 On October 11 , Arnold drew the British fleet to a position he had carefully chosen to limit their advantages . In the battle that followed , many of the American ships were damaged or destroyed . That night , Arnold sneaked the American fleet past the British one , beginning a retreat toward Crown Point and Ticonderoga . Unfavorable weather hampered the American retreat , and more of the fleet was either captured or grounded and burned before it could reach Crown Point . Upon reaching Crown Point Arnold had the fort 's buildings burned and retreated to Ticonderoga . 
