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The Highly Recommended* Online Resource for Historians, Educators, Students and Visitors
Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's Explorations on the lake
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Click here to learn more about Jim Millard's books!Praise for Jim Millard's  LAKE PASSAGES: A Journey through the Centuries...
"...thank you for having produced such a wonderful book. The book has a haunting theme that thrills. One somehow feels as if being paddled on canoe trips, or steered on board sloops and other vessels alongside the ghostly figures of our heroes through those magnificent lakes and rivers of unequalled beauty. It gives the feeling of being there as no other book of its kind does. For those with a passion for the history of these waters, this book is a must...The many photos of the valley's landmarks, monuments, statues, forts and panoramic views, make all so worthwhile an additive to pleasant reading."  
 Stanley W. Gomez- Gibraltar

Check out our NEW Fort Montgomery Ruins Video Tours! Two different versions, click here.

MOUNT DEFIANCE
Ticonderoga, New York

(click here for map)

By James P. Millard

NEW!  Images of Fort Ticonderoga by Jim Millard and
Images of Ticonderoga and Mt. Independence from Mt. Defiance
A virtual tour of the fort in grayscale- specifically for publishers. Much more to come!

Aerial photo of Mount Defiance, Ticonderoga New York by America's Historic Lakes Guest Contributors Doug and Mark Harwood


Just Southwest of both Ticonderoga and Mt. Independence, this mountain was to play a critical role in the ultimate abandonment of these fortresses. Known as Serpent a Sonnette or Rattlesnake Hill to the French, it was renamed Sugar Loaf Hill by the Americans. Despite the fact that it commanded a view of all the defenses on both sides of the lake, it was deemed too steep to fortify. Despite advice to the contrary by such figures as Benedict Arnold, John Trumbull and Thaddeus Kosciusko, it remained unfortified until the British under Burgoyne exploited this advantage and dragged cannon up its steep slopes. Realizing that a serious blunder had indeed been made, the Americans saw that their position was now untenable and gave up the forts below.
 

A panoramic view from the summit, view from north to south, Ticonderoga on left, Mt. Independence on right. During the Revolution the two peninsulas were connected by a bridge.
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A view from the Mount towards Ticonderoga Marker at the foot of the hill. Telephoto shot of Ticonderoga Howe grave memorial at base of the hill. Another view from the Mount.

Another panorama from north to south.
(click on the thumbnails to see a full size photo)



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