USS New York’s First Battle, October 11, 1776 | The Battle of Valcour Island

233 years ago Benedict Arnold led a motley crew of untrained sailors into what is called the First Battle of the United States Navy.  Having scant resources Benedict had his men build their boats out of local timber and launch them at Skenesborough NY.

Arnold then had his forces, 15 ships and 500 men including the first New York, hide in the lee between Valcour Island and the New York side of Lake Champlain. The British, led by General Guy Carlton, with 25 ships and over 2000 men , transited south past Valcour island looking for the Continental Fleet. Once the British were past the island Arnold sent Royal Savage and Congress out to lure them into his trap.

With the wind at his back and all the Continental ships anchored, the British could only approach one by one. A fierce battle ensued with the British superior marksmanship inflicting severe damage on the beleaguered Americans. First to fall was the Royal Savage, having been unable to fight the headwinds she was run aground and abandoned by the Americans.  During the day New York lost all her officers due to enemy fire and a cannon exploding onboard. At 6:30 PM Gunboat Philidelphia was holed at the waterline she quickly floundered and sank. That evening Arnold held his Council of War aboard Congress and decided to withdraw south along the western coast and seek the cover of the defenses at Crown Point.

The British did not discover the ruse until the next morning and set off in pursuit. They caught up with the Continental boats one by one and Arnold had them run aground before capture to save as many crew and cannons as possible. Eventually Trumbull, Enterprise, Revenge, New York, and Liberty made it to Crown Point where Arnold was forced to burn his ships to prevent capture.

Although technically a defeat this holding action prevented the British from moving south until next year and eventually ended with their defeat and the creation of the United States of America.