BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN. seamen, as were the British ships. Well aware that his fleet was inferior to the British fleet, Arnold placed his ships between the shore and Valcour Island, so that he could not be surrounded nor attacked except in front and then only by a portion of the enemy's fleet. Early on the morning of October 11, the British fleet came in sight, led by Captain Pringle in the Inflexible, Sir Guy Carleton taking position on the deck of the flag-ship.‡ Sweeping around the southern point of the island, the fleets were soon engaged in a fierce conflict and for four hours the battle raged with desperate fury. Arnold had posted himself on the galley Congress, pointing most of the guns himself and cheering on his men with characteristic enthusiasm. Though many fell dead around him, though his ship was riddled, the mainmast shattered and the rigging cut to pieces, the American general main 399 tained the unequal conflict, and when night fell the battle was still undecided. Up to that time one American vessel had been burned, another sunk, and the rest had suffered severely.* Perceiving that it would be useless to renew the conflict the next day, chiefly because their ammunition was "three-fourths spent," Arnold, with the consent of his officers, determined to fall back to Crown Point. This was no easy task, however, for after the battle the British commander had disposed his vessels so as to completely block the channel and prevent Arnold's escape, intending on the morrow to attack and annihilate his fleet. But the elements were again in favor of the Americans; the night was unusually dark and a strong breeze arose from the north. In the middle of the night, taking advantage of the kindness of the elements, the American ships hoisted sail and slipped between the British ships unperceived, Arnold bringing up the rear in the Congress. * Arnold, Life of Arnold, p. 108; Fiske, American Revolution, vol. i., pp. 249-250; Trevelyan, By daylight the American vessels had 233-237; American Revolution, vol. ii., pp. Arnold's letters to Schuyler and Gates in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. i., pp. 537542; and Force's American Archives, 5th series, vol. ii., p. 481; letters of Gates and Schuyler in Force's American Archives, 5th series, vol. i., pp. 474, 649; Sparks' edition of Washington's Writings, vol. iv., p. 12. Fisher, p. 547; Trevelyan, American Revolution, vol. ii., p. 323. See also Arnold's letter to Gates, September 28, giving details regarding the position of the fleet - Force, American Archives, 5th series, vol. ii., p. 591. Arnold, Life of Arnold, p. 112. § Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. i., Pp. 163-164, gone ten miles, but as the ships were now leaking and needed repairs, Arnold stopped for a while, the retreat not being resumed before noon.‡ * See Arnold's report to Gates, dated October 12, 1776, in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. i., pp. 542-543; also Arnold, Life of Arnold, p. 114. Force, American Archives, 5th series, vol. ii., p. 1117. Arnold's report in Sparks, pp. 543-544; Wilkinson's Memoirs, vol. i., p. 90; Bancroft, vol. v., pp. 60-61; Trevelyan, American Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 324–326. There are conflicting statements 400 ARNOLD ESCAPES; CARLETON RETIRES. Upon the break of dawn Carleton discovered Arnold's escape and set out in pursuit, but a contrary wind hindered his progress throughout the entire day and not until the following morning did he succeeded in coming close upon the fugitives. The foremost of the American ships still continued upon their way and succeeded in effecting their escape, but Arnold's galley and the Washington, which were in the rear and unable to sail as fast as the others, were forced to bear the brunt of the British attack and undoubtedly the escape of the others is due to this fact. Shortly after the fight began, the Washington was compelled to strike, but Arnold continued the fight until his vessel was completely wrecked, until hardly a gun could be fired, and until he was completely surrounded by the British fleet. He thereupon turned his vessel concerning Arnold's course in eluding the British fleet. Most authorities say that he slipped through the British fleet during the night, but others state circumstantially that he escaped around the north end of Valcour Island. The latter unobstructed course would seem to be the one that Arnold would naturally have followed rather than to attempt the almost impossible feat of passing through a fleet guarding a channel barely half a mile in width. Undoubtedly this would have been the easiest means of escape, but Arnold's impetuous and dare-devil nature was not one that sought the easiest way out of a dilemma, and it is characteristic of the man's entire career that he preferred to be in the thickest of the fight in the heart of the enemy's territory and take his chances of escape, at the same time doing as much damage as possible, rather than to take the surest means of saving his own skin. It was this brand of leadership that endeared Arnold to the entire army and caused the soldiers to clamor for service under him. toward shore, ran her in until she struck, then set fire to her, and made his escape through the woods to Crown Point, on the way narrowly escaping an Indian ambush.* In the fight the Americans lost 11 vessels, while the British lost two gondolas sunk, and one blown up; each side lost about 90 men.† On October 15 Carleton appeared off Crown Point. After setting fire to the houses, the American forces there retreated to Ticonderoga, where Schuyler and Gates had determined to make a last stand. Carleton then took possession of Crown Point and prepared to attack the American forces at Ticonderoga; but when he examined the fortifications, he determined that it was useless to make the attack. The winter season was now at hand, and he decided it best to retire, thereupon cantoning his troops in winter quarters on the Sorel. Thus the British cam Arnold, Life of Arnold, pp. 115-117. Sparks says: "There are few instances on record of more deliberate courage and gallantry than were displayed by him from beginning to end of this action."- Life of Arnold, p. 79. See also Cooper, Naval History, vol. i., p. 75; Marshall, Life of Washington, vol. iii., pp. 8-10; Irving, Life of Washington, vol. ii., p. 444; Robinson, Vermont, pp. 135-136. Cooper, Naval History, vol. i., p. 75. See also Alfred T. Mahan, Naval Campaign on Lake Champlain in Scribner's Magazine (February 1898); Thacher, Military Journal, pp. 64–65; Fiske, American Revolution, vol. i., pp. 250-251; Arnold's letter of October 15 in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. i., pp. 544-546, and Force, American Archives, 5th series, vol. ii., p. 1080. Hildreth, vol. iii., p. 145; Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. i., rp. 549-551. Gates' report to Congress of November 5, in DUNMORE'S PROCEEDINGS IN VIRGINIA. paign resulted in failure, for Carleton had not effected a junction with the British forces at New York. Consequently, as the apprehensions of danger from the British army in .401 the north were now at an end, a small garrison was left at Ticonderoga, the remainder of the troops under Gates marching in November to join Washington. CHAPTER XI. 1775-1776. DUNMORE'S PROCEEDINGS IN VIRGINIA: THE BOMBARDMENT OF CHARLESTON. Dunmore seizes powder supplies Accuses the people of disaffection - Fortifies his home — Assembly makes inquiry into state of magazine - Dunmore retires to man-of-war - Disputes with Assembly — Predatory war-He bombards Norfolk-Is finally driven from the colony-Scheme of John Connolly-Fleet under Parker arrives at Charleston-City placed in a state of defence-Fort Moultrie - British begin the attack-Sergeant Jasper recovers flag- Defeat of the British. Meanwhile in the South Lord Dunmore had been deporting himself in a very high-handed manner, his conduct stirring up great opposition among the colonists. The majority of the royal governors had remained pacific and inactive throughout the whole period of popular excitement, but Dunmore decided to do something in behalf of the ministry, both because he desired to curry favor at home and because he had little use for the colonists. He soon thoroughly aroused the anger of the Virginians, among other things threatening to free the slaves, to destroy Williamsburg, etc. Against the wishes of the Assembly the governor had caused some powder to be removed from the public storehouse. Thereupon some of the people, under the leadership of Patrick Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. i., pp. 548-549; Trevelyan, American Revolution, vol. ii., p. 331. See also Wayne's letter to Rush, in Stillé, Wayne and the Pennsylvania Line, pp. 41-42. Henry, organized themselves into an army to compel the governor to restore this powder and also to transfer the public money into their keeping.* As a result Dunmore yielded to the force of circumstances and paid Henry the sum of £233 as compensation for the powder taken.† Seeing that the trend of events was toward a state of actual warfare, Dunmore decided that it would be best to send his family on board a man-of-war, which he accordingly did. On May 6 he also issued a proclamation in which he declared the behavior of Henry, who had been largely instrumental in raising the armed forces above mentioned, an act of treason, and also ac * Force, American Archives, 4th series, vol. ii., pp. 380, 387, 395, 426, 441-444, 449, 460, 464-465, 477, 504, 516, 525, 539-541, 578, 641, 681, 711, 1023, 1209, 1227, vol. iii., p. 390; Cooke, Virginia, p. 429 et seq.; Tyler, Life of Patrick Henry, pp. 138-143; Henry, Life of Patrick Henry, vol. i., p. 277 et seq. See the receipt in Henry, Life of Patrick Henry, vol. i., pp. 283-284. 402 DISPUTE BETWEEN DUNMORE AND ASSEMBLY. cused the people of disaffection, etc.* The people held numerous Assemblies and were by no means intimidated by Dunmore's proclamation. In turn they accused him of many cowardly acts. At this time also a number of Dunmore's letters to the authorities in England were discovered, and popular indignation was aroused, resulting in occurrences similar to those which had happened at Boston because of the conduct of Hutchinson and Oliver. Dunmore now considered that the unsettled conditions warranted his fortifying the palace with artillery, and, in addition, he stationed around it a guard of marines. About the same time, Lord North's conciliatory plan was received in the colony, and Dunmore used his utmost endeavors to secure the compliance of the people with its terms. At a former period of the conflict his arguments might have had weight, but matters had now gone too far for the colonists to turn back. He said: "The view in which the colonies ought to behold this conciliatory proposition is more than an earnest admonition from Great Britain to relieve her sailors; that the utmost condescendence had been used in the mode of application; no determinate summoning been fixed, as it was thought most worthy of British generosity to take what they thought *Force, American Archives, 4th series, vol. ii., p. 516; Henry, Life of Patrick Henry, vol. i., pp. 285-286; Tyler, Life of Patrick Henry, pp. 143 144. could be conveniently spared, and A long period of disputation between the governor and the Assembly now ensued, but the former positively refused to trust himself in Williams burg, even to sign such bills as were * For the address of the House to Dumnore re garding the plans of Parliament, see Ford's ed. of Jefferson's Writings, vol. i., pp. 455–459. † Force, American Archives, 4th series, vol. ii., pp. 371, 387, 516, vol. iii., p. 1385; Henry, Life of Patrick Henry, vol. i., p. 308; Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. i., p. 374; Cooke, Virginia, pp. 433–434. PREDATORY WARFARE; BATTLE AT GREAT BRIDGE. 403 passed by the Assembly. As no bills could become laws without the signature of the governor, the Assembly offered to guarantee that his person would not be harmed,* but he again refused and requested that the Assemblymen meet him aboard the warship; this the Assemblymen in turn refused to do, and all further friendly correspondence was discontinued. Being thus deprived of his government, Dunmore, in the autumn of 1775, concocted a scheme for compelling the colonists to accede to his wishes. A large majority of the adherents to the British cause, who had made themselves obnoxious in the colony, repaired to him, and his force was also strengthened by the desertion of a number of slaves. With this force, and with the fleet of British shipping in the vicinity, Dunmore for some time carried on a predatory warfare against the colonists, which had no effect other than to still more exasperate them. As they were not in the least intimidated by these proceedings Dunmore tried the expedient of bestowing liberty upon the slaves. His efforts to frighten the colonists into submission again failing, he established himself at Norfolk, where the people were more loyal to the crown than in the majority of the larger cities of the province. *See Randolph's letter in Conway, Edmund Randolph, p. 19. tLossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 296-299. The colonists themselves were not idle, but had collected a considerable under the comforce, placed mand of Colonel William Woodford, for the purpose of preventing further depredations by Dunmore. The latter, however, used more courage than discretion, so that when the two parties met at the Great Bridge, Dunmore was completely defeated, and early in December was compelled to retire to his shipping.* On January, 1776, the man-of-war Liverpool arrived, reinforcing Dunmore's small fleet, and he now determined to display to the colonists the power of his majesty's forces. He began a bombardment of Norfolk, at that time the largest and richest town in Virginia, and in a short time the town was reduced to ashes and property to an estimated value of £300,000 sterling was destroyed. During the following summer, Dunmore continued his disgraceful incursions along the coast, plundering and burning in every direction; but finally he was compelled to abandon his attempt to regain authority in Virginia, and his fleet sailed away for the north.† * Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 327-330. Among the Virginia troops who participated in this engagement was John Marshall, afterward Chief Justice.- Cooke, Virginia, p. 436 note. See also Henry, Life of Patrick Henry, vol. i., pp. 326–327. † Gordon, American Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 112, 206-207, 298-299 (ed. 1788); Stedman, American War, vol. i., pp. 146-151; Bancroft, vol. iv., pp. 317-321; Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., p. 330 et seq.; William Wirt Henry, Life of Patrick Henry, vol. i., p. 321; Tyler, Life of Patrick Henry, p. 157 et seq.; Hildreth, vol. iii., |