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LOT 205
Historic French & Indian War Map Engraved Lobed Powder Horn Dated
“1759” and Inscribed “Made at Ft. Carillon for Capt. David Brewer” - This
horn records an important turning point in North American and world history:
the capture of Fort Carillon by the British military during the French & Indian
War in 1759 as the tide of the war turned against the French, ultimately leading
to the surrender of the French North American colonies to the British, setting
the stage for territorial conflicts that helped lead to the American Revolution,
and ultimately to the United States seizing large swaths of the continent during
the fight for independence. The horn is inscribed for Captain David Brewer, one
of the leading officers of the famous Rogers’ Rangers formed and led by Major
Robert Rogers. Though “provincial” troops were often looked down upon by
the British officer class, Rogers and his men were successful using “irregular
warfare” techniques suited for fighting in the American woods against the
French and their native allies, and they earned fame that has remained for
centuries. At the Battle of Carillon on July 8, 1758, near Fort Carillon, Rogers’
Rangers were among the men to first engage the French in the battle, but the
massively outnumbered French and their native allies held off a frontal assault by the British and
their allies. However, the Rangers returned with the British forces the following year and captured
the fort after skirmishing with the French in the Battle of Ticonderoga. The French destroyed some
of the fort before fleeing, but it was left largely intact. The British renamed the fort Ticonderoga
soon thereafter based on the name of the location, and the horn notably shows the fort under this
name with a British flag flying, as well as the nearby Fort Crown Point which was constructed after
Carillon’s capture. Fort Ticonderoga was also famously captured by the Americans in 1775, and some
of the cannons were taken all the way to Boston for the siege. Brewer appears to be the same David
Brewer (1732-1799) of Palmer, Massachusetts, who served as a colonel in 1775 and led the Patriot
9th Regiment of Foot that served at Boston and ultimately became the 13th Continental Regiment.
Fort Ticonderoga’s on-line collection notes state: “David Brewer was a member of Rogers’ Rangers
in the French and Indian War; in 1759, he served as the captain of an independent company of
rangers within Rogers’ Rangers after several years as a lieutenant. He is known to have taken up the
American cause during the Revolutionary War. He may have been the Colonel David Brewer who
served as the colonel of a Worcester regiment in 1775 and was dismissed from the army in October
1775 after being convicted by a court-martial for misbehaviors including making his soldiers work
on his farm and asking for more blankets than his regiment needed. He was also charged with
obtaining a lieutenant’s post for his son David Jr. and claiming that his son was with the army
when he was at home, but he was acquitted of this charge. They also noted that he was “Present at
Ticonderoga, July 6-8, 1758 (Battle of Carillon); present near Ticonderoga, March 6/7, 1759; probably
present at Ticonderoga, July 23-August 4, 1759”. A footnote in “Early Western Travels, 1748-1846”
states: “Captain David Brewer joined Rogers’ Rangers as ensign in 1756, and three years later was
promoted for gallant services on Lake Champlain. He appears to have been one of the most trusted
officers of this company. Rogers left him to bring up the troops to Presqu’ Isle, while he hastened on
to Fort Pitt, at the beginning of the expedition after the capitulation of Detroit, he sent the larger
portion of the Rangers back to Niagara under Brewer’s command.”
The horn features a rendition of the U.K. coat of arms including “HONI SOIT QUI MALY PENSE” on
a garter over “DIER ET MONS DROIT” on a banner along with “1759” towards the spout end which
features an engrailed edge and grooved rope style raised ring and crosshatching. The spout may
have been longer originally. A rectangular panel towards the basal end is inscribed “Made At Ft./
CARILLON/for/CAPtn DAVID/BREWER” and a patriotic shield and British grenadier are engraved
above. The remainder of the horn features a map of Canada, including Montreal, Quebec, Halifax,
Louisbourg, Fort Ticonderoga (formerly Fort Carillon, renamed Fort Ticonderoga after being
captured by the British in 1759), Fort Crown Point, Fort William Henry, Fort Oswego, Fort St. John (Ft.
St. Jean), and Fort Niagara, as well as animals and foliate designs. The horn has a lobed base with
four holes, and a “V” shaped slot, and a sunken flat wooden plug with a partial hole towards the
center. A September 1759 dated rum horn for David Brewer is also known. The horn is accompanied
by a copy of “The Annotated and Illustrated Journals of Major Robert Rogers” annotated by Timothy
Todish and “Notes on David Brewer of Rogers Rangers.” The horn comes to us from Paul Clemente
of New York, and in an included notarized letter he states that he received this horn from his close
family friend Robert Nittolo after Nittolo had sold the bulk of his collection to Fort Ticonderoga. Mr.
Nittolo informed him in writing, “Horns that mention Fort Caroline (Carillon) are EXTREMELY SCARCE.
It will make a wonderful addition to your growing Colonial & Rev. War Collection,” and he also noted,
“It’s the highest degree of artistic workmanship on it. In fact, there is a growing demand for these.”
Clemente had worked with Nittolo on his collection for years.
The Fall 2023 issue of “The Haversack: The Newsletter of Fort Ticonderoga” noted that Nittolo died on
August 23, 2023, and dedicated much of his life to building his collection of over 3,000 items related
to French & Indian War and American Revolutionary War history, especially Fort Ticonderoga. They
note, “For Fort Ticonderoga this acquisition is perhaps the most significant endeavor undertaken in
the last 100+ years...the addition of the Robert Nittolo Collection is transforming Fort Ticonderoga’s
holdings from world-class to world’s best and positions Fort Ticonderoga as the leading center of
study for Colonial and Revolutionary War history. This remarkable collection is now passed on to our
museum, with the promise that it will remain for posterity.” His collection was sold to the historic
site at the end of 2021, and Nittolo died peacefully at the age of 82 on August 23, 2023. He was the
co-author of “British Military Long Arms in Colonial America” with Bill Ahearn.
CONDITION: Very fine with distinct engraving, nice contrast between the blackened inscriptions
and the brown tinted engraving, some minor spots of wear showing whiter horn, small insect marks,
absent spout plug, and light cracking in the base plug. Overall, a stunning and remarkable horn that
remains as a testament to Robert Rogers, the famous Rogers’ Rangers, and in particular to Captain
David Brewer who led his own company of the rangers during the French & Indian War. This is a rare
opportunity to acquire a piece of French & Indian War history! Mr. Clemente wrote, “The ‘Fort Carillon
Horn,’ as Mr. Nittolo called it, is an amazing artifact from our early American History and the French
& Indian War, which is often called ‘The War That Made America.’ I feel privileged to have been the
horn’s caretaker and hope that the new owner treasures it as much as Mr. Nittolo and I did.”
Provenance: The Robert Rittolo Collection; The Paul Clemente Collection.
Estimate: 10,000 - 16,000
Major Robert Rogers 215