Mount Defiance, NY

"During the French and Indian War, the French troops occupying Fort Ticonderoga did not fortify the position, thinking it too steep and inaccessible. The British took that opportunity to scout French activity below in the Fort.

A generation later, at the beginning of the American Revolution, the Americans also neglected to fortify the positions on Mount Defiance. The British troops managed to drag cannon to the top of Mount Defiance, making the American troops in Fort Ticonderoga Independence an easy target. As a result, American troops evacuated Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence in July 5, 1777." Source ~ Fort-Ticonderoga.org

This is what they saw. To the north, the larger part of Lake Champlain, this picture is more east, toward Vermont. Near the center of the picture is the restored Fort Ticonderoga. A floating bridge stretched from Ticonderoga to the point of land across the narrowed lake, Mount Independence, a second American fort. Mount Independence has been called the least disturbed Revolutionary War site in the US.
Looking south from the peak of Defiance, the lake narrows considerably. Beyond is Whitehall, NY where the US Navy was formed, Fort Ann, Fort Henry, Saratoga and the Hudson River.
It's goosebumpy walking here. Ghosty, almost.