The Mount Independence-Hubbardton Military Road was built after the September 7, 1776, order of Gen. Horatio Gates to connect the Revolutionary War fortification being constructed at Mount Independence on Lake Champlain to Hubbardton, Rutland, and Fort No. 4 in New Hampshire.
Gates considered the road “so Essential to the Interest of the United States” and “the safety and protection of the inhabitants of all the Middle States of this Union.” Soldiers, ammunition, and stores used the road to reach the Mount. On the night of July 5 and 6, 1777, as the British invaded the lake, American forces withdrew from Mount Independence and Fort Ticonderoga along the road, engaging the British at the Battle of Hubbardton on July 7.
A guided driving tour along part of the 1776-77 Mount Independence-Hubbardton Military Road has been set for Saturday, August 24th, starting at 10 am. The tour leaves from the Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site in Hubbardton, VT. Jim Rowe, president of the Crown Point Road Association, will be the guide.
Attendees will meet at the Hubbardton Battlefield museum in Hubbardton for orientation. Attendees will drive their own vehicle. The tour will end on the Otter Creek in Center Rutland, VT. This is the eighth annual tour of auto exploration of segments of the road.
The tour is $3 for adults and free for children under 15, and includes admission to the Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site.
Rowe has a lifelong interest in this Revolutionary War military road and is known for his engaging storytelling.
The Hubbardton Battlefield is located at 5696 Monument Hill Road in Hubbardton. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it is the site of the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Vermont. Call (802) 273-2282 for more information.
More information on Vermont State-Owned Historic Sites is available online.
Photo of Mount Independence State Historic Site provided.
Leave a Reply