COLONEL JOSEPH REED TO THE COMMITTEE OF PLYMOUTH.

Camp at Cambridge, October 13, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The bearer, Captain Bowen, is despatched by his Excellency General Washington to superintend the equipping an armed vessel to intercept the enemy’s supplies. As he is somewhat of a stranger, the General begs your kind assistance to him in this business; particularly in procuring guns suitable for the vessel. We make no apology for the trouble we may give you, as your spirit and zeal in the publick cause make it unnecessary.

I am, by his Excellency’s order, Gentlemen, your very humble servant,

JOSEPH REED.

To the Committee of Plymouth.

COLONEL ARNOLD TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: A person going down the river presents the first opportunity I have had of writing to your Excellency since I left Fort Western; since which we have had a very fatiguing time; the men in general not understanding batteaus, have been obliged to wade and haul them more than half way up the river. The last division is just arrived; three divisions are over the first carrying place, and, as the men are in high spirits, I make no doubt of reaching the River Chaudiere in eight or ten days; the greatest difficulty being, I hope, already past.

We have now with us about twenty-five days’ provisions for the whole detachment, consisting of about nine hundred and fifty effective men. I intend making an exact return, but must defer it till I come to Chaudiere.

I have ordered the Commissary to hire people acquainted with the river, and forward on the provisions left behind (about one hundred barrels) to the great carrying place, to secure our retreat. The expense will be considerable, but when set in competition with the lives or liberties of so many brave men, I think it trifling; and if we succeed, the provisions will not be lost.

I have had no intelligence from General Schuyler or Canada, and expect none till I reach Chaudiere Pond, where I expect a return of my express, and to determine my plan of operations; which, as it is to be governed by circumstances, I can say no more than, if we are obliged to return, I believe we shall have a sufficiency of provisions to reach this place, where the supply I ordered the Commissary to send forward will enable us to return on our Way home so far that your Excellency will be able to relieve us. If we proceed on, we shall have a sufficient stock to reach the French inhabitants, (where we can be supplied,) if not Quebeck.

Your Excellency may possibly think we have been tardy in our march, as we have gained too little; but when you consider the badness and weight of the batteaus, and large quantity of provisions, &c, we have been obliged to force up against a very rapid stream, where you would have taken the men for amphibious animals, as they were a great part of the time under water, add to this the great fatigue in portage, you will think I have pushed the men as fast as they could possibly bear. The officers, volunteers, and privateers in general, have acted with the greatest spirit and industry.

I am, with the greatest respect, your Excellency’s most obedient humble servant,

BENEDICT ARNOLD.

His Excellency General Washington.

A Journal of an intended Tour from CAMBRIDGEto QUEBECK, via KENNEBECK, with a detachment of two Regiments of Musketeers and three Companies of Riflers, consisting of about eleven hundred effective men, commanded by BENEDICT ARNOLD.

Having received orders from his Excellency General Washington to march with the above detachment, I set out on Friday morning, the 15th of September, from Cambridge; dined at Salem, where I procured two hundred pounds of ginger, and engaged a teamster to transport that and two hundred and seventy blankets, received from the Committee of Safety, by order of Major Mifflin, Quartermaster-General, to Newburyport, where I arrived at ten o’clock the same evening.

Saturday, 16.—This evening the whole detachment arrived; despatched three boats to Kennebeck, Isle-of-Shoals, and along shore, to look out for men of war and cruisers, with orders to give us the earliest intelligence, if they discovered any on the coast; and procured a quantity of small stores, &c.

N. B. Contrary winds.

Sunday, 17.—Head winds and thick weather; made preparation to embark.

Monday, 18.—The whole detachment embarked; one of the boats just returned, and informs us the coast is quite clear.

Tuesday, 19.—Weighed anchor at seven o’clock, A. M., and at noon all the transports, being eleven in number, got

amined the guns here, and find four of about three or three and a quarter inches caliber, seven swivels, and one wall piece. Captain Adams tells me that the hire of his vessel is to be the same as those at Salem, &c.

17.—Wrote to his Excellency General Washington, concerning the guns, vessel, &c.

18.—Waiting for General’s answer. Attended the schooner most of the day. Received the General’s answer, with Mr. Watson’s instructions, which I delivered him.

19.—Viewed and examined, with Captain Martindale, Captain Womwel’s schooner; which find to be suitable for the service, and wrote to Head-Quarters thereon.

20.—Got the rammers and sponges, &c., for the guns. Went to Marshfield, about ten miles, to look for a vessel, but found none suitable.

21.—Procured the water casks, and got them filled. Rained all day.

22.—Waiting for the return of the express from Head-Quarters, who arrived just before night.

23, Monday.—Put all the provisions and stores aboard the Schooner Putnam. Sat the carpenters at the work on the brig; also the riggers.

24.—Waiting for Captain Coit till four o’clock, P. M., who not being arrived, and the guns likely to be waited for the brig, set out for Bristol; got thirteen miles this evening.

25.—Set out, and reached Bristol by five o’clock. Waited on the Committee, who told me the guns belonged to Captain Potter, and that he might dispose of them at his pleasure.

26.—Waited on Captain Potter; found ten four-pounders and ten swivels, which he refused to lend or let, and asked one thousand dollars for the guns, exclusive of the swivels; which price I thought too extravagant, so went to Head-Quarters, two miles this side of Newport, where I found several cannon suitable, but was told by General Hopkins that I could not have them without an order from the Lieutenant-Governour; on which I returned to Bristol, and so to Providence, after making Captain Potter an offer for his guns, which ho declined. Arrived at Providence between nine and ten in the evening.

27.—The Lieutenant-Governour out of Town, at the Assembly; expected home to dine, but did not come till four o’clock, A. M. Waited on him, and told him my business. He said ho would acquaint the Committee that evening, who he ordered to meet, and would give me an answer in the morning.

28.—Waited on the Lieutenant-Governour, and got an order for ten carriage-guns; he said all the swivels would be wanted for the galleys, so could not spare any of them.  Left Providence at two o’clock; detained by the rain till that time. Arrived in Bristol at half past five. Rained all day. Waited on Captain Potter again, to buy his swivels; which he would not sell without the carriage-guns. Nine o’clock, A. M., received a line from Captain Potter, offering me ten four-pounders, with the carriages, two hundred shot, sponges, ladles, rammers, cartridge-boxes, &c., and ten swivels, for eight hundred dollars.

29.—Got my horse, and going to Newport, called on Captain Potter, and made him one more offer of two hundred and twenty Pounds for his guns, &c.; which he accepted, after some time. N. B. I should not have took Potter’s guns, if I could have got swivels in this Colony. Ten o’clock, getting the guns, &c., on board the boat, to carry to Taunton. Five o’clock, A. M., got all the guns, &c., aboard, and took the boatman’s receipt, who is to set off at nine o’clock this evening. Set out for Taunton.

30.—Arrived at Taunton before noon. Boat not arrived with the guns, wind being ahead; head wind all day.

31.—Sent a pilot down the river to bring up the boat, who found a pilot on board when he got to Swanzey. The vessel arrived with the guns about two o’clock, P. M. Procured teams; saw them loaded, and set off for Plymouth.

November 1.—Arrived at Plymouth about ten o’clock, and the cannon about two. Found Coit’s vessel aground,

2.—Set the carpenters to repair the carriages, &c. Captain Coit’s vessel got off, but detained by the weather. Sent formers for Martindale’s cartridges.

3, 4.—Procuring water hogsheads for Martindale, and getting them filled. Coit got aground again.

5.—Captain Coit’s vessel sailed last evening; not to be seen this morning.

6.—Captain Coit returns with two prizes, viz: a sloop and schooner; got a mast. Martindale’s brigantine graved this day.

7.— Ballastod the Washington. Rained all day.

8, 9.—Rain. Nothing to be done.

11, 12.—Carpenters at work on the platform. The crew arrived.

13, Sunday.—Nothing done; could get no carpenters to work. Coit sailed this day for the Cape Cod; where, we are informed, is a ship at anchor.

14.—Got the guns on board, &c.

15.—Rained all day.

16.—Struck the water.

17.—Provisions all on board, and brig ready to sail.

18.—Set out for Cambridge.