The French and Indian War

Its Contribution to Vermont

The French and Indian war began in 1755 in the Champlain Valley. Lake Champlain and the Hudson River divided the English Colonies, and were used as a natural highway. Sir William Johnson leading a troop for the British met Ludwig Dieskau, for the French, at Lake George. The French were defeated and there were only a few small attacks on the French thereafter at Crown Point. Crown Point was originally a stockade called Fort St. Frederic when constructed in 1731. It was enlarged and rebuilt twice, becoming a large stone fortress by 1742. French General Marquis de Montcalm later built a fort, Fort Carillon, in 1756. Both Fort Carillon and Fort St. Frederic were destroyed when Montcalm retreated to Canada. The surrounding settlements on the east shore were burned to the ground, leaving only stone chimneys for the English to find. To this day the spot is called Chimney Point. After the departure of the French Lord Amherst rebuilt Fort Carillon renaming it Fort Ticonderoga for the British. A military road was built across the Vermont wilderness to more settled areas. It ran from Chimney Point to Connecticut near the Cheshire Bridge. Around this time hostile Indians began to rebel against the British for taking their land. The British reacted by sending Robert Rogers to attack the Indian village St. Francis, Canada . Rogers set out for Crown Point and then hid his war party on the shores of Missisquoi Bay after a misfortune leaving some men behind. News came that the men and their supply boats had been seized by the French. But Rogers still continued the mission to St. Francis. They attacked by night and killed 200 of the 300 Indians, and quickly retreated knowing the French and the Indians would immediately follow. After a grueling travel and near starvation, Rogers Rangers reached Fort Number Four getting food on the travel back to Crown Point. The same year 1759, General Wolfe captured Quebec leading to Amherst's victory the surrender of Montreal. This marked a new time, the non-existence of New France. The Treaty of Paris was enforced in 1763 stating that all land once owned by Canada fell into the powers of the British. There became less and less Indians and the Vermont's settlements began. Today the military road , Chimney Point , Fort Ticonderoga and evidence of other forts remain as a reminder of the French and Indian war's impact on Vermont. The French and Indian war started settlement and cultivation of Vermont's land and natural resources. Unfortunately Vermont's progress and settlement gradually began to wipe out the Native Americans in the area. Nevertheless the French and Indian War contributed to make Vermont and its history what it is today.

by Katie McEnerney and Pam Van De Weert

Sources: Vermont: A History of the Green Mountain State by Edmund Fuller