Langton 11 gun Galley Washington

The next build during my pandemic incarceration is the Langton Continental galley Washington. This was a really nice model to build, as all Langtons are.

Model of Washington in the National Museum of the US Navy

The lateen rigged row galley was built by soldiers on Lake Champlain at Skenesboro, New York in the autumn of 1776. On October 6 Washington joined the small fleet put together and commanded by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Washington was commanded by Arnold's second in command, Brigadier General David Waterbury. She was anchored with the other small vessels in the lee of Valcour Island to await the expected British move.

Captain Thomas Pringle, of the Royal Navy, led a 25 ship fleet past Valcour Island on October 11. Pringle sighted the American fleet when he passed the island and attacked from leeward. In the ensuing action Washington suffered the most damage of any vessel in Arnold's fleet.

Arnold regrouped his shattered fleet and slipped past the British on October 12 with muffled oars in a desperate attempt at escape. However the British caught up the following day at Split Rock near Crown Point.

Arnold managed to beech and destroy four of the galleys and his own flagship, Congress, while most of the remaining ships escaped upriver. Only Washington, at the rear of the van, was captured by the enemy. According to Arnold, she struck her colors after receiving a couple of broadsides.

Washington was eventually taken into Royal service, retaining her name. She was re-rigged as a brig. Her fate is unknown.

Length 72' 4"; Breadth 19' 7"; draft of 6' 2"; displacement 123 long tons; Crew 80
Armament: 2 x 18 pounder long guns, 2 x 12 pounder long guns, 2 x 9 pounders, 4 x 4 pounders, 1 x 2 pounder, 8 x swivel guns

Information is from https://www.revwartalk.com/uss-washington-1776-lateen-rigged-galley/