Revolutionary War 6-pounder cannonball recovered from shipwreck at Lake Champlain

This is another rare item out of a 60-year collection of Revolutionary War/French and Indian War artillery. It is a Revolutionary War 6-pounder solid-shot cannonball.  It weighs 5.8 pounds and has a diameter of 3 ¾”. It would have been fired from a 6-pounder cannon – used by both sides during the war (see pictures). It was found many years ago near a sunken ship in Lake Champlain, NY. This area was called the Battle of Valcour Island.

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.

As you can see in the pictures, the body of the ball has crustation, but absolutely no chipping or flaking – very solid.  Much of this was caused by being under water for so many years.

This collection began in the late 1950s and was created by private acquisitions, closed museums, diggers, and lake divers. The collector meticulously displayed and cataloged every piece along with its provenance. His markings were crude at the time, but now they have proved to be very important. Many of the pieces went through electrolysis to remove crusted rust.

This is the first time this ball 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.  You can also feel free to take advantage of the very friendly layaway available.