Revolutionary War Soldiers Finally Laid to Rest After Two Centuries

Forty-four remains of Continental Army soldiers and their dependents were formally buried with full military honors on May 22. The interment took place at Lake George Battlefield Park, where a new monument was established to commemorate the fallen. The remains were transported from the New York State Museum in Albany to the park two days prior to the ceremony.

These individuals are believed to have perished in 1776 during the Continental Army's campaign to invade Quebec. Their final resting place remained unknown for over two hundred years until a construction project in 2019 led to the discovery of the graves. Following the discovery, the New York State Museum conducted years of bioarchaeological research to analyze the remains.

Museum experts determined that the majority of the deceased were young men, including some in their teenage years, though the group also included a woman and a child. While specific names have not been identified, uniform buttons found at the site indicate that at least one soldier belonged to the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion.

The deaths occurred during a period when the Continental Army operated a hospital on the shores of Lake George. In addition to injuries sustained in combat, many troops succumbed to rampant diseases, specifically smallpox, during the failed early expeditions into Canada.