"Guns on Mount Defiance" Topic

link
From the Journal of the American Revolution.
Very interesting, but short article.
It shows why Mount Defiance was crucial to the defense of Ticonderoga, but also gives a solid reason for the Americans not occupying it in the first place.
Plenty of room for arguments and discussion here!
It certainly settles whether Guns posted there could reach Ticonderoga. With ease, even 6lb guns.

It's also yet another good reason to subscribe.

Thanks for the link to this information – very informative.
It answers the question for me, but makes the British losses in the F&I war that much more regretable.

You're welcome.
Yeah. Montcalm had their number at Ticonderoga. Even he was surprised.

Imagine using this board for something so useful! Pure genius, John.

I subscribe to JAR and find most of their articles extremely interesting. Definitely a source for American Revolution gamers.

Jim

I've been up that mountain and it was a helluva long way to do any damage.
But what a view… ohh for 2002 again!
cheers

+1 John OFM and Advocate. Yes, let's bring the hobby back into our threads!

That would be an interesting mini-campaign, probably a board game. The map could be used in both the FIW, AWI and "what if?" Campaigns.
The Canadian Wargamers Group has an interesting map exercise game in "Habitants and Highlanders".
link

I bet it would even work for a War of 1812 hypothetical campaign.

I would be interested in if anyone knows if howitzers or mortars (using shells) could have hit the fort from the heights. Keeping in mind that the Americans did not have the ability to defend the fort due to lack of numbers, if they had had the forces, did the British have artillery using shells that could have reached the fort?

Round shot would have been a trial for defenders of the fort and it's outer defenses, but shell fire would have reduced the fort's buildings to ashes and been a severe threat to its magazine.

Not sure what effect round shot would have had against the stone defenses of the fort or trenches on Mount Independence. However, the British had the numbers to besiege the place, so the outcome would have been defeat for the Americans regardless I'd assume.

OFM, are 'Mount Defiance' and 'Sugarloaf' the same
feature ??

The linked article says it was called Sugar Hill.

Thanks. An old (published 1920's) book I had on the AWI
with a map of the area labeled it 'Sugarloaf'.

Round shot from large caliber siege guns, which Burgoyne certainly had when taking Ticonderoga, could force a breach in the walls of a masonry fortification.

For respective ranges, I would recommend using period artillery manuals. Muller would be a good start.

I thought that Burgoyne hauled his large caliber siege guns down from Canada. He couldn't use guns seized from Ticonderoga until he took Ticonderoga.

Yes-that's what I remarked upon and in a previous thread on the subject listed the number and caliber of artillery pieces that Burgoyne brought down from Canada.

I didn't suggest that the artillery taken at Ticonderoga were used for its reduction.