One of the Rarest Revolutionary Battle Plans

"The Attack and Defeat of the American Fleet Under Benedict Arnold, by the Kings Fleet Commanded by Sir Guy Carleton, Upon Lake Champlain, the 11th of October, 1776", Faden, William

This rare battle plan depicts the first naval engagement of the American Revolution, waged near Valcour Island on Lake Champlain. The battle represented the pinnacle of Benedict Arnold’s military career. Arnold also led campaigns at Ticonderoga, Saratoga, and Quebec prior to his infamous act of treason at West Point in 1780. After the Continental Army's failed invasion of Quebec and subsequent retreat, British General Carleton counter-attacked at Lake Chaplain in hopes of combining forces with General Howe on the Hudson River. Arnold developed a bold and enterprising plan to construct ships from the lake's surrounding timber and had, by the time Carleton arrived with a sizeable fleet, constructed 10 additional ships to engage the British. Arnold’s plan was simply to delay Carleton’s advances as winter was coming, and the fierce fighting from the Americans convinced Carleton to turn north for the season. According to Nebenzahl, “it is generally conceded that had the British reached Albany that winter the American Revolution could have collapsed altogether.”

Cartographically, the plan is centered on Grand Isle with Vermont to the right and New York to the left. The two fleets can be seen adjacent to Valcour Island, including the “American Fleet consisting of 15 Vessels” and “the Position which the British Fleet Anchored in during the Night.” The plan also shows a line of retreat along the coast that the American survivors took back to Fort Ticonderoga following the heavy action (their escape was enabled by a foggy night). This is the rare first state of the plan baring the name Sir Guy Carleton. A later edition of the plan replaces Carleton’s name with that of Captain Thomas Pringle, likely changed because the British viewed this battle as a military failure. While all states of this map are rare, this version bearing both Carleton’s name and the account of the battle at bottom is the most desirable. We found only one auction result for the Carleton version of this map in the last 50 years (1977 – Sotheby Parke Bernet), and it is not noted by Nebenzahl, Tooley or Streeter. Published by William Faden on December 3, 1776. Full sheet with text measures 18.4 x 19.2".

References: Nebenzahl (American Revolution) #10; Nebenzahl (Biblio) #47; Stevens & Tree #24; Streeter (Sale) #779.

Condition: B+

Issued folding on paper with a Strasbourg Bend & Lily watermark. In the image, there is faint color offsetting, a couple of minor spots along the border, and a few tiny holes along the vertical fold only visible when held to light. There is a 4.5" fold separation in the descriptive text at bottom that has been closed on verso with archival tape and an associated tiny repaired chip.