Suggested Reading

These and many other books are available at the Log House Shop French & Indian War History
Clash of Empires: The British, French, and Indian War, 1754-1763 by R. Scott Stephenson Paths of Glory: The Life and Death of General James Wolfe by Stephen Brumwell Empires Collide: The French & Indian War 1754-63 by Ruth Sheppard Crucible of War: The Seven Years War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766 by Fred Anderson The War That Made America: A Short History of the French & Indian War by Fred Anderson Sons of the Mountains: The Highland Regiments in the French and Indian War, 1756-1767, Volumes I & II by Ian McCulloch White Devil: A True Story of War, Savagery and Vengeance in Colonial America by Stephen Brumwell War on the Run: The Epic Story of Robert Rogers and the Conquest of Americas First Frontier by John Ross The Annotated and Illustrated Journals of Major Robert Rogers by Timothy J. Todish & Gary Zaboly

Welcome to Fort Ticonderogas Annual French & Indian War Grand Encampment June 27 & 28, 2009

The 2009 Grand Encampment commemorates the 250th anniversary of the fall of Fort Carillon when the French blew up the Fort and abandoned it to the British, who renamed it Fort Ticonderoga. This guide will help you explore the military camps and the battle. Please ask questions and enjoy the sights, scents, and sounds of history. For more on the French & Indian War battles for Fort Ticonderoga see our new exhibit The Face of War: Triumph & Tragedy at Ticonderoga, 1758 & 1759 in the Mars Education Center.
Please join us for our annual Revolutionary War Encampment September 12 & 13, 2009 For more on this and other events go to www.FortTiconderoga.org

Fort Ticonderoga History

Fort Ticonderoga: A Pictorial Guide Book Fort Ticonderoga: Key to the Continent by Edward P. Hamilton Fort Ticonderoga: A Postcard History Series by Carl R. Crego

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Thanks to our generous sponsors and supporters Timothy J. Todish George M. Jones, III

Visiting the Camps

Feel free to visit the American Indian, French, and British camps. Please remember these camps are the reenactors home for the weekend. Ask permission to see or hold things. Why do people reenact? There are many reasons. Some enjoy learning and sharing history, others like the challenge of recreating 18th-century life. No matter the reasons, it is a fun way to spend time with family and friends. How do people choose sides? Some people choose sides because they favor one nation, they have an ancestor who fought in the war, or they found a friendly group. Is everything original or reproduction? Most of what you see is reproduction. Some reenactors make their own clothing and equipment, while others buy from merchants called sutlers (many of whom are here today). Who will I see today? There are reenactors portraying American Indian, French, and British soldiers, as well as women and children portraying campfollowers (people who followed their relatives to war).

Watching the Battle

French & Indian War battles were very different from modern battles, but they are still fought with real weapons. Please remember to stay behind the rope lines for your safety. Why do the soldiers stand in lines, out in the open? It was based on their weapons technology. Compared to modern weapons, 18th-century muskets were not very accurate if fired individually. However if hundreds fire at once, they are more effective. The best way to do this was to stand the soldiers in the open in long lines. Are they shooting real bullets? They are shooting blanks. When they fire their muskets, you see smoke and hear gunfire, but they are not shooting bullets. Why is everybody shooting but nobodys falling down? Due to the inaccuracy of the weapons used, 18thcentury battles did not have a high casualty rate. Today, safety concerns are important, and it can be dangerous to have people lying on the field. Some reenactors do die, but only when it is safe. How do they decide who wins and who loses? Reenacted battles are scripted. The commanders of each side work out a scenario in advance, and decide who will win. This is often based on a historical battle. The French have a white flag, are they surrendering? No, they are not surrendering. In the eighteenth century the French national flag was a white cross on a white background. If you look closely you can see the cross.

The reenactors are here to share their knowledge. Please ask them about what they are doing or wearing. If you are not sure what to ask, try these: How does a musket work? What equipment did soldiers carry? Why did these men choose to fight? Would there have been women & children in camp?