The region around the scene of that battle is in these days the health resort of thousands in the summer season. We who see it now can hardly realize that it was the chosen haunt of Death on that bleak October day of 1776.
There is a paragraph in a report by Lieutenant Hadden, of the British forces, that relates to one branch of the British forces, and is worth quoting. He says:
“These savages under Major Carleton moved with the fleet in their canoes which were very regularly ranged. On the day of the battle, the rebels having no land force, the savages took post on the mainland and on Valcour Island. Thus being upon both flanks they were able to annoy them in the working of their guns. This had the effect of now and then obliging the rebels to turn a gun that way, which danger the savages avoided by getting behind trees.”
The Fight on Lake Champlain, October 13, 1776.
1. (On right) Ship Inflexible. 2. Schooner Carleton. 3. Schooner Maria. 4. Congress galley run ashore, with other vessels blowing up. 5. Washington galley striking. 6. Gunboat coming up.
From an English engraving published December 22, 1776.
And as for the result of the day’s work, the quaint words of Arnold himself shall tell it:
“At half past 12 the engagement became general and very warm. Some of the enemy’s ships and all their gondolas beat and rowed up within musket shot of us. They continued a very hot fire with round and grapeshot until 5 o’clock when they thought proper to retire to about six or seven hundred yards distance, and continued the fire till dark.”
The fleet of the enemy, though manned by picked men—by men known not only for their bravery, but for their skill in handling the guns—was obliged to draw off to get beyond the range of the smaller guns on the American fleet.