History of the Battle of Valcour

The Battle of Valcour occurred October 11th, 1776 and was the first US Navy Battle. The site of the battle was Valcour Bay (Lake Champlain) in Valcour (now Peru) New York and is now a National Historic Landmark site.

While it is clear that the U.S. Navy lost its initial battle against the superiorly trained and equipped British forces - historians contend that it was a critical and pivotal strategic victory for the young nation's revolution against England. This first US Naval Fleet consisted of 14 hastily built ships, and one ship captured from the British.  This initial militia navy was manned by 800+ seamen and was led by Benedict Arnold who described his sailors as " A wretched and motley crew." Despite their inexperience in naval warfare Arnold and his navy fought the British Navy for six hours in Valcour Bay until darkness ceased hostilities for the day.

The battle did not start well for the Americans.  The American flag ship - "The Royal Savage" - went out to greet the advancing British Navy and lure them into Valcour Bay and was immediately mortally damaged by the long range cannons of the British Ship of the Line - "The Inflexible". 

Arnold had chosen this strategic location to make a stand because only one larger British Ship could tack against the wind and come into the bay at any given time to do battle.  The American fleet was positioned in a crescent shaped formation in order to concentrate their fire against any British ship brave enough to come into Valcour Bay to challenge them.  The H.M.S. Carelton took that challenge and was badly damaged by the concentrated American fire.  The Carleton was towed out of battle by smaller longboats due to the sustained damage.  The "Philadelphia" sank in Valcour Bay from a 24lb cannonball hit.  The ship is now restored and is in the Smithsonian Institute.  Arnold's fleet was heavily damaged and running out of ammo when Arnold convened a council of war with his Captains to discuss their options.  The British were worn from battle but confident they would finish off the outgunned and badly damaged American Fleet in the morning.  Arnold realized and convinced his Captains that the only option was to attempt a nighttime escape through the British line. This type of stealthy escape from a superior enemy naval force had been demonstrated by George Washington in New York City and was flawlessly executed by Arnold and his Lake Champlain Navy during the night. When the British awoke to finish off the severely damaged US Fleet they found them miles away attempting escape to the safety of Fort Ticonderoga.  When the British fleet caught up to the fleeing American Navy a running battle (Battle of Lake Champlain) ensued on October 13th.  Arnold made a defiant stand and eventually decided to scuttle most of his outgunned and damaged ships in a bay on the Vermont side of the lake.  He left the flags flying on the ships (instead of striking his colors) as one last defiant protest to his victorious competitor. 

While the British won the Battle of Valcour the threat of the remaining American ships on the lake delayed their invasion of the Hudson Valley until the summer of 1777. This delay allowed the American Colonies to create a Continental Army of sufficient size to ultimately defeat of the British Forces at the Battles of Saratoga in September and October of 1777. The American victory at the Battles of Saratoga is considered by many to be the turning point of the American Revolution and the catalyst for convincing France to join America in arms against the British.

History teaches us that choosing the right strategic battle can lead to ultimate success.

This critical U.S. Naval Battle is often left out of Revolutionary War history summaries because Benedict Arnold was the commander of the US forces.

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