Fort Ticonderoga Grant Trip - Day One

Thursday, May 20th - After drawing unwanted extra attention to myself in the security line at Mitchell airport (story later) and two great flights, I arrived at Albany International. Weather is awesome! Also, Enterprise asked if it was all right if I drove a brand new (42 miles) 2010 Dodge Charger SXT, black, instead of the little economy car I reserved. Same price. I said okay. 

                                                                                               The Sweet Ride

 

First stop - Saratoga National Battlefield and Historic site. This battle is listed among the top fifteen in importance in all of world history. The American's won their first major victory of the Revolutionary war in 1777.  Things were looking up, emotions were high, and it helped change some attitudes in Europe. Much like when everone jumped on the Milwaukee Bucks bandwagon when they began to win all those games, it was the same here - France recognized us and allied itself with us. Others will join soon, too. The battlefield is vast. You can't walk it. There is a ten mile loop with stops at important sites. The land looks like it did 200+ years ago - pristine! The trip is off to a good start!

View of the Hudson River - this area from the Hudson - Lake George - Lake Champlain is one of the most fought over places on earth!

Saratoga

Second stop - Fort William Henry on the southern tip of Lake George. If you saw Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day-Lewis this is the fort under siege. It was destroyed in the French and Indian War (1757). The fort there was reconstructed from the original plans on the original site. Lots of good stuff was found - blown up cannon and mortar rounds, weapons, skeletons, etc... Coolest thing? Archaeologists finding evidence to corroborate an eyewitness account the day after the British/Colonists surrendered the fort to the French. A French priest wrote about an incident that sickened and repulsed him. "When I entered the fort I saw a Huron indian come out of the hospital carrying a head as a trophy". During the archaeological dig in the fort in 1953 they found six skeletons in that vicinity - one without a head.

By they way, they were blaring the soundtrack to the Last of the Mohicans movie throughout the fort. I thought that was funny.

Tomorrow - A Colonial America conference (9-3:30) and the French and Indian War College (begins 6 p.m.) all at Fort Ticonderoga - about 10 miles from where I am staying.

Lake GeorgeLake George