Owen Laurenzo
Oxen and the Revolution: How Four Hooves and a Set of Horns Helped Forge a Nation (1775–1781)
March 17, 1776. Cannons roar from atop Dorchester Heights, a tall, windy hill overlooking Boston Harbor. These cannons are from Fort Ticonderoga, over 200 miles away. Colonel Henry Knox has just accomplished one of the greatest logistical feats in military history: moving 59 cannons from upstate New York to Boston Harbor in only four months, through ice, snow and mud. Further, these animals worked tirelessly following an army for over 400 miles to win the single most important battle of the war: Yorktown. It was oxen who carved a path through the American War of Independence, keeping the armies clothed, fed, and armed. Learn about oxen themselves; the terminology, anatomy, and science behind these amazing animals; and follow them from the very beginning at Lexington to the final act at Yorktown.
Owen Laurenzo has always been interested in the American and French Revolutionary Wars, as well as animal husbandry and training. He has two pairs of oxen, who he raised and trained almost entirely on his own. He has been involved with 4H for eight years and has been re-enacting since 2023. He and his father work closely with Fort Ticonderoga and followed the 250th anniversary celebrations of Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery this winter. Their oxen pulled the cannon at nine events starting in Fort Ticonderoga, New York, all the way though to Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts. They strive to be historically accurate using the same methods and tools that were used during the late 1700s and navigating the harsh temperatures of winter. It was invaluable to experience a fraction of the challenges that were faced during the original Knox Train Event.
