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Schuyler Island, October 12, 1776.
DEAR GENERAL: Yesterday morning at eight o' clock, the enemy' s fleet, consisting of one ship mounting sixteen guns, one snow mounting the same number, one schooner
On consulting with General Waterbury and Colonel Wigglesworth, it was thought prudent to return to Crown-Point, every vessel' s ammunition being nearly three-fourths spent, and the enemy greatly superiour to us in ships and men. At seven o' clock, Colonel Wigglesworth, in the Trumbull, got under way, the gondolas and small vessels followed, and the Congress and Washington brought up the rear. The enemy did not attempt to molest us. Most of the fleet is at this minute come to an anchor. The wind is small to the southward. The enemy' s fleet is under way to leeward, and beating up. As soon as our leaks are stopped, the whole fleet will make the utmost despatch for Crown Point, where I beg you will send ammunition, and your further orders for us. On the whole, I think we have had a very fortunate escape, and have great reason to return our humble and hearty thanks to Almighty God for preserving and delivering so many of us from our more than savage enemies.
I am, dear General, your affectionate, humble servant,
B˙ ARNOLD.
P˙ S˙ I had not moved on board the Congress when the enemy appeared, and lost all my papers and most of my clothes on board the schooner. I wish a dozen batteaus, well-manned, could be sent immediately to tow up the vessels in case of a southerly wind.
I cannot in justice to the officers in the fleet, omit mentioning their spirited conduct during the action. B˙ A,
Arnold
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of fourteen guns, two of twelve, two sloops, a bomb-ketch, and a large vessel, that did not come up, with fifteen or twenty flat-bottomed boats, or gondolas, carrying one twelve or eighteen pounder in their bows, appeared off Cumberland Head. We immediately prepared to receive them; the galleys and Royal Savage were ordered under way; the rest of our fleet lay at an anchor. At eleven o' clock they ran under the lee of Vahour, and began the attack. The schooner, by some bad management, fell to leeward, and was first attacked; one of her masts was wounded, and her rigging shot away. The Captain thought prudent to run her on the Point of Valcour, where all the men were saved. They boarded her, and at night set fire to her. At half-past twelve 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 grape shot until five o' clock, when they thought proper to retire to about six or seven hundred yards distance, and continued until dark. The Congress and Washington have suffered greatly; the latter lost her First Lieutenant, killed, Captain and Master wounded. The New-York lost all her officers except her Captain. The Philadelphia was hulled in so many places, that she sunk about one hour after the engagement was over. The whole killed and wounded amounted to about sixty. The enemy landed a large number of Indians on the island and on each shore, who kept up an incessant fire on us, but did little damage. The enemy had to appearance upwards of one thousand men in batteaus, prepared for boarding. We suffered much for want of seamen and gunners. I was myself obliged to point most of the guns on board the Congress, which I believe did good execution. The Congress received seven shot between wind and water, was hulled a dozen times, had her mainmast wounded in two places, and her yard in one. The Washington was hulled a number of times, her mainmast shot through, and must have a new one; both vessels are very leaky, and want repairing.