Mount Independence

The defeated heading back to camp from battle on Mount Independence. We enjoyed a wonderful experience at the re-enactment of, actually, a non-existent battle. Mount Independence, formerly Rattlesnake Hill, was the scene of a huge encampment during the Revolutionary War. No battles were fought here. The Americans built it and spent a couple of years including harsh winters, but retreated when pursued by the British. The British occupied it for a time, but burned it completely when they learned that General Burgoyne had been defeated at Saratoga. Today it is a beautifully preserved historic site.

This statue, which talks, tells the story of both sides in the struggle in a very nice museum.

Across Lake Champlain, you can see Fort Ticonderoga and the Adirondacks in New York. The Americans actually built a floating bridge between the two forts. In 1775, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, all from—where else?—Vermont captured the fort for the Americans. Ethan Allen was the founder of Vermont.

Part of the encampment. The re-enacters were authentically dressed and stayed in their role explaining various aspects of being a camp follower from food that they ate to doctoring to schools and daily life. These ladies are knitting with wooden needles and homespun yarn.

Only one British soldier showed up. They divided their army so there could be a battle.

The Fife and Drum Corps was wonderful.

Although blurry, this picture shows a typical battle scene. These are the patriots.

The general was our narrator for the battle explaining the strategy and giving us many historical facts including the fact that your chances of being shot by a musket ball was about 1 in 500. A cannon ball or disease was a likelier culprit.

On this day, the patriots were victorious. Their strategy paid off. It was a very exciting battle to watch. One blessing of the day was the good weather. We walked a long ways and were hot and tired when it was over, but felt we’d gained an appreciation for the brave soldiers who waged the War of Independence and gave us our freedoms. The general read the Declaration of Independence in a rousing and dramatic way before the battle began. A treasured memory. This is Vermont.