Battle on Snowshoes focus of talk, re-enactment

March 06, 2008 04:00 am

— TICONDEROGA -- Bob Bearor plans to lecture on Rogers' Rangers famous Battle on Snowshoes before going out to live it this weekend.
Bearor, the author of the book "The Battle on Snowshoes," will speak at 7 p.m. Friday at LaChute Hall in the Ticonderoga Community Building.
Then, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, he'll head to the Rogers Rock State Campground in period garb as a special guest to mark Maj. Robert Rogers's part in the 1758 battle.
"The anniversary of one of our most famous battles, the Battle on Snowshoes, is taking place," Bearor said. "This March 13 marks the 250th anniversary of the battle."
The event Saturday is sponsored by the Town of Hague in Warren County and will include snowshoe and cross-country ski races. Prizes will be given for most authentic 18th-century garb and best racing times. Period costumes are encouraged but not mandatory.
The campground is located south of Ticonderoga on Route 9N.
DONATING FUNDS
Bearor noted that not just the Battle on Snowshoes but most of the battles in the French and Indian War were fought in New York state.
An authority on French and Indian War history, Bearor lives in Schroon Lake with his wife, Holly, also a re-enactor.
He said money raised from admission fees to his lecture Friday will be donated to charity. He's planning to take his presentation to other communities, including Plattsburgh, later this year.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors and under 12 years of age, free.
PAST RE-ENACTMENTS
Ticonderoga Supervisor Robert C. Dedrick said a 2000 Battle on Snowshoes re-enactment put on by Bearor was tremendous, drawing thousands of spectators. In 2001, Bearor recreated the July 1758 death of British Lord Howe by French forces.
"They (the Bearors) have put two re-enactments on in Ticonderoga. It was incredible. They did a huge re-enactment on the actual grounds where Lord Howe was killed. He (Bearor) brought in over 1,000 re-enactors."
The Battle on Snowshoes event was held at the Ticonderoga Country Club, believed to be the actual site where Rogers and about 200 of his rangers were ambushed by French and Indians and decimated.
The Lord Howe incident was on fields east of the Hague Road, where the original encounter between Lord Howe and French troops is believed to have taken place.
"It might be one of the finest achievements we held in our town," Dedrick said. "It was phenomenal for our businesses."
Any funds raised by Bearor's talk will go to the town's 2009 Samuel de Champlain celebration, he said.
"He's doing this as a donation to the Town of Ticonderoga."
Bearor is expected to touch on the controversy of Rogers' Slide, where Bearor allegedly eluded pursuing Indians after the Battle on Snowshoes by appearing to slide down a high rock face from Bald Mountain to Lake George.
"I'm anxious about what Bob has to say about that event," Dedrick said. "This will be a great event for the town and the county."
Dedrick said he's been getting calls about the talk and is preparing seating for at least 150 people.
"Bob and Holly have been great friends to the North Country."
lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com

Photos

Re-enactor Cliff Bearor (right) poses as Maj. Robert Rogers while Holly Bearor (left) re-enacts the role of a French Marine private and Bob Bearor fills the role of Ensign Langy in Schroon last week. The Battle on Snowshoes deserves to be remembered, if only because it was the Super Bowl of 18th-century guerrilla warfare, according to Bob Bearor, a French and Indian War re-enactor and author.