It Happened Here -- The Battle of Valcour Island

Part 1, The Generals' Fleets

Rte. 9, S.Plattsburgh

From a distance, Valcour island looks much as it did in 1776. Heavily forested, it lies a few hundred yards off the western shore of Lake Champlain.  Even its lighthouse, built in the 19th century appears to be succumbing to the growing forest.  It was here in the little bay at the southern end of this island that Benedict Arnold chose to make his stand against the invading British.

Throughout the spring and summer of 1776 the British and the Americans were in a frantic competition to build fleets. Both sides faced formidable challenges.  General Guy Carleton ordered a gunboat and two schooners the Maria and the Carleton stripped down and dragged overland past the rapids-chocked central section of the Richlieu River that drains Lake Champlain* while a 180 ton, three masted ship, the Inflexible, was taken apart, carted around the rapids and reassembled at St. Jean above the rapids.  At least 12 gunboats were shipped from England in pieces and also assembled at St. Jeans, as were some 30 longboats which would carry the army and their provisions. Finally, a large barge-like scow, a "radeau," was built at the Richlieu River shipyard to carry the heaviest guns to reduce the stone fort Ticonderoga, occupied by the Americans. Their greatest advantage was that the fleet that had come to the relief of Quebec could supply the British expedition with all the naval stores it needed; all the largest and best cannon it could support; and ship carpenters and sailors drawn from the world's greatest and most professional navy.

The Americans, in contrast, started from almost nothing, other than a few carriage-less cannon left at Ticonderoga**. Overnight, Skenesborough (Whitehall) at the head of Lake Champlain became a bustling port and shipbuilding center that Tory Phillip Skene might have dreamed of. 

Main Street, Whitehall

Hermanus Schuyler, son of General Phillip Schuyler, head of the Northern Department oversaw the construction of shipways, sheds and workshops necessary for the creation of a shipbuilding port. Along Adirondack rivers, running down to the lake, axemen and sawyers cut timbers and planks for vessels.  General Schuyler and others begged and cajoled Continental officials for cordage, gunpowder, ship fittings and all manner of things necessary for military vessels. (The massive British occupation of New York harbor frustrated American efforts to build frigates at Poughkeepsie, giving Schuyler an argument for reallocating desperately needed ship stores to his command.)

On Rte 9 south Prospect Ave. exit ramp, Poughkeepsie

 Site of H.Schuyler House
 built in Stillwater on Rte. 32

Rte 22, Essex

    

          



But the biggest obstacle was the recruitment of experienced seamen and ship carpenters. The war had created a privateering bonanza for rebel seamen, and few experienced sailors were willing to exchange the money to be made in preying off British coastal commerce for the dangers, privations, and uncertainty of service on the lakes of upper New York.  Farmers, tradesmen and those with a passing familiarity with watercraft would have to serve as "Arnold's navy". The General was able to recruit about 200 ship carpenters from Connecticut and New Jersey only by offering them wages higher than all other naval personnel, except those of Continental Navy commander Esek Hopkins.

Lake Shore Rd. Chazy Landing

Beyond knowledge of the approximate number of enemy boats Benedict Arnold had little detailed knowledge of the strength of forces arrayed against him.  But he knew he could expect to be outsailed, outgunned and outfought by the Royal Navy's professionals.  After exploring the lower reaches of the lake and examining several possible anchorages, the Connecticut general and sometimes sea captain found for his little fleet the maritime equivalent of a foxhole!
Valcour Bay at the southern end of Valcour Island was shallow and narrow. With his boats arrayed across it there was no way he could be outflanked, and little chance enemy boats could break through his line. With prevailing winds coming from the north, his enemy would have to sail past his position, up the main part of the lake, then tack back and forth to get to the Americans--a naval equivalent of holding the high ground. Finally, he hoped the shallows would keep the enemy's larger, more heavily armed ships out of range of the smaller American fleet.

It was a bold desperate  plan, but bold desperate plans would become the hallmark of Benedict Arnold--from a predawn amphibious attack on Ticonderoga with Ethan Allen,--to a march through the howling midwinter Maine wilderness,--to the attack on the city fortress of Quebec in a snowstorm,--to a desperate flanking assault on the Breymann Redoubt at Saratoga,--to, after his disillusionment, a plan to hand over West Point to the British.

*A bit of geography--Lake Champlain empties into the Richlieu River, which empties into the St.Lawrence; so the southern end of the lake is "above" the northern end; to go "up lake" is to go south; "down lake" is north. 
**In 1775 Henry Knox had stripped the fort of its best cannon, making an epic journey to Cambridge Massachusetts to force the British evacuation of Boston. (see NYSHMs: It Happened Here 4/21/13.)


Next time, Part 2 --A Fierce but Unequal Contest.


Marker of the Week-- A couple of years ago  the 8/2/15  issue of "NYSHMs:  It Happened Here" featured Newport, New York's Linus Yale, lock inventor and octagonal house builder.  Discussed in this edition was Orson Squire Fowler the builder/promoter of concrete octagonal houses. Recently in Redhook, NY a beautiful example of one of Fowler houses was recognized  by a Pomeroy Foundation's Roadside Marker. Here it is.