Henry Knox and the Noble Train of Artillery

Jonathan Lane presents: “The Resources of His Genius Supplied the Deficit of Means” — Henry Knox and the Noble Train of Artillery

Join historian Jonathan Lane, Executive Director of Revolution 250, for a fascinating talk on one of the most remarkable stories of the American Revolution.

250 years ago, a 25-year-old Boston bookseller named Henry Knox undertook one of the most extraordinary feats of the American Revolution. Tasked by General George Washington with retrieving artillery from the recently captured Fort Ticonderoga, Knox set out across the winter wilderness of New York and New England to transport more than 60 tons of heavy cannon, mortars, and shot to the siege lines surrounding Boston. Using over 150 teams of horses and oxen, Knox and his men dragged the guns across frozen lakes, snow-choked mountains, and half-frozen rivers. His “Noble Train of Artillery” not only demonstrated the ingenuity and resolve of the young Continental Army, but also provided the means by which Washington forced the British evacuation of Boston—an achievement born from courage, intellect, and sheer determination.

Afternoon Enrichment Series • Included with general museum admission • Ages: Adults • Registration not required

About Jonathan Lane: Jonathan Lane, Executive Director of Revolution 250 has more than 30 years’ experience in public history, tourism and cultural programming. Revolution 250 is a consortium of more than 70 organizations across the Commonwealth, working together on the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution. While his employment has led him to many leading institutions, including Plimoth-Patuxet, the American Antiquarian Society, Berklee College of Music and the Massachusetts Historical Society, his historical studies have taken him to libraries and archives throughout the U.S. and United Kingdom. He is the author of a monograph on songs for British Soldiers in the 18th century, and is the editor of From the Potomac to the Etowah, the Civil War Correspondence of Alonzo Hall Quint. Mr. Lane was awarded the “Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Revolutionary Achievement Award” from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy in March of 2024. Jonathan is a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Colonial Society of Massachusetts and the Alden Kindred of America.