Page "Fort Ticonderoga" Paragraph 36

General Gates, who oversaw the northern defenses, was aware that Mount Defiance threatened the fort.

John Trumbull had pointed this out as early as 1776, when a shot fired from the fort was able to reach Defiance's summit, and several officers inspecting the hill noted that there were approaches to its summit where gun carriages could be pulled up the sides.

As the garrison was too small to properly defend all the existing works in area, Mount Defiance was left undefended.

Anthony Wayne left Ticonderoga in April 1777 to join Washington's army ; he reported to Washington that " all was well ", and that the fort " can never be carried, without much loss of blood ".