will give you farther information to whatever questions you will think proper to ask, as to the state and condition of these fortresses, and will forward any commands you will think proper to send.

I am, Sir, with respect, your very humble servant,

BENJAMIN HINMAN, Colonel.

To Peter V. B. Livingston, President of the Provincial Congress, New-York.

WALTER SPOONER TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

Springfield, July 3, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOURS: The Congress of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, on the 14th day of June last, appointed Walter Spooner, Jedediah Foster, and James Sullivan, a Committee to repair to the Fortresses of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, on the Lake Champlain, to inquire into the importance of holding those posts, and the method by which they may be maintained; to establish, in the pay of said Colony, so many men to defend the same posts as they should judge necessary, not exceeding four hundred. And the said Committee were also by the said Congress directed, when they should have made themselves fully acquainted with the situation and importance of said posts, respectfully to signify their thoughts thereon to your Honours.

Wherefore, by order of said Committee, I take leave to inform you, that it is the opinion, of said Committee, that such is the importance of those fortresses, that should they once be in the hands of the enemies to America, the Colony of New-York, together with the New-England Colonies, would be in continual danger of having depredations committed on them by the regular forces who would be possessed of those garrisons; and should the Canadians and savages (who we hope are not yet at enmity with us) be inclined to take part with the Ministerial Army, the distress of the Colonies before-mentioned must be extremely great.

A garrison at the south end of Lake George, however tenable, could be of but little service to the New-England Colonies; because the most easy route for an army from Quebeck into New-England, would be through Lake Champlain to South-Bay, from whence they might travel by land through the new settlements of New-York into the New-England Governments, and destroy the frontier Towns on their march; drive the farmers from their fields; prevent the large supplies of wheat and other necessaries, which may soon be expected from those new settlements; send distress and famine into the bowels of the country; and all this without being on a right line within many miles of the south end, of Lake George.

I am also ordered by said Committee to signify to your Honours that it is the opinion of said Committee that the defence of those fortresses must be supported by holding the command of Lake Champlain, which they conceive may be more easily done by having vessels of various constructions, well manned, armed, and floating there; for which purpose the Committee have stationed four hundred men there, which are all that the embarrassed circumstances of our Colony can at present admit of, to co-operate with near a thousand under the command of Colonel Hinman, who is sent to those posts by the Government of Connecticut. But whether the forces now on the lake are sufficient for the purposes aforementioned, your Honours will judge.

I am, with due respect, in behalf of said Committee, your Honours’ most obedient humble servant,

WALTER SPOONER.

To the Hon. President and Members of the American Congress now sitting at Philadelphia.

WALTER SPOONER TO THE NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Springfield, July 3, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Notwithstanding the many calamities that the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay now struggles under, the Congress there are resolutely determined to leave nothing within their power undone which may have a probable tendency to preserve the rights and property of the American Colonies. In pursuance of this resolution, they, on the 14th day of June last, appointed a Committee, whereof I have the honour to be chairman, to proceed to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, to inquire into the importance of holding these posts; and among other things, beg leave to signify to you their thoughts on the subject. The Committee have made those inquiries, as they were directed, and have ordered me to take leave to inform you that it is their opinion, that should the fortresses on Lake Champlain fall into the hands of our enemies, the Colony of New-York, with the New-England Colonies, must be in the utmost insecurity; for the enemy might land at the southern end of a part of the waters of Lake Champlain, called South-Bay, from whence, as Fort Edward is razed to the foundation, there is nothing to check them, or prevent them spreading fire and devastation down to Albany, and over all the frontier Towns eastward, in New-York and the New-England Colonies.

Wherefore, it is the opinion of the Committee, that all possible care ought to be taken to keep the command of Lake Champlain, which, perhaps, may be more easily effected by armed vessels of various constructions, than otherwise.

The Committee have established on the lakes, in the pay of the Massachusetts Colony, four hundred effective men, with proper officers, which are all that the distressed state of the Colony can at present admit of; which Regiment, from the peculiar embarrassment which that Colony is now labouring under, must look for present supplies of provisions to the Colony of New-York.

While the Committee were at the posts above mentioned, there was a dangerous mutiny set on foot by some persons employed by Colonel Arnold, an officer of our Colony, who appeared to have their own interest more at heart than the publick good, which, had it not been for the influence and well-timed exertions of Judge Duer, a gentleman of the County of Charlotte, in your Colony, and the principal officers of the Connecticut Forces, might have been attended with fatal consequences. As the Committee suppose the Colony they serve to be under great obligations to that worthy gentleman, they cannot but inform his own Government of his zealous exertions for the publick good.

I am, with due respect, in behalf of the Committee, your most obedient humble servant,

WALTER SPOONER.

To the Hon. President and Members of the Convention of the Colony of New-York.

WALTER SPOONER TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Springfield, July 3, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: When the Congress of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay were informed that your Government had sent Colonel Hinman to Lake Champlain, with a thousand men, to defend the important posts there, it was with the deepest concern that they saw he was not Commander-in-chief of those fortresses and their appendages, and immediately despatched a Committee, whereof I have the honour to be chairman, to let the commander Of their forces know, that it was the expectation of our Congress, that the Commander-in-Chief of the Connecticut forces should be over our officers and privates. The Committee was also ordered respectfully to signify to your Honour their opinion of the necessity of holding those fortresses, as also of the most expedient method to do it.

Whereupon, they proceeded, and at Crown Point let Colonel Arnold know that it was expected he should give up the command of the garrisons, &c., to Colonel Hinman, and be under him as his chief officer there; but he declined it, and declared that he would not be second to any man, disbanded his Forces, and resigned his commission. A majority of his men engaged anew under Colonel James Easton, who the Committee appointed, under the Commander of the forces of your Government, on the lakes to be regulated by your martial law. And the Committee left the garrisons and appendages in peace, with much satisfaction, commanded by Colonel Hinman, who, they are confident, is fully equal to the appointment.

The Committee also order me to inform your Honour, that it is their, opinion, that the abandoning the posts on Lake Champlain would probably prove the utter ruin of the New-England Governments; and that they apprehend armed vessels, floating batteries, &c., will be the surest