I have, for many years, been a student of the First World War and the “wars of the pygmies” that followed in its backwash. The hellish slaughter of the Great War of 1914-18 was unprecedented in scale — but it is misleading to think that it was more sanguinary in intensity than warfare had been in the past.
Nor was it really the first world war.
That distinction properly belongs to the long contest for global dominance between France and Great Britain, which culminated in the French & Indian War (Seven Years War). And its bloodiest battle, the attempt to take the French Fort Carillon on this date in history, June 8, 1758, was a slaughter that soldiers who went over the top at The Somme would have recognized — not in its scale, of course, but in its sheer, bloody futility.
The fort was a strategically vital position on the chain of lakes that ran from Canada into New York, the pathway of French invasion of the British Colonies. The First Nations people called it Ticonderoga. A massive British force was assembled to take the fort, but its leader, General James Abercrombie, was incompetent. He sent his troops headlong into a well-defended position, fortified with a tangle of downed trees and abbatis. Wave after wave of heartbreakingly brave British troops were hung up in the obstacles and mowed down by sheets of musketfire. About a thousand men, many of them Highlanders, died. Another thousand or so were wounded. The French under General Montcalm won a great victory at small cost.
Fort Ticonderoga (it was renamed after the British finally took possession of the position) is commemorating the events of that bloody day with the display of a magnificent painting by Don Troiani, the most eminent of military history painters. Troiani’s work, which has appeared on these pages many times, is notable for its historical accuracy and authenticity.
Fort Ticonderoga announces a special exhibition of a new painting by internationally renowned historical artist, Don Troiani, depicting the fury of the 1758 Battle of Carillon. This painting is on special display as part of the July 8th Battle of Carillon Commemoration at Fort Ticonderoga.
Don Troiani’s arresting canvas depicts the striking heroism of the officers and men of the 42nd (Highland) Regiment of the British Army as they attacked the French lines on the Heights of Carillon on the afternoon of July 8, 1758.
“This canvas depicts amongst the most famous moments in Fort Ticonderoga’s history,” said Fort Ticonderoga Curator, Dr. Matthew Keagle. “Troiani has portrayed the heroic bravery of the Black Watch, at the high water mark of the doomed British assault on Montcalm’s French lines. By working with Fort Ticonderoga’s staff to review the research, taking photographs of the terrain, and even using members of the Public History department to model for the painting in our carefully reconstructed clothing and equipment, he has created a vivid and sensibly researched glimpse into the past.”
The Battle of Fort Carillon produced one of my favorite ghost stories, which you can read at the link below:
David Wrolson says
Speaking of the First World War-My current read is “Isonzo: The Forgotten Sacrifice of the Great War” on the Italian/Austrian fighting in WW1.
A little too much of “This battalion did this or that” but it is a good read regardless.
I picked it because there is a whole corner of my library with a ton of TBR books that I don’t get too very often as other books keep jumping in front.
I figured I have to attend to that corner some.
JimC says
How many “Battles of the Isonzo” were there? That was some rough stuff.
David Wrolson says
Per the intro-there were 11 major Italian offensives. In the first, there was already fighting with rocks.
To give the Devil his due-While most know about Hitler’s admirable service in the trenches-I had forgotten (or did not know) that Mussolini also saw hard service in the Isonzo battles.
Surprisingly, at this point anyway (3rd Offensive) all the Austrian-Hungarian nationalities are fighting hard against the Italians-even those that were less than reliable against the Russians (ie The Czechs).
Another surprise was that steel helmets were not really a thing yet, which really increased casualties under shellfire and, just as deadly, the rock splinters.
lane batot says
I hesitate to mention this, and it is somewhat off topic, but I couldn’t help but think of you, Jim, and you, David, when I foolishly blundered into a site listing all manner of hunting and wilderness adventure accounts. WARNING: It is EXTREMELY dangerous to peruse! I was trying to find any more books written by an amazing fellow whose book I just got and read, Nick Steele and his “Game Ranger On Horseback”–an EXCELLENT account of anti-poaching and ranger work in the great Umfolozi reserve in South Africa(Zululand) circa 1950’s-60’s. Sure enough, he wrote MORE books, and I found them(turn away before it’s too late!!!!!) on the TERRIFYING “Shakari Connection” site! There. It’s done. I’m so very, very sorry about this……
JimC says
Luring us down a side trail into an Africa ambush ALWAYS works around here. Every time.
David Wrolson says
Yeah, the African ambush thing always gets us. I have my 20 YO reading a memoir of a non-hunting spouse on a trip to Tanzania.
-Must not add to my unread stack of Africana-Under no circumstances do I need to add to my unread stack of Africana.
Yeah, right-of course I will peruse the site.
lane batot says
Again, I am SO SORRY!(hehehe….) And it’s WAAAAAAY more than just Africana!
Rick+Schwertfeger says
Lane: And on the topic of Africa, I want you to know that I just finished Laurens Van Der Post’s A FAR OFF PLACE. It is as wonderful as A STORY LIKE THE WIND, as you well know.
I also did some research on Van Der Post, and found that he was quite the character – and something between a guy made up his own persona and reality – and a liar. All extraordinarily interesting. But, regardless, the books are tremendous. I’m so glad that I read them!
Matthew says
Great painting.
I always liked the name Ticonderoga.
Recently, saw a Fox News special on Andrew Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans. Largely, because I was in my parents basement and they wanted to watch it. Being Fox News, it was largely focused on Jackson’s heroism at the battle and briefly mentioned his owning slaves and the Trail of Tears. Of course, if it had been a liberal network it would have focused on the slavery and the Trail of Tears and briefly mention the Battle of New Orleans.
Very few people on either side want to engage in the complexities of history. My view is that in a lot of ways Jackson was a bastard, but was the right man at the right place during the Battle of New Orleans.
JimC says
Troiani is truly a Grand Master.
Joe says
Ambercrombie’s blunders here sounded horrific. Why did the French allow it to fall so quickly the following year, I wonder? From what I remember, it was hardly a proper battle and more of an artillery barage? Fascinating stuff, as always!
JimC says
I think that in 1759 the threat to Canada forced the French to basically withdraw. They seemed to fall apart psychologically in the face of multiple British offensives — and their Indian allies started to abandon them.