What was Fort Ticonderoga?

Fort Ticonderoga, located in New York, was of strategic importance during the American Revolution. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold's Green Mountain Boys captured it from the British in a surprise attack on May 10, 1775, providing the Americans with artillery and a morale boost. In July 1777, the British, led by Major General John Burgoyne, sought to regain the fort as part of a three-pronged effort to split the northern American colonies. Despite its strong fortifications, Fort Ticonderoga was vulnerable to artillery fire from nearby hills. Major General Arthur St. Clair, commanding the American forces, deemed his position untenable and ordered a retreat on July 5. The British then followed in pursuit. The American evacuation without a major battle led to outrage and tarnished reputations, though St. Clair was later exonerated.

Why was Fort Ticonderoga important during the American Revolution?

Fort Ticonderoga, located in New York, possessed a strategic position during the American Revolution because it sat between Lake George and Lake Champlain. On May 10, 1775, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys captured the fort from the British, providing the Americans with needed artillery. The artillery seized was then moved to Boston for use against the British. Although the British would later retake Fort Ticonderoga, the American victory at the Battles of Saratoga diminished the fort's strategic importance, and British troops destroyed sections of it as they retreated to Canada.

What happened at the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga in 1777?

In July 1777, the British forces, led by Major General John Burgoyne, sailed down Lake Champlain to seize the American-held Fort Ticonderoga . The fort was under the command of Major General Arthur St. Clair, whose troops numbered around 3,000–4,000. The British landed near the fort on June 30, and by July 4, they had artillery in place on the heights. St. Clair, deeming his position untenable, chose to evacuate the fort under cover of darkness on July 5. The British discovered the evacuation on July 6 and pursued the Americans. The Americans suffered a blow to their pride and to St. Clair's reputation due to the British victory ..

Who were the main leaders of the British and American forces during this siege?

During the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga in 1777, a British victory, Major General John Burgoyne commanded approximately 9,100 British and German troops. On the American side, Major General Arthur St. Clair led an estimated 3,000–4,000 troops. General Philip Schuyler was St. Clair’s superior but was later relieved of command and replaced by General Horatio Gates.

How did the geography around Fort Ticonderoga affect the siege?

Fort Ticonderoga's location between Lake George and Lake Champlain made it strategically important during the American Revolution. The fort was vulnerable to artillery fire from three nearby hills, one of which was unguarded. The British placed cannons on Mount Defiance, southwest of the fort. Major General Arthur St. Clair, commanding the American forces, recognized the fort's vulnerability and opted to retreat rather than defend it.

What was the impact of the British capturing Fort Ticonderoga in 1777 on the rest of the war?

The British victory at the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga in July 1777 was not the decisive blow the British commander believed it would be. Although the capture of the fort was a blow to American pride and led to the removal of Major General Arthur St. Clair from his command, it did not end the rebellion. The majority of American troops who retreated from Fort Ticonderoga later faced Burgoyne at the Battles of Saratoga, where they achieved a decisive victory. This victory was a turning point in the war, convincing France to openly support the American cause. After the American victory, Fort Ticonderoga lost most of its strategic value.

Siege of Fort Ticonderoga

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

Quick Facts

Date:: July 2, 1777 - July 6, 1777

Location:: New York; Ticonderoga; United States

Participants:: United Kingdom; United States

Context:: American Revolution

Key People:: John Burgoyne

See all related content

Siege of Fort Ticonderoga

American Revolution [1777]

Written by

Raymond K. Bluhm

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

Top Questions

What was Fort Ticonderoga?
Fort Ticonderoga, located in New York, was of strategic importance during the American Revolution. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold's Green Mountain Boys captured it from the British in a surprise attack on May 10, 1775, providing the Americans with artillery and a morale boost.

In July 1777, the British, led by Major General John Burgoyne, sought to regain the fort as part of a three-pronged effort to split the northern American colonies. Despite its strong fortifications, Fort Ticonderoga was vulnerable to artillery fire from nearby hills. Major General Arthur St. Clair, commanding the American forces, deemed his position untenable and ordered a retreat on July 5. The British then followed in pursuit. The American evacuation without a major battle led to outrage and tarnished reputations, though St. Clair was later exonerated.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Siege of Fort Ticonderoga
2. Battle of Ticonderoga
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why was Fort Ticonderoga important during the American Revolution?
Fort Ticonderoga, located in New York, possessed a strategic position during the American Revolution because it sat between Lake George and Lake Champlain. On May 10, 1775, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys captured the fort from the British, providing the Americans with needed artillery. The artillery seized was then moved to Boston for use against the British. Although the British would later retake Fort Ticonderoga, the American victory at the Battles of Saratoga diminished the fort's strategic importance, and British troops destroyed sections of it as they retreated to Canada.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What happened at the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga in 1777?
In July 1777, the British forces, led by Major General John Burgoyne, sailed down Lake Champlain to seize the American-held Fort Ticonderoga. The fort was under the command of Major General Arthur St. Clair, whose troops numbered around 3,000–4,000.

The British landed near the fort on June 30, and by July 4, they had artillery in place on the heights. St. Clair, deeming his position untenable, chose to evacuate the fort under cover of darkness on July 5. The British discovered the evacuation on July 6 and pursued the Americans. The Americans suffered a blow to their pride and to St. Clair's reputation due to the British victory..
2 Britannica Sources
1. Siege of Fort Ticonderoga
2. American Revolution: Washington takes command
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who were the main leaders of the British and American forces during this siege?
During the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga in 1777, a British victory, Major General John Burgoyne commanded approximately 9,100 British and German troops.

On the American side, Major General Arthur St. Clair led an estimated 3,000–4,000 troops. General Philip Schuyler was St. Clair’s superior but was later relieved of command and replaced by General Horatio Gates.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did the geography around Fort Ticonderoga affect the siege?
Fort Ticonderoga's location between Lake George and Lake Champlain made it strategically important during the American Revolution. The fort was vulnerable to artillery fire from three nearby hills, one of which was unguarded. The British placed cannons on Mount Defiance, southwest of the fort. Major General Arthur St. Clair, commanding the American forces, recognized the fort's vulnerability and opted to retreat rather than defend it.
5 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What was the impact of the British capturing Fort Ticonderoga in 1777 on the rest of the war?
The British victory at the Siege of Fort Ticonderoga in July 1777 was not the decisive blow the British commander believed it would be. Although the capture of the fort was a blow to American pride and led to the removal of Major General Arthur St. Clair from his command, it did not end the rebellion.

The majority of American troops who retreated from Fort Ticonderoga later faced Burgoyne at the Battles of Saratoga, where they achieved a decisive victory. This victory was a turning point in the war, convincing France to openly support the American cause. After the American victory, Fort Ticonderoga lost most of its strategic value.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Siege of Fort Ticonderoga
2. Battle of Ticonderoga
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, engagement in the American Revolution fought July 2–6, 1777, resulting in a British victory that failed to end the rebellion, as its commander had believed it would.

The summer after their success at Valcour Island, the British opened their renewed invasion plan with a three-pronged effort to split the northern American colonies. Accordingly, Major General John Burgoyne sailed with 9,100 British and German troops and Indians down Lake Champlain to seize the American-held Fort Ticonderoga (in New York), which Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys had famously captured on May 10, 1775, giving a boost (and much needed artillery, taken from the British) to the early American war effort. It henceforth became a symbol of American might.

Fort Ticonderoga was a strong fortification and occupied a strategic position. The British had experience with it, for they suffered heavy losses when trying to wrest it from the French in 1758 during the Battle of Carillon. Even so, Fort Ticonderoga was vulnerable to artillery attack from three nearby hills, one unguarded and the others fortified but thinly manned, since proper defense was beyond the capability of the estimated 3,000–4,000 Americans under Major General Arthur St. Clair. His plan was to hold out as long as possible, then use a pontoon bridge to cross the narrows of the lake and withdraw a safe distance.

By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

American Colonial Flag, popularly attributed to Betsy Ross, was designed during the American Revolutionary War features 13 stars to represent the original 13 colonies.

Britannica Quiz

Facts You Should Know: American Revolution

Burgoyne with his main body landed on the western lakeshore near the fort on June 30. His Hessians marched on the opposite shore, threatening to cut off the American escape route. On July 4 St. Clair observed British artillery emplaced on the heights, ruining the British hope for a sneak attack. But St. Clair deemed his position impossible. As he framed the predicament, he could either “save his character and lose the army” by defending the increasingly vulnerable fort or “save the army and lose his character” by ordering a retreat. He opted for the latter, and under cover of darkness on July 5, he evacuated his sick and wounded by boat and then marched his men away, eventually crossing the lake.

The British were unaware that the Americans had left until July 6, whereupon they followed in hot pursuit. Small skirmishes occurred over the next two days (called the Battle of Hubbardton and the Battle of Fort Anne), but there were few casualties. By far the worst casualty was to St. Clair’s reputation and American pride. Congress and George Washington were outraged; they found it inconceivable that America’s most famous fortress could be abandoned by their defenders and overrun by the British without firing a shot, with no sustained siege, with no pitched battle. St. Clair was removed from his command and court-martialed, along with his superior, General Philip Schuyler, in late 1778. Both men were exonerated from any wrongdoing, but their reputations had been permanently tarnished.

Most of the American troops who fled Fort Ticonderoga would soon face Burgoyne at the Battles of Saratoga, where he was decisively defeated. After American victory the fort lost most of its strategic value as the Revolutionary War moved to the south; British troops retreating to Canada destroyed large sections of it, and when George Washington visited it in 1783 much of it lay in ruins.

Losses: American, about 40 dead, 40 wounded, 234 captured; British and Hessian, 35 dead, 150 wounded.

Explore Britannica Premium!

The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.