Lake Champlain

Under orders to destroy American supplies and positions along Lake Champlain, Maj. Christopher Carleton along with Loyalist Rangers and allied Native Americans, began a raiding expedition on October 24, 1778.  Arriving at Plumie’s Point on November 6, Carleton’s force marched inland raiding and destroying supplies and farms on their route as they marched to present day Middlebury, Moore’s Sawmill, and Monkton. The raid ended on November 10, 1778 having captured 39 prisoners and destroyed multitude American supplies, mills, and farms.

Carleton's Raid was generally ignored by American forces which were heavily engaged farther south at the time. However, it was the most successful of a number of such raids into the Champlain Valley from the British strongholds in Canada. The cause for these raids was the British belief that the settlers in the region might aid or supply American troops. These preventive strikes were not unfounded; the Americans were planning an attack on Canada. Consequently, Carleton's Raid is significant as an exemplar of the hardships of civilians outside of the major theatres of war, as well as the strategic wrangling that took place along the border between the United States and Canada.