Orwell in Addison County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)

Mount Independence

Bastion of the Revolution

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 12, 2008

1. Mount Independence Marker

Inscription. Fortification was begun in June of 1776, and the name Mount Independence was bestowed following the Declaration of Independence. Lieut. Col. Jeduthan Baldwin was the chief construction engineer. Here the exhausted American Army, Northern Department, was stationed after withdrawing from its disastrous Canadian Campaign. Built on a rocky plateau and stoutly fortified, the post was a natural stronghold facing any approaching foe from the north. Within its rugged confines thousands of New Englanders, many succumbing to illness and lack of supplies, were quartered. Because of its commanding position and formidable battle works, which made it more powerful at the moment than impaired Ticonderoga, it checked for a year a British thrust southward, until at the fall of its companion fortress across the channel it was evacuated in the early morning darkness of July 6, 1777. This critical year of reprieve gave the American forces time to organize farther south, meet and destroy General Burgoyne at Saratoga, win French support, and eventually subdue General Cornwallis at Yorktown, fulfilling the prophecy of the mountain’s name.

Erected

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by Vermont Society Sons of the American Revolution in observance of the Bicentennial year of Independence, 1976.

Erected 1976 by Vermont Society Sons of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Military • Notable Places • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Battlefield Trails - Revolutionary War, and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1776.

Location. 43° 49.225′ N, 73° 23.167′ W. Marker is in Orwell, Vermont, in Addison County. It can be reached from Mount Independence Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is in the picnic grounds of Mount Independence State Historic Site, near the Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 497 Mount Independence Road, Orwell VT 05760, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Champlain Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and

Marker at Mount Independence image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 12, 2008

2. Marker at Mount Independence

the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Vermont Republic.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Southern Defense Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lake Champlain and the American Revolution (approx. ¼ mile away); German Hut – 1777 (approx. 0.3 miles away); The American Southern Defenses – 1776-1777 (approx. 0.3 miles away); British Blockhouse - 1777 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Southern Battery – 1777 (approx. 0.4 miles away); To Repel the Enemy (approx. 0.4 miles away); General Hospital – 1777 (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Orwell.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This series of markers are found on the walking trails in Mount Independence State Historic Site.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July /12/2008

3. Mount Independence Marker

This marker in the picnic grounds can easily go overlooked by most visitors to Mount Independence Historic Site.

Mount Independence State Historic Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 12, 2008

4. Mount Independence State Historic Site

Mount Independence was constructed in 1776 across a narrow channel on Lake Champlain from Fort Ticonderoga. Unlike Ticonderoga, it was built to face north, the direction from which a British attack would come.

Fort Ticonderoga from Mount Independence image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 12, 2008

5. Fort Ticonderoga from Mount Independence

Mount Independence's proximity to Fort Ticonderoga made a formidable obstacle to a British advance from Canada on Lake Champlain. It was abandoned only after Fort Ticonderoga fell to an overland attack.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,398 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 18, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.