USS Enterprise (1775)

"Enterprise" was a Continental Navy sloop-of-war that served in Lake Champlain during the American Revolutionary War. She is the first of a long and prestigious line of United States Navy ships to bear the name "Enterprise".

"Enterprise" was originally a British sloop named "George", built at St. Johns (now Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) in Quebec, Canada. In May 1775, a small American force under Colonel Benedict Arnold sailed up the Richelieu River on the recently captured "Liberty". At 07:00 on 18 May, Arnold and 35 raiders captured the fort and shipyards at St. Johns, along with the newly-launched "George", with no loss of life. The unlaunched schooner "Royal Savage" was also at the shipyard, and would be captured by the Americans later that year. Two hours later Arnold's raiders left with the newly captured sloop, which was later armed with 12 guns and renamed "Enterprise".

The "Enterprise" was, at first, the most significant warship in the Lake Champlain squadron — which was charged with maintaining American control of the lake early in the war — and at times she acted as flagship for Colonel Arnold. Control of Lake Champlain and the adjoining Hudson River would have enabled the British to cut off vital supply routes between New England and the other colonies, and it would have allowed British troops to cross and attack Albany.

On 28 August 1775, "Enterprise" and other vessels embarked with more than 1,000 troops as part of an expedition against St. Johns, Montreal, and Quebec. Though St. Johns and Montreal were captured, and Quebec was besieged, the arrival of strong British reinforcements forced the Americans to withdraw from Canada in the spring of 1776. "Enterprise" and the other craft sailed to Isle aux Noix in the Richelieu River, where they waited while Arnold directed the building of a fleet at Fort Ticonderoga and Skenesboro (now Whitehall).

The battle was finally joined on 11 October 1776 at Valcour Island, near Plattsburg, New York. Arnold chose the site and deployed to await the British advance. Though markedly inferior in firepower, Arnold's fleet fought a valiant and effective action all day long, then slipped through the British line after dark. A running battle took place over the next two days, and resulted in the loss of all but five of the American ships. "Enterprise" and four others escaped to Crown Point, then sailed on to Ticonderoga.

Although a tactical defeat, the Battle of Valcour Island was nevertheless a great strategic victory for the Americans. Arnold and his little fleet disrupted the British invasion into New York such that it couldn't be mounted before the onset of winter, and it was nearly a year before the advance could be renewed. In that interval American troops were recruited and trained, and on 17 October 1777 under General Horatio Gates, defeated the British decisively at Saratoga, New York. This victory was a primary factor in bringing about the alliance with France, and bringing the powerful French navy to the aid of the colonies.

During the British advance prior to the Battle of Saratoga, "Enterprise" was one of five vessels assigned to duty convoying bateaux in the evacuation of Ticonderoga. The small American force was no match for the British fleet on Lake Champlain, and after two ships had been captured, "Enterprise" and the other two were run aground on 7 July 1777, and burned to prevent their capture.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/e4/enterprise-i.htm DANFS entry]
* [http://www.sandcastlevi.com/sea/enterprise/voych03.htm An Enterprise for the Continental Navy] (includes correspondence about "Enterprise" from Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen)
* [http://seafarer.netfirms.com/2-enter.htm The Life & Times of the First USS Enterprise]