B y L a u r a M a r s
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Countdown to 250
THE BERKSHIRES PLAYED A PIVOTAL PART IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
“ The Knox Trail is the Berkshire ' s most significant contribution to our independence,” says State Senator Paul Mark, co-chair of the Massachusetts Special Commission on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, or MA250.“ The sheer amount of artillery that Knox transported to Boston caused the British to leave the city forever. Seeing their ships sail away gave the rest of the colonies the courage and confidence to fight for their country.”
The Knox Trail, also known as the Noble Trail of Artillery, is 300 miles of forests, swamps, and rivers from Fort Ticonderoga, New York, to Cambridge, Massachusetts, crossing into the state at the village of Alford. It’ s the path forged by General Henry Knox and a few hundred men, draft horses, and sledges in the winter of 1775 – 76. Transporting the cannons was Knox’ s idea, knowing that General George Washington needed fortification to hold Boston. Washington loved the idea and told Knox to get it done! In turn, Knox and his men were destined to deliver 59 cannons and other artillery to anxiously awaiting Washington, desperately in need of weapons to fight the advancing British. Washington was so impressed when Knox rode in with the artillery that he named him chief of the Continental Army artillery. As such, Knox positioned the formidable cannons on the high ground at Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston Harbor, scaring the British into evacuating on March 17, 1776.
Known as Evacuation Day, Washington’ s win was a direct result of Knox’ s seemingly impossible journey that lasted some 60 days— a journey that is attracting more attention as we move closer to July 4, 2026.
Thanks to organizations like MA250, Rev250, and Berkshire County Historical Society’ s Berkshire250, events leading up to the American Revolution are being celebrated.
84 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Holiday August July 2025 2025 2023