|
Rogers'
Rangers at Fort Ticonderoga for the Battle on Snowshoes.
Standing
(L to R): Mark "Mad-dog" Pellatier, Jay Fiedler, Alec
Asten, Chauncey Goodrich, Bill Filkins, Greg Geiger, Maj.
Mike Fitzgerald, Sean Kavanaugh
Kneeling
(L to R): Sgt. Paul Stevens, John-Eric Nelson, Ian Fiedler, Jim Spring
|
|
Fellow Rangers,
This year's Battle on Snowshoes returned to Ticonderoga, but instead
of being on the golf-course, where it has been in the past, it was in
the woods to the northwest of the fort beyond the lower parking lot--a
parcel of land newly acquired by the Fort. This turned out to
be an excellent location, as it provided a lot of space and a variety
of terrain -- hills, valleys, a swamp (frozen over, thankfully), small
streams, and plenty of trees. The snow was good, not too deep,
and the air was not too cold. Moreover, both sides had a good
turnout, which promised to provide plenty of fun and surprises.
It had all the makings of a great day for a battle.
The only hitch, however, was that I had left a huge chunk of my gear
at home. So Jim Spring lent me spare leggings, Jay Fiedler lent me a
fur-lined hat, the Major lent me a shooting bag... After all the borrowing
and lending, I was able to go into the field, with THANKS to those who
helped me!!
When we arrived at the parking area, we put on our gear and marched
out to the battle area; the the French and Indians heading into the
woods first to set up an ambush.
The British had three companies: Gorham's Rangers combined with
James' Rogers' Coy. and was led by Jim Ross, Speakman's Company of Rogers'
Rangers led by Ed
Bethel, and we were the third. Each company moved separately
towards where the enemy was thought to be hiding. The Rangers
flanked either side, with Gorham's/James' on the left and our company
on the right as we marched quietly toward the woods.
 |
Gorham's
and James Rogers Coys. |
After following an open track for a short while we cut into the field
and made our way towards the woods and a frozen marsh nearby.
We fanned out onto the marsh, pacing through cattails looking for signs
of French or Indians. When we got to the edge of the woods we
encountered a small detachment of French and Indians. They tried to
lure us in.
 |
Us, in
the marsh |
|
Some
of us stayed to engage this detachment, while Little John, Jay, Alec,
and Bill went on across the marsh and were flankers on the extreme right
of the Rangers for the first battle. This quartet had its own encounters
with the enemy, as told by Bill Filkins:
|
John, Ian and I made our way into the cattails and watched
the opening volleys of the battle. I think we were opposed by
some of the French allied Indians who after being fired on by
the Rangers melted away.
My small group crossed the frozen marsh and then circled around
through the woods eventually finding ourselves facing the French
from a decent piece of woods where we could deliver good fire
at them yet we remained under cover for the rest of the fight.
Oh yes, there was one "Indian" who had what sounded
like a New Jersey accent who was yelling at the top of his lungs
"you near the tree, I got you". He kept this up for
some time trying to drive home his point tat he was an excellent
marksman. We were all very tired of his shouting and finally
Little John shouted "shut up, we don't speak French or
whatever you are yelling". The rest of us broke up laughing
and apparently the Indian was humbled since we heard no more
from him for the rest of the fight.
We then gathered for lunch after the end of the battle was
called there was good natured cat calls going about and our
group found a nice spot to eat. I think the Major was the one
who provided lunch that day which was very good. We had meat
bread and water which tasted to me like a feast after the hectic
morning we had.
|
Meanwhile,
those of us in the main group continued up the hill and pushed the foes
back to a ridge. On the ridge, our Rangers engaged in a
stand-off, as we were well-positioned to defend the ridge from behind
the trees, but could not venture forward into the open area in front
of us. Below the ridge, I was told to move out to the right
to join up with the small detachment on the right, and after going through
the woods along a hill, I found that Little John, Bill, and Alec were
in a deep gully, pinned down by several Indians. Jay was on the
ridge above, where I ended up, and the Indians didn't know we were there.
We fired on them from the trees, but were at a stalemate.
|
|
|
Alec
Asten
|
The second
battle began after lunch. Again, as Bill Filkins tells it:
|
After lunch we moved into the woods and waited for the French
and their heathen allies to come after us. I was on the extreme
left we were in excellent grounds since we were in the woods
and in front of us it was open field for about 100 feet. We
had a ditch nearby we could use for moving about or for cover.
When the battle commenced it was incredibly hard to see the
Indians though most we wearing bright colors. We could hear
them whooping it up and running through the brush. Finally
we caught a glimpse and we began firing at targets as the
presented themselves. We held them for nearly the entire allotted
time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jay
Fiedler
|
Mark
Pellatier
|
Major
Robert
Rogers
(Mike Fitzgerald) |
Sean
Kavanaugh |
|
Someone finally decided to pull back and let the Indians
and French advance to make it all more interesting. All
the Rangers fell back and I watched the Indians gather
in the brush across the clearing. I could not help myself:
with hand gestures I tried to show them that the English
were pulling out. Several of the Indians were staring
at me but were apparently not getting the idea.
So I then added voice to my pantomime by saying "
we the English are going away now, you, you the Indians
run this way". As I correctly guessed I looked
ridiculous attempting to lure the entire Indian force
into my one man ambush. I then fell back with the rest
of the Rangers.
We ended the second battle by taking cover behind round
bales of hay and returning fire by threes. Apparently
we had the desired affect as the Indians did not advance.
The hysterical part was near the end of the battle I
heard the New Jersey or Brooklyn Indian yell out "you
in da green coat, I gotchoo". I lost it, I was
laughing hysterically at this point. Through my tears
I looked at all the Rangers in green coats and that
made me laugh harder.
I could not resist, I discharged my musket in his general
direction and yelled at the top of my lungs "you,
dressed like and Indian, I shot you".
The battle ended shortly after and we all rallied to
share stories and laughs. It was a time I will always
treasure though my sides hurt from laughing so much.
|
|
|
Battle on Snowshoes filming
and on Rogers' Rock
|
The next day (Sunday), we hooked up with the film crew from Glens Falls,
who have been filming for two years now. We still aren't sure what
they are attempting to produce. Anyway, we went to a wooded area
near Rogers Rock for the filming. The French were also there, and
the film team had us defending a hillside that the French were attempting
to take. Frank Molander (of "Then Again" fame) led the
small force of French and Indians against us.
| French
and Indians on the attack |
|
|
|
We were filmed for the movie Battle on Snowshoes on two occassion
before this, including once at the Fort
4 '01 Winter Encampment. The video is now available - click
here for information. But be forewarned: Major Mike, an
award-winning video producer and editor, has seen the video and said
it was very embarrassing. |
|
|
|
Later that same day, many of us, including the film crew, drove to the
head of the trail to the top of Rogers' Rock. We had to park in
someone's driveway (with their permission) and the start of the hike
took us past several houses. Eventually we cleared modern civilization
and just trekked upwards. It was very difficult going, because
the snow was thick enough and wet enough to be very slippery.
I cheated and wore hiking boots, but some us were in moccasins and smooth-soled
shoes, and they had a rougher time than I. It was particularly
slow going back down, especially as the sun had set and we were making
our way down the last half of the trail in darkness.
Because we had a late start, we didn't get to the top until dusk.
The film crew needed footage of the Major--aka Bob Rogers--on the edge
of the hill, so the rest of us admired the view and enjoyed the moment
of being on top of Rogers' Rock. It was a great feeling and a
wonderful experience, especially as we were there at the same time of
year and the same time of day as Rogers had been.
Those of you who haven't done it yet, should plan on doing it next time
you're at Ti or Crown Point, even if there is not snow on the ground.
|
 |
On
Rogers' Rock at dusk, February 17, 2002
Standing (L to R): Bill Filkins, Jay Fiedler, Alec Asten, Sean Kavanaugh,
Jim Spring, Ian Fiedler.
Kneeling (L to R): Maj. Mike Fitzgerald, Chauncey Goodrich
|
|
