ermatched. Such of their vessels as were not sunk were captured and
burned by the enemy; while their crews escaped into the woods, and
ultimately rejoined Arnold's army, from which they had been drafted.

We pass thus hastily over the so-called naval operations on Lake
Champlain, because they were properly not naval operations at all, but
merely incidents in the shore campaign. The fact that a few soldiers
hastily build a small flotilla, and with it give battle to an enemy on
the water, does not in any sense constitute a naval battle.

The year 1777 witnessed many notable naval events. Hostilities along
the seaboard became more lively. New vessels were put into commission.
England despatched a larger naval armament to crush her rebellious
colonies. The records of the admiralty show, that at the beginning of
that year Parliament voted to the navy forty-five thousand men. The
Americans were able to array against this huge force only some four
thousand, scattered upon thirteen small vessels-of-war.

One of the first ships to get to sea in this year was the "Randolph:"
a new frigate commanded by Nicholas Biddle, who thus early in the war
had won the confidence of the people and the naval authorities. In
command of the little cruiser "Andrea Doria," Biddle had cruised off
the coast of Newfoundland in 1776. His success upon that cruise has
already been noted.

Biddle was a man possessing to the fullest degree that primary
qualification of a good naval officer,--an indomitable will. In
illustration of his determination, a story is related concerning an
incident that occurred just as the "Andrea Doria" had left the Capes
of the Delaware. Two of her crew had deserted, and, being apprehended
by the authorities on shore, were lodged in Lewiston jail. But the
sheriff and his deputies found it easier to turn the key on the
fugitive tars, than to keep them in control while they lay in durance
vile. Gathering all the benches, chairs, and tables that lay about the
jail,--for the lockup of those days was not the trim affair of steel
and iron seen to-day,--the unrepentant jackies built for themselves a
barricade, and, snugly entrenched behind it, shouted out bold defiance
to any and all who should come to take them. The jail authorities had
committed the foolish error of neglecting to disarm the prisoners when
they were captured; and, as each had a brace of ugly pistols in his
belt, the position of the two behind their barricade was r