The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-10-20
TO RAISE THE ROYAL SAVAGE
Revolutionary Relic to Be on Exhib-
ition at Plattsburg Next Year.


Plattsburg, N. Y, Oct. 19,-The
Royal Savage, Benedict Arnolds flag
ship in the first important naval en-.
gagement ever fought between the
American colonies and the mother
country, is to be raised from the bot
tom of Lake Champlain where 1t has
rested on the southern shore of Val
cour island for 1872 years and it will
be on exhibition in this city during
the tercentenary celebration of the
discovery of the lake next year, says
The Press.
The work will be done by A. G..
eastman of Burlington, who has a
professional diver in his employ, and
will be under the direction of a spec
ial committee consisting of j. b. Ri
ley, j. II. Booth, and w. c. Witherbee
appointed by the New York tercenten
airy commission for that purpose The
diver has already located the vessel
lying in about twenty feet Of water
about 200 feet from the shore of the
island. He has been down to her
twice, the second time being Friday
when he brought up a quantity of bull.
let's and a piece of one of the ribs
of the boat On his first visit he
found a spoon with an initial engrav
ed upon It and a few bullets The
diver reports that there is about As
feet of the hull in a fair state of pres
ervation and that It can be raised
practically as it is.
Senator II. w. Knapp, chairman of
the tercentenary commission and j.
b. Riley, with a party OF friends Wis
tied the scene Friday and are enthus-
iastic over the prospects of raising
what remains of this historic vessel.
The piece of the vessel secured Fri
day was brought to this city and is
now on exhibition in one Of A. Shar-
ron's show windows.
In the summer OF l776 the Ameri
cans sent a large expedition north In.
to Canada itself. and in October of
the same year, British vessels. under
General Carleton, attacked the small
American fleet under Gen. Benedict
Arnold which had taken its stand be-
tween Valcour island and the main.
land, few miles south of Plattsburg
There'a fierce and brilliant battle was
fought October II. 1875 in which sew
eral American vessels were disabled
One of these, the Royal Savage, was
beached on the southern shore of Val
cour Island and burned by the crew "a
prevent its falling into the hands OF
the British. Parts of this vessel dis
covered at seasons OF low water have
been levied on OF late years 10 make
canes and other mementoes OF the
battle. In view OF the greatly sup
erior British forces, General Arnold
retreated with the rest OF the fleet to
ward Crown Point and when. after
another engagement at Split Rock
the British pursuit became too dan
gerous. and one vessel In the rear was
destroyed, ne ran the galley Congress
which he commanded. on the shore
near Panton, Wand retreated on foot
with his men. through the Vermont
woods to Crown Point Although the
British gained a victory yet the skill
bravery and obstinate resistance o
General Arnold and his men against
large and superior force, made Tn,
battle Of Valcour n brilliant achieve
ment which won the praise OF botl
| friends and foes. This was the onll
time when regular battle was fought
ON the lake during the Revolution