The First USS New York-- Part 2

The New York was a sister ship of the USS Philadelphia which was sunk at the Battle of Valcour Island on October 11, 1776, along with much of the American fleet. The New York escaped. The Philadelphia was raised in 1935 and its remains can be seen at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C..

Another of the gondolas sunk at the battle, the USS Spitfire, has recently been located. The New York was built at Skenesborough (now Whitehall), NY, at Lake Champlain's southern tip. Along with its three guns, it also mounted eight swivel guns.

One of the guns exploded and killed Lt. Thomas Rogers and caused the ship to lose all of its officers except the captain.

--DaCoot