The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-09
MEN AND ARTILLERY DRAGGED Up BY ROPES.

which were enacted here during the great ssrug-
gle for American independence; while l have
given q detailed description or Abercromole's
march from the waters OF Horizon TO the banks OF
Champlain his assault upon the French lines, his
repulse and mis- retreat, and while have reviewed
for them the history OF Fort llconderoga past and
given also minute pen picture OF Its present APP
pearance aud surroundings, my work, to those
familiar with the ground. would be regarded as
exceedingly inadequate did fail 10 sketch other
scenes or Revolutionary interest, particularly
those belonging TO Mount Defiance.
This mountain, formerly known as "Sugar
Loafu rises 10 the immense altitude OF 500 feeI
and forms bold PERCEPTIONS promonotory. where
the waters OF George and Champlain mingie, being
washed BY the waves OF both. During, the excit-
ing times or which / speak, the Americans placed
their greatest reliance upon their position on
Mount Independence distant from Fort Ticonder-
oga 500 yards. But towering TAR above Mount
independence was Mount Defiance, and victory
seemed destined TO crown the banners OF which
ever force arst gained its sublime summit
History states that at about this time American
anairs were involved In strange decisions. AT
all events we know that Burgoyne, VINO for
some time past had occupied crown Point, with
consummate daring and readiness marched
upon Ticonderoga- His army advanced in
three columns. BY extraordinary enterprise
and zeal he succeeded in surrounding the
American forces with o series OF military posts
and also caused careful reconnaissance TO be
made OF Mount Defiance. The engineers whom lie
had sent out reported taat Though the task would
be dinncul,, they felt confident that SUFFICIENT ar
lillery could be dragged TO its summit 10 command
absolute control OF the entire surrounding coun-
TIE ASCENT TO MOUNT DEFIANCE.
It's said that to horse or carriage rider Mount
Defiance Is wholly inaccessible. Ifuly believe IL,
for even on foot 1t was with the utmost labor ana
only after hours OF painful clamberlng that your
correspondent reached It's summit to-day. The
old state road, along which Burgoyne and his
army passed TO its top, Is not only almost entirely
obIterated, but grown over with tree and bram-
BILE ano erier. It TOOK me three hours 70 gain its
highest peak, and often in my ascent despaired
wholly or ever reaching it. is sides are formed
or ragged rock. deep prectpices and yaWning
caves a huge boulder, that succeeded in loosen
ing upon the brink or steep decivity went 10 the
bottom with q crash and roar ike that OF
thunder tearing huge chips from the giant trees
ana cutting stalwart saphngs completely
asunder nom their roots. The underbrush was so
dense and tho path 50 diclcult that was forced
10 abandon the route OF Burgoyne and seek the
mountains summit by path Of my own. In rhe
ascent was frequently compelled 10 crawl upon
20 leap many a assure intervening between
broken and disruptGred rock. Ia my journey I
came across three caves; but, upon endeayorlng
70 penetrate them, found that they we're nlled
vita snow. ice. mud and slime.
THE SUBMIT.
At last reached the top. Toe magnincent out
lock that burst upon my view more than repaid
all the labor and peril or the ascent was above
everything and al my surroundings lay panorama
like at my leet. Far. far on the distant horizon,
where the landscape seemingly penetrated the
SKY saw the broken outlines Of the Green Noun
tains, nom when descended pleasant valleys and
smning farming lands. All tue vast country from
lake shore TO mountain edge was dotted with
groves and villages, cosey. seauestsred hamlets,
and quiet, lovely nomsa
mad proceeded 10 the point Without guioe. l
could see below ne the ruins o. Port Ticonderoga,
mar even me little entrance leading 20 the bomb
proof in which yesterday crawled, the crumblipg
passages ana the remains or the French lines be-
fore waicn Abercromble met his terrible defeat.
IL was up this perilous mountain side that Bur
goyne, In tue year lT7T, ventured under guidance
Or ais engineers, 10 escort bis army and drag bis
heavy guns ! have already stated that no car
rage can ascend IT, summit, even now and when
Burgoyne ventured the attempt heavier, star.
dler growth 81 timber clothed the mountain tnan al
present grows there. But inc engineers OF Bur
Royne overcams aa natural obstacles men with
clearers and axes headed his line ana cut q road
through the forest, trougns were formed from the
stripped bodies OF the feled trees and The artIl.
Iery was dragged mp By ropes. The endeavor was
Succession. stood to-day upon toe precise poin
or rock where the English General mounted his
nrst gun. whose black mouth vas pointed directly
at Fort 11conderoga st. Clair, WAC commanded
the fort, saw the strong move made BY Burgoyne
.e.-sl
OF military and before the British nso dred gun
10 was decided that the fort could not be main
tanned and that the lives Of hundreds depended
upon immediate evacuation The very same
night succeeding the afternoon In which Bur.
goyne made mis- grand ascent OF Mount Defiance
this conclusion was carried into efect
THE FoKr ABANDONED.
Under the shadow OF darkness 200 boats. under
command OF Colonel Long, proceeded down the
lake to what was then known as Skenesooro. now
called Whitehall The night was 30 dark that the
little notnla escaped Observation from the British
senunels. ST. Clair vhIs endeavoring 70 escape,
however, with tue leading column, was discov.
cred, routed and pursued, but finally made good
his retreat 70 Castleton.
Thus was the fort at Ticondsroga once more IN
the hands o. the British, q circumstance received
throughout al England vita the widest demon
STATIONS or delight while no event or the Revolu-
ton cast = gloomier cain upon tue hearts or
tne American patricia Is Is stated that the
courageous heart OF Washington, upon receIv-
Ing the news, was animated with NORTH cation and
rage. u was the unanimous verdict that S. CiafF
Lad proven himself 70 be coward, and he was In
stantly suspended. Taus DID Burgoyne, flushed
with victory and pride, gain Fort Ticonosrogs,
stLl holding his superb position on Mount Den.
snce. No sooner had the news OF the recapitula-
ton swept the limits Or the colonies than Colonel
Allen, with force OF 500 men was ordered to pro.
coed nom Manchester, VI, sever the communIcA-
tons OF Burgoyne, and, Y possible, capture mis-
stronghoIds Of the base o. Ticonderoga and on the
summit Of Mount DeGance. II was a desperate
undertaking, as the nouns commands a view or
ali the surrounding country. However, he gained
the mountains edge without discovery. AZ the