“This book must be on the shelf of anyone who is interested in our struggle for independence, a war we should not have won against the strongest nation on earth, but did.” --Sea History “A suspenseful, vivid account.” --Wall Street Journal “Nelson’s finely written narrative is a winner.” --Naval History “James Nelson is a master both of his period and of the English language.” --Patrick O’Brian, author of Master & Commander Covering one of history’s great “tipping point”battles, Benedict Arnold’s Navy recounts the courageous and exemplary campaign of Arnold and hiscobbled-together fleet of “ships” against a much superior British force in the Battle of Valcour Island(Lake Champlain) in October 1776.This landmark book shows how Arnold’s fearless leadership against staggering odds in a northern wilderness secured for America the independence that he would later try to betray.