Much like James Fenimore Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans, the riveting tale set amid the siege and massacre at Fort William Henry, the larger than life story of Major Robert Rogers and his Rangers has been retold in fiction by Kenneth Roberts in Northwest Passage and portrayed on the silver screen by Spencer Tracy in 1940. But the real story of Rogers, his Rangers and the forts built along the Lake George/Lake Champlain/Upper Hudson River corridor is even better when all the facts are told. The Adirondack area provides a majestic backdrop for one of the bloodiest periods of our colonial history. It was a crucial time when two great 18^th century European superpowers struggled for supremacy over territory, trade and the natural riches of North America. Robert Rogers is an enigmatic character whose “Rules of Fighting” is still studied by the most elite units of our armed forces. Other figures would emerge from the fighting around Lake George – men like John Stark, Israel Putnam, Paul Revere and Thomas Gage. These men and Rogers would go on to play major roles in the American Revolution. It is fitting that our tour will coincide with the 250^th Commemoration of the French and Indian War in New York, specifically the year of the British attack on Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga) in July 1758. After an overview at our Lake George hotel on Thursday evening of our program, we will begin our tour on Friday by covering the three-phased battle of Lake George, a fight that made Sir William Johnson famous and changed the name of the lake forever. We will stop at the sites of Bloody Morning Scout, the main battleground at Lake George and the little visited Bloody Pond.  

Next, we’ll be on to Rogers’ Island on the Hudson River, which served as the Rangers’ base camp between 1756 and 1759. After lunch at a historic restaurant in the area, we will briefly visit the remains of Fort Edward, and then follow Rogers’ route to his battle at Halfway Creek near Fort Ann. We will explore the reconstructed Fort William Henry to discuss the Marquis de Montcalm’s siege of 1757 and the subsequent massacre of British and colonial forces after the surrender of the fort. We will end our day with a dinner cruise on beautiful Lake George, a body of water 32 miles long, spotted with rocky islands and surrounded by towering mountains of pines and colorful hardwoods.

On Saturday, we will get an early start and follow British General James Abercrombie’s ill-fated 15,000 man flotilla along Lake George, stopping at Sabbath Day Point and then the site of Rogers’ famous Battle on Snow Shoes. We will also see where the most well-liked man in the British army, Lord George Viscount Howe, met his fate at Trout Brook. We’ll then stop at Mount Defiance with its panoramic view of the reconstructed Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga). Here, Rogers and his Rangers conducted reconnaissance as the French built their fort on a promontory overlooking Lake Champlain.

We’ll have lunch on Saturday at Fort Ticonderoga and afterwards will enjoy a special tour of the fort in order to better understand how and why it was originally constructed on its site by the French. We will explore the French lines where Montcalm successfully defended the fort in 1758, and we’ll walk the length of the earthworks to see the location where the famed 42^nd Royal Highlanders – the “Black Watch” – made their forlorn attack. We will also see Sir Jeffery Amherst’s siege lines that were never needed in 1759. After Ticonderoga, we will visit the site of Rogers' battle at the La Barbue River. Our last stops will be the ruins of the French Fort St. Frederic and the British fort at Crown Point on Lake Champlain. The latter fort, ordered by Amherst, was the largest fortification built during the conflict. We will end our tour with a pleasant drive along Lake George back to our hotel.

You can be sure that tour leaders Bruce Venter and Dave Hinze, in keeping with past practice, will have some surprises in store for us – more reasons why you should not miss this exciting adventure in upstate New York, when yellow, orange and red begin to show in the autumn leaves along the glistening blue waters of legendary Lake George. We expect a robust enrollment so please enroll today to be assured of a place.

ABOUT OUR TOUR LEADERS

Bruce M. Venter is a native of upstate New York and an experienced 18^th century American history tour leader, The site of his summer home on Lake George saw the canoes and bateaux of the French, English and Native Americans pass by. He has lectured at Civil War symposia and published in Civil War magazine, Blue and Gray and the Washington Times.

 

David C. Hinze is a popular leader of American history tours. In 2004, his 53 installment series, Iron Wills and Men of Leather: The Story of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, appeared in more than 50 newspapers.

Program Schedule:

 

Thursday, September 25

8:00 PM-8:45 PM           Overview – at Wingate by Wyndham Hotel, Lake George, NY

Friday, September 26

8:00 AM                        Depart by Bus from Wingate hotel

12:00  N                          Lunch

4:15 PM                          Arrive Back at Wingate hotel  

5:00 PM                          Depart for boarding dock at Lake George    

6:00 PM-8:30 PM            Dinner Cruise on Lake George

8:45 PM                          Arrive Back at Wingate hotel

Saturday, September 27

7:30 AM                        Depart from Wingate hotel  

12:00 N                           Lunch

5:00 PM                          Arrive back at Wingate hotel  

 

Registration Fees (Lodging not Included):          $ 425         Under Age 23:  $145

 

You can reserve a space on this tour by making a $50 Deposit per Person.

If You Must Cancel we will refund 100% of your fees paid. However, to receive a 100% refund, you must allow 30 days from the date of our receipt of your notice of cancellation

What is Included in your Registration:

·        the services of expert historians chosen for their knowledge and experience

·        transportation to sites as indicated

·        Friday & Saturday lunches

·        Friday dinner & cruise on Lake George

·        refreshments and snacks during the tour

·        map package

 

Lodging: Our program will be based at the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel, 4054 State Route 9-L, Lake George, NY 12845 where we have reserved a block of sleeping rooms at the special rate of $89.00 + tax per night. This rate includes a complimentary breakfast buffet. To reserve a room under our block, call the Wingate at 800-965-2203 and identify yourself as a registrant for the Rogers’ Ranger tour group. Rooms are limited so please make your reservations as soon as possible.

 

Directions: From I-87, use exit 21. Turn east at traffic light; then turn left on Route 9 north. Turn right at next light onto Route 9-L. Hotel entrance is on your left.