10/11/2026
, October 11, 1776, Brigadier Gen Benedict Arnold commanded the American naval fleet at the Battle of Valcour Bay in the first naval battle of the revolution. While the Americans were forced to retreat, they managed to stall the British invasion from Canada, giving the Continental army time to reorganize.
After the Battle of Quebec, the Americans retreated to Forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point, but the British were not far behind. Reinforcements had arrived in Quebec giving General Guy Carleton a force of 9,000 ready to head to New York, gain control of the Hudson River, and cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. The only thing in the way was the American fleet of 17 ships commanded by Arnold blocking entry to Lake Champlain.
Arnold had positioned his ships around the northern tip of Valcour Island on the lake. As the British approached, Arnold sent out two ships to draw in the British. The Americans were sorely outnumbered, however, by both ships and soldiers: 30 to 34 ships and 40 bateaux, with 1,650 soldiers and “650 American Indians in canoes” were against them.
Knowing he couldn’t win this battle, Arnold planned an escape route. The British had formed a loose line along the southern tip of the island. The sky was dark; the land was covered with dense fog. In addition, Carleton burned the “Royal Savage” distracting the British forces. Arnold slipped his fleet through the gaps and headed southward.
They got as far as Crown Point when the British caught up and began firing. Knowing he couldn’t outrun them, Arnold ordered the remaining ships to be beached and burned. The surviving soldiers marched south to Fort Ticonderoga.
Even though Carleton’s troops ultimately left for Canada on Nov. 3, the British declared this battle a victory, and Carleton was knighted by King George. Of the Americans, naval theorist Alfred Thayer Mahan wrote that “the little American navy was wiped out, but never had any force, big or small, lived to better purpose.”
Image: "Champlain, Lake A drawn View of the Engagement on Lake Champlain between His Majesty’s Ships under the command of Captain Thomas Pringle and the Rebel Fleet commanded by Benedict Arnold on the 11.th of Oct.r 1776: by H. Gilder," c. 1770s. Royal Collection.
