Arnold escaped in the night. The squadron pursued, and on the morning of
the 13th overtook him, within a few leagues of Crown Point. After a
running fight of two hours the four headmost vessels of the enemy
succeeded in reaching Crown Point, and sheltering themselves in the
narrow part of the lake beyond it. Two others, the _Washington_ and
_Jersey_, were taken; and the rest were run on shore and burnt by their
own crews. The enemy then set fire to their works on Crown Point, and
abandoned it.

The _Carleton's_ action on the 11th, which certainly was never surpassed
for gallantry and conduct, obtained for her crew the credit they so well
deserved. Lieutenant Dacres, who recovered sufficiently to go home with
the despatches, received promotion as soon as he arrived in England, and
was honoured with a personal interview with the king. He rose to be a
vice-admiral. How Mr. Pellew's services in this, his first action, were
appreciated by his superior officers is best told in their own words. In
a few days, Sir Charles Douglas, the senior officer at Quebec, to whose
command all the Lake service was subordinate, sent him the following
letter:--


"Isis, Quebec, Oct. 30th, 1776.

"SIR,--The account I have received of your behaviour on board the
_Carleton_, in the different actions on the Lakes, gives me the
warmest satisfaction, and I shall not fail to represent it in the
strongest terms to the Earl of Sandwich and my Lord Howe, and
recommend you as deserving a commission for your gallantry; and as
Lieutenant Dacres, your late commander, will no doubt obtain rank