Fort Saint-Frédéric facts for kids
|
Fort Saint-Frédéric
|
|
Model of Fort Saint-Frédéric
|
|
 Location in New York Adirondack Park
Location in New York
|
|
| Location | Crown Point, New York |
|---|---|
| Built | 1734 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000517 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960 |
Fort Saint-Frédéric was a French fort built on Lake Champlain. Its main job was to protect the area from the British. It also helped the French control the lake. The fort was located in what is now New York State, near the town of Crown Point, New York. This was across the lake from modern Vermont.
Building the fort started in 1734. It was never attacked by enemies. The French destroyed it themselves in 1759. They did this before a large British army, led by General Jeffery Amherst, could reach it.
After the French fort was destroyed, the British built a much bigger fort nearby. This new fort was called Fort Crown Point. It also was never attacked. A small group of soldiers guarding Fort Crown Point were captured in 1775. This happened early in the American Revolutionary War. After this, Fort Crown Point also fell into ruins.
Today, the sites of both forts at Crown Point are protected. They became part of the Crown Point State Historic Site in 1910. Both sets of ruins are also important National Historic Landmarks.
Contents
History of the Fort
Building Fort Saint-Frédéric
Construction of Fort Saint-Frédéric began in 1734. A military engineer named Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry led the project. When the fort was finished, its walls were very strong. They were twelve feet thick and four stories high. Cannons were placed on each level of the fort.
Hundreds of French officers and soldiers lived and worked at the fort. Most of these soldiers were from a group called Les Compagnies Franches de la Marine.
Why the Fort Was Important
Fort Saint-Frédéric gave the French control over the border area. This was the land between New France (which is now Canada) and the British colonies to the south. For a while, it was the only strong fort in this area. Another fort, Fort Carillon (later called Fort Ticonderoga), was not built until 1755.
Many French attacks on British lands started from Fort Saint-Frédéric. Because of this, the British often tried to capture it during the French and Indian War. The fort was built on the tip of a special piece of land that stuck out into the lake. This spot was very important because the lake became narrow there. The cannons of Fort Saint-Frédéric could stop all boats traveling north or south on Lake Champlain. The later British Fort Crown Point also had this power.
The Fort's End
In 1759, British forces moved toward Fort Saint-Frédéric during the war. The French soldiers knew they could not hold the fort. So, as they left, they destroyed it. This stopped the British from being able to use it.
The British Army then built Fort Crown Point. This was a very large new fort. It was built just southwest of the French fort's ruins. Construction started in the fall of 1759. At the same time, the British built a fleet of ships. This helped them control Lake Champlain. They also built the 77-mile-long Crown Point Road. This road went across the Green Mountains to reach the Connecticut River.
Forts Today
Since 1910, the remains of both forts are protected. They are part of the Crown Point State Historic Site. This site is located on the Crown Point peninsula. Both Fort Saint-Frédéric and Fort Crown Point are also U.S. National Historic Landmarks. Fort Saint-Frédéric was officially named a National Historic Landmark in 1962.
