Fort William Henry = Plans and Graphics (1 Viewer)

[Fraxinus]

The first two or three images linked commonly occur attached to histories and accounts for Fort William Henry. But I have never seen the third graphic. Graphic Links 2- 4 are zoomable with very good resolution.

General Plan View:

http://www.masshist.org/maps/PlansandForts/PlansAndFortsp26.htm

The old barracks (maybe the East and West Barracks)

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/kinggeorge/e/003ktop00000121u114a0000.html

The new barracks (maybe the North and South Barracks):

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/kinggeorge/e/003ktop00000121u114b0000.html

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Never seen this published, the ammunition magazine. I think the location for this magazine is the clear non-shaded building at the bottom of the Drawing in Link 1. If I am right, it is just outside the curtain wall, but protected by a palisade that borders Lake George. In Drawing 1, north is to the bottom of the page. The gunpowder barrels are a very nice touch. Prior to the Siege, Webbs Engineer ordered that the roof of the magazine be protected with more sand.

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/kinggeorge/e/zoomify81984.html

 

[Fraxinus]

From Montresor journal (July 28th)' "The top of the magazine to be pared off, & sand put over it, also their funnels or air holes stop with sand and bags."

My guess is that the roof of the ammunition magazine was made flat "pared" and then a layer a sand was placed. Because it was designed as an ammunition magazine, the ceiling would have been constructed to be exceedingly strong, and as such, could support a covering of sand (James Montresor, Webb's Engineer, July 28th Journal Entry). The French arrived on August 3rd. Prior to the French opening their artillery bombardment, the British had already stripped the flammable roofs off their barracks.

The 35th and 60th were the two regular regiments that were at Fort William Henry when it was surrendered to Montcalm. You can use John's 35th releases for Quebec or Fort William Henry, either works.

 

[Fraxinus]

Link 4 shows the "New Magazine". When the fort was first erected in November 1755, the main magazine was under the NE bastion, with a smaller magazine under the NW bastion. However, the British had considerable problems with groundwater and dampness in the winter and spring months and were forced to build an above-ground magazine simply to keep the powder dry. Underground storage wasn't working.

We know there was additional underground storage (casements or casemants) under the SE Flank of the SE bastion and a casement under the east curtain wall (no cannon fire expected against that wall). Lake George largely protects the magazine from the North. But it is still endangered by arching howitzer and mortar fire (why the sand roof).

The east and west barracks may also had casements as shown on the plans (Link 1). It seems the north and south barracks were built in 1755. It may be that the east barracks was not built until 1756. West barracks may have been built in 1755 or 1756.