Mount Independence Earthworks

At first glance, the grassy ridges above Lake Champlain might look like ordinary bumps in the land. Look more closely, and they reveal the remains of a Revolutionary War fort at Mount Independence in Vermont.

In 1776, American troops began building defenses on this high ground. Across the lake stood Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Together, the two positions helped the Americans guard an important route between Canada and the Hudson River valley. Whoever controlled that route could move troops and supplies more easily through the region.

Soldiers dug into the soil and piled up earth to create protective walls called earthworks. They also built batteries, or positions for cannons, and other defenses. Earth could absorb some of the impact of cannon fire, while the high ground offered a view of the lake and surrounding area. The fort was part of a much larger military site where soldiers needed places to sleep, cook, and care for the sick.

In 1777, British forces advanced toward the American positions. British troops placed cannons on high ground overlooking the defenses, making the American positions difficult to hold. The Americans withdrew from Mount Independence and Fort Ticonderoga in July rather than risk being trapped.

Most of the wooden structures are gone, but traces of the earthworks remain. Over time, grass and trees have grown around the old defenses, softening their edges. These low ridges and trenches are clues to the work soldiers once did to protect the route along Lake Champlain. Today, visitors can walk trails at the historic site and see how the shape of the land still holds pieces of the past.