would seasonably communicate the same to us. You will perceive by our Delegates, honoured Sir, that the County have nominated sundry gentlemen, as the most qualified persons for Field-Officers in this County. I would desire they might all be commissioned except myself. I desire it upon political principles.

I am, with great respect, your most obedient humble servant,

JAMES ROGERS.

The Honourable P. V. B. Livingston, Esq.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER IN THE NEW-YORK SERVICE, DATED AT THE CARRYING PLACE NEAR TICONDEROGA, SEPTEMBER 14, 1775.

I have the pleasure to inform you that I have at length reached this place, with all my people, having been so fortunate as not to have left one of them on the way. They are a parcel of hearty lads, and, from some circumstances that have occurred, I flatter myself they will not turn their noses from the smell of gunpowder in the day of trial, which is near at hand, as we intend setting off to-morrow morning, on our way to Isle-aux-Noix, where I understand they are impatiently waiting our coming, in order to make an attack on the Fort which the Regulars have erected at St. John’s. We are so much wanted there, that the boats are ordered to be in readiness to receive the Company under my command, in preference to all others. It is said the Canadians have positively refused to take any part at all in the dispute. I fancy they are a good deal like . . . ., and intend to join the strongest party, although they now supply both with provisions for the ready penny. We have met with nothing but difficulties and embarrassments at every post on our way.

The Troops have been much retarded, for want of boats, &c., &c., and some are still detained on that account. I am in perfect good health, which I pray God to continue, till I can give a good account of Governour Carleton and his bloody backs. I call them so, not so much for the colour of their clothes, as for their base and savage conduct in suffering the head of the brave Captain Baker to be severed from his body, and fixed upon a pole at St. John’s, where it now remains, as a monument of their savage tempers, and an incentive to us bravely to revenge his death, or fall in the glorious attempt. I have nothing new to communicate, except that a small skirmish has lately happened near St. John’s, occasioned by a party of fifty of our men going out to reconnoitre; they were surprised, it is said, by a party of Regulars, Canadians, and savages, who lay in ambush, concealed in the sedge or very high grass. We had five or six men killed, and several wounded, four or five of whom have since died of their wounds. Major Hobby and Captain Mead, of Connecticut, are slightly wounded. The enemy had several wounded; among the former, Captain Tyce, of Johnstown, in Tryon County, a native of New-Jersey, who was formerly a Captain in the service of that Province, and an old acquaintance of mine; but it now appears he was a rank tory. I am very happy to think he met the fate which I hope every one like him will share before the matter is ended. The above is the best account I could obtain, and I believe it is a pretty just one.

I have only to add my compliments to all friends, and request they will be kind enough to excuse my not writing to them severally, as I have this moment received orders to embark, and every minute of my time will necessarily be taken up in preparing for my departure from hence.

I am, &c., &c., &c.

P. S. Col. Fleming, Mr. Trumbull, Captain Quacken-bos, Mr. Pearsea, and Lieutenant Van Waggener, with my brother officers, desire their kind compliments to you and all friends.

GOVERNOUR COOKE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Providence, September 14, 1775.

SIR: I am favoured with a letter from Governour Trumbull, in answer to mine, proposing a voyage to Bayonne, in which he informs me that the Council of the Colony of Connecticut are summoned to meet this day, to take the scheme into consideration.

This, Sir, is the time to exert ourselves in sending to Europe for powder, as the vessels may perform their voyages and return upon this coast in the winter, when the enemy’s ships are unable to cruise. I have written to our Delegates, strongly recommending it to them to use their influence that measures may be taken to procure sufficient quantities of that necessary article. I have also advised them to move in Congress for opening some lead mines immediately, as the depending upon a precarious supply by sea, when we have such quantities in our own Country, seems to me very preposterous; and, I believe, the article in this way will cost us less money than it can be imported for.

Captain Whipple sailed on Tuesday, with sixty-one men on board, and every way in good order. I have given him instructions to cruise fourteen days off Sandy-Hook for the packet; and if he is so fortunate as to meet her, to take her at all events; to take out of her the letters, arms, ammunition, and warlike stores, and to land the letters at Southampton, and forward them immediately by express. After the taking of the packet, or the expiration of the time, he is immediately to proceed to Bermuda, and, if possible, take the powder into possession, without any communication with the inhabitants. I have given it to him strictly in charge not to make use of your address, unless in case of absolute necessity.

The noble example set by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of London, in their late address to the King, will, I hope, have a good effect in the other parts of the Kingdom, and, together with the disaffection of the people of Ireland to the iniquitous measures now pursuing against the Colonies, added to our own efforts, compel the Ministry to depart from their favourite plan of establishing arbitrary power in America.

This letter waits upon you by Joshua Babcock, Esq. He is a gentleman of a genteel fortune, a member of our General Assembly, and hath highly distinguished himself in the glorious cause in which America is embarked. I beg leave to recommend him to your Excellency’s notice; and am, with great esteem and regard, Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,

NICHOLAS COOKE.

To General Washington.

CONNECTICUT COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Thursday, September 14, 1775.

At a meeting of the Governour and Council of Safety, holden at Lebanon, present:

His Honour the Governour, Hon. Deputy-Governour Griswold, Jabez Huntington, Esq., William Williams, Nathaniel Wales, Jedediah Elderkin, Joshua West, and Benjamin Huntington, Esquires.

His Honour laid before us a Letter from General Washington, dated the 8th instant, containing a peremptory and unconditional demand, that all the remainder of our last raised Troops be forthwith ordered and sent to him at the camp near Boston.

On which, great consideration was had; and it appears to this Council of much importance that they should remain longer on their present stations, at New-Haven, New-London, Stonington, and Lyme, where they are employed in throwing up some works of defence against the Ships &c., which are hovering about the eastern coast, and have of late furiously cannonaded Stonington; and, from repeated threats and many circumstances, it is probable some of these places will be again attacked; yet, considering how far these Troops have been given up to said General’s command, and that advantage may be taken against the Colony, should we refuse to send them, although we conceive they cannot be so useful at the camp as in their present station and employment, it is thought most prudent to comply with said demand; and this Board do therefore advise this; his Honour to give orders for their immediate march to said camp near Boston.

And then, on consideration, it appearing of importance for the safety and quiet of the people of this Colony, that those places, from which said Troops are now to be removed, should not be left naked and defenceless, and the works of defence begun drop and fall through, it is considered and ordered, that fifty men be enlisted and raised by and be under command of Major Oliver Smith, and equipped

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