Fort Ticonderoga staff recreate 1776 cannon fire for visitors
Historians at the New York fort say a nearly forgotten October skirmish saved the Continental Army from a two-front collapse.
By Sofia Ramirez ·
Visitors to Fort Ticonderoga in New York now hear the specific sound of a 250-year-old warning shot. The site’s staff fire cannons to mark the moment British ships were spotted near the fort in October 1776. This audio recreation is part of a new series designed to show how close the American cause came to failure.
Fort Ticonderoga’s vice president of public history, Stuart Lilie, leads visitors to the battlements. He explains that the first cannon shot would have signaled a sudden change in the British naval advantage. Lilie said the sound would have been tremendous and unmistakable to the enemy fleet.
The reenactment focuses on October 28, 1776. On that date, British forces attempted to take the fort after defeating Benedict Arnold’s fleet on Lake Champlain. About 13,000 Continental and militia soldiers were already positioned inside the fort walls, waiting for the attack.
Curator Matt Keagle notes that this engagement is often understated in history books. He points out that General George Washington’s army was suffering defeats in New York City at the same time. If the British had captured Fort Ticonderoga, Washington could have faced a simultaneous attack from the north.
Keagle described the troops at the fort as the primary remaining hope for the Continental cause. He noted that the army had been pushed back repeatedly and had already lost control of Manhattan and southern New York.
During the demonstration, interpreters carry muskets across a field to take positions. They aim toward Lake Champlain where red coats appear in the distance. The field fills with musket smoke as the actors simulate the exchange of fire.
Lilie describes the logistical effort required to mobilize the militia. He explains that drummers and pipers played to arms while sergeants knocked on huts to wake the soldiers. The militia rushed from their tents to assemble along the front line.
Patrick Boyd, a visitor from the Hudson Valley, commented on the physical scale of the location. He said the size of the fort and the construction effort impressed him despite his frequent visits to historic sites.
Fort Ticonderoga’s President and CEO Beth Hill said the site welcomes more than 70,000 visitors annually. She expects attendance to increase as part of the America 250 commemorations. Hill stated that the goal is to tell the story through the dramatic lives of the people who were present.
The events are part of a series titled Real Time Revolution. The series will continue into 2027 to mark the early years of the war. The reenactments aim to demonstrate the contingency of the historical events by placing visitors in the moment.
