Chap. 3. 



REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 



39 



NAVAL ENGAGEMENT ON THE LAKE. 



AMERICANS BEFEATED. 



its stores, artillery, baggage and provis- 

 ions. 



This fleet was navigated by seven liun- 

 dred experienced seamen, commanded by 

 Captain Pringle, and tlie guns were scrv- 

 t'd by a detachment of men and officers 

 from tiie corps of artillery, and far exceed- 

 ed any thing the Americans were able to 

 provide. On the 11th of October, the 

 British fleet and army proceeded up the 

 lake. The American armament, which 

 amounted to l."> vessels of different sizes, 

 was put under the command of General 

 Arnold, who had taken a very advan- 

 tageous position between Valcour island 

 and the western main. There they form- 

 ed a strong line of defence, and hoped to 

 be able to check the progress of the ene- 

 my. 



The Britisli were sensible of their su- 

 perior strength, and moved forward boldly 

 to attack the Americans. A severe en- 

 gagement ensued, which was maintained 

 for several hours with much spirit and 

 resolution. The wind being unfavorable, 

 the British were unable to bring the In- 

 flexible and some of their other vessels 

 into action, which was principally sus- 

 tained by the Carleton and the gun boats ; 

 and as the wind continued adverse, the 

 British, notwithstanding the result had 

 thus far been in their favor, judged it 

 prudent to withdraw from the engage- 

 ment ; but as night approached, they 

 again advanced and anchored in a line as 

 near the Americans as possible, to pre- 

 vent their escape. 



This engagement was sustained on both 

 sides with a courage and firmness which 

 are seldom witnessed. Among the Ameri- 

 cans, Gen. Waterbury, of the Washing- 

 ton galley, was in the severest part of the 

 action. Excepting one lieutenant and a 

 captain of marines, his oflicers were all 

 either killed or wounded. He himself 

 fought on the quarter deck during the 

 whole action, and at the close brought oft' 

 his vessel though shattered and almost 

 torn in pieces. The result of this action 

 was favorable to the British, but less so 

 than they had anticipated, knowing their 

 own force to be doidjle that of the Ameri- 

 cans. They had one of their gondolas 

 sunk, and one blown up with 60 men. 

 The Americans had one of their schoon- 

 ers burnt, a gondola sunk, and several 

 of their vessels much injured. 



Arnold was now convinced that he 

 could not withstand the superior force of 

 the enemy, and under cover of the night, 

 which was dark and foggy, resolved to 

 attempt a retreat to Ticonderoga. In this 

 measure lie so f;ir succeeded as to pass 

 directly through the enemy's line unob- 



served, and to be entirely out of sight of 

 the Brilish the next morning. As soon 

 as it was discovered that the Americans 

 had fled, the British, anxious to obtain a 

 decisive victory, commenced a pursuit, 

 and during the day an American gondola 

 was overtaken and captured. On tiie 

 13th of October, the wind being favorable 

 to the British, they renewed the chase, 

 and about noon overtook the American 

 fleet a few leagues from Crown Point. A 

 warm engagement ensued, which was 

 supported with- great resolution and gal- 

 lantry on both sides for nearh^ fmr liours. 

 The Washington galley, commanded by 

 Gen. Waterbury, had been so shattered 

 in the action of the 11th, as to be useless 

 in this engagement, and M'as surrendered 

 after receiving a few broadsides. 



Arnold was on board the Congress gal- 

 ley, which vessel was attacked by the In- 

 flexible and two shooners,all within mus- 

 ket shot. After sustaining this unequal 

 combat for nearly four hours, Arnold be- 

 came satisfied that no exertion of courage 

 or skill, could enable him much longer to 

 withstand the superior force of the enemy. 

 He was, however, determined that nei- 

 ther his vessels nor his men should be- 

 come the trophies of their victory. Hav- 

 ing by his obstinate resistance given sev- 

 eral of his vessels an opportunity to es- 

 cape to Ticonderoga, he now run the 

 Congress galley and five other vessels on 

 shore, in such manner as to land his men 

 in safety and blow up the vessels in de- 

 fiance of every eff"ort which the British 

 could make to prevent it. This action 

 took place at no great distance from the 

 mouth of Otter Creek, and the remains of 

 Arnold's vessels were to be seen there 

 upon the beach for many years. 



The British, under Gen. Carlton, hav- 

 ing now recovered the command of lake 

 Champlain, it was supposed they would 

 next attempt the reduction of Ticonde- 

 roga; and, had Carleton moved forward 

 immediately, it was supposed that he 

 might have possessed himself of that im- 

 portant fortress without much difficulty, 

 as it was illy prepared for defence. But 

 the wind blowing from the south, Carle- 

 ton landed his army at Crown Point, tlie 

 Americans having a few days before dis- 

 mantled the fort and destroyed what they 

 could not carry away, and joined the 

 main army at Ticonderoga. The Ameri- 

 cans applied themselves with vigor in 

 strengthening their entrenchments at Ti- 

 conderoga, and by the daily arrival of re- 

 enforcements, and the recovery of the 

 sick and wounded. Gates soon found him- 

 self at the head of 12,000 efl'ective men. 

 In this situation he was not unv.illing 



