Soldiers Atop The Mount - 2018

This past weekend, Warner's Regiment took part in the annual “Soldiers Atop the Mount” event at Mount Independence in Orwell, Vermont. The event is run by the Vermont State Historic Sites, and features reenactors portraying soldiers garrisoning the fort that occupied the grounds in 1776 and 1777.

Me and Miss G. in our 18th Century roles.

Planning and construction of the fort began in July of 1776 when the Continental Army decided to fortify the peninsula of land opposite Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. By erecting a second fort, and connecting the two via a bridge across the Lake, the Americans had total control of the Lake Champlain water route leading from Canada to the north, to New York, via Lake George and the Hudson River, to the south. The two forts were abandoned, however, in July of 1777, when the British army, under General John Burgoyne, moved south to lay siege to Ticonderoga. At first, General St. Clair, commander of the Continentals, did not believe reports of British movements. When Burgoyne arrived, his men were able to haul cannon to the top of Mount Defiance, which overlooked both Ticonderoga and Mount Independence. This move, coupled with the fact that he was short of both supplies and men, convinced St. Clair that the Americans should retreat, rather than be captured in a siege that they could not withstand. On July 6, 1777, women, children and supplies were sent south on boats to Skenesborough (today's Whitehall, New York), while the army at Ticonderoga moved across the lake to Mount Independence, then south along the military road to Castleton, Vermont. The British pursued St. Clair, which led to the Battle of Hubbardton on July 7^th, a delaying action which may have saved St. Clair's army.

The Sgt. Major demonstrating guard procedures.

For this past weekend, our unit was tasked with manning the Southern Battery of Mount Independence. Some of our men and women were allowed to camp at the battery, which was the first time the ground had been home to troops since November of 1777, when the British left the fort after the defeat of Burgoyne at Saratoga. On Saturday, our men posted guard at the battery, challenging visitors with a sign/counter-sign phrase that they learned from our regimental Chaplain who was stationed further down the trail from out post. Once admitted, guests were able to learn about the design of the three-tiered construction of the battery defenses, then could move a bit further along the trail where the 2nd Continental Artillery was firing one of their small pieces (again, the first time such had been done since 1777 in this location).

Cpt. Mullen explaining the battery layout to guests.

In the afternoon, we set off on a small skirmish in the woods at the upper camp of the mount. The scenario was that a small patrol had attacked the camp, and we were to push them out. Unlike most reenactments where visitors stand behind a line while troops battle each other across an open field, this event allows visitors to follow along behind the men at a safe distance as they patrol and engage the enemy in the woods. Two of the officers from Warner's acted as guides for the crowd, interpreting the action as it unfolded.

Some of the ladies of the Regiment at the Upper Encampment.

Day two of the event saw a Sunday service by our Chaplain, who read a sermon from Reverend Thomas Allen, who had served at the mount in the time period. There was a reading of the Declaration of Independence in front of the assembled troops, and a second small skirmish in the afternoon.

Safety inspection before the Sunday skirmish.