This date in Lake Champlain History
Battle of Valcour Island: October 11, 1776
Royal Savage, Benedict Arnold’s flagship, is shown run aground and burning, while British ships fire on her (watercolor by unknown artist, ca. 1925)
Continental Brigadier General Benedict Arnold and his 17-ship flotilla were defeated after three long and separate actions at the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain when they engaged 25 ships under British Captain Thomas Pringle.
Benedict Arnold
The Continental Army had retreated from Quebec to Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Crown Point in June 1776 after British forces in Canada were reinforced. They Americans then spent the summer of 1776 strengthening those forts, and building additional ships to augment the small American fleet already on the lake under the command of Arnold.
The British had a 9,000 man army in Canada but needed to build a fleet to move it on the lake. By early October, the British fleet, which significantly outgunned the American fleet, was ready to launch their offensive.
Battle of Valcour Island: October 11, 1776
On October 11, 1776 Arnold lured the superior British fleet into the straight between Valcour Island and the New York mainland where their maneuverability was limited. Although Arnold’s makeshift fleet was defeated, the battle delayed the British advance and caused it to fall back into winter quarters.
The British fleet and army withdrew from Lake Champlain on October 20, 1776 and returned to Canada for the winter. It was nearly a year before the British advance was renewed.
Guns Over The Champlain Valley:
A Guide To Historic Military Sites And Battlefields (Paperback)
Author: Coffin, Howard
The Champlain Valley is one of the most historically rich regions of the country. Fort Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Fort William Henry, Crown Point, Plattsburgh, Bennington and Valcour Island all lie along the ancient warpath that is the Champlain Corridor.
In this lively and informative new travel guide to historic places and events, the author leads you to each venue, describing the events and their long-lasting impact. Adventure awaits you with Guns over the Champlain Valley.