Source: Steve Sheinkin. The Notorious Benedict Arnold - A True
Story of Adventure, Heroism, and Treachery (2010)
Story of Adventure, Heroism, and Treachery (2010)
Benedict Arnold was already an American Colonial hero by the Summer of 1776. In 1775, he (with Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys) had taken Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain from the British for the 100+ cannon. And later that year, Arnold and hundreds volunteers from the Continental Army experienced incredible hardships just getting to the fort at Quebec on the St. Lawrence River, and actually entered the fort before being forced out by a much larger British contingent. A wounded Arnold was the last American officer to vacate the area after it became clear a retreat was necessary.
Benedict Arnold's life to that point featured periods of hard work and achievements that were interrupted by outbursts of temper . . . politics and subtlety were not among his strengths. Arnold saw the Revolutionary War as a chance to wipe out the negativity that had surrounded the Arnold family name in New Haven, CT, and to soar above those that dared to judge him . . . in short, Benedict Arnold sought immortality.
Benedict Arnold's life to that point featured periods of hard work and achievements that were interrupted by outbursts of temper . . . politics and subtlety were not among his strengths. Arnold saw the Revolutionary War as a chance to wipe out the negativity that had surrounded the Arnold family name in New Haven, CT, and to soar above those that dared to judge him . . . in short, Benedict Arnold sought immortality.
During the Summer of 1776, a meeting of officers from the Northern Continental Army took place. General Philip Schuyler was in overall command, with General Horatio Gates second-in-command. General Arnold (who was still beyond-upset that he wasn't one of the highest-ranking generals in the entire Continental Army) reviewed the situation facing them on Lake Champlain. Arnold told his fellow officers that the British were regrouping at St. John's in the northern area of the lake, and had rebuilt its fleet, and were ready to head south past the lake to the Hudson River all the way to New York City.
Arnold stated that the British fleet must be stopped in Lake Champlain, and to do so meant building an American fleet. Arnold proposed building boats that would be smaller than the British ships, and with fewer guns, but more maneuverable. Since no general really knew what to do, Schuyler gave Arnold command of the American fleet on Lake Champlain; the other generals were glad to have Arnold have the responsibility, since he would have to take the blame when the fleet was crushed by the British. Arnold was given the title of "Commander of the Lakes", and as he started to build America's first fleet of ships, news of the Declaration of Independence reached their location in Upstate New York.
Arnold stated that the British fleet must be stopped in Lake Champlain, and to do so meant building an American fleet. Arnold proposed building boats that would be smaller than the British ships, and with fewer guns, but more maneuverable. Since no general really knew what to do, Schuyler gave Arnold command of the American fleet on Lake Champlain; the other generals were glad to have Arnold have the responsibility, since he would have to take the blame when the fleet was crushed by the British. Arnold was given the title of "Commander of the Lakes", and as he started to build America's first fleet of ships, news of the Declaration of Independence reached their location in Upstate New York.
General Arnold was under a lot of pressure in Lake Champlain, especially when he heard of the near-capture of Washington's Army just outside of New York City. Arnold kept crews working around-the-clock, but the construction of the fleet was still going too slowly. Arnold needed more of everything, including sailors for the ships. Arnold, tactless as always, went above Gates to Schuyler, demanding what was needed. Schuyler was already suspicious and distrustful of Gates, and Gates coveted Schuyler's command, and so Arnold's actions increased the tensions among those two generals (and Arnold didn't do any favors for himself with Gates, especially)
While trying to build the fleet (pictured: a drawing depicting the construction of one of the ships in Arnold's fleet), Arnold had to defend himself in a military inquiry. In Canada, the supplies he arranged for the retreating troops from Quebec were not properly guarded, and Arnold had dressed-down the officer in charge in front of others. That officer then spread false rumors that Arnold had obtained the supplies by stealing them Montreal. Arnold had to spend a week defending himself in court rather than building the fleet; Arnold refused to apologize to the judges for his behavior, and even challenged all of the judges to individual duels. Frightened, the court asked Gates to have Arnold placed under arrest; Gates couldn't spare Arnold, and he subsequently dissolved the panel of inquiry. General Gates actually stood up for Arnold in this situation, but he never forgot that Arnold went over his head to Schuyler.
While trying to build the fleet (pictured: a drawing depicting the construction of one of the ships in Arnold's fleet), Arnold had to defend himself in a military inquiry. In Canada, the supplies he arranged for the retreating troops from Quebec were not properly guarded, and Arnold had dressed-down the officer in charge in front of others. That officer then spread false rumors that Arnold had obtained the supplies by stealing them Montreal. Arnold had to spend a week defending himself in court rather than building the fleet; Arnold refused to apologize to the judges for his behavior, and even challenged all of the judges to individual duels. Frightened, the court asked Gates to have Arnold placed under arrest; Gates couldn't spare Arnold, and he subsequently dissolved the panel of inquiry. General Gates actually stood up for Arnold in this situation, but he never forgot that Arnold went over his head to Schuyler.
By September 1776, Arnold's spies were sure that Britain's fleet would move south on Lake Champlain in October. Again, Arnold asked Gates for more of everything, and Gates told Arnold to use what he already had in his possession. At that point, it dawned on Arnold that he was being set up for failure, and then to be blamed. Arnold knew he couldn't slug it out with the British fleet ship-to-ship, so he had to come up with another strategy. Arnold moved his just-constructed fleet behind Valcour Island so the British, as they moved down Lake Champlain, would not see any American ships. General Guy Carleton, the commander of the British fleet, overheard one of his captains lamenting the fact that the Americans were nowhere in sight; Carleton, who was very familiar with Arnold's courage and boldness, told his captain, "wait and see".
The Battle of Valcour Island started on 11 October 1776. Arnold arranged his fleet of 15 small ships in an arc, hiding in the narrow channel between Valcour Island and the main shore of Lake Champlain. Arnold prepared his 800 men on 15 ships to engage 34 British ships of various sizes that had at least 700 men. Arnold hoped that the British fleet would sail past his position, and when they spotted the American fleet, the British would need to turn around. At that point, the wind would be against them in order to get to the channel were the American fleet was located . . . that was the moment that Arnold wanted to attack. But, if the wind changed direction, the American fleet would be floating in a death trap.
The Battle of Valcour Island started on 11 October 1776. Arnold arranged his fleet of 15 small ships in an arc, hiding in the narrow channel between Valcour Island and the main shore of Lake Champlain. Arnold prepared his 800 men on 15 ships to engage 34 British ships of various sizes that had at least 700 men. Arnold hoped that the British fleet would sail past his position, and when they spotted the American fleet, the British would need to turn around. At that point, the wind would be against them in order to get to the channel were the American fleet was located . . . that was the moment that Arnold wanted to attack. But, if the wind changed direction, the American fleet would be floating in a death trap.
The British fleet approached Valcour Island without any scouting vessels, and cruised past the island in an overconfident manner; the British eventually spotted the American fleet when they had sailed south past the island. The wind remained in Arnold's favor; now Arnold needed to lure the British into battle very quickly before they had time to adjust strategy/tactics. Arnold and his fleet darted forward and opened fire; Arnold continued to bark out orders even though the battle didn't start out well for the Americans.
General Carleton was shaken; this wasn't the battle he had envisioned. The battle raged all afternoon, and as the sun started to set, the superior British firepower began to dominate. The British set in for the night, blocking the American fleet in the channel, and were content to wait until the next morning to finish off the stubborn smaller fleet. Arnold had three options: first, he could stay and fight, which was madness. Second, he could surrender, but to Arnold that wasn't an option worth even considering. So it would be the third option; the British had left a small gap between their line of ships and the shore. Arnold knew the area well, and he knew the gap had water deep enough for his ships to navigate their way through . . . Arnold's plan was for a "Midnight Escape".
General Carleton was shaken; this wasn't the battle he had envisioned. The battle raged all afternoon, and as the sun started to set, the superior British firepower began to dominate. The British set in for the night, blocking the American fleet in the channel, and were content to wait until the next morning to finish off the stubborn smaller fleet. Arnold had three options: first, he could stay and fight, which was madness. Second, he could surrender, but to Arnold that wasn't an option worth even considering. So it would be the third option; the British had left a small gap between their line of ships and the shore. Arnold knew the area well, and he knew the gap had water deep enough for his ships to navigate their way through . . . Arnold's plan was for a "Midnight Escape".
The night was dark and moonless; shirts were wrapped around the oars, and the American fleet rowed through the gap without being discovered . . . and as at Quebec, Arnold was the last to leave (on his flagship, the Congress). Again, the British were very surprised the next morning; General Carleton was in a rage, largely to cover his own embarrassment at being outfoxed. Carleton gave the order to chase-down the American fleet. Arnold had an eight mile head start, but even so, it would be a close race to the closest American fort at Crown Point. If Arnold could reach the protection of the fort's guns, he would be safe . . . but he was twenty miles away, and the British fleet was closing fast.
The British fleet caught up with Arnold's ships at noon on 12 October 1776; the American fleet was rowing for their lives as the British fired, and hit some of the American vessels. Again, Arnold's knowledge of the lake paid off in that he knew he was approaching a shallow rocky bay where the British couldn't follow. Arnold headed into the shallow bay, and ordered his men out of the boats on to the shore, carrying the wounded and setting the fleet on fire. The fire reached the powder kegs on each ship, and there were many explosions, which shielded the men as they made their escape on land. Arnold and his men were still ten miles from the fort at Crown Point, but they reached the fort that night . . . and found out that the army had abandoned the fort and had retreated to Fort Ticonderoga.
The British fleet caught up with Arnold's ships at noon on 12 October 1776; the American fleet was rowing for their lives as the British fired, and hit some of the American vessels. Again, Arnold's knowledge of the lake paid off in that he knew he was approaching a shallow rocky bay where the British couldn't follow. Arnold headed into the shallow bay, and ordered his men out of the boats on to the shore, carrying the wounded and setting the fleet on fire. The fire reached the powder kegs on each ship, and there were many explosions, which shielded the men as they made their escape on land. Arnold and his men were still ten miles from the fort at Crown Point, but they reached the fort that night . . . and found out that the army had abandoned the fort and had retreated to Fort Ticonderoga.
Arnold and his men reached Ticonderoga at 4 am on 13 October 1776. The American forces at Ticonderoga knew they didn't have enough firepower to hold against a British onslaught. It wasn't until 28 October 1776 that Carleton's fleet was spotted; Carleton had no idea of the strength of the fort's defenses, and his supply lines from Canada had become dangerously long and vulnerable . . . also, Carleton's fleet had taken an unexpected pounding from Arnold's ships.
Carleton decided that he had enough for one season, and while claiming two victories, he had failed to drive off the Americans from Lake Champlain. The British would have to start all over the next year; if the British had forced the Americans from the lake, and had moved down the Hudson to join the huge British force in NYC, the Revolutionary War would most likely have ended. General Gates and the Americans under his command at Fort Ticonderoga watched the British fleet disappear in the distance . . . Arnold's little navy was destroyed, but that tiny fleet had kept the American Revolution alive.
Carleton decided that he had enough for one season, and while claiming two victories, he had failed to drive off the Americans from Lake Champlain. The British would have to start all over the next year; if the British had forced the Americans from the lake, and had moved down the Hudson to join the huge British force in NYC, the Revolutionary War would most likely have ended. General Gates and the Americans under his command at Fort Ticonderoga watched the British fleet disappear in the distance . . . Arnold's little navy was destroyed, but that tiny fleet had kept the American Revolution alive.