Valcour (AVP 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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Lib' 'I'I DIVISION Left to right: Hunter, Sibley, l.T.lG Richardson, Bailey. F DIVISION Left rear: Lafleur. Right rear: Glaser. Front, left to right: Lane, St. Arnaulcl, Shaffer, Mork, Ens. Kelley, Peavler, Saidak, and McVay. Left rear: Schaeffer. Right rear: Oliver. Front, left to right: Kwiatkowski, Kiley, Donnelly, Cook, Burke, Gunter, Reyburn, and Danielson.

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Y V DIVISION p 4 W 5 ,fi 1 , L l A , I I A 'Z F' . ll Heil B mann. . . . Second row: Iflall lI'EgR'8EwIer,elIl':lf3t Ferns. .I'I'. T:II'd row: Loueks, Allchin, Sehnitzer: Meehan, Patton. i' X DIVISION j a 3 4 1 1 4 1 5 1 1 1 1 1 Left to right: Pendergast Ahladis Nelson. L fg , ' In , I I Clark, Baldock, Balthazar, Cisper, Hiusigkrrgcl. -I J

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Goodbye, Norfolk! Cast off all lines. OUR HISTORY The USS VALCOUR was named after Valcour Island in Lake Champlain. The Island is located about ten miles south of Plattsburg, New York. It was here that the little known Battle of Valcour Bay was fought on October 11, 1776. The battle is barely mentioned in the usual American history books, though at the time this Naval engagement was highly important. During the summer and early fall of 1776, the Ameri- can in command of this area, General Benedict Arnold, and the British Commander, Carleton, both had gathered fleets on Lake Champlain. They came to grips on the waters of the lake on October 11, 1776. Arnold had placed his ships in the channel between Valcour Island and the western, New York, shore of the lake. His ships were manned by a motley crew of men while those of the British ships were experienced sea- men. The American flotilla carried eighty-three guns and the British, eighty-seven. The American fleet presented a sharp contrast to the British, and though an able commander on land, Arnold was not a seaman. The British fleet attacked and after a seven-hour battle had crippled the majority of the ships under Arnold's com- mand. That night, under cover of darkness and the shore, he withdrew his remaining ships to a safe refuge near Split Rock. But the respite was only temporary. The British fleet came in pursuit and on October 13 they were able to destroy the remaining American ships. Carleton then pushed on and occupied Crown Point. The Parthenon.