 When the sun set on October 11 , the battle had clearly gone against the Americans . Most of the American ships were damaged or sinking , and the crews reported around 60 casualties . The British reported around 40 casualties on their ships . Aware that he could not defeat the British fleet , Arnold decided to try reaching the cover of Fort Crown Point , about 35 miles ( 56 km ) to the south . Under the cover of a dark and foggy night , the fleet , with muffled oars and minimal illumination , threaded its way through a gap about one mile ( 1 @.@ 6 km ) wide between the British ships and the western shore , where Indian campfires burned . By morning , they had reached Schuyler Island , about 8 miles ( 13 km ) up the lake . Carleton , upset that the Americans had escaped him , immediately sent his fleet around Valcour Island to find them . Realizing the Americans were not there , he regrouped his fleet and sent scouts to find Arnold . 
