in Albany, found them very deficient, according to the act of the Colony of Connecticut; on which I immediately applied to the Committee, who told me they had no orders to purchase; but some of them gave me, as their private advice, to purchase according to act of said Colony, whose advice I followed, and have purchased about three hundred barrels of flour, thirty barrels of molasses, some rum, sugar, vinegar, &c., and some hospital stores; which I have done on the credit of the United Colonies of North America; would therefore take it as a great favour, if I could have from your Honours a sum of money sufficient to discharge said debts, and also to supply the Army with other necessaries, and pay wagoners, &c., as they complain much for want of money, which I suppose would be much for the advantage of the cause we are embarked in, and to the honour of your humble servant; which business you may depend will be done with as much spirit and despatch as possible.

I have thought proper, as a part of my duty, to make return of the provision received and forwarded, as I have done to his Honour the Governour of Connecticut, and to the Provincial Congress of New-York and Massachusetts-Bay. Whilst, honoured gentlemen, I think I am doing my duty in the cause of my country, I am, with the greatest respect, your humble servant, at command,

ELISHA PHELPS.

To the Honourable Continental Congress.

Return of Provisions, &c., forwarded to the Northern Army by ELISHA PHELPS, Commissary, from the 3d day of JULY, 1775, to the 20 th of JULY, 1775, inclusive:

Received, 32 barrels of pork: 507 barrels of flour: 49 bushels of Indian meal: 10 tierces of rice: 7 tierces and 15 barrels of peas: 260 gallons of rum: 50 ferkins of butter: 3 barrels of sugar: 56½ barrels of molasses: 3 barrels of vinegar: 150 weight of chocolate: 40 camp kettles; 6 brass kettles: 12 iron pots and kettles: 86 hatchets: 50 Indian blankets: 1 box of pick-axes: 14 quires of paper: 4 saddles and bridles: 12 barrels of salt: 21 casks of nails: 20 barrels of pitch: 2 tons of bar iron.

Forwarded, 24 barrels of pork: 371 barrels of flour: 9 bushels of Indian meal: 10 tierces of rice: 7 tierces and 15 barrels of peas: 260 gallons of rum: 50 ferkins of butter: 3 barrels of sugar: 56½ barrels of molasses: 3 barrels of vinegar: 150 weight of chocolate: 40 camp kettles: 6 brass kettles: 12 iron pots and kettles: 86 hatchets: 50 Indian blankets: 1 box of pick-axes: 14 quires of paper: 3 saddles and bridles: 11 barrels of salt: 5 casks of nails: 5 barrels of pitch.

On hand, 8 barrels of pork: 40 bushels of Indian meal: 1 saddle and bridle: 1 barrel of salt: 16 casks of nails: 15 barrels of pitch: 2 tons of bar iron.

Errours excepted:

ELISHA PHELPS, Commissary.

Albany, July 21, 1775.

JOHN N. BLEECKER TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Albany, July 21, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Although I intimated in mine of the 3d instant, that I would soon transmit accounts of the expenses in my department here, yet it is not in my power at present to give such an exact state of the charges as I could wish, as several accounts have not yet been delivered in for provisions, &c., supplied for the Provincial service. But being desirous to render accounts, under these circumstances I enclose you general accounts of stores and provisions received, purchased on credit, forwarded, issued, &c. You have also enclosed an account of expenses, so far as have come to my hands, by which a balance of £1,225 remains due, which I have in some measure engaged would be soon paid; and as those with whom the debts are contracted make daily application to me for money, in particular the wagoners, who have been employed, and intimate, that unless their demands are satisfied very soon they must decline riding, since they have not wherewith to purchase hard fodder for their horses, I therefore hope you will be pleased to put it in my power to fulfil my promises, by furnishing me with a sufficient sum of money to discharge the above-mentioned balance; and all publick moneys which have or may be delivered into my hands, I shall account for in a future settlement, by producing such vouchers for disbursements as I doubt not will meet your approbation.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient, and most humble servant,

JOHN N. BLEECKER.

P. V. B. Livingston, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

[Read September 13, 1775.]

Ticonderoga, July 21. 1775.

SIR: I arrived here early on Tuesday morning, the 18th instant, having been detained at Fort George and the Landing in giving directions and making preparations to keep up the communication, that the provision and stores for the Army may be forwarded without interruption, whenever they shall be sent.

I cannot find that any intelligence has been received from Canada, on which any great dependance can be made; yet accounts from all quarters agree that the Canadians are friendly to us; that they refuse to assist General Carleton; and that the Indians will remain neuter. I have great reason to believe it is so.

A Canadian, who left Canada thirteen days ago, informs me that a large body of Indians had come there; that Governour Carleton attempted to engage them to fight against us; that he believed he would have little success; that some of the young men inclined to take up the hatchet, but that the elderly men opposed it; that the Canadians will not act against us, some of the noblesse and very lower kind excepted; that timber was preparing on the north side of the St. John’s to construct some craft; that he saw nothing of a floating battery; that they have thrown up lines strengthened with a chevaux-de-frise, a picketed ditch and abattis; that about a league on this side they have an advanced guard of fifty men, covered by a small intrenchment.

This, then, is the time to gain intelligence with certainty by going to St. John’s with a respectable body, giving the Canadians to understand, when we arrive there, that we mean nothing more than to prevent the regular Troops from getting a naval strength, and interrupting the friendly intercourse that has subsisted between us and them. But, unfortunately, not one earthly thing has been done here to enable me to move hence; I have neither boats sufficient, nor any materials’ prepared for building them. The stores I ordered from New-York are not yet arrived. I have therefore not a nail, no pitch, no oakum, and want a variety of articles indispensably necessary, which I estimated and delivered to the New-York Congress on the 3d inst. An almost equal scarcity of ammunition subsists, no powder having yet come to hand; not a gun-carriage for the few proper guns we have; and as yet very little provision; two hundred Troops less than by my last return, these badly, very badly armed indeed; and one poor armourer to repair their guns.

Armourers and armourers’ tools, I had also ordered up, but not yet arrived. However, I believe the New-York Congress have sent off the articles I requested of them; if so, I shall probably soon have them here. I shall not delay a moment in making the necessary preparations to move, agreeably to the orders you have been pleased to give me. Since my arrival I have repaired one saw mill, and given directions to do the same with another. The first will begin to work on Sunday, the other can only begin when the saws arrive, which are amongst the other things I have ordered from New-York.

Until the stores from New-York arrive, I shall employ my carpenters (about thirty in number, exclusive of what I may get out of the Troops) in procuring timber and plank for the boats, &c., &c.

Although I made not a moment’s delay in issuing the necessary orders, agreeably to your resolutions, and those of the New-York Congress, for levying five hundred of the Green Mountain Boys, yet nothing has been done by that people, occasioned by disputes and jealousies among themselves, on the appointment of officers. Messrs. Allen and Warner have both been here, and left this only yesterday. They wish to appoint the officers themselves, and have applied to me for that purpose; but your orders are positive, and the people averse to it.

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