The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-06-26
From Hcadlq's Washington and his Generals.
Arnold at the Battle of Valcour


The British, in pursuing their advantage,
had constructed fleet at St. Johns, with
which TO advance on Crown Point and Ii
Conderoga. Every effort was made to repel
this armament, aud at length, after the great
est eXertlons, one sloop, three schooners, and
, five galleys were manned and placed under
the command of Arnold. With these he set
sail in the middle ofAugust, l776 designing
to take his station at tho Ise-aux-Tetes, bur
finding the island in possession ofthe enemy,
Inc stopped ut Windmill Point. On eXamina-
ton he found this position disadvantageous,
& retreated to the Isle In Motto, and finally
to Valcour Island, where he determined TO
make stand. He had received some rein
torcements, so that his little fleet now consist
ed of three schooners, two sloops, three gall
lcys and eight gondolns as they were called
carrying in all seventy guns, many Of them
eighteen Founders. VulCOur Island lies
somewhat parallel to the shore, aud so near
~ connected with it at the northern cXrcmi-
~, that it is difficult TO pass belweoon even in
small vessels. Thus deep channel is form
cd between it, and tho main land, opening
towards the south. In the upper end ofthis,
Arnold moored his fleet, and hence was en-
tirely concealed from the enemy until they
had passed beyond him up the lake. He
had completely shut himsclfin, so that when
|
no getting away but through their ships lie
thus secured two objccts--frst cooperation
ofevery one ofhs vessels, and secondly, pre-
vented himselffrom being outAanlied, for his
! line ofbattle extended from the island TO the
shore. He had not waited long in this posi-
ton before the British fleet hove in sight,sail-
ing down before the wind. As it rounded the
southern point of the island Arnold's boats
were discovered when hauling close to the
wind, it bore up and hemmed him complete
ly in. The fleet con sisted of one ship, two
scooners, two gondolas, twenty gun-boats,
four long boats, and iorty-iour smaller boats,
containing in all seven hundred chosen sea-
men, and carrying ninety three guns, some Of
them Of heavy calhre. Over seventy vessels
and boats in all, gathered like birds Of prey
around the mouth ofthis channel. Arnold
saw at glance that nothing but determined
bravery could overcome this immense supe-
riority of force: indeed il seemed that nothing
but a miracle could save him.
Ii was the eleventh of October, one ofthose
sweet autumnal days, when the gentle winds
blew over the water, just stirring it into dim
pies. Arnold determined TO take advantage
of the wind, and attack some Of the foremost
boats, before the larger vessels could beat up
to their aid. Ordering the Schooner Royal
Savage and three galleys to get under way, he
advanced and opened his fire, but was gradu-
ally forced back by the superior strength of
the enemy and returned 10 the line. In this
manGuvre the Royal Savage went ashore
and was abandoned. At noon, the British
having brought one schooner and all their
gun boats within musket shot ofthe Amcri-
cans, the battle became general. Arnold, in
the Congress galley, anchored himself in the
hottest part OF the fire, and never left his po-
sition a large body of Indians on shore,
kept up n constant blaze with their rifles,
while between the island and mainland were
two parallel lines offire. The peaceful lake
trembled like frightend thing to the ire
mendouS explosions, as nearly hundred and
sixty cannon numbered at once over the wat
cr The deafening roar was heard even ut
Ticonderoga, filling the hearts ofthe garrison
with anxious torebodiug. The light clouds
trooping over the sky--the quiet nook in
which the fleet lay at anchor---the cmbosOm-
ing forest-the crowds of shouting swarthy
savages on the shore all added strange inter
est to the scene, and that October sun, as il
rolled towards the western hills, looked down
on rs brave battle as was ever fought. The
smoke lifted by the north wind, rolled slug
gishly up the lake, leaving open and unob-
secured the contending fleets, us they thus lay
and vomttcd forth fire on each other. The
Congress and Washington galleys received
the weight of the shock. Arnold, in the for
mer,with two eighteen FOUNDERS two twelves,
and six skies, fought like desperate. Sec
ing the dreadful odds against him, and mad
dencd atthG thought OF defeat he seemed to
scof ut death. Cheering on his men by bis
thrilling words,Sstil more by his fierce cour-
age, he maintained the fight hour after hour
with u tenacity that nothing seemed able TO
shake. With his vessel riddlcd through and
through, Sfilled with the dead, he still maintain
ed his ground Having no good engineers, he
pointed his own guns, and multiplied himself
with the dangers that encoupassed him.
Now, casting his stern eye along his line OF
shattered boats, and now along his heated
cannon, to make the shots tcll-blaclcn-
cd with powder and smoke, ho bore up for
five mortal hours in the driving tcmpcst.-
The water was churned into foam around
him by the raining balls--his man-mast had
been struck twice, his rigging was cut into
fragments, he had received Seyen shots 5ettrccn
aOin1 and IUGter a2ld huG been hUIed hce've tineS
yet, still he refused TO stir, and seemed re-
solved to sink at his anchors. A more gallant
crew never rallied around brave command
er; and though thinned and wasted stood
ready to so down at their post.
But night coming on the British withdrew
their forces, and after dark stretched their
vessels i'll one line from the island TO the
shore, to prevent the retreat of the Ameri-
cans whom they now considered completely
in their power. Arnold, however, had no
thought ofsurrendering, and after a short
consultation with his.ohicers, resolved to pass
through the enemy's fleet and sail for Grown
Point. SO after dark he got his crippled YES
sells, that is, all that were left, one schooner
and one gondola being wrecked, and set sail.
The wind had luckily changed, and each
vessel, with single light in the stern to
guide the one that followed passed in silent