The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-12-03

/
IL. l776, recalls airesh that notable eugag
ement the fame OF which was eclipsed by
) Arnold's subsequent treason.
Sir Guy Carelton was in command OF the
British forces IN Canada in l776 and in 40,
cordsnce with the wishes OF the British
ministry he had begun prcpsrs,ions to in.
wade New York by way Of Lake Champlsin
and to secure the Mohawk valley aud the
upper waters oi the Hudson. On the
American side. Gen, Gates took command
OF the northern department July IL, In
view Of ths threatened nvasion he decided
to abandon Crown Point and concentrate
his forces ut Tconderogs and Mt lnde
pendence 90 the opposite side of the lake.
70 Benedict Arnold fresh from the i'll
starred expedition against Quebec. was en-
trusted the task Of building and equipp,
ing naval force to oppose Carleton's
progress through the lake
The entire summer was employed by
Carleton -onr narrative Is takan chiefly
from Prof. John Fiske's admirable account
in getting together feet with which TO
obtain control OF the lake. II was On ar
duous task. Three large vessels were sent
over from England, and preceded nj he
St. Lawrence as far as the rapide, where
they we're taken TO pieces, carried overland
to st. Johns. and there put together aeain
Twenty gun boats and more than tso hun
dred flag bottomed transports v8'e bhilt
at Montreal. and manned with 30 picked
seamen and eupners; and upon thu hn,iiI
Carleton embarked bis army # II 200
men.
To oppose the threatened invasion, Benz
edict Arnold had been working III the
summer with desperate energy. Ia June
the mate risls for bis navy we're growing 10
the forests OF Vermont. while bis cnrpen
ters with their tools, bis ssil makers with
their canvas, and his Rupners with their
guns had mostly to be brought from the
coast towns OF Connecticut and Massachu
setts. BY the end Of September he had
built fleet OF three schooners, two soops
three galleys. and eight goudolas. and ft,
ted it ont with seventy guns and such sea,
men and punners he could get together.
With this fotila be could not hope to pre-
vent the advance Of sucb an overwhelming |
force IS that OF tho enemy. The most he |
could do would bo to worry and delay it.
besides ralsing the spirits Of the people by |
the example OF an obstinate and furious re
sistance. To ALLOW Carleton to reach III
conderoes without opposition would be
dishesrtening, whereas by delay and veIa
tion be might hope to dampen the enthu,
siasm Of the invader With this end in
view, Arnold proceeded down the lake far
to the north Of Grown Point, and taking
up q strong position between Vslcour La
land and the western shore, 80 that both
his wings were covered and be could be AZ
tackled only in 'front.' he lay 10 welt for the
enemy. Wilkinson, who twenty years after
became commander,in'chie Of the Ameri.
can army, and survived the second war with
England, was then et Ticonderoga, on
Gatess staff Though always personally
hostile to Arnold. be calls attention IN his
Memoirs to the remarkable skill exhibited
in the disposition Of the little fleet at Val
cour Island, which WAS the same 10 princi,
pie SIS that by which Macdonough won bis
brilliant victory. not far from the same
spot in 1874.
On the llih Of October, Sir Guy Carrie.
tons squadron approached, ana there en' |
sued the fret battle fought between 70 !
American and British Il ,et Az sundown, I
after desperate fight of seven hour. dara'
ton, the British withdrew onl 81 range, /
intending to renew the struggle in the |
morning. Both fleets bad suffered severe. /
ly, but the Americans were so badly Gu
up that Carleton expected TO force their
rear the next day, and capture them. Bul
Arnold during the hszy night, by feat
less remarkable than Washiogton's retreat
from Long Island, coo'rivei 10 slip
through the British line which sll thsi was
left OF his crippled fotiiis. sud made sway
for Grown Poip. with all poxiba pefi
Though be once he'd " ttsP ~ reua I.
and once 10 take 81 .he men Gua :
guns from two gondolas which weFe irk'
ing, be nevertheless, by din, Of sailing and !
kedg ging, got such a star. that ID. enemy Q
did not over.ske him until the next day
but one. when be was nearing Crown !
Point While tho rest OF the feet. by Ar O
nold's orders, now crowded sail for their :
haven. be 10 bis schooner sustained des'
persie fgbi for four hours with tie three y
largest British vessels. one of With noun
ted eighteen twelve pounders. His vessel
was woiully cut mp, and ber deck covered
sith dead snd dying men. when, having !
fficieniiy dei.yed the enemy, be sncceed' Z
ed 10 running her seronpd 10 fDlsll creek 4
where be sst ber on fire and sbe persisted !
With bsr flag Hgine I'LL tbe
flames hronrh' her down. Then marching
through woodland ps,bs 10 Grown Ppia, I
where bis other vessels had nov eisfnn. G
buked their men, be brought sssy lis .
whole force In safety 10 TIconderogs. 0
Rein iorcsmenis emore them three resi' =
menis OF meu from The west eide Of TIE o
Green Mounisin- bad been pouring IL. >
and Gs,es speedily fonnd bin1self 10 com 9
mapd Of l2.0oo men. When Csfi,tou .
Ippesred before the celebrs,eS foitresa. o
a1dins II strongly dsieoded. and doub,ins
bic ability TO rsduee Il before tho settin Al