The Americans deemed it too steep to fortify, so the British general Burgoyne dragged cannon to the top, causing abandonment of Fort Ticonderoga below and Ft. Independence on the Vermont side. The two forts were connected by a pier bridge with floating wooden pontoons. Needless to say, it was a messy retreat to Castleton, VT.
Update: Did a little more research. Mt. Defiance was later stormed and captured by Ebenezer Allen and his Rangers, although re-capturing Ft. Ti took a little longer. But, never fear - we all know who eventually won the war.
