Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-12

l.sh, and at last by the Americans, when
the war of the revolution had been won,
the memories of centuries cluster about
the promontory overlooking Lake Cham
plain. II was the key to the Hudson val
ley and the gateway between this country
and Canada. The fertilization overlooked
the lower end of Lake Champlain and the
river connecting Champlain with Lake
George. There was an easy portage from
Lake George to the head waters of the.
Hudson, at the foot of which lies the
present city OF New York.
1t was in 1909 that Champlain. with an
expedition of Huron and Algonquin In
dams against the Iroquois, first set eyes
upon the lake named after him and on or
near the present site of Ticonderoga, de-
cisively defeated a band of Mohawks The
Indians retreated southwark and allied
themselves with the British. while the
French proceeded to erect Fort Carlton,
afterward Ticonderoga, and make 1t the
headquarters for the occupancy and de-
Tense of tina country. Carlton signifies
"chime Of BELLS" which designation came
from the musical sound Of the falls In the
river a mile distant. ~Ticonderoga is al
Indian appellation, which means "brawling
water" also referring to the falls.
ia 1tof NNbNi " AANN
$500 men at Fort Carlton, and it was the
has of an expedition which captured Fort
William Henry from the British. The fol-
lowing year General Abercrombie, with a
| force of Ii, 1000, composed Of British regu-
'ars, American colonists and Indian allies,
aid siege to the fort, but suffered a most
disastrous defeat. Lord Howe was among
|, he slain, and the famous Forty-second
| Highlanders, known as the Black Watch,
'ost IS per cent of its men. The total
British loss was 1900. A year later Gen.
eral Amherst. with a force of 1900
men, invested the fort while its garrison
had been depleted and captured the strong
hold.
Vast sums were spent in strengthening
the American Gibraltar" Limestone was
| quarried in the neighborhood and piers
we're built in the river. Amherst also con-
structed at this time the first fleet of
British war vessels which went into action
In this country. The fort remained In the
peaceable possession of the British until
May 10. 1T75, when. by the coup Of Colonel
| Ethan Allen, II was surprised and cap
tured by the Americans, this event being,
next to the attack Of the minute men at
Concord and the shirmish at Lexington,
the third event of Importance in the war
Of the American revolution.
The Americans held the fort until July,
III, when Burgoyne with a force OF Brit
ish placed a battery on Mount Defiance, 4
| higher point, then known as Sugar Loaf
hill, and captured the fort. A few months
! later the Americans, under General Lin
1 coin. ~reeAptured Mount Defiance, released
100 American prisoners, and took
2S British. but failed to retake the fort,
which remained in possession Of the British
until the end of the war. the last British
garrison leaving II in l7S0
The fort and the property surrounding I
was given to Columbia and Union colleges
after the return of peace, and In 1896 II wa:
leased by +. Pell as a summer home and
purchased by him outright in 1878. Fol
many years his heirs leased It 10 market
gardeners and farmers, but the origina
landmarks, earthworss and Eedoubts hav,
remained practically undistuTbed.
What remains of the old west barracks
or officers quarters is TO be restored anC
occupied as a museum. while some of th'
other buildings within the fcrt inelosur'
proper will be fitted for residential pur
poses. The museum is 70 be supplied from
relies In the possession OF the Pel family
and the Ttconderoga Historical society sn'
will be open to visitors on certain days.
Chicago Record-Herald.