Identification & Site Information

• Name: Galley Congress
• Other Names: None recorded
• Vessel Type: Armed Galley
• Date Built: 1776
• Builder: Continental Navy, likely built at Skenesborough (modern-day Whitehall, New York) under Benedict Arnold’s direct oversight
• Dimensions: Estimated based on similar Arnold galleys:
• Length: Approximately 65 feet (20 metres)
• Beam: Approximately 18 feet (5.5 metres)
• Armament:
• 10 guns (cannons – likely 4-pounders and 6-pounders)
• 8 swivel guns (smaller Deck-mounted guns for close defense)
• Tonnage: Estimated at 60-80 tons
• Date Lost: October 13, 1776
• Final Location: Valcour Island, Lake Champlain
• Coordinates: Estimated near 44°36’N, 73°24’W

Vessel Type

Armed Galley

The Congress was a purpose-built lake galley, designed specifically to fight in the confined waters of Lake Champlain. Like her sister ships, she had both sails and oars, making her capable of maneuvering in calm winds or narrow passages. Built for firepower over speed, she was heavily armed for her size, intended to fight close-in battles where her swivels and cannons could blast enemy decks.

History

Commissioned in 1776, the Congress was one of the first ships to join Benedict Arnold’s hastily-constructed fleet on Lake Champlain. With war looming, and the British massing a fleet at St. Jean (in Quebec), Arnold knew that whoever controlled Lake Champlain controlled the gateway to New York. Congress was one of the larger and more heavily armed galleys in Arnold’s fleet.

Role in the Battle of Valcour Island

On October 11, 1776, Congress took her place in the narrow channel between Valcour Island and the New York mainland. As the British fleet advanced, Arnold led from Congress herself, making the vessel the flagship of the American fleet. Throughout the fierce engagement, Congress fired continuously, helping to drive back repeated British attempts to break through.

Despite her efforts, the American fleet was outgunned and outnumbered. After nightfall, Arnold led a daring nighttime escape southward, but the badly damaged Congress had to be Abandoned and deliberately burned to prevent capture on October 13, 1776.

Final Disposition

• Cause of Loss: Deliberate burning by Arnold’s retreating forces.
• Final Resting Place: Southern end of Valcour Island, close to shore.
• Condition: Completely destroyed by fire, with any surviving material likely fragmented and buried in sediment.

Site Description

The exact wreckage site of Congress has never been conclusively identified. Some scattered charred timbers, cannon fragments, and shot recovered near Valcour Island are believed to come from Congress or her sister ships.

If any remains survive, they would be:

• Heavily charred timbers buried in nearshore sediment.
• Possible artifacts such as iron fastenings, cannonballs, and galley fittings.
• Commingled with debris from other ships destroyed in the same retreat.

Experience Rating

⚠️ Not a recreational dive site — Historical Archive Entry Only

Due to her destruction and lack of confirmed location, this is strictly a historical listing.

NOTMARs & Advisories

• No official NOTMARs apply.
• Should archaeological discovery occur, the site would be protected under U.S. Federal and New York State preservation laws.

Located By & Date Found

• No official discovery.
• Some artifacts from the general Valcour battlefield area have been attributed to Congress, but no cohesive wreck site has ever been documented.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Depth: Shallow (likely under 10 metres / 33 feet)
• Bottom Type: Mud and sediment with dense weed beds in shallows
• Visibility: Highly variable (can range from 2 to 8 metres / 7 to 25 feet)
• Condition: Completely destroyed, any surviving remains would be deeply buried or scattered.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
• Library and Archives Canada
• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes – Bowling Green

Conclusion

Though her physical form has vanished, Congress occupies an iconic place in American naval history. As Arnold’s flagship, she represented the heart of the fight for Lake Champlain, and her sacrifice at Valcour Island helped buy the time America needed to prepare for the critical campaigns of 1777.

In that sense, Congress was more than just a ship — she was the shield that held back the Empire for one more year.

Keywords & Categories

Congress, Armed Galley, Valcour Island, Lake Champlain, Benedict Arnold, Continental Navy, American Revolutionary War, Historical Shipwrecks, Great Lakes Naval History, Battle of Valcour, Burned Ships, Warship Wrecks, Flagship Losses