Description Of The Battle Of Valcour Island
The Battle of Valcour Island was an important battle, though it was small and seemingly unimportant. This battle, with many shots exchanged, was a significant battle between Benedict Arnold and Guy Carleton, fighting for a large advantage in the Revolutionary War.
The main reason for this battle was to seize Lake Champlain and control it. The lake was the main gateway for troops from the north to enter the Hudson Valley and southern New York, as there was a very small number of travel routes in upper New York state. (armyhistory.org) Not only was New York City a key area of the war, but the Hudson Valley was home to multiple forts, including Fort Ticonderoga, Fort Montgomery, and Fort Clinton. (vintagehudsonvalley.com) Brigadier General …show more content…
They had sufficient artillery, men, and supplies. Arriving from England were 12 prefabricated gunboats. Reconstructed on the Richelieu River, in St. Jean, Quebec, they were built alongside three other ships, which were transported over land from the St. Lawrence River. A fourth ship, the Inflexible, weighing 180 tons, was completely disassembled and rebuilt at St. Jean. Also constructed was a radeau, a “heavily armed, flat-bottomed sailing scow generally used for bombarding shore installations.” (armyhistory.org) Called the Thunderer, she was the most heavily armed ship on the lake. …show more content…
Slightly before eleven o’clock in the morning, the fleet spotted the Royal Savage, Arnold’s flagship. When they tried to rotate to advance, the strong wind from the north made it hard for them to do so. The battle did not start well on the American side. The Royal Savage ran aground quickly, and therefore was abandoned. Though they were outarmed, the American troops dealt much damage. Eventually, however, they got pounded with ammunition. At the end of the day, the British lined up so the Americans couldn’t easily escape the channel, though Arnold thought differently. (armyhistory.org)
Arnold assembled his officers and decided to make a run for it. They wrapped their oars in thick cloth to help make less sound. The ships were arranged in a single-file line, with just a small lantern at the rear of each boat, to help guide the way. The remaining fleet sneaked silently past the British line, sometimes “close enough to hear voices from enemy vessels.”
The main reason for this battle was to seize Lake Champlain and control it. The lake was the main gateway for troops from the north to enter the Hudson Valley and southern New York, as there was a very small number of travel routes in upper New York state. (armyhistory.org) Not only was New York City a key area of the war, but the Hudson Valley was home to multiple forts, including Fort Ticonderoga, Fort Montgomery, and Fort Clinton. (vintagehudsonvalley.com) Brigadier General …show more content…
They had sufficient artillery, men, and supplies. Arriving from England were 12 prefabricated gunboats. Reconstructed on the Richelieu River, in St. Jean, Quebec, they were built alongside three other ships, which were transported over land from the St. Lawrence River. A fourth ship, the Inflexible, weighing 180 tons, was completely disassembled and rebuilt at St. Jean. Also constructed was a radeau, a “heavily armed, flat-bottomed sailing scow generally used for bombarding shore installations.” (armyhistory.org) Called the Thunderer, she was the most heavily armed ship on the lake. …show more content…
Slightly before eleven o’clock in the morning, the fleet spotted the Royal Savage, Arnold’s flagship. When they tried to rotate to advance, the strong wind from the north made it hard for them to do so. The battle did not start well on the American side. The Royal Savage ran aground quickly, and therefore was abandoned. Though they were outarmed, the American troops dealt much damage. Eventually, however, they got pounded with ammunition. At the end of the day, the British lined up so the Americans couldn’t easily escape the channel, though Arnold thought differently. (armyhistory.org)
Arnold assembled his officers and decided to make a run for it. They wrapped their oars in thick cloth to help make less sound. The ships were arranged in a single-file line, with just a small lantern at the rear of each boat, to help guide the way. The remaining fleet sneaked silently past the British line, sometimes “close enough to hear voices from enemy vessels.”