Fort Ticonderoga’s Bloodless Capture
Fort Ticonderoga guarded key water routes between New York and Canada in 1775. The British kept only a small force there – two officers and 46 soldiers, many too sick or disabled for full duty.
Another 25 women and children lived inside
the walls. Despite its weakened state, the fort remained important. Taking it would become America’s first attack against the British in the Revolutionary War.
Two Leaders With Competing Plans
On May 3, 1775, the Massachusetts Committee of Safety gave Benedict Arnold permission to capture Fort Ticonderoga. At the same time, Ethan Allen was already leading his Green Mountain Boys toward the fort.
These tough frontiersmen came from disputed land now called Vermont. Arnold rode hard to catch up with Allen’s group.
When they met, both men claimed the right to lead the mission – Arnold with his official papers, Allen with his loyal fighters.
The Uncomfortable Leadership Compromise
Arnold showed his Massachusetts documents and demanded to be in charge. The Green Mountain Boys refused, saying they would only follow Allen.
The entire mission almost fell apart before it began. After much argument, Allen and Arnold agreed to share command by marching side by side at the front of the group. Neither man liked this arrangement.
Many of Allen’s men still resented Arnold, especially his fancy red coat that marked him as different from the frontiersmen.
The Nighttime Crossing Of Lake Champlain
By 11:30 PM on May 9, the men gathered at Hand’s Cove in Vermont, ready to cross Lake Champlain. They waited anxiously for boats, which finally arrived at 1:30 AM.
There weren’t enough boats for everyone, so only 83 Green Mountain Boys crossed in the first trip with Allen and Arnold. Major Asa Douglas went back for the rest. The darkness helped hide them as they rowed toward the sleeping fort.
The Decision To Attack At Dawn
As morning light appeared, Allen and Arnold faced a choice – wait for the rest of their men or attack now. Dawn would soon reveal them to any watchful guards. I
f they lost surprise, they might lose their chance. They chose to attack with just the 83 men already across.
This bold move began early on May 10, 1775, just weeks after the first fighting at Lexington and Concord.
The Lone Sentry And The Unguarded Gate
Only one British soldier guarded the south gate of Fort Ticonderoga. When he spotted the Americans, he raised his musket and pulled the trigger.
The gun flashed but failed to fire. Terrified, the guard ran inside without raising an alarm. No bells rang to warn the sleeping soldiers.
The Americans rushed through the open gate and into the fort without facing any resistance.
Catching The British Garrison Asleep
The Americans hurried through the fort, finding British soldiers still in bed. They woke the confused men at gunpoint and took their weapons.
The entire garrison of 83 soldiers had no chance to fight back. Women and children huddled in fear as strangers with guns filled the fort. The British, caught completely by surprise, offered no resistance to the dawn attack.
The Confrontation With Lieutenant Feltham
Lieutenant Jocelyn Feltham heard the noise and jumped from his bed. As second-in-command, he rushed to see what was happening.
Feltham met the Americans on the staircase to the officers’ rooms. He had only managed to throw his red officer’s coat over his nightshirt.
Standing barefoot on the stairs, he demanded to know who gave them permission to enter a British fort. He hoped to buy time, but the Americans had already taken control.
The Famous Demand For Surrender
Allen answered Feltham with words that became famous: “In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!” He was claiming authority from both God and the new American government that had just met in Philadelphia.
Some reports suggest Allen actually used rougher language, shouting “Come out of there, you damned old rat!” Allen wrote the more famous version in his later stories. He then warned that fighting back would mean death for everyone in the fort.
Captain Delaplace’s Quick Surrender
Captain William Delaplace, the fort commander, came out of his room fully dressed. He quickly saw his soldiers were already captured.
Fighting would only lead to bloodshed with no hope of winning. Delaplace handed his sword to the Americans, officially giving up the fort.
With this simple act, Fort Ticonderoga – once called the “Gibraltar of America” for its importance – fell to the Americans without a single shot being fired.
America’s First Victory Without Bloodshed
Only one person was hurt during the capture – an American accidentally wounded by a British bayonet. Once victory was clear, the Green Mountain Boys broke into the fort’s liquor stores and began drinking heavily.
The Americans captured valuable supplies: 78 cannons, 6 mortars, 3 howitzers, and thousands of musket balls and flints. These weapons later helped drive the British from Boston.
Arnold tried to restore order among the celebrating troops, causing more tension with Allen’s men.
Visiting Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga welcomes visitors at 100 Fort Ti Road in Ticonderoga, New York, near the Vermont border. The museum opens daily from May through October, with special winter weekend events from November through April.
Adult admission costs $25, with discounts for seniors, military, and children (5-15). Kids under 5 enter free.
The fort hosts daily musket demonstrations, guided tours, and historic trade workshops. Many visit for the annual reenactment of the 1775 capture each May and the Scottish Festival in June.
The King’s Garden features 18th-century plants and design.
Read More from WhenInYourState.com:
The post How Revolutionary raiders seized Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775 by catching British officers asleep appeared first on When In Your State.