RARE - Revolutionary War Wooden Cannonball Sabot, recovered at Lake Champlain, NY (SOLD)

This is another rare piece coming out of a 60-year collection of French & Indian War/Revolutionary War artillery. Being offered is a Revolutionary War wooden artillery shell sabot. It has a diameter of 4 1/4” and stands 3 ½” high. This would have been fired from a 12-pounder cannon – used by both sides during the war (see pictures). It was recovered many years ago from the shore of Lake Champlain. This area was called the Battle of Valcour Island.

The 18th-century sabot round was a means of firing shells over flat trajectories from muzzle-loading guns. Previously shells could only be fired at low velocities with elevated, plunging fire, but the invention of the sabot round did not initially solve the problem of early detonation. The sabot acted to absorb some of the shock of discharge and improve obturation. There is a similar one on display at the Ticonderoga Museum which was recovered there during restorations (see pictures).

Valcour Island is on the western side of Lake Champlain between the present-day states of Vermont and New York. On October 11, 1776, the British fleet under the overall command of Guy Carleton traveled south on Lake Champlain from their supply base at St. John. Benedict Arnold was waiting in Valcour Bay, hidden from the British view until they rounded the island.

In the subsequent three-day battle, the British destroyed or captured 11 of the 15 Patriot boats. While a resounding tactical victory, the British were unable to capitalize on their control of Lake Champlain to capture Fort Ticonderoga. After a desultory probe, Carleton led his forces back to Canada for the winter. This battle was the only ‘fleet on fleet” naval battle of the Revolutionary war between British and Patriot ships.

Revolutionary War sabots are extremely rare, in fact this was only one of two out of this massive collection – much rarer than cannonballs. If there were any around, they would just be used as firewood. This one shows its age, but being made of hardwood, it is a very solid piece.

This collection began in the late 1950s and was created by private acquisitions, closed museums, and from lake divers. The collector meticulously displayed and cataloged every piece along with its provenance. His markings were crude at the time, but now have proved to be very important.

This is the first time this sabot has been on the open market, and it is truly a great piece of early American History. It definitely merits a place in an advanced collection or museum. As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included. As with all items on the website, the very friendly layaway is available.