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Praise for Jim Millard's LAKE PASSAGES: A Journey through the Centuries...
"...thank you for having produced such a wonderful book. The book has a haunting theme that thrills. One somehow feels as if being paddled on canoe trips, or steered on board sloops and other vessels alongside the ghostly figures of our heroes through those magnificent lakes and rivers of unequalled beauty. It gives the feeling of being there as no other book of its kind does. For those with a passion for the history of these waters, this book is a must...The many photos of the valley's landmarks, monuments, statues, forts and panoramic views, make all so worthwhile an additive to pleasant reading." Stanley W. Gomez- Gibraltar

BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN
at Valcour Island
American Revolution

By James P. Millard

ORDERS OF BATTLE

Forces involved in the Battle
October 11-13, 1776

American Continental Forces on Lake Champlain*

Ship	Type	Length	Commander	Guns	Crew	Notes
Royal Savage	2 Masted Schooner		Capt. David Hawley	6-6 pounders 4-4 pounders 12 swivels	50	Run aground, boarded and burned by British early in the Battle. Arnold had moved to the Congress prior to the battle, but all his papers and personal belongings were lost aboard the Savage.
Revenge	2 Masted Schooner		Capt. ____ Seamon	8-4 pounders 10 swivels	35	Escaped to Ticonderoga
Liberty	2 Masted Schooner		Capt. ____ Premier	2-4 pounders 6-2 pounders 6 swivels	35	Taken earlier from the Tory Philip Skene, was not present at the battle, had left for provisions
Enterprise	Sloop		Capt. ____ Dickenson (a.k.a. Dickson)	10-4 pounders 12 swivels	50	Escaped to Ticonderoga
New Haven	Gondola		Capt. Giles Mansfield	1-12 pounder 2-9 pounders 8 swivels	45	Run aground and burned at Ferris' Bay, October 13
Providence	Gondola		Capt. ____ Simmons [Simonds]	3-9 pounders 7 swivels	45	Run aground and burned at Ferris' Bay, October 13
Boston	Gondola		Capt. ____ Sumner	1-12 pounder 3-9 pounders 8 swivels	45	Run aground and burned at Ferris' Bay, October 13
Spitfire	Gondola		Capt. ____ Ulmer	3-9 pounders 4 swivels	45	Possibly sunk at Schuyler's Island, October 12. Recently discovered sitting upright, in excellent condition, at the bottom of lake. The location has not been made public.
Philadelphia	Gondola		Capt. Benjamin Rue	1-12 pounder 2-9 pounders 8 swivels	45	Sunk at Valcour, October 11. Raised and on display at Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Connecticut	Gondola		Capt. ____ Grant	2-9 pounders 8 swivels	45	Run aground and burned at Ferris' Bay, October 13
Jersey	Gondola		Capt. [Graham] Grimes	1-12 pounder 2-9 pounders	45	May have been scuttled at Schuyler's Island. More likely she was captured by the British at Split Rock.
New York	Gondola		Capt. ____ Reed	1-12 pounder 1-9 pounder 2-6 pounders¹	45	Escaped to Ticonderoga
Lee	Cutter		Capt. ____ Davis	1-12 pounder 1-9 pounders 4-4 pounders	45	Captured, recovered by British, probably in the Onion (Winooski) River
Trumbull	Galley		Capt. Seth Warner	1-18 pounder 1-12 pounder 2-9 pounders 2-6 pounders 2-4 pounders 10 swivels	80	Escaped to Ticonderoga
Congress Flagship	Row Galley		Capt. James Arnold (Gen. Benedict Arnold on board)	2-18 pounders 2-12 pounders 4-6 pounders 10 swivels	80	Became Arnold's Flagship after he left the Royal Savage. Run aground and burned at Ferris' Bay, October 13
Washington	Row Galley		Capt. John Thatcher, David Hawley	1-18 pounder 3-12 pounders 4-6 pounders 10 swivels	80	Upon the death of Capt. Thatcher at Valcour, command assumed by Hawley, of the Savage. Col. Waterbury aboard. Captured by British at Split Rock.
Gates	Galley		Capt. Frederick Chapel	2-18 pounders 2-12 pounders 4-4 pounders 10 swivels	80	Still on the ways at Skenesborough at the time of the battle. Did not participate.

His Majesty's Forces on Lake Champlain*

Ship	Type	Length	Commander	Guns	Crew	Notes
Inflexible Flagship	Three-masted Ship	80'	Lieut. John Schank	18-12 pounders	120	Constructed in pieces, transported to St. Jean. Re-assembled and launched in 28 days.
Maria	Schooner	66'	Lieut. John Starke	14-6 pounders	120?	Captured by Americans in November, 1775, recaptured by British- May, 1776. Dis-assembled, transported in pieces from Chambly to St. Jean.
Carleton	Schooner	59'	Lieut. James Richard Dacres	12-6 pounders	45	Captured by Americans in 1775, recaptured by British- May, 1776. Dis-assembled, transported in pieces from Chambly to St. Jean.
Thunderer	Two-masted Radeau (Ketch)	91'	Lieut. George Scott	6-24 pounders 6-12 pounders 2-howitzers	35	The largest and most powerful vessel of the British fleet. Did not take an active role in the battle, as she could not get close enough due to winds. Sunk near Windmill Pt. (Alburgh) while ferrying sick and wounded from the Saratoga defeat.
(R)Loyal Convert	Gondola (Hoy)	62'	Lieut. Edward Longcroft	7-9 pounders	35	Dragged up the rapids at Chambly to St. Jean.
3 Gunboats	Gunboat	37'	unknown	1-24 pounder		The standard British Gunboat had a single mast, a beam of 12' and carried one cannon in the bow of various sizes.
6 Gunboats			unknown	1-18 pounder
8 Gunboats			unknown	1-12 pounder
11 Gunboats			unknown	1-9 pounder
1 Longboat	Longboat	20-40'	unknown	1-4 pounder		Served as "Arm'd Tenders," each carried a "Carriage Gun."
3 Longboats	Longboat	20-40'	unknown	1-2 pounder		Served as "Arm'd Tenders," each carried a "Carriage Gun."
24 Longboats	Longboats	20-40'	unknown	none		Carried Provisions

¹The New York is the only gunboat that had 6 pounders. One of them is believed to have exploded, killing and injuring crew members.

*This is a work in progress, subject to correction and verification. If you know of errors and can supply references or sources that will help make these charts more accurate, please forward to webmaster@historiclakes.org . Thank you.

Related pages on the Site...

The Valcour Bay Research Project

Follow the progress of an actual underwater archeological survey in beautiful and historic Valcour Bay!

The Battle of Lake Champlain (Introduction)
The Battle of Valcour on Lake Champlain
Valcour Island- Scene of The Battle of Lake Champlain
Arnold's Bay- Panton, Vermont
A tale of two ships: The Continental Gunboat Philadelphia
Lieut. James Hadden's Account of the Battle of Lake Champlain:
An eyewitness account of the extraordinary events on Lake Champlain between October 11-13, 1776

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