Discover the seemingly miraculous victory of General Montcalm and his French troops on July 8, 1758 at Fort Ticonderoga’s Battle of Carillon living history weekend! Throughout the weekend visitors will be immersed in life behind the scenes with the French troops on the eve of one of the largest battles in North America prior to the American Civil War. Highlighted programs will be offered throughout the weekend including special tours, musket demonstrations, battlefield programs, French fife and drum performances and more!  Admission to the Battle of Carillon living history weekend is included in a Fort Ticonderoga’s general admission ticket.  To learn more about the event visit www.fortticonderoga.org or call 518-585-2821.

Throughout the weekend visitors will witness how French soldiers lived inside Fort Carillon, and learn about what it was like with 3000 soldiers encamped across the garrison grounds. Watch axes fly as French soldiers demonstrate the construction of the famous French Lines, the half mile-long breastwork that successfully defended the heights of Carillon. Learn about the martial engineering of the abatis placed in front of the French lines, similar to barbed wire in modern warfare. Hear the roar of musketry as French soldiers demonstrate how a murderous fire was maintained all day long from the parapets of the French Lines on the fateful day in July 1758.

In July 1758 the British army attacked the French at Ticonderoga, named Fort Carillon by the French, attempting to capture the Fort and take control of the portage between Lake George and Lake Champlain.  On the 7th of July the French at Ticonderoga constructed a half mile-long log wall protected in front by a dense tangle of treetops and sharpened branches to serve as a barrier against the British attackers.  This fortification was known as the French Lines.  On July 8th, the British attacked.  At the end of the day-long battle, the British had suffered casualties of nearly 2,000 men killed and wounded.  Broken and dismayed, the British retreated back to their camp at the southern end of Lake George.  The French won the battle and achieved what would prove to be France’s greatest victory of the French & Indian War. 

The Fort Ticonderoga Association, a private not-for-profit historic site and museum preserves and interprets the entire Fort Ticonderoga garrison grounds, including Carillon Battlefield.  Preserved on the Carillon Battlefield is the largest series of untouched 18th-century earthworks surviving in North America.Fort Ticonderoga's website