Copy of a Letter from Captain Thomas Pringle, on Board the Maria, off Crown Point, the 15th of October, 1776.
It is with the greatest Pleasure that I embrace this opportunity of congratulating their Lordships upon the Victory compleated the 13th of this Month, by His Majesty's Fleet under my Command, upon Lake Champlain.
Upon the 11th I came up with the Rebel Fleet commanded by Benedict Arnold: They were at Anchor under the Island Valicour, and formed a strong Line, extending from the Island to the West Side of the Continent: The Wind was so unfavourable, that for a considerable Time nothing could be brought into Action with them; but the Gun Boats, the Carleton Schooner, commanded by Mr. [James Richard] Dacres, (who brings their Lordships this) by much Perseverance at last got up to their Assistance; but as none of the other Vessels of the Fleet could then get up, I did not think it by any Means adviseable to continue so partial and unequal a Combat; consequently, with the Approbation of his Excellency General Carleton, who did me the Honor of being on Board the Maria, I called off the Carleton and Gun Boats, and brought the whole Fleet to anchor in a Line as near as possible to the Rebels, that their Retreat might be cut off; which Purpose was however frustrated by the extreme Obscurity of the Night; and in the Morning the Rebels had got a considerable Distance from us up the Lake.
Upon the 13th I again saw Eleven Sail of their Fleet making off to Crown Point, who, after a Chace of seven Hours, I came up with in the Maria, having the Carleton and Inflexible a small Distance a-stern; the rest of the Fleet almost out of Sight. The Action began at Twelve o'clock and lasted two Hours; at wich Time Arnold, in the Congress Galley, and five. Gondolas, ran on Shore, and were directly abandoned and blown up by the Enemy, a Circumstance they were greatly favoured in, by the Wind being off Shore, and the Narrowness of the Lake. The Washington Galley struck during the Action, and the rest made their Escape to Ticonderoga.
The Killed and Wounded in His Majesty's Fleet, including the Artillery in the Gun Boats, do not amount to Forty; but from every Information I have yet got, the Loss of the Enemy must indeed be very considerable.
Many Particulars which their Lordships may wish to know I must at present take the Liberty of referring you to Mr. Dacres for; but I am well convinced his Modesty will not permit him to say how great a Share he had in this Victory, give me Leave to assure you, that during both Actions, nothing could be more pointedly good than his Conduct. I must also do the Justice the Officers and Seamen of this Fleet merit; by saying that every Person under my Command exerted themselves to act up to the Character of British Seamen.
