^ NATURAL AND CJVIL 



the crews of the ships of war 5b all the toils ot 

 the preparation, these men now boldly and free- 

 ly offered to join with them io the dangers and 

 conflicts of the expedition. The guns were 

 served by a detachment of men and officers be- 

 longing to the corps of artillery. And no equip- 

 ment of the kind was ever better appointed, or 

 more amply furnished with all kinds of provi- 

 sions, necessaries, and conveniences. This 

 force far' exceeded any thing the Americans had 

 been able to provide. In the number and 

 strength of the vessels, in the number of guns,, 

 the implements of y/ar, the weight of the metal, 

 and number of men, the strength of the British 

 was double to that of the American fleet. Thus 

 w^as lake Champlain, which from the first set- 

 tlement of the European colonies had been the 

 seat of war and contest, in the year 1776, cov- 

 ered with fleets, w*hich in former times would 

 have been esteemed a respectable force upoR 

 the European seas. 



Th e American fleet was put under the com- 

 mand of general Arnold, and in the latter end 

 of August, sailed down the lake to reconnoitre 

 and gain intelligence ; and soon after was rein- 

 forced with a cutter, three gallies and three gon- 

 dolas, carrying from four to eighteen pounders ; 

 the fleet now amounted to fifteen vessels. On 

 the eleventh of October general Carleton pro- 

 ceeded up the lake with the British fleet, and 

 discovered the American armament posted in a 

 Very advantageous situation, andforminga strong 

 line to defend the passage between the island 

 Valcour and the western main. This island 

 lies between the south Hero and the town of 



