Introducing the USS Boston, a 1776 gundalow from the Continental Navy, now brought to life as a TaleSpire slab for your role-playing adventures, shared with the Tales Tavern community. Built in 1776 at Skenesborough (modern-day Whitehall, New York), the USS Boston was part of the small fleet assembled under General Benedict Arnold to defend Lake Champlain against British forces during the American Revolution. This flat-bottomed, shallow-draft vessel participated in the pivotal Battle of Valcour Island on October 11–13, 1776, where it helped delay the British advance, buying critical time for the American cause despite the fleet’s eventual defeat.

Historically, the USS Boston measured 53 feet 9 inches (16.38 meters) in length, with a broad beam typical of gundalows—likely around 15–20 feet (4.5–6 meters)—designed for stability on lakes and rivers. It was armed with one 12-pounder cannon, two 9-pounders, and eight swivel guns, making it a formidable gun platform for its size. The crew of 45 included sailors and gunners adept at navigating and fighting in confined waters. Gundalows like the Boston were workhorses of inland waterways, often rigged with a single lateen sail or propelled by oars.

In this TaleSpire adaptation, the USS Boston has been scaled up from its real-world dimensions to enhance usability in-game. The enlarged deck accommodates TaleSpire’s mechanics, improving movement and tactical options for players during lake skirmishes, river ambushes, or Revolutionary War reenactments. This slab merges historical authenticity with practical design, offering a unique and versatile vessel for your Tales Tavern RPG campaigns.