Benedict Arnold’s Navy and the Battle of Valcour Island

Benedict Arnold’s Navy and the Battle of Valcour Island

Friday, October 2 – 8am to 5pm

Leaving from Whitehall, NY

Our Tour Leaders: Chris Sabick, James L. Nelson and Bruce Venter

Registration Fee: $195

America’s History will partner this October with the Whitehall Community Leaders and Washington County Tourism to offer a one-day Revolutionary War tour commemorating the 250th anniversary of Benedict Arnold’s epic naval battle on Lake Champlain. Led by Chris Sabick, Jim Nelson and Bruce Venter, the tour departs from a designated parking lot (TBD) in Whitehall, New York at 8 a.m. and includes an interpretation of the battle of Valcour Island from nearby lake sites, a visit to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and a boat ride thru the Narrows of Lake Champlain, including Button Bay where Arnold scuttled the remainder of his defeated fleet.

This tour will demonstrate Benedict Arnold’s skill as a naval commander and heroism for the Patriot cause as we visit land and “on the water” sites. We’ll see Valcour Island from the New York shore, visit the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum which has special exhibits related to Valcour Island, board the reconstructed gunboat, Philadelphia II and take a boat ride thru the Lake Champlain Narrows where Arnold fought a delaying action with the British. Chris will update us on the recent archaeological excavations that have been conducted at Arnold’s Bay, the site where Arnold burned the five remaining vessels from the Valcour fleet.. He’ll explain the continuing plan for archaeological work on the gunboat Spitfire, which is still located in the deep dark waters of Lake Champlain where it was sunk during the retreat from the battle. The affable Jim Nelson will add his expertise as a naval historian and professional mariner himself. Bruce Venter will provide his always caustic criticism of Arnold’s performance during the Revolutionary War.

We will return to Whitehall to attend the Friday evening reception planned in conjunction with the Saturday seminar where our tour guides will be featured speakers.

Other important information: This tour is limited to 42 participants due to the capacity of the tour boat, so please register early. A minimum of 30 participants is needed to run the tour. This is a land and water tour. The bus will leave a designated parking area in Whitehall at 8:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m. You will be notified prior to the tour date where to park on October 2.

What’s included: Motor coach transportation, a boat ride thru Lake Champlain’s Narrows, lunch buffet at the Basin Harbor Resort on Lake Champlain, snack and beverage breaks, all admissions and gratuities, a map and materials package and the services of three tour leaders selected for their knowledge and expertise. Plus, Lynne’s world-famous brownies will be onboard.

Our Tour Leaders: Chris Sabick was appointed executive director of the LCMM in 2023. A nautical archaeologist by trade, Sabick has spent his entire professional career working on the lake and surrounding waterways with the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. James L. Nelson is an awarding author of 25 books of nautical fiction and non-fiction, including Benedict Arnold’s Navy, George Washington’s Secret Navy and George Washington’s Great Gamble: And the Sea Battle that Won the American Revolution. He is also a former professional squared-rig sailor. Dr. Bruce Venter, president of America’s History, LLC is an experienced tour leader of the Colonial and Revolutionary War period. He is the author of The Battle of Hubbardton: The Rear-Guard Action that Saved America.