USS Enterprise (1775)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
|
|
| Name: | Enterprise |
| Operator: | Continental Navy |
| Acquired: | Captured 18 May 1775 (as George) |
| Fate: | Burned to prevent capture, 7 July 1777 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Sloop-of-war |
| Tonnage: | 70 long tons (71 tonnes) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Sail plan: | topsail schooner |
| Complement: | 50 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: |
|
| Service record | |
| Commanders: | Col. Benedict Arnold |
| Operations: | |
USS Enterprise was a Continental Navy sloop-of-war that served in Lake Champlain during the American Revolutionary War. She is the first of a long and prestigious line of United States Navy ships to bear the name Enterprise.
Enterprise was originally a British topsail schooner (classified as a "sloop-of-war" by the Royal Navy, not to be confused with an actual sloop, which has only a single mast) named George, built at St. Johns (now Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) in Quebec, Canada.
In May 1775, a small American force under Colonel Benedict Arnold sailed up the Richelieu River on the recently captured Liberty. At 07:00 on 18 May, Arnold and 35 raiders captured the fort and shipyards at St. Johns, along with the newly launched George, with no loss of life. The unlaunched schooner Royal Savage was also at the shipyard, and would be captured by the Americans later that year. Two hours later Arnold's raiders left with the newly captured sloop, which was later armed with 12 guns and renamed Enterprise.
Enterprise was, at first, the most significant warship in the Lake Champlain squadron — which was charged with maintaining American control of the lake early in the war — and at times she acted as flagship for Colonel Arnold. Control of Lake Champlain and the adjoining Hudson River would have enabled the British to cut off vital supply routes between New England and the other colonies, and it would have allowed British troops to cross and attack Albany.
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