In Ticonderoga, north of Ft. Ticonderoga, is the battlefield where the Battle of Carillon took place.
The area is part of the grounds of the present day Fort Ticonderoga museum. To access it, you need to enter from New York Route 73, at the railroad crossing, then go to the admission booth and pay the admission fee (see the web site). Then, drive to the parking lot for Fort Ticonderoga, then to the exit road through the battlefield. There are various markers on both sides of the road.
There are several features and signs of note. A replica defensive earthworks is visible on the right side as you drive. Just beyond, on the left, is a cemetery where British soldiers were buried. Further are various signs and memorials. Among these signs are ridges that defined the battle line. One of the prominent memorial displays is a stone turret memorializing the Black Watch, a Scottish division.
The battle was part of the French and Indian War in North America, which is associated with the Seven Years War in Europe. In North America, battles occurred between the British and French colonies, with armies from their associated European countries and brought in and divided up the Native America nations. Previous to this battle, the British lost Fort William Henry on Lake George and were looking for revenge. William Pitt drew up new plans that called for attacks on three locations, including Fort Carillon on Lake Champlain (this location). The location of the French fort was where the present day Ft. Ticonderoga is located. Major General James Abercrombe was given the command of 15,000 regulars and provincials. On the French side were 3500 French men in the fort, let by Colonel François-Charles de Bourlamaque, who was soon joined by the commander of North America, Marquis Louis-Joseph de Montcalm. Montcalm was not happy with the current situation and ordered reinforcements from Montreal.
The British approached from Lake George, following the LaChute River, which emptied near the fort. They encountered a French unit and and repelled them, but a key officer, Brigadier General Lord George Howe, was killed.
There were several tactical errors that Abercrombe executed. Abercrombe was slow to advance to the fort, taking two days instead of a few hours. He also had received intelligence that overestimated both the size of the French force at the fort and the reinforcements that came. He also received intelligence that the fort could and should be taken by direct attack, unsupported by heavy artillery. There were two hills nearby that the British could have gone to and be able to easily reach the fort. Montcalm, himself, committed errors concerning the defense of the fort that a more competent opponent could have exploited (luckily, Abercrombe wasn't). On July 8, the British began their advance.
It was a massacre. Fighting started at about 12:30 and ended by 5:00. The British had to advance across open land and were easy targets for the French in the fort. There were two assaults, each with unsuccessful results. Abercrombe realized his failure and withdrew, marching all the way back to Lake George.
The British lost 551 men and 1,356 were injured. The French lost 106 and 266 were injured. It was the bloodiest battle of the war. The next year, the British finally captured the fort, rebuilt it, and renamed it Ft. Ticonderoga. This was the only defeat of the plan as the other two parts of the plan were successful.
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About (Military History - Battle of Carillon in the French and Indian War):
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Fort Ticonderoga
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