GENERAL SULLIVAN TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Winter Hill, October 14, 1775.

MUCH RESPECTED SIR: I have reviewed the palefaced corps in my Brigade, and find the persons named in the enclosed list totally unfit for duty at present, have been so for a long time, and are likely to remain so during this campaign, except those to whose names I had added a quere, whose disorders may possibly be removed before the end of this campaign. With respect to those, your Excellency will act as your wisdom shall direct. With respect to all the others, I beg leave to say that the sooner they are discharged the sooner will the Continent be free from the unnecessary charge of maintaining them here.

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

JOHN SULLIVAN.

His Excellency General Washington.

COLONEL ARNOLD TO COLONEL FARNSWORTH.

Second Carrying-Place, October 14, 1775.

SIR: I wrote you on the road here to send forward to the great carrying place all the provisions, and for that purpose to hire men on the river, well acquainted with setting up. I have thought proper to write you again, for fear my former letter should have miscarried. You will hurry on the provisions as fast as possible; we have now about twenty-five days’ allowance. Hope before that is gone to be in Quebeck. However, I think it necessary to have the provisions forwarded on, that our retreat may be secured in case of any accident.

I am, Sir, your humble servant,

B. ARNOLD.

To Colonel Farnsworth.

EDMUND PENDLETON TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Williamsburgh, October 15, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I have by express your obliging favour of the 5th. We were, in some sort, prepared for the disagreeble intelligence of the small hopes of an accommodation, by reports and papers here, intimating the same thing. Colonel Corbin has a letter from a hand, connected in some manner with Administration, that the plan was to withdraw all troops, and send men of war and cutters to put a stop to all foreign trade, and that with each other, and so starve us into submission. If this is the case, perhaps Shuldham may not bring troops. Our affairs may, perhaps, take another turn, when the Congress Petition and the Virginia Representation against Lord Dunmore reaches the people there. These furious measures seem to have been suddenly adopted on the arrival of Lady Dunmore, no doubt with cargoes of aggravating letters and misrepresentations from our hero, and just after some fears of Administration respecting the Spaniards were quieted by their loss among the Algerines; whatever be our state, I hope we shall meet it with fortitude. Had we arms and ammunition, it would give vigour to our measures. We hourly hoped to hear of the arrival of the necessaries, but now fear we shall be defeated. A villain has given Lord Dunmore information of it, and he has six or seven tenders flying out for it about the capes. What can such a parricide deserve? We have been sitting a month, and yet see no hopes of a recess; we are thin, and some present unwell. Colonel Thomas is among the healthy. Nine Companies of Regulars are here, and seem very clever men; others we hear are ready, and only wait to collect arms. Lord Dunmore’s forces are only one hundred and sixty as yet, intrencehed at Gosport, and supported by the ships drawn up before that and Norfolk. I have heard of no attempt of his, since seizing the printer, and a ship with flour from Baltimore, except sending a party to Sleepy Hole in pursuit of some powder we had there, which he missed about three hours. Most of the inhabitants of Norfolk, except tories, have moved out their families and valuable effects. Lord Dunmore, it is said, is much afraid of the riflemen, and has all his vessels caulked up on the sides, above men’s height; however, they may perhaps pay him a visit ere long. The good news relative to General Schuyler came as a reviving cordial after the other; nothing has yet happened more important, in my opinion, than this event, if completed, as I hope it is before now. Pray present my affectionate compliments to your worthy brethren and the ladies.

I am, with great regard, your affectionate and obedient servant,

EDMUND PENDLETON.

To Richard Henry Lee, Esq., of Virginia, now at Philadelphia.

NATHAN TAYLOR AND OTHERS TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Lake George, October 15, 1775.

To the honourable Governour and Council of the Colony of Connecticut. These are to inform you of our grievances:

We, the subscribers, being by orders sent to St. John’s, to drive off the enemy, we were obliged to be encamped in low wet ground, swampy, and almost over shoes in mud and water; the weather being very cold for the time of year, which occasioned us to take great colds and agues, which hove us into bloody fluxes, and all kinds of disorders; and when our Doctors (of the Connecticut troops) thought us unfit for duty, and not like to be any more this campaign, we were sent off to Ticonderoga; and when we came there we were viewed by the head Doctor of the Continentals; we were viewed by General Schuyler also, and such men as the Doctor returned sick the General damned all in heaps, and swore; damned them for their sickness, and said he would pay them for it, and said they should have but four ounces of fresh meat a day, and a gill of rice; which is now fulfilled on us, your poor suffering subjects and soldiers. Likewise we are forbidden any spirituous liquors of any kind; and two sentries set at the doors, to prevent any friends to bring the least support to us. Our daily diet is rice for breakfast and supper, and not the least of butter or sugar, nor milk, but the clear rice itself; and for dinner about six pounds of mutton, with some of the broth, for twenty men, for subsistence, and a pound of bread a day, which is all the support we can have. And now we humbly beg some relief, if possible. The above is what we the subscribers will give oath to, if we are called to it, as witness our hands. There are sundry officers that can attest to the same, and can be produced if wanted.

To Governour Trumbull.

JOHN GLOVER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Marblehead, October 15, 1775.

SIR: This will acquaint you the two vessels that the Captains Broughton and Selman are to command are ready to take the troops on board. The formers for the cannon and swivel cartridges I have sent to Col. Burbank. Would it not be best that every man be furnished with a spear or cutlass, and a pair of pistols, if to be had? Our guns arc very unhandy in boarding. I have procured provision for the two vessels, saving four thousand weight of bread, which cannot be had here but at the extravagant price of thirty-two Shillings per hundred weight.

Captain Selman has his complement of men, to ten, which, with your Excellency’s leave, he will take out of the Regiment. Captain Broughton is very unwell, but hope it is nothing more than a bad cold which he took at the time of running his vessel on shore. He has not been able to recruit a single man here; apprehend he may get his complement out of the Regiment, with your Excellency’s leave.

This morning, six o’clock, saw a ship coming out of Boston; steered her course directly for Marblehead, which alarmed the inhabitants very much. She came almost to the harbour’s mouth, tacked ship, and stood off, where she now is, about one or two leagues distance.