Additional infomation on the Battle of Valcour Island.

http://www.vita-learn.org/vuhs/project/valcour.htm
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Sent: Monday, March 27, 2000 3:00 AM
Subject: Benedict Arnold's Cannon Found on eBay


> >From Dick Eastman's newletter  25 Mar 2000
>
> Benedict Arnold Cannon Found on eBay
>
> A cannon believed to be from a Revolutionary War boat commanded
> by American traitor Benedict Arnold and plucked 70 years ago from
> the shores of Lake Champlain turned up on the shores of online
> auctioneer eBay Inc., according to Vermont's U.S. Attorney.
>
> The bronze "swivel gun" was fetching bids above $2,000 on eBay
> a  few weeks ago when Vermont historians heard about the auction
> and contacted Vermont U.S. Attorney Charles Tetzlaff. Law enforcement
> and eBay officials tracked down the seller -- a retired U.S. Air
> Force general -- who said he bought the historic hardware for $500
> two years ago at a Virginia antique show.
>
> The seller had been told that the cannon was removed from the
> shores of Lake Champlain with a truck and chain in the 1930's
> when it was in the way of a planned boat pier. Based on that
> information and a preliminary examination, experts believe the
> cannon might have come from an area of the lake known as
> Arnold's Bay, in Panton, Vermont, where Arnold destroyed four
> ships on Oct. 13, 1776, after the Battle of Valcour Island.
>
> Markings on the cannon indicate the same Philadelphia firm
> that made the Liberty Bell cast this piece as well.
>
> The seller "did the right thing." He closed the auction on eBay
> and donated the cannon to the U.S Government.
>