USS Royal Savage (1775) facts for kids
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|} The Royal Savage was a schooner (a ship with two masts) built by the British in the summer of 1775. During the Siege of Fort St. Jean, American soldiers damaged and sank her. After the fort was captured, the Americans raised and repaired the ship. She then joined General Benedict Arnold's important fight on Lake Champlain. The British later captured and burned her in October 1776 near Valcour Island.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain |
|
| Name | Brave Savage |
| Launched | Summer 1775, St. John, Quebec |
| Renamed | Royal Savage |
| Captured | 3 November 1775 |
| Fate | Sunk 14 October 1775 |
 United Colonies |
|
| Name | Yankee (initially) |
| Acquired | 3 November 1775 by capture |
| Renamed | Royal Savage |
| Captured | 11 October 1776 (burnt) |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Schooner |
| Tonnage | 70 (bm) |
| Length | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Beam | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Sail plan | gaff-rig |
| Complement | 40–50 |
| Armament | 8 × 4-pounder + 4 × 6-pounder guns + 10 × swivel guns |
Ship Design and Crew
Royal Savage was about 50 ft (15 m) (15 meters) long and 15 ft (4.6 m) (4.5 meters) wide. She weighed about 70 tons.
When the Americans used her, Royal Savage carried eight 4-pounder guns, four 6-pounder guns, and ten swivel guns (small cannons). The ship needed a crew of 40 to 50 sailors to operate.
British Service History
In 1775, a British ship named HMS Gaspée arrived in Quebec. Colonel Guy Carleton, who was in charge of the province of Quebec, asked Lieutenant William Hunter to take some of his men to Lake Champlain. There, Hunter was to command a new ship Carleton was building at St. Johns (now St. Jean-Iberville, Quebec). This ship, Royal Savage, was meant to stop American forces led by Richard Montgomery. Lieutenant Hunter became her first commander.
In mid-September, American forces began to attack Fort St. Jean. They used galleys and gundalows (flat-bottomed boats) to help with the Siege of Fort St. Jean.
On October 11, the Americans set up cannons on the river bank across from the fort and Royal Savage. Fire from a large 13-inch mortar hit and sank Royal Savage on October 14.
The British had to surrender Fort St. Johns on November 3. Lieutenant Hunter and 14 of his men were taken as prisoners of war.
American Service History
Royal Savage had sunk in shallow water, so the Americans were able to pull her up and fix her. She, along with the small schooner Liberty and the sloop Enterprise, became the main ships of the American fleet on Lake Champlain. This fleet, led by Benedict Arnold, stopped the British from using the lake in the fall of 1776. This delay helped lead to Burgoyne's defeat at the Battle of Saratoga.
Summer 1776 Preparations
In June 1776, American forces had to leave Canada and move back to Crown Point, Skenesborough, and Fort Ticonderoga. There, Benedict Arnold pushed his men to build more ships quickly. They needed to finish before the British could build their own fleet. By late August, 10 American ships were ready. Arnold moved his fleet north, with Royal Savage serving as his flagship (the ship carrying the commander).
Captain Jacobus Wynkoop was in charge of Royal Savage. However, he had a disagreement with Arnold and was removed from his position. Captain David Hawley took over command on August 18.
Through September, Arnold explored the lake shore. On September 23, he moved his fleet to an anchorage near Valcour Island. This spot was separated from the western shore by a narrow channel. He waited there for the rest of his ships and for the British fleet to arrive. When the galley Congress joined them, Arnold moved his headquarters to that boat and continued to wait.
Battle of Valcour Island
On October 11, a north wind carried the British ships past Valcour Island. American ships, including Royal Savage, appeared and fired on the enemy. They then sailed back into the southern entrance of the channel. The rest of Arnold's fleet was waiting there to meet the British. Their goal was to fight the enemy if possible, but most importantly, to slow them down.
The British ships were at a disadvantage because the wind made it hard for them to sail into the channel. Arnold's careful planning and the British falling for his trap gave the Americans a chance to complete their mission.
However, Royal Savage ran aground (got stuck) on the southwest point of Valcour Island around 11 AM. She was unable to defend herself and was abandoned by her crew. A British boarding party from the ship Loyal Convert captured her and took 20 American men prisoner. The British then turned Royal Savage's guns against the American fleet. But the British also came under heavy fire and had to abandon Royal Savage themselves.
The British did not want the Americans to take back Royal Savage, so they set her on fire after dark. This fire, burning all night, accidentally helped the American fleet escape. The bright flames, combined with a moonless night and exploding ammunition, kept the British from seeing the American ships slip away.
Preservation of the Ship
Royal Savage stayed in the lake until 1934. That year, a marine salvager and amateur archaeologist named Lorenzo Hagglund raised her from the water. His family kept the ship's remains and other items found with it. In 1995, the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania bought them.
The city of Harrisburg wanted to create museums. However, the plans to display Royal Savage did not work out, and her remains were stored in a city garage.
In October 2013, the city council tried to sell the remains of Royal Savage at an auction. The ship was expected to sell for $20,000 to $30,000, but it only received a bid of $5,000. In the end, the bidder decided not to take the ship, and Harrisburg kept ownership.
In July 2015, the city of Harrisburg officially gave the remains of Royal Savage to the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC). Mayor Eric Papenfuse was there when NHHC Director Sam Cox accepted the artifacts for the Navy.
Sam Cox said:
This ship, and its artifacts are now going to be preserved and cherished for the public for generations to come as they should be. For the last 20 years, the artifacts have stayed in storage, out of public viewing, and we are pleased today to bring them to the light of day and to make sure they are being given the proper care.
Images for kids
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The wreck of Royal Savage, 1934
