A great deal of confusion has developed regarding the historical identities of Fort Plain, Fort Plank and Fort Rensselaer.
To help dispel that confusion, the Fort Plain Museum has recently published an important new book, Fort Plain, Fork Plank, Fort Rensselaer: The Revolutionary War Forts of Canajohary by Wayne Lenig.
The book reviews and analyzes the published secondary sources in chronological order to gain an understanding of when and how misconceptions developed.
Following that review are chapters on the archaeology and historical research from primary sources, placing the final four years of the Revolutionary War on the New York frontiers into the broad fabric of contemporary events.
A fourth chapter reviews the evidence for an earlier Colonial Anglo-American fort on the site of Fort Plain. This is the most comprehensive study of one of the most important American outpost during the final four years of the War for Independence.
The 262-page glossy large format book is richly illustrated with more than 100 images, including maps, photos and drawings. It also includes a detailed index and footnotes.
Author Wayne Lenig is a Fellow of the New York State Archaeological Association, vice-president of the Van Epps-Hartley Chapter NYSAA, archaeological curator and vice-chairman of the Fort Plain Museum Board of Trustees, and Research Associate in Archaeology at the New York State Museum.
To order the book, visit the museum’s online book store or email info@fortplainmuseum.org. 100% of the book proceeds go to the museum for exhibits and education programming.
Leave a Reply