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Historical Sites related to the Life and Career of Benedict Arnold


  1. Battle of Valcour Island

Button Bay

Button Bay State Park, 5 Button Bay State Park Rd., Ferrisburgh, Vermont

The following is found on the website of the state park:
"Button Bay, a 253-acre park, is located on a bluff in Ferrisburgh along the 130-mile long Lake Champlain. Historically, the area has been visited by such notables as Samuel De Champlain (1609), Ethan Allen (1776), Ben Franklin (1776), and Benedict Arnold (1777). What once operated as a farm, opened as a state park in 1964. The park is so named for the button-like concretions formed by clay deposits found along the shoreline."

Benedict Arnold brought the officers of his Valcour fleet ashore at Button Bay for a feast as they awaited the British in the days prior to the battle. The fleet had survived a sudden and ferocious storm on the lake on August 26, so on the next day Arnold invited the captains and lieutenants ashore here where they competed in marksmanship with small arms, followed by a celebratory feast. Toasts to Arnold's health were offered, and his men named "Arnold Point" in his honor. Arnold took the opportunity to address the challenges ahead, and encouraged his men to give it their best.

You can read a first-hand account of the day in the journal of Bayze Wells here: http://digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1017&context=primary (Scroll to page 272)
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View of Button Bay from the north shore, in Button Bay State Park. The bay is to the left and the open lake is to the right. Button Island is in the distance.
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View of Button Bay from the north shore, in Button Bay State Park. The bay is to the left and the open lake is to the right. Button Island is in the distance.

vermont and emmas first day school

  • View of Button Bay from the north shore, in Button Bay State Park. The bay is to the left and the open lake is to the right. Button Island is in the distance.
  • Stairs down the slope from Button Bay State park to the shore.
  • Northern end of Button Bay
  • View south into Button Bay. Note the headlands in the distance. These will be seen in the next photo.
  • Telephoto view south from Button Bay State Park. Arnold Bay, where Benedict Arnold scuttled and burned the remnant of his Valcour Island fleet, is on the left, behind the headland that just enters this photo.
  • Topo map showing the location of Button Bay State Park. The point of land aimed at Button Island was named "Arnold Point" by the officers under Arnold's command.
  • View from the campground out over the bay. It is not known just where Arnold held the feast, but this high bluff with it's spectacular view of the lake and the distant Adirondacks would have been a good choice.
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