found them in a very defenceless state; and, consulting with Colonel Hinman, were of opinion, upon the whole, that it is necessary to retain in the service of this Colony, for the present, the number of four hundred men.

As the Committee were informed, from intelligence from Canada, that preparations were making, and all endeavours used to bring over the Canadians and savages to be inimical to these Colonies, your Committee having found Captain Noble at the Point, with a number of men who had been under said Arnold, willing to engage in the service, we paid to said Noble one hundred Pounds, to be delivered to the men as advance pay, and appointed Mr. William Satterlee, a worthy man, to muster them and their arms, and took Captain Noble’s and Satterlee’s receipt for the same, and their promise to apply it for that purpose, which is herewith submitted.

Your Committee returning to Ticonderoga, and Colonel Easton being there, they paid into his hands the sum of two hundred and eighty Pounds, to be applied for the purpose aforesaid, and took his receipt and promise so to do, and appointed Mr. Jonas Fay, a respectable person, to muster the men and their arms, all except Captain Noble’s Company. We also paid into the hands of one Remember Baker, said to be a good officer, who engaged a certain number of men under Colonel Easton, the sum of twenty Pounds, and took his receipt and promise to apply said money as advance pay to said men, which completes the whole of the money delivered to said Committee for the purposes aforesaid.

Your Committee have engaged to Colonel Easton that the remaining part of the advance pay should be immediately sent to him.

Your Committee found that as soon as Colonel Arnold had disbanded his men, some of them became dissatisfied and mutinous, and many of them signified to the Committee that they had been informed that they were to be defrauded out of the pay for past services. The Committee, in order to quiet them, engaged under their hands, in behalf of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, that as soon as the rolls should be made up and properly authenticated, they should be paid for their past services, and all those who should engage anew should have the same bounty and wages as is promised to those men who serve within said Colony.

Your Committee inquired of Mr. Henry Bleecker, of Albany, how the men at those posts were supplied with provisions, who informed that he acted under his brother, who was a Commissioner of Supplies from New-York; that all the men at those stations, of whatsoever Colony, were supplied by him without distinction, and that he should continue so to do until otherwise directed.

Your Committee appointed Timothy Edwards and Samuel Brown, Esquires, a Committee to supply the men under Colonel Easton’s command with such necessaries as should not be supplied from New-York, and appointed Captain Elisha Phelps to act as Commissary under them, to deal out to the men whatsoever should be supplied by the said Edwards and Brown.

Your Committee being of the opinion that a Major should be appointed under Colonel Easton, and one Surgeon to the battalion, and having inquired into the disposition of the officers and men who have engaged, have appointed John Brown, Esquire, as Major, and Mr. Jonas Fay as Surgeon.

Your Committee, when they had received Colonel Arnold’s resignation, directed him to return to Congress, and render an account of his proceedings, agreeable to their instructions, a copy of which order is herewith submitted.

Your Committee made an examination of the military stores at those posts, a schedule whereof is herewith delivered, excepting some leaden and iron ball and old chains, which have been dug out of the ruins of Crown Point fort.

Your Committee finding that the men at those stations had not a sufficiency of gunpowder to defend the posts, and upon a careful inquiry could not find any at Albany, have directed said Committee of Supplies to supply them with two hundred weight from some of the town stocks in the County of Berkshire, on the credit of the Colony.

Your Committee are of opinion that the maintaining of those posts is of the utmost importance to the security of the Colony of New-York and the New-England Colonies, which was a sufficient inducement to the Committee to continue in the pay of this Colony the number of men before mentioned. The fortress not being at present tenable, there must be a sufficient number of men to command the lake, and prevent the enemy from landing.

Your Committee are of opinion that the best security of those posts in their present state is, by armed vessels of various constructions to be kept constantly cruising on the lake, and small boats with swivel guns to act as scouts, which will effectually prevent the army from sudden surprise.

Your Committee have, agreeable to their instructions, advised the honourable American Congress, the honourable Convention of the Colony of New-York, and the Governour of Connecticut, by respectfully signifying to them their opinion of the importance of the maintaining those posts, and the measures for effectuating the same. All which is humbly submitted.

WALTER SPOONER, by order.

Copy of the Warrant to BROWN and EDWARDS.

The Committee appointed by the Congress of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay to appoint a Committee to supply the troops stationed by said Colony at Ticonderoga and Crown Point with provisions, &c., do hereby appoint you, the said Edwards and Brown, to supply said troops, on the credit of the said Colony, with blankets, if they should require them, according to the establishment for the Colony’s Army, and with such provisions not supplied by the Colony of New-York as shall be necessary, according to the establishment of the Government of Connecticut for their forces at those posts; and you are hereby directed to send such provisions as you shall make for the said Colony’s troops to . . . . . . . ., who is appointed a Commissary there to receive the same, and deal them out to the said troops. And for all which this shall be your sufficient warrant, until some future Congress or House of Representatives shall otherwise order.

Order of the Committee to Colonel ARNOLD.

Crown Point, June 23, 1775.

SIR: You having signified to the Committee who are appointed and directed by the Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts-Bay to inquire into the state of the fortresses at Crown Point, Ticonderoga, &c., and the appendages thereof, your resolution to resign all your command of the said fortresses, and the vessels and stores thereunto belonging, for reasons under your hand expressed:

This is to inform you, that it is the expectation of the Provincial Congress aforesaid, that chief officer of the Connecticut forces at those stations will command the same for the present; and the Committee accordingly expect that you conform yourself to the directions of said Congress in that behalf, and deliver the same to chief officer of the Connecticut forces, or his order, for which this shall be your authority. The Committee expect that you will, as soon as may be, lay an account of your disbursements before the Provincial Congress, agreeable to our instructions, a copy whereof is lodged with you.

By order of the Committee.

Colonel Benedict Arnold.

Colonel ARNOLD’S refusal to serve any longer.

Crown Point, June 24, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Your instructions of the 14th instant from the Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts-Bay, in regard to my conduct here, being now before me, I will answer in course.

In the first place, I observe you are appointed to examine my conduct, and in what manner I have executed my commission. I look on this instruction at this juncture as unprecedented, and a very plain intimation that the Congress are dubious of my rectitude or abilities, which is a sufficient inducement for me to decline serving them longer.

Secondly, the Congress have authorized you to judge of my spirit, capacity, and conduct, and determine whether I shall continue in commission, and if so, that I shall be under the command of a person appointed by the Colony of Connecticut. In answer to the first part, it appears to me very extraordinary that the Congress should first appoint an