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Show 28 BASIS OF AMERICAN HISTORY [ 1700 eight miles in length. It led from the Mohawk Valley to Wood Creek, a tributary of the Oswego, and so to Lake Ontario. This was the strategic point on the route from New York and the Hudson to the Great Lakes. In 1732 Fort William was erected at the Mohawk terminus, where is now the city of Rome, and in 1758 this was replaced by the famous Fort Stanwix. Forts were also established near the other end of the portage. 1 Another series of much - frequented carrying-places were on the " Grand Pass" leading from the valley of the Hudson into Canada, the line of numerous French invasions from the north and of Burgoyne's expedition in 1777. The main portage of this route, that from the Hudson to Lake George, was about fifteen miles long and was guarded by Fort Edward on the Hudson and by Fort William Henry at the southern end of Lake George. Another important portage on this route was from Lake George to Lake Champlain, guarded by Fort Ticonderoga. Still another route between the Hudson and Lake Champlain was from Fort Edward, northeast over a portage of about eleven miles to Wood Creek and down that stream to the lake. Fort Ann was built on Wood Creek to protect this route. Farther east a number of portages led from the rivers of New England to the St. Lawrence basin- 1 Sylvester, Northern New York and the Adirondack Wilderness, 280. |