.gif)
USS Philadelphia (1776)
Encyclopedia
Continental gunboat Philadelphia is the only surviving gunboat built and manned by American Forces
during the Revolutionary War
. Part of a hastily constructed fleet, she is one of 15 small craft with which General Benedict Arnold
fought about 30 British vessels off Valcour Island
in Lake Champlain
in October 1776.
(sometimes referred to as a gondola) constructed by General Arnold at Skenesboro, New York. Laid down early in July 1776, she was launched in mid-August, and placed in service shortly thereafter under a Capt. Rice.
Arnold's flotilla was built to check the expected British invasion being launched from Montreal
by the Royal Governor of Canada
, Sir Guy Carleton
. A thrust down the historic Lake Champlain
–Hudson Valley
invasion corridor was chosen to sever New England
from the middle and southern American Colonies. An almost complete absence of intercolonial roads demanded that the approach be made by water.
The Americans had enjoyed unchallenged supremacy on Lake Champlain since the capture of the British shipyard at St. Johns toward the end of the first month of the war, but after the Americans withdrew from the Richelieu River
a year later, the British embarked on a vigorous shipbuilding program to achieve naval superiority. The British, aided greatly by skilled men, equipment, and material of the Royal Navy in the St. Lawrence River, won the construction race.
However, Arnold was undaunted. Late in August he assembled his little fleet and cruised provocatively on the upper lake. On 23 September he stationed his ships on the New York shore near Valcour Bay
to intercept the British squadron's advance on Fort Ticonderoga
. The two forces clashed on 11 October. During a six-hour fight the 12-gun schooner
USS Royal Savage ran aground and was burned. Toward dusk the British guns holed Philadelphia with a 24-pound shot and she soon sank. Night closed the battle, enabling Arnold to slip away with the remainder of his fleet, but he lost most of his ships during a two-day running battle.
The sacrifice was not in vain. Arnold's ships delayed the British advance until approaching winter caused them to suspend operations until spring. The Americans made good use of the year of grace which their ships on Lake Champlain had won. A much stronger patriot army awaited General John Burgoyne
in 1777 and it finally forced him to surrender at Saratoga.
Philadelphia was exhibited at various locations on Lake Champlain and the Hudson River before becoming a long-term display at Exeter, New York
. Bequeathed to the Smithsonian Institution
in 1961, the Philadelphia and associated artifacts are part of the permanent collection of the National Museum of American History
, in Washington D.C.
Philadelphia was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1961.
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Part of a hastily constructed fleet, she is one of 15 small craft with which General Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
fought about 30 British vessels off Valcour Island
Valcour Island
Valcour Island is an island in Lake Champlain in Clinton County, New York, USA. The island is mostly in the Town of Peru and partly in the Town of Plattsburgh, southeast of the City of Plattsburgh....
in Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
in October 1776.
Service history
Philadelphia was a gundalowGundalow
A gundalow is a type of flat bottom cargo vessel once common in Maine and New England rivers. Up to long, they characteristically employed tidal currents for propulsion, shipping a single lateen sail to harness favorable winds....
(sometimes referred to as a gondola) constructed by General Arnold at Skenesboro, New York. Laid down early in July 1776, she was launched in mid-August, and placed in service shortly thereafter under a Capt. Rice.
Arnold's flotilla was built to check the expected British invasion being launched from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
by the Royal Governor of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, Sir Guy Carleton
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
. A thrust down the historic Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
–Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
invasion corridor was chosen to sever New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
from the middle and southern American Colonies. An almost complete absence of intercolonial roads demanded that the approach be made by water.
The Americans had enjoyed unchallenged supremacy on Lake Champlain since the capture of the British shipyard at St. Johns toward the end of the first month of the war, but after the Americans withdrew from the Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
a year later, the British embarked on a vigorous shipbuilding program to achieve naval superiority. The British, aided greatly by skilled men, equipment, and material of the Royal Navy in the St. Lawrence River, won the construction race.
However, Arnold was undaunted. Late in August he assembled his little fleet and cruised provocatively on the upper lake. On 23 September he stationed his ships on the New York shore near Valcour Bay
Valcour Bay
Valcour Bay is a strait between Valcour Island and the west side of Lake Champlain, four miles south of Plattsburgh, New York. It was the site of the Battle of Valcour Island during the American Revolutionary War...
to intercept the British squadron's advance on Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga, formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century fort built by the Canadians and the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain in upstate New York in the United States...
. The two forces clashed on 11 October. During a six-hour fight the 12-gun schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
USS Royal Savage ran aground and was burned. Toward dusk the British guns holed Philadelphia with a 24-pound shot and she soon sank. Night closed the battle, enabling Arnold to slip away with the remainder of his fleet, but he lost most of his ships during a two-day running battle.
The sacrifice was not in vain. Arnold's ships delayed the British advance until approaching winter caused them to suspend operations until spring. The Americans made good use of the year of grace which their ships on Lake Champlain had won. A much stronger patriot army awaited General John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
in 1777 and it finally forced him to surrender at Saratoga.
Raising and salvaging
Philadelphia was remarkably well preserved by the cold water when she was identified and salvaged in 1935 by a group of marine archaeologists headed by Colonel Lorenzo F. Hogglund. In addition to the guns and hull, hundreds of other items were recovered from the vessel. These relics included shot, cooking utensils, tools, buttons, buckles and human bones.Philadelphia was exhibited at various locations on Lake Champlain and the Hudson River before becoming a long-term display at Exeter, New York
Exeter, New York
Exeter is a town in Otsego County, New York, United States. The town is located in the norther part of the county. The population was 954 at the 2000 census...
. Bequeathed to the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in 1961, the Philadelphia and associated artifacts are part of the permanent collection of the National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
, in Washington D.C.
Philadelphia was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1961.