Battle Basics

Our reenactments of the Battle of Carillon will be different from the battles in which you usually take part. Don't assume you will be doing whatever you usually do. Be ready for a new experience.

The First battle, based on the encounter in which Lord Howe was killed, will be fought Friday evening, June 27, in Bicentennial Park (at the falls of La Chute) in the Town of Ticonderoga. This will be an encounter battle, not a general action. The 350 British who are selected to participate will be bused into town and will march to action in the park. The 200 French who are selected to participate will be bused to the park, where they will prepare to meet the British advance. All participants will be bused back to the Fort after the battle.

On Saturday afternoon, June 28, the Battle of Carillon will be reenacted at Fort Ticonderoga, at the New French Lines. This battle will last about an hour and a half. After British forces drive in the French advance, they will launch three complete and separate assaults on the log breastwork. Each assault will be directed against a different part of the lines.

The same basic scenario will be followed on Sunday afternoon, June 29, with whatever changes or corrections are considered desirable after Saturday's action.

An Important Note to All Participants Regarding Safety and Success

It is our intent not only to create an accurate impression of the original Battle of Carillon, but to challenge visitors with a few "what ifs." The duty will be difficult and will demand our best physical and mental efforts. Participants will be expected to listen when instructions are being given and follow the orders of all officers placed over them. There will be no unauthorized scenario changes and no last minute "bright ideas."

Your demeanor during the actions will be very important. Remember that you will be in one of the hottest battles ever fought in North America. This will not be a time for comedy, unnecessary chatter, or horse-play. When you press forward into your enemy's fire, cheer loudly again and again. Not only the visitors, but your brother soldiers, will have come here to experience the reality of battle. Let everyone see in your face and in your actions that this is not a game, but war.

Specifically, we do not expect to see any of the following:

• Entire units going down at once. Not accurate, not funny, and actually quite insulting to the men who really were killed or wounded in the Battle of Carillon. If your unit is caught in a heavy crossfire, take casualties, by all means, but do it right.
• Street firings. You will be in an open field, abatis, or behind a log breastwork, not in a city street.
• Units or individuals getting too close to the log breastwork or climbing onto it. White-topped stakes will be posted prominently in the abatis to indicate to attacking units the point beyond which they must not go. French forces will meet every British attack with heavy firepower. If you ignore the safety markers and jump up onto the breastwork, you will be shot—for real—and it will be no one's fault but your own.

Battle Specifics

Ammunition

Friday's battle in town will be about 45 minutes long. The Battle of Carillon reenactments on Saturday and Sunday will each last an hour and a half. The French and British commanders have both issued orders regarding the number of cartridges that their armies need. If unit commanders have any questions they should contact the commanding officer of their army. Click on the Contacts tab, for more information.

Artillery

There will be no artillery in the Friday battle. In battle on Saturday and Sunday, all artillery will be French and will be positioned in a battery above and behind the New French Lines. This will enable the guns to fire throughout the battles, principally during enemy witrhdrawals. Artillery units should bring enough ammunition to maintain fire for an hour and a half each day.

Firing

The firing on both sides during the original Battle of Carillon was described as a continual roar. This was the result of many individuals loading and firing as fast as they could, not in volleys.

French units will post one rank at a time on the firing step. The men will take aim and fire individually. The men on the firing step will fire and pass their empty musket to the rear. The men in the rear rank will load and pass loaded muskets forward—with the muzzles pointed straight up. After a certain number of rounds (how many is up to each unit commander), the ranks will trade places. Thus everyone will take their turn at firing and loading.

British attacks must be met with concentrated and unrelenting French fire. French commanders will find that the log breastwork has been laid out so that attacking British column can be fired upon from flank and front.

From positions just inside the abatis, Provincial units will provide brisk covering fire for attacking British units. In the original battle, British regiments of foot were ordered to press forward with the bayonet without stopping to fire or reload. In our reenactment, British regiments will fire more than they did in the original battle, and for safety's sake, bayonets will not be fixed.

Given the duration of the battles, all participants are advised to bring with them into action the items necessary to keep their arms in order. Such items as a screwdriver (18th century style, of course), brush and wire, spare flint pad, and cleaning rags may be useful.

Do not bother pocketing cartridge papers. Just throw them onto the ground as they did in the 18th century. These papers biodegrade very quickly.

Casualties

Both armies will take heavy casualties during each attack. Wounded men should be carried or helped to the rear, then "recycled" back into the line. Total British casualties should not exceed 25%. Casualties in the Highland Battalion should not exceed 50%. Total French casualties should not exceed 10%.
Under no circumstances should all of the men of a unit go down at once.

If you are killed or wounded then be dead or in pain. Do not look upon it as an opportunity to sit up and watch the battle or take pictures. Safety inspectors will ask you to stop, and if you don't comply, they will order you off the field for the rest of the event.

It is hoped that a few of the dying French soldiers will have enough theatrical sense to fall forward and lay over the top of the breast, at least for awhile.

Flags

British regiments may carry their colours on parade, but may not carry them in battle. French units assigned to defend the lines should carry their drapeaux and make sure that they are visible over the top of the breastwork.

Abatis Penetration

No British, Provincial or Highland troops will approach or climb onto the log breastwork. White-topped wooden stakes will be placed about halfway through the abatis to indicate the point beyond which no one must go for safety's sake. Keep an eye out for the markers and do not pass them. If a safety officer tells you that you have passed a marker and you must withdraw, do so at once, without an argument.
Troops entering the abatis must sheath all edged and pointed weapons. No espontoons are to be carried in action.

Once French forces have been driven back into their lines, they are not to sally out except in case of fire.

Safety Officers

Safety officers appointed by the army commanders will be distinguished by yellow armbands. They will accompany all major formations and, as much as possible, remain near the commanders of those formations. The Fort staff members who accompany the two overall commanders will have radios and can call for emergency assistance if needed. Safety officers are authorized to enforce the Fort's guidelines and the safety-related orders of army commanders. Safety officers have been selected for their experience and excellent judgment in matters of safety. Units or individuals who fail to comply with their requests will be subject to dismissal from the event.

The officer in overall charge of safety is Horst Dresler. Click on the Contacts tab for more information.

Water

Every man will be expected to carry a canteen filled with water in each day's action. Coolers containing ice and water will be placed in rear areas, out of public view, for the use of participants who are having trouble with the heat. There will not be enough water in these coolers for everyone to have a drink. Please save it for those who really need it. If you get thirsty, use your canteen. One noncombatant may be employed by each unit as a water carrier. No canvas buckets, please.

Emergency Aid

As at all Fort Ticonderoga events, EMTs will be onsite, ready to assist anyone who becomes ill or is injured during the battles.

Fire Danger

An eight-foot-wide path will be left between the front of the log breastwork, defended by French forces, and the abatis. This will enable fire fighters to put out any grass or brush fire that may be caused by musket or artillery fire. All safety officers will keep an eye out for fire. French safety officers will pay particular attention to the grass and brush immediately in front of the log breastwork as well as the burlap sandbags placed on top of the breastwork. French forces will keep filled water buckets behind their lines, just in case.

Jump to:

• Battle Basics
• An Important Note to All Participants Regarding Safety and Success
  
  

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Battle Specifics:

• Ammunition
• Artillery
• Firing
• Casualties
• Flags
• Abatis Penetration
• Safety Officers
• Water
• Emergency Aid
• Fire Danger