GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The nation's 250th anniversary starts on Saturday with the commemoration of Col. Henry Knox's train of artillery into Massachusetts. 

 

In December 1775, at the direction of General George Washington, 25-year-old Knox led an expedition to retrieve captured British cannons from Fort Ticonderoga in New York. 

 

Over the next 10 weeks, through deep snow, frozen rivers, and rugged mountains, Knox and his teamsters transported more than 60 tons of artillery across more than 50 towns and two states to the American siege lines outside Boston. 

 

The artillery's arrival in late January enabled Washington to fortify Dorchester Heights and threaten occupied Boston, forcing the British to withdraw — the first significant victory of Washington's Continental Army.

 

Knox Trail 250 relives the story with a modern procession of ceremonies, re-enactments, and community commemorations along the original route, honoring the people, towns, and spirit that made it possible. There are 56 trail markers commemorating the "noble train of artillery" route to Boston.

 

The collaboration of communities, historical societies, Berkshires250 and MA250 includes events in the Berkshire towns of Alford, Great Barrington, Monterey, and Stockbridge.  

 

Saturday begins with the crossing of the "Noble Train" from Hillsdale, N.Y., into Alford at Route 71 at 10 a.m. and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Henry Knox Marker. Re-enactors and state and local officials from both states will be attending. The Hillsdale firehouse will host the re-enactors for an educational program at 11:30 a.m. There is limited parking at the marker, and the public is strongly encouraged to attend one of the later programs