrew the bulk of his own forces from the fort, keeping only a small detachment as a garrison. He gave the fort’s commander, Brigadier General François-Charles de Bourlamaque, orders to destroy the fort and retreat in the face of a new British assault. As predicted, a new British assault did occur in June of 1759. The new British commander, Major General Jeffery Amherst attacked the fort with 11,000 troops and quickly overwhelmed the skeleton force of French soldiers who were left as a garrison force. Luckily, the French were prevented from destroying the entire fort, but still managed to damage sections of it including the powder magazine.
Carillon was then renamed Ft. Ticonderoga, which is an Iroquois word meaning “It is at the place of two waters” or “Land between the waters” depending on the translation.
In 1759 and 1760, the British garrison worked at repairing and improving sections of the fort, but it saw no further action in the French and Indian War and in fact was allowed to fall into disrepair by the time of the American Revolution.
In 1775, Ft. Ticonderoga was captured once again, this time by Colonial troops under Ethan Allen who took the fort without firing a shot. At the time, the fort was garrisoned by about 45 British soldiers who surrendered to Allen and his Green Mountain Boys. The cannon and other munitions were removed from the fort and were hauled all the way back to Boston by oxen-train headed up by Henry Knox. In a Herculean effort, the oxen-train dragged the 59 cannon and mortars back to Boston in only 56 days in the dead of winter. The guns were used to fortify Dorchester Heights around Boston which prompted the British to quickly evacuate their troops on March 17th, 1775. During the American Revolution, the fort once again fell into British hands but was abandoned after the defeat at Saratoga in 1777. The retreating British troops were ordered to destroy the fort, which they did to the best of their ability.
After the war, the fort was once again besieged, this time by local citizens who stripped the fort of useable building materials. The land around the fort was eventually purchased by William Pell in 1820 who saw the fort as being historically important and began to turn the area into a tourist attraction. The Pell family restored the fort in 1909 and the historically important areas around the fort, namely Mt. Defiance, Mt Independence and Mt. Hope, were acquired in 1931 by the Fort Ticonderoga Association which owns it to this day. The fort was rearmed with original 18th century cannon cast in England for the American Revolution, but the war ended before the cannon could be sent over. Today, one can see these magnificent guns as well as many others including French siege mortars and field guns.
Today, the fort is a popular tourist destination and has been for many years. The grounds of the Carillon battlefield are remarkably well preserved and one can see the remains of the French breastworks as well as redoubts and even the occasional shell hole. The area of the French lines has a particular “feel” to it and many visitors and reenactors report odd happenings and eerie sightings of shadowy figures in the dark woods. In the mid 1990’s, workmen who were building the Black Watch memorial cairn unearthed about a dozen skeletons with remnants of tartan fabric and regimental buttons that identified the remains as soldiers from the Black Watch regiment. The remains were left in place as they fell almost 240 years ago.

Uncomfortable Truths, Happy Lies

This is going to be a departure from the norm, but I feel that this needs to be discussed in an open forum. I’ve been a reenactor and living historian for over 15 years now, not as long as some of you, but long enough to sniff out bullshit. I’ve done everything from 17th century to Falklands and a whole lotta stuff in between and the one thing I have seen is that people will start to believe their own propaganda. How many times did I have to listen to how the Civil War was not about slavery or that WE (the US) always did the right thing and so on.

But the one thing that I will fight tooth and nail over is these assholes that don German uniforms and have the pills to say that either the Holocaust was a myth or that is was not as bad as reported. So what’s bad? Only 3 million killed instead of 6 million? Would that be better? Okay, here’s the bottom line. The Germans were the bad guys…..period…….they were not some poor innocent soldiers fighting for their country while being manipulated by the command staff. The Wermacht as a matter of policy routinely killed prisoners, civilians and participated in genocide. (Yeah, the Japanese did too, but that’s another rant). The German military along with the civilians knew what those strange camps were for….they saw the smoke stacks belching black smoke and grey ash from the murdered victims, they saw the ghettos that were emptied over the span of 24 hours…..they fucking knew what was going on. There is a reason why Germany today is known to be a great pacifist country that embraces diversity and equality….because for them to be any different would be a blight on the memory of the Holocaust. Historical preservationists have long voiced opposition to the destruction of the numerous Third Reich era buildings that are historically important. Particularly the demolition of the Berghof and the Goering and Bormann houses, but this was done to prevent these sites from turning into a shrine for the Nazi-loving assholes out there who would flock to these areas like flies to carrion.

Yet, there are those out there who would simply like to gloss over these inconvenient truths because the thought of their “heroes” doing something loathsome and inhumane may cause them a sleepless night or two……or maybe not. Don’t even get me started on the SS………assholes every last one of them. The SS were the elite dirtballs of the entire criminal organization of the 3rd Reich and yet thousands of reenactors, collectors and wannabe Nazis think they are the coolest thing since the invention of internet porn. I have seen these folks with my own eyes and they scare the shit out of me. Most of these folks are also the same crew who refer to people of color as “niggers”……you get the picture. Hate is hate, no matter how it’s served.

More from Battle Road

The latest saga in the Battle Road Love-Fest is a change of plans about allowing sutlers or not. My good friend Steve just let me know about his experience in dealing with intricacies of the Park Service. After a long delay, the Park Service sent out sutler registration forms with a $50 processing fee. Last week, the NPS told all the sutlers that the forms were no longer acceptable and that there would be no sutlers allowed this year. Just yesterday he was told that there is a new form to fill out with a $250 fee! So don't look for sutlers at Battle Road this year.....there won't be any.
This seems to be the path of the course for this event with their super exclusive Praetorian Guard at the entrance gates waiting to turn away reenactors without the proper stitching in their coats and their farcical policies and guidlines on what is forbidden and what is deemed acceptable by Those In Charge. So fuck you all very much and have a nice event.

From Battle Road, the beat goes on.

Over the weekend I got an email from my pal Ed, who is an avid 18th and 19th century reenactor along with this wife, Lynne. The two of them have been involved in both Rev war and Civil War reenacting for many years now and know their stuff when it comes to what is proper and what is not. Well, apparently the stitch counting committee at Battle Road this year thinks they know better than veteran reenactors with close to 20 years experience.

Ed informs me that he and his wife were made to stand in line for an "inspection" by the stitch-nazis at the beginning of the training session. They actually informed him that his handmade coat needed a running stitch along the collar and that Lynne's pinafore wasn't correct. Lynne was then asked if she would like to attend one of "their" sewing classes. This wrinkled their noses as much as it did mine. Oh, and their young nephew was told he needed to have a coat instead of a farmers shirt as all male participants MUST wear a coat this year. So as Ed suggested, someone better cover up the Minuteman stature at MMNHS otherwise he might get removed as well.

I'm all for authenticity, but this goes way beyond anything that is acceptable. It's pettiness for the sake of being petty. What really frosts me however is that a few individuals think they have the right to interpret history as they see fit, irregardless of whether or not it's accurate.

As it turns out, Ed and Lynne are doing exactly what I intend on doing at Battle Road......attending as "period" members of the public therefore bypassing the bullshit that the registered reenactors must put up with. A sad state of affairs to be sure.......

Gear Review, Ft Turner Tomahawk

One thing about 18th century reenacting that everyone enjoys is the acquisition of material.....particularly those items that are of such quality, they will last a lifetime of actual use and will become an heirloom over time. One such item is the Ft. Turner tomahawk. Ft. Turner makes some of the finest hawks in the business. Hand forged one at a time, their hawks come in a variety of styles and sizes. Their Iroquois tomahawk is a favorite with 18th century reenactors as is the Roger's Rangers hawk. According to their website, the Rangers hawk is a favorite with active duty soldiers on the front lines of today's battlefields. The more things change, the more they stay the same!

After feeling the razor sharp edge of my Iroquois hawk, I would not want to be on the receiving end of it. I had to wait about 6 weeks for mine to show up, but it was well worth the weight. This is not a cheaply made monkey-metal POS made in some village, but a hand crafted, professionally made tool that will withstand actual use day in and day out. The handles are all made from hickory, fire hardened and finished with a satin lacquer finish which brings out the grain beautifully. Currently, the Iroquois hawk is running about $50 and it's well worth every penny. They still make them one at a time and military orders take priority, so be prepared to wait a bit. You won't be disappointed!

In the past, I find that my belt knife and hawk get the most use during a weekend encampment. Tomahawks are perfect for cutting thick branches for shelter poles, making kindling, cutting up root vegetable and even fighting off hostiles from time to time. It's one of those tools that once you have one you will wonder how you ever got by without it. I wouldn't go into the woods without mine now...even when we go 21st century camping! I always bring a hawk along with me.....granted I get some funny looks from the campers next site over, but it cuts down on small talk on their part when they see a hawk tucked into my belt!

Ft. Turners website is http://www.fortturner.com/index.html

Boston Massacre 2010

This past Saturday, the sounds of an angry mob and sporadic gunfire once again filled the streets of Boston. This time around it had nothing to do organized crime or drunken frat boys run amuck, but rather a very well done recreation of the Boston Massacre. The event is held each year around the March 5th date, which is the actual date of the event......March 5th, 1770.

With warm temperatures and no rain, the crowd was larger than normal and we had a full complement of reenactors there. It was akin to old home week....you greeted old friends you haven't seen all winter and caught up on the latest gossip. I was assigned to mob #1, which was due to "go on" first. Myself and a few mates were dressed as local merchants who might have been out on that evening only to find themselves as part of an angry mob. The street nearest to the Old State House had been cordoned off by the police and a large crowd of spectators had gathered to watch the events unfold. From where I was standing, I could hear some narration going on as an effort to whip up the crowd into the proper frame of mind. A few of us had clubs...myself being a gentleman had my walking stick....which is a refined club. Not much defence should the regulars decide to fire into the crowd.....which they did. All at once, a whistle blew and we rushed through the crowd and formed up on the perimeter of the scene. Private Hugh White stood alone facing a mob that was a bit too close for comfort. I would not have wanted to been in his shoes.......
Suddenly, the air was rent with boos and hisses as six British troops and their officer arrived on scene in an attempt to extricate Private White from the angry mob. The soldiers stood fast with bayonets ready and I watched them load.
"Shurly they do not mean to fire on the citizens?" I asked a fellow nearby (in keeping with the period). "I should say that they do, the villains!" came his reply. I stayed on the edge of the main violence, occasionally raising my stick to shout out "Isn't it enough that we must pay taxes?" The crowd at this point looked something like a rugby scrum......massed bodies being pushed back and forth.....an 18th century mosh pit if you will. Suddenly, one of the muskets fired KERRCHOOM!", I instantly ducked and turned as another musket discharged and another after that.....which is exactly what happened historically. When the shooting stopped, there were three prone bodies on the ground. "Merciful heaven what have you done?" I shouted to the regulars. The body of Crispus Attucks lay at my feet being tended to. I walked over to another fallen patriot and crouched down. "Murderers!" the crowd chanted. I stood suddenly and yelled "You will hang for this, it's murder!" I did my best to look horrified at the carnage. The soldiers said nothing, they formed up and were marched off to the side. All at once, the Governor (not the current one), made an appearance at the window of the statehouse and appealed to the crowd to disperse. His promises of a trial by law were met with roars of anger. And all at once, it was over. The bodies got to their feet and the crowd applauded! All in all, it was a very good show, I think. I was told by several of my fellow reenactors that they really got into the moment and came very close to pummeling the regulars.......a period rush, if you will. As a "gentleman", I stayed out of the mosh pit much preferring reason to violence, but that's just me.