HISTORY OF VEIIMONT, U 



Feru, in the state of New York ; and is very 

 near to the channel, through which vessels navi- 

 gating the lake, must always pass. The Ameri- 

 cans had placed themselves with so much inge- 

 nuity behind this island, that their situation was 

 discovered by accident. The British were a- 

 ware of their superior strength, and pushed on 

 to the contest. A warm action ensued, and 

 was maintained with great spirit and resolution 

 on both sides for some hours. The wind was 

 unfavorable to the British in this battle, so that 

 the Infle:5Cible, which was considered as the ad«= 

 miral's ship, and some other vessels of force^ 

 could not be brought into action. The severest 

 fire was directed against the schooner Carleton^ 

 and the gun boats ; which were attacked by the 

 Americans with a daring impetuosity an4 reso- 

 lution, and defended by the British with an un- 

 daunted firmness and success. The wind con- 

 tinuing unfavorable, captain Pringle, with the 

 approbation of the general, thought it best to 

 withdraw the vessels that were engaged, from 

 the action ; and as the night approached he 

 brought the whole fleet to anchor in a line, and 

 as near as possible to the Americans, to prevent 

 their escape. No greater exertions pf deter- 

 mined coui*age and unalterable firmness ever 

 can be made, than what were displayed by the 

 officers and men on both sides, on this occasion, 

 Amo^ig the Americans, general Waterbury, in 

 the Washington galley, was in the severest part 

 of the action. All his officers, excepting one 

 lieut:enant and the captain of the marinesj were 

 killed or wounded ; he fought himself on the 

 quarter deck the whole time, and brought off' 



