NPR

1776 'Christmas Riot' At Fort Ticonderoga Reveals Long-Forgotten Tensions

A Christmas day battle at Fort Ticonderoga between Massachusetts and Pennsylvania regiments in the Continental Army has long been a mystery. Now new documents detail what happened and why.
In 1776, Fort Ticonderoga in northern New York defended the frontier of the American colonies against a powerful British army. But the Colonial regiments stationed there struggled with growing tensions and animosity that led to a dangerous riot on Christmas day.

A couple weeks before Christmas day, modern day re-enactors in revolutionary war-era uniforms gathered below the walls of Fort Ticonderoga, on the shore of Lake Champlain about an hour's drive north of Albany in northern New York. One history buff, portraying a Pennsylvania officer in the Continental Army, approached a group of men, demanding angrily that they identify themselves.

"Who be you?"

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR6 min readPopular Culture & Media Studies
Supreme Court Examines Whether Government Can Combat Disinformation Online
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Missouri, Louisiana and five individuals who were either banned from social media during the pandemic or whose posts, they say, were not prominently featured.
NPR1 min readForeign Language Studies
Sunday Puzzle: Beware the Ides of March
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with guest puzzler Greg Pliska and listener David McKinnis of Fairfield, Connecticut.
NPR2 min read
A Volcano In Iceland Is Erupting For The Fourth Time In 3 Months
A volcano in Iceland erupted Saturday evening for the fourth time in three months, sending orange jets of lava into the night sky.

Related Books & Audiobooks