Unattributed "A View of a Saw Mill & Block House upon Fort Anne Creek the property of Genl. Skeene." [Fort Ann, New York near Glens Falls]

Unattributed. “A View of a Saw Mill & Block House upon Fort Anne Creek the property of Genl. Skeene."  [Fort Ann, New York near Glens Falls].  From Anburey’s Travels Through the Interior Parts of America. 

London: William Lane, 1789.  7 x 8 7/8 (image) plus borders.  Folds as issued.  One short split at bottom right.  Minor stains in right margin with toning on paper edges.  Overall, good condition.  

Military strategy that included a scorched earth campaign was nothing new, and one of the passive pieces of resistance to Burgoyne's troops invading from Canada was destruction of food and materials in its path.  Here is a depiction of a saw mill with an abundance of lumber pouring out and into the adjacent river.  The blockhouse would have protected the mill from the Indians, but not from a British army.  So the Americans burned both to keep the lumber and the ability to make more from the enemy.  This incident happened in the early days of Burgoyne's offensive.  Having Fort Ticonderoga fall so easily, Gen. St. Clair began his strategic retreat that included this burning of Fort Anne on 7 July 1777.  A romantic touch is the depiction of Indians in the foreground.