USS Ticonderoga (1814)

The first USS "Ticonderoga" was a schooner in the United States Navy. "Ticonderoga" was built as a steamer in 1814 at Vergennes, Vermont. She was purchased by the Navy at Lake Champlain, converted to schooner rigging, and relaunched on 12 May 1814. She is the first U.S. Navy vessel, in a proud lineage of ships, to bear the name "Ticonderoga".

"Ticonderoga" rendered gallant service with Captain Thomas Macdonough's squadron during the Battle of Lake Champlain on 11 September 1814. Commanded by Lt. Stephen Cassin, "Ticonderoga" compelled sloop HMS "Finch" (formerly USS "Growler") to surrender after riddling her with shot and forcing her aground. She also assisted in the capture of sloop HMS "Chubb" (formerly USS "Eagle"), and repelled several boarding attempts by British gunboats. Midshipman Hiram Paulding was on board "Ticonderoga" during the battle and used his pistol to discharge a cannon when firing matches proved defective. During the two-and-one-half hour engagement, six members of "Ticonderoga"'s crew were killed, and six others were wounded.

After the war, "Ticonderoga" was laid up at Whitehall, New York. A decade later, she was pronounced unworthy of repair and sold at public sale on 19 July 1825.

The wooden remains of this historic vessel are now on public display in Whitehall, N.Y.