Today in history -- March 17, 1776
On this date, the British forces were forced to evaculate Boston after Gen. Washington successfully placed fortifications and cannons on Dorchester Heights (a location that overlooks the city from the South).
The Continental Army fortified Dorchester Heights with captured artillery from Fort Ticonderoga, brought there by Colonel Henry Knox.
During the winter of 1775-1776, after successfully seizing Fort Ticonderoga (NY) from the British, hundreds of captured guns sat idle as the Continental Army at Fort Ticonderoga organized and launched an invasion of Canada that summer. On 16 Nov 1775, Gen. Washington issued Knox the orders sending him to the fort. From 6 Dec 1775 to 25 Jan 1776, Knox set about capturing the artillery to bring it to Boston which would hopefull break the stalemate between the Continentals and the British forces that occupied the city.
Gathering ox-drawn sleds and wagons, Col. Knox successfully transported 59 cannons, mortars, and howitzers (about 60 tons) about 300 miles from the fort to Boston. Knox's men struggled through deep snow, icy rivers, and rugged mountain passes as they made their way south through New York. Towns along their route supplied oxen, men, and provisions, demonstrating a cooperative effort between soldiers and the local communities. They crossed the frozen Hudson River and the Berkshires in the middle of winter, overcoming obstacles along the way.
By late January 1776, Knox's artillery train ("Noble Train of Artillery") arrived outside of Boston. Washington ordered the guns to be placed on Dorchester Heights, a high ground that overlooked the city and its harbor. On 17 March 1776, the British were faced with bombardment and as a result, evacuated the city.
In an excerpt from a letter from Knox to Gen. Washington (Fort George, NY on 17 Dec 1775), he wrote,
"I returnd from Ticonderoga to this place on the 15th instant & brought with me the Cannon &c. It having taken nearly the time I conjecturd it would to transport them here—It is not easy to conceive the difficulties we have had in getting them over the lake owing to the advanced Season of the Year & contrary winds—three days ago it was very uncertain whether we could have gotten them over untill next Spring, but now please God they shall go—I have made forty two exceeding strong sleds & have provided eighty yoke of Oxen to drag them as far as Springfield where I shall get fresh Cattle to carry them to Camp. The rout will be from here to Kinderhook, from thence into Great Barrington, Massachusetts Bay & down to Springfield—There will Scarcely be any possibility of conveying them from here to Albany or Kinderhook but on Sleds the roads being very much gullied—At present the sledding is tolerable to Saratoga about 26 Miles; beyond that there is none—I have sent for the Sleds & teams to come up & expect to begin to move them to Saratoga on Wednesday or Thursday next trusting that between this & that period we shall have a fine fall of Snow which will enable us to proceed further & make the Carriage easy—if that should be the case I hope in 16 or 17 days to be able to present to your Excellency a Noble train of Artillery, the Inventory of which I’ve inclos’d I have been particular with respect to their dimensi [dimensions] that no mistake may be in making their carriages as there are none here or Implements of any kind I also send a List of those Stores which I desir’d Colo. McD [McDougall] to send from N. York; I did not then know of any 13 Inc [inch] Mortars which was the reason of my ordering but few Shells of that Size; but I now write to him for 500 I [inch] 200 5 7/10 Inches & 400 of 4½ Inches—If these sizes could be ha [had] there as I beleive they can I should imagine it would [save] time & expence rather than to have them cast... [Colonel Benedict] Arnold was oblig’d to go to poin [point] au tremble about 6 miles from the City, that Ge [General] Montgomery had gone to join him with a Consid [considerable] body of men & a Good train of Artillery Mortars &. [ect.]" (Source: www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/henry-knox-brought-me-cannon)
He wrote Gen. Washington again on 7 Jan 1776 that "... by this time the want of Snow detain'd us some days & now a cruel thaw, hinders from Crossing Hudsons River which we are oblig'd to do four times from Lake George to this Town [Albany]- the first severe night will make the Ice on the river sufficiently strong 'till that happens the Cannon & mortars must remain where they are most of them at the different crossing places & some few here... in eight or nine days after the first severe frost they will be at Springfield [MA] from which place we can get them easily transported Altho there should be no snow-- but to that the roads are So excessively bad Snow will be necessary..." (Source: www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/henry-knox-brought-me-cannon)
This was no easy venture, to be sure, and due to Knox's actions and the successful delivery of the artillery to Boston, the Americans secured their first significant victory during the Revolution. And, the "Noble Train of Artillery" elevated Knox to become one of Washington's most valuable officers.
Resources:
"British Evacuate Boston." History Channel. www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-17/british-evacuate-boston.
"Henry Knox: 'Brought With Me the Cannon." American Battlefield Trust. www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/henry-knox-brought-me-cannon.
"Henry Knox's Noble Train of Artillery: Ticonderoga to the Siege of Boston." Fort Ticonderoga. fortticonderoga.org/experience/events/henry-knoxs-noble-train-of-artillery-ticonderoga-to-the-sie....
"Knox's Expedition to Boston- Dec 6, 1775 - Jan 25, 1776." American Battlefield Trust. www.battlefields.org/learn/maps/knoxs-expedition-boston-dec-6-1775-jan-25-1776.
![Today in history -- March 17, 1776
On this date, the British forces were forced to evaculate Boston after Gen. Washington successfully placed fortifications and cannons on Dorchester Heights (a location that overlooks the city from the South).
The Continental Army fortified Dorchester Heights with captured artillery from Fort Ticonderoga, brought there by Colonel Henry Knox.
During the winter of 1775-1776, after successfully seizing Fort Ticonderoga (NY) from the British, hundreds of captured guns sat idle as the Continental Army at Fort Ticonderoga organized and launched an invasion of Canada that summer. On 16 Nov 1775, Gen. Washington issued Knox the orders sending him to the fort. From 6 Dec 1775 to 25 Jan 1776, Knox set about capturing the artillery to bring it to Boston which would hopefull break the stalemate between the Continentals and the British forces that occupied the city.
Gathering ox-drawn sleds and wagons, Col. Knox successfully transported 59 cannons, mortars, and howitzers (about 60 tons) about 300 miles from the fort to Boston. Knoxs men struggled through deep snow, icy rivers, and rugged mountain passes as they made their way south through New York. Towns along their route supplied oxen, men, and provisions, demonstrating a cooperative effort between soldiers and the local communities. They crossed the frozen Hudson River and the Berkshires in the middle of winter, overcoming obstacles along the way.
By late January 1776, Knoxs artillery train (Noble Train of Artillery) arrived outside of Boston. Washington ordered the guns to be placed on Dorchester Heights, a high ground that overlooked the city and its harbor. On 17 March 1776, the British were faced with bombardment and as a result, evacuated the city.
In an excerpt from a letter from Knox to Gen. Washington (Fort George, NY on 17 Dec 1775), he wrote,
I returnd from Ticonderoga to this place on the 15th instant & brought with me the Cannon &c. It having taken nearly the time I conjecturd it would to transport them here—It is not easy to conceive the difficulties we have had in getting them over the lake owing to the advanced Season of the Year & contrary winds—three days ago it was very uncertain whether we could have gotten them over untill next Spring, but now please God they shall go—I have made forty two exceeding strong sleds & have provided eighty yoke of Oxen to drag them as far as Springfield where I shall get fresh Cattle to carry them to Camp. The rout will be from here to Kinderhook, from thence into Great Barrington, Massachusetts Bay & down to Springfield—There will Scarcely be any possibility of conveying them from here to Albany or Kinderhook but on Sleds the roads being very much gullied—At present the sledding is tolerable to Saratoga about 26 Miles; beyond that there is none—I have sent for the Sleds & teams to come up & expect to begin to move them to Saratoga on Wednesday or Thursday next trusting that between this & that period we shall have a fine fall of Snow which will enable us to proceed further & make the Carriage easy—if that should be the case I hope in 16 or 17 days to be able to present to your Excellency a Noble train of Artillery, the Inventory of which I’ve inclos’d I have been particular with respect to their dimensi [dimensions] that no mistake may be in making their carriages as there are none here or Implements of any kind I also send a List of those Stores which I desir’d Colo. McD [McDougall] to send from N. York; I did not then know of any 13 Inc [inch] Mortars which was the reason of my ordering but few Shells of that Size; but I now write to him for 500 I [inch] 200 5 7/10 Inches & 400 of 4½ Inches—If these sizes could be ha [had] there as I beleive they can I should imagine it would [save] time & expence rather than to have them cast... [Colonel Benedict] Arnold was oblig’d to go to poin [point] au tremble about 6 miles from the City, that Ge [General] Montgomery had gone to join him with a Consid [considerable] body of men & a Good train of Artillery Mortars &. [ect.] (Source: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/henry-knox-brought-me-cannon)
He wrote Gen. Washington again on 7 Jan 1776 that ... by this time the want of Snow detaind us some days & now a cruel thaw, hinders from Crossing Hudsons River which we are obligd to do four times from Lake George to this Town [Albany]- the first severe night will make the Ice on the river sufficiently strong till that happens the Cannon & mortars must remain where they are most of them at the different crossing places & some few here... in eight or nine days after the first severe frost they will be at Springfield [MA] from which place we can get them easily transported Altho there should be no snow-- but to that the roads are So excessively bad Snow will be necessary... (Source: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/henry-knox-brought-me-cannon)
This was no easy venture, to be sure, and due to Knoxs actions and the successful delivery of the artillery to Boston, the Americans secured their first significant victory during the Revolution. And, the Noble Train of Artillery elevated Knox to become one of Washingtons most valuable officers.
Resources:
British Evacuate Boston. History Channel. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-17/british-evacuate-boston.
Henry Knox: Brought With Me the Cannon. American Battlefield Trust. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/henry-knox-brought-me-cannon.
Henry Knoxs Noble Train of Artillery: Ticonderoga to the Siege of Boston. Fort Ticonderoga. https://fortticonderoga.org/experience/events/henry-knoxs-noble-train-of-artillery-ticonderoga-to-the-siege-of-boston/.
Knoxs Expedition to Boston- Dec 6, 1775 - Jan 25, 1776. American Battlefield Trust. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/maps/knoxs-expedition-boston-dec-6-1775-jan-25-1776.](https://warrenparks.com/wp-content/plugins/custom-facebook-feed-pro/assets/img/placeholder.png)
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3/17/26: Tonight's Cultural & Heritage Advisory Board meeting has been cancelled.
Our next meeting is 4/21/26 at 5pm (Land Preservation office)
Thank you.
WCCHA
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Calling all Senior Citizen artists!
Warren County professional and non-professional artists who are over the age of 60 are welcome to submit one (1) piece of their original artwork (from April 2023 until now) to the Warren Co. Senior Citizen Art Show. Artists who are awarded 1st Place will automatically be entered into the State show this fall. Only 2-D entries will be accepted this year (see guidelines for more information).
We are so excited to announced that this year's show and exhibit will be on display at the Warren Co. Library's Richard D. Gardner Branch (2 Shotwell Drive, Belvidere)!
Dates to know:
Thurs., April 23 (9am to 11am): Artists may drop off their submission and application at the library (2nd floor conference room). If you have a scheduling conflict, please contact Gina.
Friday., May 15 (1pm to 3pm): County Show & Reception for Artists.
Sat., May 16 to Tues., August 25: The show will be viewable to the public (we encourage you to visit and see the amazing artwork our seniors create) during library hours*.
Mon-Thurs., 9am to 8pm, except holidays
Fridays, 9am to 6pm, except holidays
Saturdays, 9am to 4pm, except holidays
*See their website for any changes: warrenlib.org
Wed., August 26 (9am to 11am): Pick-up for artists whose entries are not advancing to the State Show.
If you have a scheduling conflict, but really want to submit an entry or have a question about the show, please call or email Gina Rosseland at 908-453-4381 or grosseland@co.warren.nj.us.
There is no entrance fee.
Standard and large print guidelines & applications are available at www.warrencountynjheritage.com/arts/warren-county-senior-arts or call/email Gina to request a hard copy.
#SeniorArts #WCCHA #WarrenCoNJ #NJSCA #ShippenManor
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If anyone is missing a hat, it was found in the Belvidere Ave. parking. It is outside on the sign by the boardwalk.
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