Fall of Fort Ticonderoga episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 4, 2025 · 8 MIN

Fall of Fort Ticonderoga

from History Distilled · host Team Elendil

In 1777, British General Burgoyne led an army south from Canada aiming to capture Fort Ticonderoga, a strategically vital location. Despite its reputation as the "Gibraltar of the North," the fort had fallen into disrepair and the American defenses were inadequate. The British discovered Sugar Loaf Hill, a commanding height overlooking the fort, which the Americans had failed to defend. By placing artillery on this hill, the British made the fort indefensible. American General St. Clair, recognizing the futility of resistance, ordered a retreat, and the British captured Fort Ticonderoga without a major battle.Works citedFort Ticonderoga (1777) Battle Facts and Summary | American Battlefield Trust, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/fort-ticonderoga-1777Fort Ticonderoga, The Last Campaigns - Lender - Westholme Publishing, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.westholmepublishing.com/book/fort-ticonderoga-the-last-campaigns-lender/Fort Ticonderoga (1775) Battle Facts and Summary | American Battlefield Trust, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/fort-ticonderoga-17757 Revolutionary War Site Facts - Fort Ticonderoga, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.fortticonderoga.org/travelerstips/fort-ticonderoga-7-revolutionary-war-site-facts/Fort Ticonderoga - Wikipedia, accessed March 25, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_TiconderogaBattle of Fort Ticonderoga, 1775 | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/military-history-and-science/battle-fort-ticonderoga-1775Fort Ticonderoga | American Battlefield Trust, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/fort-ticonderogaSaratoga Battle Facts and Summary | American Battlefield Trust, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/saratogaBritish Begin the Saratoga Campaign - Americana Corner, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.americanacorner.com/blog/saratogaSaratoga Campaign 1777 | American Revolutionary War, accessed March 25, 2025, https://revolutionarywar.us/campaigns/1777-saratoga-campaign/Saratoga campaign - Wikipedia, accessed March 25, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saratoga_campaignBattle of Saratoga, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.saratoga.org/battle-of-saratoga/Siege of Fort Ticonderoga (1777) - Wikipedia, accessed March 25, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Ticonderoga_(1777)Siege of Fort Ticonderoga (1777) | Description & Significance - Britannica, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-Fort-TiconderogaThe Siege of Fort Ticonderoga (1777) - American Battlefield Trust, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/siege-fort-ticonderoga-1777John Burgoyne | George Washington's Mount Vernon, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/john-burgoyneNational Affairs: CAMPAIGN OF 1777 | TIME, accessed March 25, 2025, https://time.com/archive/6824857/national-affairs-campaign-of-1777/en.wikipedia.org, accessed March 25, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_St._Clair#:~:text=In%20April%201777%2C%20St.,siege%20on%20July%205%2C%201777.Arthur St. Clair - Wikipedia, accessed March 25, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_St._ClairArthur St. Clair | American Battlefield Trust, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/arthur-st-clairWhy St. Clair?, accessed March 25, 2025, https://discoverstclair.com/traveling-the-backroads/why-st-clair/Battle of Fort Ticonderoga 1777, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.britishbattles.com/war-of-the-revolution-1775-to-1783/battle-of-ticonderoga-1777/Battle of Fort Ticonderago (Second) - American Revolutionary War, accessed March 25, 2025, https://revolutionarywar.us/year-1777/battle-fort-ticonderago-second/Fort Ticonderoga Falls to British - Americana Corner, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.americanacorner.com/blog/british-capture-fort-ticonderogaArthur St. Clair's Decision to Abandon Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, accessed March 25, 2025, https://allthingsliberty.com/2016/05/arthur-st-clairs-decision-to-abandon-fort-ticonderoga-and-mount-independence/The Fall of Fort Ticonderoga in July 1777 - New York Almanack, accessed March 25, 2025, https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2023/07/the-fall-of-fort-ticonderoga-in-july-1777/Fort Ticonderoga: Americans Abandoned The Gibraltar of the North Without a Fight, accessed March 25, 2025, https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/fort-ticonderoga-americans-abandoned-the-gibraltar-of-the-north-without-a-fight/Battle Timeline | Battles of Saratoga 250 - America's Turning Point, accessed March 25, 2025, https://saratoga250.com/discover/timeline-battles-saratoga/en.wikipedia.org, accessed March 25, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Ticonderoga_(1777)#:~:text=The%20uncontested%20surrender%20of%20Ticonderoga,Schuyler%2C%20were%...

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Fall of Fort Ticonderoga

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This episode was published on April 4, 2025.

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In 1777, British General Burgoyne led an army south from Canada aiming to capture Fort Ticonderoga, a strategically vital location. Despite its reputation as the "Gibraltar of the North," the fort had fallen into disrepair and the American defenses...

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