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Fort Massachusetts, North Adams, Mass.
(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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Fort Massachusetts was the westernmost of a series of forts built in 1744 at the outbreak of what became known as King George's War. The fort was rustic, made of hastily cut timber and initially garrisoned by fifty men. By the summer of 1746, only 22 men were in the fort. That summer, Massachusetts had mounted a major expedition against the French at Crown Point, and it was not expecting an attack. But in August, somewhere between 700 and 1,200 men, consisting of French regular troops, Canadian militia, and a group of their Abenaki allies attacked. After a 28-hour siege, the defenders surrendered and were taken to Canada. The French then demolished the fort. It was soon rebuilt, but saw no more military action and was demolished in 1759. In 1930, it was rebuilt, and the Fort Massachusetts State Park is today near the town of North Adams, Massachusetts.
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