1. On 5 Feb. 1776 the Continental Congress granted a request from Schuyler that Jacobus Wynkoop (1721–1795), a captain in the 4th New York Regiment who had frequently been master of merchant ships and had served in the French and Indian War in both land and naval departments, be employed in the fleet of armed vessels that Schuyler was outfitting on Lake Champlain. Although Congress made Wynkoop a subordinate to William Douglass, who was designated commodore on Lake Champlain, it became evident during March that Douglass was very reluctant to act and that Wynkoop would not serve under him. On 13 April the New York committee of safety, wishing to expedite matters, ordered Wynkoop to enlist sailors in New York City and proceed north to take temporary command of the vessels on Lake Champlain. The Continental Congress endorsed the committee’s action on 2 May by empowering Schuyler to appoint Wynkoop to the command in place of Douglass, which Schuyler did five days later (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 4:111, 322; N.Y. Prov. Congress Journals description begins Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of Safety, and Council of Safety of the State of New-York, 1775–1776–1777. 2 vols. Albany, 1842. (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records). description ends , 1:364, 371–72, 382, 408, 418, 425–26). Wynkoop continued in that capacity until August when Benedict Arnold was named commander on Lake Champlain over Wynkoop. Unaware of being superseded, or so he later claimed, Wynkoop thwarted Arnold’s orders to two vessels by firing across their bows to stop their movement. In the ensuing dispute Wynkoop was arrested and dismissed from the service (see Arnold to Wynkoop, 17 Aug., Wynkoop to Gates, 17 Aug., and Wynkoop’s Memorial, 27 Aug. 1776, in Clark and Morgan, Naval Documents description begins William Bell Clark et al., eds. Naval Documents of the American Revolution. 12 vols. to date. Washington, D.C., 1964–. description ends , 6:215–17, 317–22). Schuyler reinstated Wynkoop at Fort George in March 1777, however, and employed him in building two armed schooners there. In May 1778 Wynkoop was directed to prepare bateaux to defend the Hudson River.