HISTORY OF VERMONT. 8| 



Waterbury, the second in CQtnmand, had l^erii 

 so much sliattered and had so many killed in 

 the foraiier engagement, that she was obliged t^ 

 strike after receiving a few broadsides. Arnold 

 was on board the Congress galley ; this vesse^ 

 was attacked by the Inflexible and two schoon- 

 ers ; two of these were under her stern, and the 

 other op her broadside, within musquet shot. 

 The whole British fleet kept up an incessant fire 

 for four hours, with round and grape shot, which 

 was briskly i;eturned by the Americans. Arnold 

 found that no exertions of courage or skill 

 would enable him to withstand the superior 

 force and fire of the enemy ; and determined 

 that his men should not become their prisoners^ 

 nor his vessels trophies of their yictory. And 

 such was his resolution and dexterity, that lie 

 not only covered the retreat of the vessels that 

 escaped, but he ran the Congress galley with five 

 of the gondolas ashore, in such a manner, as to 

 land the men safely and blow up the vessels, in 

 defiance of every efibrt the British could make 

 to prevent it. 



But few battles, had ever been fought ia 

 Avhich the military virtues of coinage, resolu- 

 tion, and heroism, had been better supported^ 

 or more generally displayed. The British ob- 

 tained the victory, and had destroyed the fleet 

 of their enemies ; the Americans made a most 

 obstinate resistance, escaped oiit of their hands.^ 

 and fully convinced them that in no other way 

 but that of superior force, could they ever hope 

 to prevail or effect any of their purposes. Ar- 

 nold in this action, fully supported the character, 

 which he had before acquired ; or rather abided 



