for thirty-five hundred men, six men to a tent: a proportionable number of bell tents: officers’ tents: tents for two General Officers and their suits: 15 casks of twenty-four penny nails: 10 casks of twenty penny: 15 casks of ten penny: 1000 weight of spike nails: 1 ton of oakum: 30 barrels of pitch: 300 felling axes, exclusive of those for the camp use of the soldiers: 200 bill hooks: 200 spades: 200 shovels: 150 pick-axes: 20 crowbars: 20 mason’s trowels: 20 mason’s hammers: 2 ton of bar iron: 500 weight of steel: 100 set of men’s harness—I believe there is some in Connecticut: 3 set of gunsmith’s tools, exclusive of those for the regimental armourer: 3 set of blacksmith’s tools: 50 broad-axes: 20 whip-saws: 20 crosscut saws: 4 sets of block and tackles, strong: 50 weight of twine: 4 fishing nets with ropes: 10 bolts of sail cloth: 50 oil cloths, well painted: 1500 oars, twelve, fourteen, and sixteen feet long: 500 fathom of tarred rope for painters, for boats: 1/2 ton of tarred rope, sorted; 4 chests of carpenter’s tools: 28 mill saws for Dutch mills: 7 mill saws for English mills: 5 dozen mill saw files: an assortment of articles in the artillery way: paper: shot canisters: fusees: one dozen lime sieves: 50 small truck carriages, if they are ready made here: 10 carriages for field-pieces, if they are ready made here necessaries for a hospital: three months’ provisions for four thousand men—much of the meat kind to be fresh, as it may be drove to the Army, and save the heavy expense of transportation: whatever arms can be spared: 20 grass scythes: flints.

COMMITTEE OF SECRECY (NEW-YORK) TO MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS

New-York, July 3, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We think it necessary to inform you, that by a vessel lately arrived from Greenock, in Scotland, we have an extract from a letter from a gentleman there, informing his correspondents here that a considerable quantity of goods was shipped in the Glasgow Packet, Captain Porterfield, who sailed from that port in April last, bound for Salem, As the vessel in all probability must be arrived, we hope that the Committee of that place have been attentive to their duty; they are marked for the use of the Army, we fear they may have passed unnoticed, notwithstanding the greatest vigilance.

We are, Gentlemen, your most obedient servants,

JOHN IMLAY,
DANIEL PHENIX,

Members of the Committee of Secrecy and Inspection.

PETER T. CURTENIUS (COMMISSARY) TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, July 3, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I have made an inquiry about the articles the Congress gave me an order for, and find that I can get coarse cloth, of different colours like the patterns, for two battalions, at seven shillings and six pence, to eight shillings per yard, and a few of them from eleven to thirteen shillings per yard, which last will do for sergeants’ coats; if you think the colours differ too much, they can be dyed a dark brown at one shilling and six pence per yard. Mr. Pey, one of your members, can inform you whether it is too much. As to blue cloth, I can get enough for two battalions more, that is, if the Congress will permit Robert and John Murray to take fifteen or sixteen pieces blue strouds out of their store at Elizabethtown.

Muskets that are good I find very scarce; not fifty ready made that are good for any thing. I might get about one hundred made in a month, at eighty or eighty-two shillings a piece.

Raven’s duck, none to be had as yet; but I can get about seventy pieces drilling, at two shillings and four pence per yard, which is eight pence higher than I gave for duck; and ten pieces Russia sheeting, very stout, at five pounds, ten shillings per piece, which is about three shillings per yard, but then it is a quarter of a yard wider than duck or drilling.

Canteens I can get ready made, about twenty-five hundred, of Mr. Levy, at one shilling a piece, but I would not venture theme, as they are something tarnished, until the Sub-Committee view them first; new ones will cost one shilling and six pence.

English spades, none to be had; socket spades can be made by our blacksmiths, which are better than English ones.

Lead in bars, none to be had. Shot I can get at forty-four shillings per hundred weight; but I can get bullets cast to any size that shall he wanted, at fifty shillings per hundred weight, which is cheaper than shot at forty-four shillings, because it wastes fourteen pounds per hundred weight.

Flints, cartouch paper, gun-worms, screw-drivers, camp kettles, haversacks, hatchets, felling axes, and pick-axes, I can get the whole quantity.

I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

PETER T. CLTRTENUJS.

S. PATIUCK TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Orange Furnace, July 3, 1775.

HONOURED SIRS: The subscriber having a furnaee in New-York Province, now in blast, would engage to make and deliver iron ball, of any given dimensions, any where on the North River where he can with safety land them, at fifteen Pounds per ton; and as the furnace is in blast, he would execute any order he might be favoured with expeditiously; and is, Gentlemen, your humble servant,

S. PATRICK.

The Honourable the Provincial Congress, assembled at New-York.

COLONEL HINMAN TO ’NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Ticonderoga, July 3, 1775.

I would inform you that Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Mott, who is appointed Engineer by the Colony of Connecticut, arrived here yesterday. He has taken a survey of the fortresses at Fort George and this place, and is of the opinion that they are altogether indefensible, should an attempt be made with artillery. Should a number of troops, arrive from Canada sufficient to keep the field, (a thing not improbable,) these posts must consequence fall into their hands. You will therefore see the necessity of an augmentation of troops being immediately sent, as well as a supply of gunpowder, of which we are almost destitute. The importance of maintaining these posts for the benefit of your Province in particular, and of the united Colonies in general, is such, that no arguments need be used to enforce the speedy execution of some wise and spirited measures for their defence.

It is my opinion that a sufficient number of troops should be stationed at Fort George, with a constant scouting party, in order to prevent any sudden attack from the enemy, and to keep open a safe communication with Albany. I purpose forthwith to throw up an intrenchment around the redoubt at Crown Point, in order to render the place more defensible.

My men are daily on fatigue, in repairing bridges, mending highways, removing the cannon; and other necessary employments, so that you will readily see how inadequate my numbers are to the performance of all these duties, with that speed and safety the necessity of the case requires.

I think it is absolutely necessary that a Captain’s company, of those intended for this department, with suitable implements, be immediately directed to repair the roads and bridges in their way to Fort George, since it will be impracticable for the wagons to pass much longer, in the wretched condition they are in at present, especially that part between the Half-Moon and Fort George.

The troops to be forwarded should be furnished with tents, a thing of absolute necessity, inasmuch as the barracks are more crowded already than is either for the convenience or health of the soldiery. Sundry gentlemen, of late, have made application to pass these posts with letters of recommendation from the several Congresses. I should therefore think it proper that the letters they bring with them should be certified, as to their number, and to whom directed, in order to prevent the communication of any intelligence which might disserve the interest of the united Colonies.

Captain Edward Mott, who will wait on you with this,