French & Indian War large artillery shell fragment, found at Fort Ticonderoga

This is another nice early piece coming out of an old Revolutionary War collection. Being offered is a French & Indian War 18-pounder shell fragment (probably French or British). It measures 4” x 3 ½”, 5/8” thick, and weighing 1-pound, 2-ounces.  It was found at the French trenches in front of Fort Ticonderoga. At the time of the French & Indian War,  it was known as Fort Carillon, but during the Revolutionary War it was called Fort Ticonderoga.

The Battle of Carillon was fought on July 8, 1758, during the French and Indian War (which was part of the global Seven Years' War). It was fought near the shore of Lake Champlain in the frontier area between the British colony of New York and the French colony of New France.

In the battle, which took place primarily on a rise about three-quarters of a mile from the fort itself, a French army of about 3,600 men under General Marquis de Montcalm and the Chevalier de Levis defeated a numerically superior force of British troops under General James Abercrombie, which frontally assaulted the entrenched French position.

That left the British and their allies vulnerable and allowed the French to win a complete victory. The battle was the bloodiest of the American theater of the war, with over 3,000 casualties suffered. French losses were about 400, while more than 2,000 were British.

The fort, abandoned by its garrison, was captured by the British the following year, and it has been known as Fort Ticonderoga ever since. This battle gave the fort a reputation for impregnability that had an effect on future military operations in the area. There were several large-scale military movements through the area in both the French and Indian War, as well as the Revolutionary War with the American Capture of Fort Ticonderoga and the British siege of the fort two years later.

I show an image of a complete 18-pdr. shell which I previously sold. This is one of several shell fragments that were never cleaned and kept just as found, even having some of the dirt on it. As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included.

Revolutionary War and French & Indian War artifacts have always been difficult to find, and I am fortunate to have quite a few pieces in stock. With the upcoming of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding next year, there will be a revitalized interest. Just about all Revolutionary War relics and artifacts will be in demand, which will only add to their scarcity and price. I am already seeing a substantial increase in purchases.