Happy
Independence Day Weekend! On July 4th in
1776, the Continental Congress adopted the
Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It
took eleven days for the news of independence to
reach the Continental Army at Ticonderoga-an
ill-equipped and defeated army after a disastrous
campaign in British Canada during the previous
winter and spring.
On
July 15, 1776, Persifer Frazer, with the
Pennsylvania troops at Ticonderoga, wrote to his
wife Polly that "We have heard here this day that
Independency has been declared by the Congress."
Thirteen
days later, on Sunday, July 28, 1776, a printed
copy of the Declaration of Independence was read
to the assembled troops at Ticonderoga for the
first time. For the men in the Continental Army at
Ticonderoga, the final sentence of the Declaration
had personal meaning-"And for the support of this
declaration, with a firm reliance on the
protection of Divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and
our sacred honour." For them, these were no idle
words-they had risked everything when they joined
the fight for liberty.
An
anonymous writer present for the reading on July
28th noted "the Army manifested their
joy with three cheers. It was remarkably pleasing
to see the spirits of the soldiers so raised,
after all their calamities; the language of every
man's countenance was 'Now we are a
people; we have a name among the States of this
world.'"
The
words of another Revolutionary War veteran express
the sentiments of Independence Day. Benjamin
Warner settled in Ticonderoga after the war and as
he neared the end of his life, he bequeathed his
knapsack to his son with instructions that as long
as one thread of it remained "Never surrender your
liberties to an aspiring demagogue or a foreign
invader." These words continue to inspire all of
us to remember the true meaning of Independence
Day. As Col. Arthur St. Clair said as he concluded
the reading of the Declaration of Independence to
the troops here on July 28, 1776, "God save the
free independent States of America."
Fort
Ticonderoga
America's
Fort
Located
on Lake Champlain in the beautiful 6 million acre
Adirondack Park, Fort Ticonderoga is a private
not-for-profit historic site and museum that
ensures that present and future generations learn
from the struggles, sacrifices, and victories that
shaped North America and changed world history.
Fort Ticonderoga offers programs, historic
interpretation and tours, garden tours,
demonstrations, and exhibits each day from 9:30 am
to 5:00 pm, May 20-Oct. 20. The 2011 season will
feature The Art of War: Ticonderoga as
Experienced through the Eyes of America's Great
Artists exhibit highlighting the Fort's
extensive art collection by some of America's
greatest artists. A full schedule and
information on events can be found at www.FortTiconderoga.org or
phone (518) 585-2821. Fort Ticonderoga is located
at 100 Fort Ti Road, Ticonderoga, New
York.
