70 [Senate 



FEOM MR. ANDREWS, WARDEN OF SINGSING PRISON, WEST- 

 CHESTER COUNTY, N.T. 



A Musket Ball, from the Battlefield of Whiteplains. 



FROM JAMES LESLIE, OF ALBANY. 



A Blanket biade of Bark, by natives of the Pelew islands, which are 

 situated near the Caroline islands in the North Pacific Ocean. 



Also Three Sashes, worn hy the natives on their hunting expeditions. 



PRESENTED BY ALBERT A. BISSELL, OF GREENBUSH, RENSSE- 

 LAER COUNTY, N.Y. 



A Tampion ; a piece of oak wood ; an iron grape-shot, and two 



MUSKET BALLS. 



These relics were obtained by the donor near Valcour's island in Lake 

 Champlain, in the summer of 1851, from the wreck of the Schooner 

 Royal Savage (one of the vessels of the American fleet), which was 

 grounded and burned to the water's edge during the engagement with 

 the British fleet on the eleventh day of October 1776. 



The British fleet was composed of the following vessels : Ship In- 

 flexible, Capt. Pringle, carrying eighteen 12-pounders; two schooners, 

 one with fourteen, the other with twelve 6-pounders; a flat-bottomed 

 radeau, with six 24's and six 12's; and twenty small craft, each carrying 

 a gun from 9 to 24-pounders, and several long boats, besides boats for 

 baggage stores, etc. 



The Americans had only two brigs, one corvette, one slor.p, three gal- 

 leys and eight gondolas, the largest vessel carrying only twelve 6- and 

 4-pounders. These were under the command of Arnold, who drew them 

 up between Valcour's island and the western shore of the lake, where 

 they were attacked. They fought four hours, and the British at last re- 

 treated; but whilst making his way towards Crown point, Arnold was 

 overtaken, and nearly all the squadron fled up the lake. He continued 

 fighting as long as possible; and, as a last resort, to prevent his vessels 

 from falling into the hands of the British, he caused his flotilla to be run 

 on shore and set on fire. The vessels were burned to the water's edge, 

 and the hulks remain to this day almost as sound as when first stranded. 



This was the first naval engagement with Great Britain. 



