Siege of Fort Ticonderoga

Overview

The siege of Fort Ticonderoga occurred between 2 July and 6 July 1777 at Fort Ticonderoga, near the southern end of Lake Champlain in the state of New York. Lieutenant General John Burgoyne's 8,000-man army occupied high ground above the fort, and nearly surrounded the defenses. These movements precipitated the occupying Continental Army, an under-strength force of 3,000 under the command of General Arthur St. Clair, to withdraw from Ticonderoga and the surrounding defenses. Some gunfire was exchanged, and there were some casualties, but there was no formal siege and no pitched battle. Burgoyne's army occupied Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, the extensive fortifications on the Vermont side of the lake, without opposition on 6 July. Advance units pursued the retreating Americans.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

Burgoyne's seizure of Fort Ticonderoga in July 1777 removed a key defensive position on the Lake Champlain corridor without a pitched battle. By occupying the high ground above the fort, his 8,000-man force rendered the American position untenable and compelled St. Clair's under-strength garrison of 3,000 to withdraw, ceding both Ticonderoga and the extensive fortifications at Mount Independence on the Vermont side of the lake. The bloodless fall of the fort was a significant early success for Burgoyne's campaign to drive south from Canada and sever New England from the other colonies. However, the retreat kept St. Clair's force intact, and Burgoyne's subsequent advance into the interior of New York would eventually culminate in his defeat at Saratoga later that year, diminishing the strategic value of what had appeared to be an easy and decisive gain.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (4)