Maj. Robert Rogers and 142 men came into Missisquoi Bay in the autumn of 1760, secreted their boats and some provisions, and went off on an expedition against the St. Francis Indians, near the village of Three Rivers, which they burned. Earlier in that year this same intrepid ranger had landed at the place called Rouse’s Point, near which he was attacked by a superior body of French from the Isle aux Noix. The French were defeated and their commander was slain.
Swanton, in Vermont, at an early period formed a considerable settlement of the French and Indians, being then “probably the largest in the Champlain valley with the exception of Crown Point.” At the mouth of Otter Creek, the largest river in Vermont, where Fort Cassin was built, the American squadron was fitted out in 1814 for battle against the English navy. This fort was named for Lieutenant Cassin of our navy, who, with Captain Thornton of the United States Artillery, in May, 1814, had defended the American fleet then building there from attempted destruction by the British.
A little to the north of Rouse’s Point are the ruins of Fort Montgomery, built by error in what was then Canadian soil, and often called on that account “Fort Blunder,” but corrected by international boundary concessions. Rouse’s Point is a place of commercial interest and the most important port of entry on this frontier. Near by is Point au Fer, fortified in 1776 by the patriot General Sullivan, but occupied by the British in June of the next year and relinquished by them only as late as 1788. At Valcour Island, off Bluff Point and Hotel Champlain, the scene of Arnold’s naval battle of 1776, the wreck of the Royal Savage lies under water to this day as a reminder of the beginnings of our national naval adventures. At the head of the lake to the south, near the present Whitehall, Maj. Israel Putnam, in August, 1758, was engaged in watching the enemy’s maneuvers, and had a fierce encounter in the forest with French and Indians. He was captured, tied to a tree by the Indians, who made preparations to roast him alive. Only the stern interposition of the French officer, Marin, prevented them from dispatching him thus cruelly and robbing the patriot cause of one of its bravest leaders during the American Revolution.
The New York and Champlain commissions have concluded contracts with Mr. L. O. Armstrong, of Montreal, to present Indian pageants on Lake Champlain during the tercentenary celebration. These will be presented by 150 native Indians, descendants of the original tribes that occupied portions of the Champlain valley at the time of its discovery by Champlain. They will reproduce the battle of Samuel Champlain with the Iroquois and also present a dramatic version of Longfellow’s Hiawatha on floating barges anchored on the waters of the lake at various places where exercises are to be held.
It is desirable that the United States detail national troops and the States of New York and Vermont regiments from the National Guard to present military pageants at Ticonderoga, Plattsburgh, and Burlington. The two commissions have decided to hold formal exercises on July 5, 1909, at Crown Point, on July 6 at Fort Ticonderoga, on July 7 at Plattsburgh, on July 8 at Burlington, and on July 9 at Isle La Motte, at each of which places Indian pageants will be presented.
The proposed celebration of the discovery of Lake Champlain may also include a celebration of such colonial, national, and international events occurring since the discovery of the lake as to make it eminently proper that the Government of the United States officially participate in the exercises commemorating these historical events. Historical addresses and other literary exercises are to be held, and it is important that the United States Government invite and entertain representatives of the Republic of France, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Dominion of Canada. The celebration is of national and international importance, and the committee recommends that the resolution do pass.
II. ENGLISH FORTS
The Crown Point forts standing within the confines of the State Reservation at Crown Point, were frequently mentioned during the Tercentenary celebration exercises as well as during the dedicatory ceremonies of the Champlain memorials.