Fort William Henry has been quiet since it closed for the season last fall, but it came alive today with war whoops and musket fire as reenactors staged Vaudreuil’s Raid, a March 1757 attack on the British fort by the French. The raid was an attempt by the French to seize the fort and strengthen their hold in North America.
Two hundred and sixty-one years ago this month, an army of French Regulars, Canadian Provincials and Native Americans traveled from Quebec and down frozen Lake George. The plan was to surprise the troops garrisoned at Fort William Henry, and take the fort by scaling the walls with ladders brought for that purpose. However, sentries at Fort William Henry were alerted to the enemy’s approach, and the French were driven back.
While the French greatly outnumbered the British, they did not have the artillery necessary to break through the solid walls of Fort William Henry. Over the course of the three-day battle, the French did manage to destroy the British fleet docked at the Southern end of Lake George and burn down the outbuildings holding the fort’s supplies.
Several reenactment groups participated in today’s reenactment, with the British firing from the fort and the French taking shots from behind trees to the west of the fort’s walls. Spectators watched and photographed the battle from both inside the fort and out on the lawn of nearby Fort William Henry Hotel.
The weekend’s event, billed as Battle and Beverages, included a sutler fair, reenactors meet and craft beverage event, which were held across the parking lot from the fort at the Fort William Henry Conference Center. Reenactment groups were on hand to discuss what they do and offer information to anyone wishing to join their ranks.
French and Indian War reenactors were well represented, but the event was not limited to Colonial wars. The Civil War era 125th New York Volunteers and the WWII 36th infantry Division also participated in the meet. Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism also attended for those interested in the arts and skills of the Renaissance and Middle Ages.
Several sutlers were set up in the Conference Center selling period goods, trinkets, powder horns and artwork. New York State craft beverage producers were offering free samples and selling their wines, beers and spirits.