“These savages under Major Carleton moved with the fleet in their canoes which were very regularly ranged. On the day of the battle, the rebels having no land force, the savages took post on the mainland and on Valcour Island. Thus being upon both flanks they were able to annoy them in the working of their guns. This had the effect of now and then obliging the rebels to turn a gun that way, which danger the savages avoided by getting behind trees.” [Illustration: The Fight on Lake Champlain, October 13, 1776. 1. (On right) Ship _Inflexible_. 2. Schooner _Carleton_. 3. Schooner _Maria_. 4. _Congress_ galley run ashore, with other vessels blowing up. 5. _Washington_ galley striking. 6. Gunboat coming up. _From an English engraving published December 22, 1776._] And as for the result of the day’s work, the quaint words of Arnold himself shall tell it: “At half past 12 the engagement became general and very warm. Some of the enemy’s ships and all their gondolas beat and rowed up within musket shot of us. They continued a very hot fire with round and grapeshot until 5 o’clock when they thought proper to retire to about six or seven hundred yards distance, and continued the fire till dark.” The fleet of the enemy, though manned by picked men--by men known not only for their bravery, but for their skill in handling the guns--was obliged to draw off to get beyond the range of the smaller guns on the American fleet. The _Congress_, Arnold’s flagship, was hulled by the British round shot no less than twelve times during the afternoon, and seven of these projectiles passed through her at the water-line. But the crew, farmers though they were, plugged her up and fought on as before. General Waterbury, who was on the _Washington_, fought her until he was the only officer left on deck--her captain, lieutenant, and master having all been killed. The _Washington_, like the _Congress_, was full of holes when the fight ended. The _Philadelphia_, Captain Grant, sank within an hour after firing ceased. On the whole, the American loss for the day was reported at “about sixty,” while that of the British was less than forty. Two of the British gunboats were sunk and one was blown up. The Americans had checked the enemy in his advance along the lake, and had damaged him materially, but they had suffered more than he had, and, what was worse, had used up nearly all their ammunition. “Being sensible that with his inferior and crippled force all resistance would be unavailing” on the morrow if they remained where they were, Arnold determined to slip away to the shelter of the American post either at Crown Point or at Ticonderoga.