RECOVERED RELIC FROM THE USS PHILADELPHIA SUNK ON 11 OCTOBER 1776 AT THE BATTLE OF VALCOUR ISLAND ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN

A mule shoe recovered from the debris field of the gunboat Philadelphia in 1935. Nominally 5.75" x 4.65" at the widest points. Heavily rusted and pitted. Mounted with an engraved plaque which reads:

"Mule shoe recovered from the debris field of the Gunboat Philadelphia in 1935. By Colonel Lorenzo F Haggland and Bill Resler in Lake Champlain. Reserl later sold the debris field collection after The Smithsonian didn't take anything outside the boat. Philadelphia sank on October 11, 1776 during the Battle of Valcour Island under Brigadier General Benedict Arnold."

The USS Philadelphia was a 3-gun "gundalow" built for the nascent Continental Navy in July and August of 1776 for use in the Great Lakes. She was mounted with a single 12-pounder and a pair of 9-pounder cannons, as well as up to eight swivel guns. The boat was part of the flotilla under the command of Brigadier General Benedict Arnold on Lake Champlain. The boat was sunk on 11 October 1776 while Arnold was defending the strait of Valcour Island against a larger British fleet. The boat was discovered by Hagglund in 1935, and with the assistance of Resler, he led the salvage and recovery of her. Hagglund had previously led recovery efforts for the Royal Navy's Royal Savage in 1932, which was also sunk during the battle.

The Philadelphia is held at the National Museum of American History and currently undergoing a multi-year conservation project 

A rare naval relic from the Revolutionary War. 

[AMERICAN REVOLUTION][MILITARIA][DUG RELICS][US NAVY]

Fair to good condition, as recovered from Lake Champlain after nearly 160 years.