Clinton County Historical Association
By Kim Dedam
PERU | A day to honor history turned into a historic day at Valcour Bay, Oct. 10. Though one day shy of 250 years since the critical naval battle took place here in 1776, new revelations about the patriots who gave their lives came to light.
New interpretive signs were unveiled to mark the lakeshore National Historic Site near a re-positioned Valcour Bay Battle Monument at the state boat launch in Peru. The Town of Peru installed a tall flag pole this summer, and raised the colors to begin commemorative remarks of remembrance.
Even as reenactors fired guns on land and ship cannons boomed over Lake Champlain, the historic lake battleground sparkled under a brilliant blue sky.
Remarks were hosted by Town of Peru Town Supervisor Craig Randall, who welcomed elected officials Assemblymember Michael Cashman and state Senator Dan Stec, members of the Clinton County Historical Association, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) personnel, and members of the Valcour Battle Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the Saranac Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Over 100 guests assembled to share the occasion.
IDENTIFYING MEN KILLED IN BATTLE AT VALCOUR
Revolutionary War historian George Quintal presented findings from years of ongoing work. He has, to date, identified 22 of the American patriots killed in the Battle of Valcour Island.
"I had planned to save it for a book, but Helen (Nerska, Town of Peru historian and Daughter of the American Revolution) prevailed on me to share it with you all today and share it with the nation.
"We have now, a list of 22 men, Americans who were killed as a result of the actions here in the fleet. Most historians feel there were probably 50 to 60 men killed here, Americans ...So far I have (records for) 22 killed, curated names, and 26 wounded. We are a long way from finding out the entire list. But the search continues."
Quintal's research supports vital historical analysis of ships that fought and those damaged in Valcour Bay and how. He has identified sailors, commanders and uncovered records of the cannon explosion on the gunboat New York.
"In that search, I want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way," he said, naming Clinton County Historical Association (CCHA) President Geri Favreau, former CCHA president and historian Roger Harwood, and historian and diver, Co-Principal of the Valcour Bay Research Project, Ed Scollon.
Quintal's work helped identify the underwater discovery of the gunboat Spitfire, which likely sank in high, wind-driven waves as then American fleet commander Benedict Arnold effected an escape with his battered flotilla, slipping past the British Royal Navy fleet after dark.
The escape and subsequent chase ended as the British fleet retreated north to Canada, allowing American forces to rebuild.
"Several people have mentioned how this (Battle of Valcour) helped to ensure our victory at Saratoga, and that is absolutely true," Quintal said. "I'd like to speak today a little bit about the Battle of Trenton. I've been researching Trenton very closely this last year.
"I found that Washington's army was devastated about this time in October 1776. There were captains commanding regiments. There were sergeants commanding companies ... Three regiments of his had been so beaten up in the New York campaign that they combined the men together to make one regiment.
"Here he is, looking up north and thinking this northern army could also be devastated. It was that close. The flickering flame of the Revolution was nearly gone in October of 1776," Quintal said.
"Not only did these men at Valcour save the northern army by the actions that they made here ... when Washington was sure that (British General, Sir Guy) Carleton would not be further attacking here because of the heroics of the American fleet, Washington ordered four regiments from Fort Ticonderoga -- Continentals that had been here pending a possible war with Carleton.
"He ordered those four regiments down to Trenton. It was the three New Hampshire regiments of (Adj. Gen. Joseph) Reed, (Col. John) Stark and (Col. Enoch) Poor and the Berkshire County Regiment of Col. John Patterson. About 800 effective men were taken from here and sent down to join Washington in New Jersey.
"What a sight for sore eyes that must have been for Washington and his men," Quintal said.
Heroic events at Valcour not only saved the northern army so they could win at Saratoga, he said, "they saved Washington's army, so that he could win at Trenton."
The men who fought on Lake Champlain in the Battle of Valcour ranged in age from 23 to 44, most were in their early 20s, Quintal said.
"So men killed here in their early 20s never got to get married, to have children or grandchildren, and here are the names," Quintal said, reading each name out loud.
It was the first time in 250 years that names of Battle of Valcour war dead were read aloud beside Valcour Bay.
Caps and covers removed, wreaths were placed beside the historic marker. Color guard reenactors from American Legion Posts 1619 and 920, in Revolutionary War era uniform, fired an honorary musket salute. From the lake, a flotilla of reenactors in sailing vessels fired cannons.
Two interpretive panels were officially unveiled, one telling the Battle of Valcour story and the other sharing how archaeologists and divers with the Valcour Bay Research Project discovered and recovered items from that fateful engagement. The new panels are arrayed in a ship's half wheel, designed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) with support from the Town of Peru and CCHA.
TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Director Emeritus Arthur Cohn, historian and co-principal of the Valcour Bay Research Project, reflected on the site's important place in American history.
"It is hard to imagine that 250 years ago this lovely bay was filled with the deafening sound of unrelenting cannon fire. It was here in 1776 that American patriots fought for freedom and liberty against overwhelming odds at what became known as the Battle of Valcour Island.
"While records of the time considered this engagement a defeat, history remembers the Battle of Valcour Island as a tactical victory that led our forces to defeat John Burgoyne and his army just one year later at the Battle of Saratoga.
"Today we remember what happened here as a triumph of human spirit, as the men who fought here refused to surrender, even after suffering so many casualties, using up most of their ammunition and being vastly over-matched by the Royal Navy and the Crown forces.
"At nightfall, these exhausted men, under the guidance of Benedict Arnold and their officers, executed an escape so remarkable that historians studying the engagement today still find it hard to believe they could slip past the British blockade so they might live to fight again.
"Today we gratefully remember all the men who fought here," Cohn said, inviting placement of two wreaths to honor the sacrifice made by each side in the conflict.
"...So that future generations would have the opportunity to connect to this noble experiment of a society guided by a self-evident principle: That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
In this place, 250 years ago, he said, an event occurred that helped bring about a new nation.
"And we believe that reflection and study of the Battle of Valcour Island will provide a grateful remembrance of what they did here to make the world a better place."
Saturday memorial events in Peru were part of a weekend-long commemoration of Revolutionary War history in the northern reaches of Lake Champlain with a formal reenactment on Lake Champlain at City Beach in Plattsburgh on Oct. 11, part of Clinton County's America 250 celebration this year.
