National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-10-26
NAVAL 20 VI D 4 r ON LAKE
CHAMPLAIV.

CH
! From advanced sheets of the new volume
| tlAl of Bancrcfts History of the Cnited
| States.l
Till October, Arnold rOamed the
lake without check On The fourth
Of that month, Carleton began his
cautious advance on the tenth, all
his iieet was in motion. Arnold, .
whose Judgment did not equal his
courage. moCrcd his squadron in the
bay between Nalcour island and the
main. This choice of a station met
with the warm approval of General
Gates: but one more absurd or more
dangerous could not have been made,
for it left the great channel of the
lake undisputed to his enemies. who,
on the morning of the eleventh. with
a wind from the northwest, passed
between Great and Nalcour islands,
and came into his rear. They had
much more than twice his weight Of
metal, twice as many fighting veso
Srl9, and skilled seamen and officers
against landsmen. lie awoke too
late TO the helplessness Of his posi-
ton but his audaclty did not fail
him; forming line at anchor from
NalcOur to the main, he advanced in
the schooner Royal Savage sup
ported by his row galleys. The wind
favored him, while it kept off tho
lnheXible," which was already to
the south of him: but the $ Carle-
ton" was able TO get into action, and
was sustained by the artillery boats.
OF these, one was sunk, though it's
men were saved but the best sea
manship and guuuery gained the adj
vantage; TIE gaileya were driven
back the :. Royal Savage crippled
in its masts and rigging, fell to the
locward, and was stranded to VAL
cour island, whence Arnold, with
the clev, made his way 10 the $ Con.
grcss." Meantime the Carleton"
accompanied by the artillery boats,
had the daring to beat up against
, the bIcelc. till it came within mus
liet shot OF tEa American line, when
, it opened lire rom both sides.
The Congress- on which Arnold
!. was obliged to act as gunner, was
= h-rt in aer inaiH.rnast and yaryS;"
c wis huiled twelve times, and hit
e seven times between wind and wa
ter; the gondoia - New York; lost
} all her officers except her captain;
in the L" Washington the first lieu
tenant was killed. the captain and
} master wouiided, the main mast shot
through so it became useless. A
gondola was sunk. OF the British
artillery-boats, one. or perhaps two,
!. went down. The Carleton which
owing to the wind, could receive no
succor, suffered severely Dacres,
+ its captain, fell senseless from
: blow; Brown. a lieutenant of ma
{ rines, lost an arm; hut Pellew, q lad
y, of nineteen, who succeeded to the
command, carried on the fight, to
prevent Alnold's escape. Just be-
u fore dark, when sixty or more of tho
J. Americans and forty or more of the
+ British had been killed or wounded,
q the artillery boats, ON the signal OF
recall, tOwed the "Carleton' out of
the reach of shot. AT eight in tho
evening. the British fleet anchored,
{ having their left wing near the main
e land, the right near Nalcour island,
o with several armed boats still fur
t ther to the right. to guard the pass
e age to Nalcour and Great island,
l. and they were confident that mt the
o dawn of the next day all the "reb-
l. elr vessels must be captured or de-
n stroyed. Arnold and his highest
It officers, Waterbury and Wigglcs
, worth, SAW no hope but in running
'. the blockade. 1t was the night of
n the new moon, and the air was ha-
e zy; an hour or two before midnight
e they had the dauntless hardihood
l. to hoist anchor silently in the thick
p darkness, Wigglesworth in the
S- Trumbull," led the retreat; tho
pondolas and snail vessels followed I;
then came Waterbury in the :" Wash
=, inoton," md last of all, Arnold in
~ the Congress y and, having % fair
~ wind. they stole unobserved through
:; the British fleet, close to its LETT
~ wing.
=, When day revealed their wonder
" fuj escapp. Carleton could not res
:; trnin his anger Advancing slowly
VI against southerly breeze in tho
morning of the thirtieth he came in
SIGHT of the iugitives near the island
- of Four Winds; mt half past twelve
ld he was near enough to begin n can
At nonade. Waterbury wished to run
'k his ship ashore : but Arnold hoped
'k still for chance to give battle. At
n halfpast one the wind came sudden
n, ly out of the north, striking the
pi British sails first the Washing.
:. ton was overtaken near Split Rock,
X and compelled to strike the "Con-
IN grcss," with four gondolas, keeping
Mt IN running fight of five hours, ,s',f'
er fcred great loss, and was chased into
c, small creek in Panton on the east
'n side of the lake. To save them
from his pursuers, Arnold set them
ON fire, with their colors flying. Inc
IN last to go on shore, he formed tiie,r
Ne crews, and, in sight OF the EngiisIi
ships, marched of in perfect oroer!!