Gundelow Jersey

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Gundelow Jersey
• Type: Gundelow (Flat-bottomed Cargo & Gunboat Hybrid)
• Year Built: 1776
• Builder: Continental Navy, likely constructed at Skenesborough (now Whitehall, New York)
• Dimensions: 50-60 ft (15-18 m); Beam: 15-18 ft (4.5-5.5 m); Depth of hold: Unknown
• Registered Tonnage: Estimated 40-50 tons
• Location: Valcour Island, Lake Champlain
• Coordinates: Approximate coordinates: 44°36'N, 73°24'W
• Original Owners: Continental Navy
• Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Gundelow (Armed Flatboat)
Gundelows were shallow-draft flatboats, designed to carry both cargo and light artillery in coastal or inland waters. Jersey was one of several vessels hastily adapted into makeshift gunboats by Benedict Arnold’s naval forces in 1776, part of the urgent effort to build a defensive fleet to block the British advance down Lake Champlain. Their shallow draft made gundelows ideal for operating close to shore and in narrow passages — perfect for ambush tactics in places like Valcour Island. However, their limited speed, firepower, and seaworthiness meant they were tactically outmatched when facing larger Royal Navy vessels.

Description

History
The Jersey was part of Arnold’s cobbled-together fleet, built in the months before the Battle of Valcour Island. These hastily armed vessels were crewed by a mix of militiamen, soldiers, and seamen, many of whom had little to no naval experience. During the Battle of Valcour Island on October 11, 1776, Jersey and several other smaller vessels took up defensive positions close to shore, where they could use the cover of the island to partially shield themselves from the superior firepower of the British fleet. Their mission was to harass and slow the British advance while larger ships like Congress and Royal Savage engaged more directly. What ultimately happened to the Jersey is uncertain — historical accounts suggest she was either captured by the British or deliberately scuttled and/or burned by Arnold’s retreating forces after the battle. In either case, Jersey never returned to American service and was lost at Valcour Island.

History

Final Disposition

• Cause of Loss: Either captured by the British during or after the battle, or scuttled/burned by Arnold to prevent capture after his night escape on October 11-12, 1776.
• Final Resting Place: Somewhere in the waters west of Valcour Island, possibly in the shallows where Arnold’s smaller ships took shelter.
• Condition: Unknown — no confirmed wreckage of Jersey has ever been located.

Significant Incidents

Site Description
⚠️ No confirmed archaeological discovery of Jersey exists.
If any remains survive, they would likely be:

• Fragmented timbers, potentially charred if burned.
• Small artillery components, like swivel gun mounts or shot.
• Possibly dispersed by later storms and sediment shifts, mixed with debris from other nearby losses.

Final Disposition

Experience Rating
⚠️ Not a recreational dive site — Historical Archive Listing Only
Without a confirmed site, Jersey is preserved in the historical record rather than the diveable wreck inventory.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Depth: Estimated less than 10 metres (33 feet) if near shore.
• Bottom Type: Soft sediment with rocky patches.
• Visibility: Poor to moderate (2-6 metres / 6-20 feet).
• Condition: Likely scattered debris field if any trace remains.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”gundelow-jersey” title=”References & Links”]

Conclusion
The Jersey may have been small and improvised, but she was part of a critical moment in naval history — the first real American naval battle, fought against impossible odds. Her loss at Valcour Island, whether through capture or destruction, was part of the larger sacrifice Arnold’s fleet made to buy the time needed for American forces to prepare for the defense of the Hudson River Valley — leading directly to victory at Saratoga the following year. Though lost beneath the waters of Lake Champlain, Jersey’s story is a vital part of the chain that led to the birth of a nation.