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“ . . . a number of Cannon, Mortars, . . . Carriage Wheels of Cast Iron in and about Mount Independence . . . rendered unfit for service.”
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An Act Directing The Sale Of The Cannon On Mount Independence, October 17, 1785
Even before the American army straggled onto Mount Independence in July 1776, people had left their mark on the land here. For thousands of years Native Americans made tools out of chert, a black, fine-grained stone in numerous outcroppings on the Mount and traces of their industry may still be seen on the ground. Revolutionary War soldiers appear to have discovered and been fascinated by this ancient past; archaeologists have found projectile points in some of the soldier’s hut sites.
When the Americans hurriedly evacuated Mount Independence on the night of July 5 and 6, 1777, they had no time to destroy anything and had to leave behind many supplies, buildings, and defensive works. The British and German garrison utilized what they found. When they decided to leave the Mount on November 8, 1777, to return to Canada, they made the place as uninhabitable as possible. Lieutenant Von Hille, an officer with the Prinz Friedrich Regiment, recorded the day’s events, “With the reveille shot, all the newly built blockhouses, huts, barracks, magazines etc. were set afire.”
The British flames left some recognizable remnants, Vermont governor Thomas Chittenden wrote Gen. Horatio Gates on November 22, 1777, that Maj. Benjamin Wait “who was sent to take possession of Mount Independence, found nothing of consequence, excepting several boats which the enemy had sunk, in which there were some provisions. All barracks, houses and bridges were burnt, cannon to the number of fifty broken and spiked up.”
In 1780 Lt. John Enys of the British 29th Regiment, who was participating in a raiding expedition, wrote on October 30 of further destruction. “When we left Mount Independence we had Set fire to a Quantity of brushwood and old dry Abbatis which was burning at Night when we returned, which in the Dark had very much the appearance of a Great Illumination.”
On October 17, 1785, the Vermont legislature made note of the “Cannons, Mortars, Mortar Beds, Bombshells, Carriage Wheels of Cast Iron” in and around Mount Independence “which are public property, which are rendered unfit for service and may be of service in making bar iron.” They appointed Col. John Strong of Addison, Vermont, as a trustee to take charge of these items and sell at auction to the highest bidder. The buyer was iron monger Matthew Lyon of Fair Haven, Vermont.
After the Revolution through to the mid-1900s, much of the land on Mount Independence was used to graze animals and was relatively undeveloped. Evidence of the Revolutionary past fascinated people over the years and the name of Mount Independence continued to appear on many maps. Amateur archaeologists excavated sites or collected on the surface at Mount Independence, adding to their collections but in the process disturbing or destroying evidence.
The Vermont Board of Historic Sites purchased much of the southern half of Mount Independence in 1961, and began efforts to protect this important archaeological site and prevent “unauthorized and promiscuous diggings.” In 1965-66 they conducted the first survey and mapping work to document archaeological sites and lay out a trail system.
Archaeologists conducted a small survey in 1975. Major archaeological studies on the land occurred in 1989, 1990 and 1992, focusing on sites around the picket fort, general hospital, one American blockhouse, the Southern battery, a large storehouse complex, and two brigade encampments. An underwater survey in 1992 and 1993 focused on the 1777 Great Bridge and military supplies scattered on the lake bottom. Many of the artifacts and scholarly findings of these studies are on exhibit in the museum. Another survey in 2001 was conducted in preparation for the construction of the Southern Battery Spur of the Baldwin Trail. In 2003 results of all land archaeological studies were systematically mapped and verified.
Today Mount Independence is considered one of the largest and best preserved archaeological sites of the American Revolution. Please help us keep it that way.
Respect our history. Take only photographs.
Mt. Independence Rd., Baldwin Trail, Mount Independence State Historic Site, Orwell,
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