Download The Study and Management of Benedict Arnold`s

The Study and Management of Benedict Arnold’s
Gunboat the Spitfire
Background:
An important event during the Revolutionary War
included the Battle of Lake Champlain. The British ships
carried armies led by General Guy Carleton, Lieutenant
General John Burgoyne, and General William Howe in an
effort to capture New York and further their invasion on
American soil. General Benedict Arnold led the
American fleet to fight the British which became the
Battle of Lake Champlain. This battle took place on
October 11th and 13th,1776 and is regarded as one of the
most significant events of the Revolutionary War. Many
vessels were overtaken, burned, or sunk throughout the
course of this battle leaving a collection of historic
artifacts at the bottom of Lake Champlain.
Objective:
The Legacy Resource Management Program funded the
research and creation of a management plan for the
Revolutionary gunboat, Spitfire. In addition, the project
included a survey of the Valcour Island submerged
battlefield site. Expanding the understanding of the events
that occurred during the Battle of Lake Champlain aided
in the protection and preservation of this underwater
cultural heritage. In addition, while making this military
history more available for the public.
photo by Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Drawing of Spitfire compiled from ROV Footage and
Verification Dives
Summary of Approach:
The approach to the preservation of the history of the
Battle of Lake Champlain involves the management of the
Spitfire, survey of the Battle of Lake Champlain area,
documentation of the schooner Royal Salvage, inspection
of Great Bridge, and research on the effects of zebra
mussel colonies on underwater structures. The main
management goals of the Spitfire were to look into the
feasibility of in situ preservation and the recovering of the
vessel. Video documenting and possibly more sediment
samples were also part of the annual inspections. The
survey of Lake Champlain was an ongoing effort to fully
understand what took place in the fall of 1776 which
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included a systematic survey of the Valcour Island
Battlefield site with minimal recover and conservation of
located artifacts. Benedict Arnold’s schooner Royal
Savage, was recovered in 1934 by Lorenzo Haggland and
the archaeologists from the Lake Champlain Maritime
Museum (LCMM) proposed to assess its current
conditions and document the remains. The inspection and
revisit of Great Bridge, which spans Lake Champlain
between Mount Independence, Vermont and Fort
Ticonderoga, New York, included an examination of the
site that was originally built on ice by the Americans in
1777. The stability of the structure in the post-zebra
mussel ecosystem was assessed. Zebra mussel colonies
and their effects on the gunboat Spitfire was also a
research project conducted by LCMM and the University
of Vermont. This study has made significant findings
regarding the identification of the chemical and physical
processes occurring to shipwrecks encrusted with these
invasive colonies.
Benefit:
This Legacy RMP funded project provided more
information and understanding of the Revolutionary War
Battle at Lake Champlain. Underwater archaeology
provided insight to the remains of the ships that sank, the
artifacts left behind, and the effects of zebra mussel
colonies on the ship remains. The results of the LCMM
and Vermont University study will be applicable to naval
shipwrecks in other zebra mussel infested waters. Overall
the LCMM managed, learned, and shared materials gained
through historical research, zebra mussel, studies,
archaeological investigations, exhibit design and
construction, and public interpretation and outreach
programs.
Accomplishments:
The preservation and further understanding of the Battle
of Lake Champlain was documented in a final research
report. This report included the many artifacts that were
successfully recovered from their underwater surveys.
The historical and biological findings from this report will
aid in future underwater shipwreck investigations.
Contact Information:
Dr. Arthur B. Cohn
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
4472 Basin Harbor Road
Vergennes, Vermont 05491
802-475-2022
[email protected]
REVISED 5/19/2009