Friday, September 20 (8am-5pm)
Led by Douglas R. Cubbison
In conjunction with the 10th Annual American Revolution Seminar meeting at Fort Ticonderoga
Tour Registration: $125
America’s History is proud to announce a new partnership with the Fort Ticonderoga Association whereby we’ll offer a one-day tour of the early stages of British Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne’s campaign of 1777. Led by noted author and historian, Doug Cubbison, we will visit many sites important to this campaign including Mount Defiance, Mount Hope, Burgoyne’s lines around Fort Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Hubbardton battlefield and Skenesborough Harbor (present-day Whitehall.)
During the summer and fall of 1777, one of the great military campaigns of world history was fought in the dense forests and rolling fields of upstate New York and Vermont. John “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne led a combined force of some 9,000 British Redcoats, German hirelings, vengeful Tories and blood-thirsty Indians. This army descended from Canada, aiming to cut off the American middle colonies from their New England neighbors.
Burgoyne’s invasion was part of a three-pronged strategic plan to break the back of the rebellion. His army marched directly south through a near-impenetrable wilderness, attempting to reach its final objective: Albany. But American fortunes changed decisively on the west bank of the Hudson River near Saratoga. The surrender of Burgoyne’s army in October 1777 was more important to the Patriot cause than any other event during the American Revolution; this “turning point” arguably led to Yorktown four years later.
This America’s History tour will pick up Burgoyne’s invasion as his army arrives at Fort Ticonderoga, a great fortress overlooking Lake Champlain. We will start our tour atop Mount Defiance, getting a bird’s eye view of the Fort and Mount Independence, just as the British did. Outside the Fort we will visit Mount Hope and Burgoyne’s landing areas. We will walk the pristine battlefield at Hubbardton, where Americans courageously fought an unsuccessful rearguard action after they evacuated Fort Ticonderoga. We will also follow Burgoyne’s pursuit of the Americans who retreated to Skenesborough (now Whitehall, N.Y.) where the Patriots were soundly trounced by the oncoming Redcoats. We will return to Fort Ticonderoga in plenty of time for you to attend the opening session of Fort Ticonderoga’s American Revolution Seminar.
Tour Registration fee: $125.00
What’s included: Motor coach transportation, lunch, snack and beverage breaks, all admissions and gratuities, a map and materials package and the services of a professional historian selected for his knowledge and expertise.
Our Tour Leaders
Douglas R. Cubbison is the author of three Revolutionary War books, including: Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign: His Papers, “The Artillery never gained more Honour”: The British Artillery in the 1776 Valcour Island and 1777 Saratoga Campaigns and The American Northern Theater Army in 1776: The Ruin and Reconstruction of the Continental Force and numerous articles on the Revolutionary War. He is a U.S. Army veteran and former historian with the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division and U.S. Army Combat Studies Institute, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He is a popular speaker at Fort Ticonderoga’s War College and Seminar on the American Revolution and an experienced leader of staff rides.
Dr. Bruce M. Venter, president of America’s History, LLC is an experienced tour leader of the Colonial and Revolutionary War period. His article, “Behind Enemy Lines: Americans Attack Burgoyne’s Supply Line” appeared in the May/June issue of Patriots of the American Revolution magazine.
Other important information: This tour is limited to one bus, so please register early. A minimum of 20 participants is needed to run the tour. This is a walking and field tour so wear comfortable shoes. The bus will leave the main parking lot of Fort Ticonderoga at 8 AM and return by 5 PM. You may also wish to attend Fort Ticonderoga’s Annual Seminar on the American Revolution. You must register for the Seminar directly with Fort Ticonderoga. Below is information on the Seminar:
Tenth Annual Seminar on the American Revolution
September 20-22, 2013
Fort Ticonderoga hosts the Tenth Annual Seminar on the American Revolution September 20-22, 2013, in the Deborah Clarke Mars Education Center. This weekend seminar focuses on the military, political, and social history of the American War for Independence.
Over 100 participants—people with a deep interest in the American Revolution—join us each year for this weekend seminar. Leading authorities and new scholars on the period share their latest research in a series of presentations. The Seminar provides participants with an opportunity to listen to and interact with the presenters in an informal, relaxed atmosphere. Participation is limited and is by pre-registration only.
2013 Speakers to date:
• Alexander Cain, independent historian, on Loyalists in the Champlain Valley,
• Stephen Case and Mark Jacob, authors, on Peggy Shippen.
• Douglas Cubbison, author, on Burgoyne’s Saratoga Campaign 1777.
• William Fowler, Northeastern University, on the “American Crisis” in 1782 & 1783.
• Phil Mead, Harvard University, on Joseph Plumb Martin.
• Benjamin Smith, Patriots of the American Revolution magazine, on following the Knox Trail.
• Aaron Sullivan, Temple University, on the British occupation of Philadelphia 1777-78.
• William J. Troppman, Valley Forge National Historical Park, on chaplains in the Revolution.
For more information go to:
http://www.fortticonderoga.org/learn/learning/american-revolution-2013
Register Online:
Register by phone, e-mail or postal mail:
- Toll-free: 1-855-OUR-HISTORY (687-4478)
- Email us at: info@AmericasHistoryLLC.com
- Postal mail: America’s History LLC, P. O. Box 1076, Goochland, VA 23063
Visa, Master Card and Discover accepted. We take checks too!
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