Battle of Valcour Island Facts for Kids

The Battle of Valcour Island was a big naval fight. It happened on October 11, 1776. This battle took place on Lake Champlain in New York. It was one of the first naval battles of the American Revolutionary War. The main fight was in Valcour Bay, near Valcour Island. American ships, led by Benedict Arnold, fought against British forces. The British were led by General Guy Carleton. The British wanted to move south into the Hudson Valley. But the American defense on Lake Champlain stopped them. This battle slowed down the British plans.

Quick facts for kids

Battle of Valcour Island

Part of the American Revolutionary War

Royal Savage is shown run aground and burning, while British ships fire on her (watercolor by unknown artist, ca. 1925)

Date	October 11, 1776
Location	Valcour Island, Lake Champlain, New York
Result	British tactical victory

Belligerents

United States

Kingdom of Great Britain

Commanders and leaders

Benedict Arnold

Guy Carleton
Thomas Pringle

Strength

15 armed ships
500 sailors

25 armed ships
697 sailors
1,000 soldiers
650 Indians

Casualties and losses

80 killed or wounded
120 captured
11 ships lost

40 killed or wounded
3 small gunboats lost

Why the Battle Happened
- British Plans
The Battle on Lake Champlain
- Arnold's Escape
After the Battle
- Important Places Today
Images for kids
See also

Why the Battle Happened

In June 1776, the Continental Army moved. They left Quebec and went to Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Crown Point. They spent the summer making their forts stronger. They also built more ships for their army.

British Plans

General Carleton had a large army of 9,000 soldiers. They were at Fort Saint-Jean. But he needed a way to move them across Lake Champlain. The Americans had either taken or destroyed most of the ships on the lake. This meant the British had to build their own fleet.

The Battle on Lake Champlain

On October 11, Benedict Arnold led the American ships. He chose a spot that made it hard for the British to attack. This gave the Americans some advantages. During the battle, many American ships were damaged or destroyed.

Arnold's Escape

That night, Arnold bravely led the American ships past the British. They sailed towards Crown Point and Ticonderoga. But the weather was bad. More American ships were captured or burned before they reached Crown Point. When Arnold got to Crown Point, he burned the fort's buildings. Then he left for Ticonderoga.

After the Battle

Even though the Americans lost many ships, the battle was important. It slowed down the British army. This delay meant the British could not reach the Hudson Valley that year. This gave the Americans more time to prepare their defenses.

Important Places Today

Valcour Bay, where the battle happened, is now a National Historic Landmark. The USS Philadelphia was an American ship that sank during the battle. It was brought up from the lake in 1934. The USS Spitfire was found in 1997. Both ships are important historical sites.