English: A view of the Battle of Valcour Island, fought on 11 October 1776 between the British fleet, commanded by Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, (1724-1808) then Governor of the Province of Quebec, and the ships of the United States, commanded by General Benedict Arnold (1741-1801), resulting in a British victory. American War of Independence (1775-83).

Annotated shipsː Carleton, Royal Savage (1775), Inflexible, Maria, Royal Convert, Thunderer radeau.

Key: (a.) Cumberland Head; (b.) Cumberland Bay; (c.) I. de Valcour; (d.) Petite Isle; (e.) Grande Isle; (f.) Rebel Fleet; (g.) Carleton schooner; (h.) Royal Savage aground; (i.) Line of gun boats; (k.) Inflexible; (l.) Maria; (m.) Royal Convert; (n.) Thunderer radeau.

A view looking north showing the battle taking place between Valcour Island and the mainland, with Grande Isle on the right. The Americans' small fleet was almost entirely destroyed. Henry Gilder, the artist of this view, had been a groom to the Duke of Cumberland, but his talent for drawing was encouraged by Paul Sandby and Gilder became a drawing master at the Royal Military Academy in about 1776. There is no evidence to suggest that he was present in North America at this time and so this drawing was probably worked up from the sketches and plans of others.

George III catalogue entry: Champlain, Lake A drawn View of the Engagement on Lake Champlain between His Majesty’s Ships under the command of Captain Thomas Pringle and the Rebel Fleet commanded by Benedict Arnold on the 11.th of Oct.r 1776: by H. Gilder. [The same entry appears under the heading Naval Engagement. A pencil note beside the entry in the George III catalogue reads: ‘This was mounted and loaned to the American Exhibition 1950-51.']