Fort Vengeance

The Fort Vengeance Monument Site is an archaeological and commemorative site on United States Route 7 in northern Pittsford, Vermont. The site includes the archaeological remains of one of Vermont's oldest documented homesteads, and the only surviving site of a military fortification of the American Revolutionary War. The site is marked by a stone memorial placed in 1873, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[1]

During the American Revolution in 1777 British General John Burgoyne came south from Montreal with a large force to attack Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Crown Point on Lake Champlain, and ultimately to meet British forces from New York City and divide the Colonies in half. The British campaign relied upon Native Americans to raid settlers and towns along the lake and inland. After a series of such raids, in which settlers' farms were plundered and burned, and male settlers were taken captive, in early 1780 Fort Vengeance was built to protect the area. Major Ebenezer Allen was placed in command with a garrison of one hundred and fifty men. After Caleb Houghton, aged 30, one of the soldiers comprising the garrison under Major Allen, was found a half-mile from the fort shot, tomahawked and scalped, Major Allen named the new fort "Fort Vengeance." The best known British instigated raid in the fall of 1780 was the Royalton raid, in which the towns of Royalton, Sharon and Tunbridge along the White River in eastern Vermont were burned. The Fort Vengeance archaeological site is located on northern Pittsford, about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of the town line with Brandon in northern Rutland County. It is marked by a squat marble obelisk adjacent to a roadside pullout on the west side of United States Route 7. The site occupies about 2 acres (0.81 ha), most of which is west of the highway, but including a portion of US 7 which is believed to have been built over part of the site.[2]

Fort Vengeance

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The site includes the archaeological remains of two houses. The older of the two was the farmstead of Caleb Hendee, who moved to the area and built his house here in 1774. At the time of the property's listing on the National Register, it was the oldest known farmstead site in the state, with no known sites predating 1770 (the state's colonial settlement history begins in the 1740s). In 1780 Hendee's farmstead became the site of Fort Vengeance, a palisaded fortification whose construction was ordered by the independent government of the Vermont Republic as part of its northern line of defense. The fort included a barracks, powder magazine, and other features, and was in use until 1782. It was one of three forts ordered by the state, all in the Pittsford-Brandon area, and is the only one whose location is both known and amenable to archaeological investigation. It is suspected that a portion of the modern road prism of US 7 encroaches on the site; construction of the road necessitated movement of the marker some 25 feet (7.6 m) west of its original placement.[2]

Caleb Hendee's house was probably abandoned in the mid-19th century by his son Samuel, who built a Greek Revival farmhouse further south, and probably tore down the remains of the old house and fort. In 1858, Samuel sold most of the property to a future in-law, Chester Thomas. Thomas built the house that made the second homesite in 1860; this building was demolished about 1900.[2]

A monument standing at the side of the road marks the location of Fort Vengeance, a palisade fort from 1780. The Pittsford Historical Society has a museum with a display of artifacts related to the temporary fort.

Fort Vengeance (1780-1782) - A Revolutionary War Fort established in 1780 near Pittsford, Rutland County, Vermont. The new fort remained unnamed until the death of a patriot soldier (Caleb Houghton) prompted the commander to swear vengeance and to so name the fort, Fort Vengeance. Abandoned in 1782.

In April 1780 the Board of War of independent Vermont directed Major Ebenezer Allen (a cousin of Ethan Allen) to choose a proper location for a fort "near the north line of Pittsford" and to construct that fort. Major Allen obeyed this order promptly, using the labor of a company of militia stationed in the town and local residents.

Captain Hutchins' Company of Green Mountain Rangers arrived in Pittsford, Vermont in February 1780 and construction began in the spring The fort was first occupied in June and was completed in August 1780.

The fort was to be built on the property of Caleb Hende Sr. located roughly a half-mile south of Pittsford's northern border. On 3 May 1780, Hendee agreed to allow Vermont to construct the fort on his property and to occupy it for one year. This lease was later extended for a second year.

The new fort at Pittsford was ordered to be large enough to accommodate 150 men but the normal company assigned to the fort was 30 to 60. In times of alarm, additional militia units were called out to support soldiers already on duty.

A monument honoring Fort Vengeance and the fallen soldier stands within the boundaries of the Fort Vengeance Monument site. The monument is a squat obelisk standing atop two base blocks, cut from local marble. In 1990 the Fort Vengeance Monument Site was recorded as Site VT-RU-216 by the Vermont Division of Historic Preservation. The Division relied upon the Fort Vengeance Monument and A.M. Caverly's 1872 account of the fort to record its location.

This is the floor where things really get interesting finally. You will first notice a very ornate door with Samadel and Han standing in front of it. Unfortunately neither of them have any clue how to open the door, so we have to go elsewhere for now.

Orlando Bridgman's Fort

(1738 - 1755 ?), North Vernon FORT WIKI

A settlers' two-story timber garrison house, fortified (stockaded) in 1742. Attacked and burned by Indians in June 1746 and again in October 1747. Rebuilt and burned again in June 1755. Located about one-half mile south of Sartwell's Fort. The house remained standing until about 1824.

Josiah Sartwell's Fort

(1737 - 1755 ?), North Vernon FORT WIKI

A settlers' two-story timber garrison house fortified in 1740. Attacked and burned in June 1755. The house was dismantled in 1837 and replaced by a farmhouse using many of the original timbers.

Fort Dummer(State Park)

(1724 - 1763), Guilford FORT WIKI

A fortification on the Connecticut River south of Brattleboro. It was a wooden stockade 180-feet square, with 12 guns, manned by 55 men. It was attacked by Indians in 1724 before the stockade was completed. The site was the state's first permanent settlement. The fort was built by the Massachussetts colonial militia. The fort was eventually dismantled. Because of the construction of the Vernon Dam just downriver in 1908, the original site of the fort is now underwater. The Fort Dummer Historical Association built a complete model of fort and is on display in Brattleboro. State marker located near the Brattleboro Railroad Station.

Fort Putney

(1740 - 1747 ?, 1755 - 1760), East Putney FORT WIKI

A town fort at "Putney Great Meadows" to defend against the French and Indians during King George's War. Also called Fort Hill. A second town fort was built in 1755, consisting of 15 houses forming the walls, with two watch towers at opposite corners.

Fort Ranger

(1778 - 1781), Gookin's Falls

Located at Mead's (Rutland) Falls, just east of Rutland, this fort served as the headquarters for colonial troops in the area (Whitcom's Rangers). After the soldiers left for Fort Warren, the settlers used it as a gathering place.

Fort Warren

(1779 - 1781), Castleton FORT WIKI

A militia fort. The town later used the abandoned fort as a storehouse and as a meeting house until 1790. The site is now bisected by a road and a railroad, and occupied by a private home. State marker and stone monument on US 4 at East Hubbardton Road.

Fort Vengeance

(1780 - 1781), Pittsford

Built on Otter Creek west of Cox Mountain by the independent Republic of Vermont to garrison militia for the defense of local settlers in the Otter Valley from British and Indian atacks. Originally unnamed until one defender was killed by Indians and his comrades swore vengeance - so naming the fort.

(info provided by Christopher Borstel of the Louis Berger Group)

Fort Mott

(1777), Pittsford

A settlers' palisaded log fort on the east bank of Otter Creek, about a mile south of the future location of Fort Vengeance. Built after the Battle of Hubbardton (July 1777), it was also used by the local militia.

(info provided by Christopher Borstel of the Louis Berger Group)

Mount Independence (State Historic Site)

(1775 - 1777), near Orwell

An extensive fortification on a prominant headland jutting into Lake Champlain, which worked in conjunction with Fort Ticonderoga across the lake in New York (see also). It may have also been called Fort Mount Washington. Consisted of several shore batteries and a stockaded star fort. Site of winter quarters for 2500 Patriot troops in 1776 - 1777. Occupied by the British during July - November 1777, who built five blockhouses for land defense. The northern portion of the site is owned by the Fort Ticonderoga Association. The southern portion is owned by the state of Vermont (admission fee). Walking trails lead to several sites of bulding foundations and gun positions. Remnants of the Horseshoe Battery still remain.

See also Mount Independence Tour from A Revolutionary Day Along Historic US Route 4

Mount Independence from America's Historic Lakes.org

Fort at Isle La Motte

(1775, 1814), Isle La Motte

A British fort or blockhouse was reportedly here during the later stages of the American Revolution. Exact location unknown. The island was briefly held by Patriot forces in September 1775 and June-July 1776 during the campaign against Canada.

The British later set up a temporary three-gun (18-pdr.) shore battery about one and one-half miles south of Sandy Point in September 1814 to cover the landing of supplies prior to the Battle of Plattsburgh.

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