As summer headed toward its mid-point in 1776, General Arnold wrote about his plan to defend Fort Ticonderoga with a naval flotilla that could check British advances on Lake Champlain.
"It now appears to me of the Utmost Importance, that the lake be emediately secured by a large Number of (at least Twenty or thirty) Gundaloes Row Gallies & floating Batteries, the Enemy from undoubted intelligence have brought over a large Number (it Is said One hundred) Frames for Flat Bottom Boats design’d to be made use on lake Champlain, and from their Industry & Strength will doubtless become masters of the lake, unless Every nerve on our part is Strained to exceed them in a Naval Armament. I think it absolutely necessary that at least three hundred Carpenters be emediatley employd Fifty Sent from Philadelphia, who are acquainted with Building those kind of Craft would greatly Facilitate the matter"
General Arnold to General Washington, 25 June 1776www.founders.archives.gov