Navigation Links Home Research Research Methods Material Culture Intellectual Culture Projects Our Projects 18th Century Trek Encampment at Fort George Ascent of Mt. Defiance Battle of Marathon Research Request Membership Joining Hoplologia Taxeis Plataia Robert de Hoton's Retinue Milice de Montréal Company of Select Marksmen Links Contact Us Contact Form Discussion Forum

 

Ascent of Mount Defiance

In May 2005, Fraser's Company of Select Marksmen performed a comprehensive living history archaeology experiment to ascertain the difficulty of drawing artillery over historic roads, and the difficulty of ascending Mount Defiance near Ticonderoga with artillery.

To perform this experiment, it was determined to use a 3-pounder light cannon. A larger cannon, such as a medium 12-pounder gun, would have been more appropriate. However, creating such a cannon would have been extremely expensive. Additionally, cannon barrels of this size are not currently reproduced, thus an original cannon barrel would have had to be procured. A 3-pounder cannon was specifically designed to be carried by soldiers, while a larger cannon would require a large team of draft animals to convey it, and would also require a large modern vehicle to tow it to the event. A reproduction 3-pounder barrel was obtained, and a master carpenter (also a member of the Marksmen) reproduced over a winter a historically accurate carriage.

The carriage was based upon extensive primary and secondary source research, to include the use of National Park Service plans. This created a full-scale, full-weight cannon of original materials manufactured using hand labor only. The ascent was made on a snowmobile trail (wooded hiking path in summer) ascending from the base of Mount Defiance to the summit.

A work party of the Marksmen preceded the cannon, marking the trail, clearing it of obstacles, and improving it where necessary (one fifty-foot stretch of trail had to be corduroyed to permit the gun to traverse it). The amount of work was representative of that necessary to repair a badly worn or damaged section of existing road, or in the case of the 1777 British ascent of Mount Defiance, to improve a newly constructed road. The gun was then hauled up the mountain by hand. Historic hand tools were required for the work party, and the party actually hauling the gun were equipped with long hemp ropes and heavy (but historically correct) tackle so that the gun could be safely belayed over dangerous terrain. A safety briefing was given to all participants, and all participants were provided with heavy leather gloves to protect their hands.

The endeavor proved that the 3-pounder light gun was extremely mobile and maneuverable, and could easily be hauled by hand over the most difficult terrain relatively rapidly.