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On 10 May 1775, a group of 83 colonial militia under the command of Col. Ethan Allen and Col. Benedict Arnold seized Fort Ticonderoga, a British outpost at the southern tip of Lake Champlain. The daring raid delivered into American hands an arsenal of artillery and small arms much needed by the colonial troops now besieging British-held Boston. Although certain facts— the size of the attacking force, the number of British defenders, and the quantity of weapons captured— seem clear enough, other particulars, such as what Allen and other officers said and did during the assault, remain a topic of debate even now. For more information on the campaign, see Opening Shots in the Colonies, 1775-1776
Trail Author: Dr. Erik B. Villard
