intelligence that Mr. Carleton may have received of Colonel Arnold’s approach. Should the garrison effect their escape, it may go hard with Arnold, whose numbers, in so long and fatiguing a march, must be considerably diminished. I have therefore requested General Montgomery to send immediate intelligence of his situation and prospects, that Colonel Arnold may govern himself accordingly.

I am deeply impressed with the necessity of putting this place in a proper posture of defence. I have wrote on the subject to Congress before; but I have now only sixty-five effectives here, (exclusive of General Wooster’s,) who are insufficient for the necessary works carrying on.

I cannot help observing that the reasons General Montgomery gave in support of his opinion, for having a battery on the west side, appear to me so cogent that I wonder the Council of War should be opposed to it; but he was certainly right to acquiesce in their determination, as I am morally sure, if he had not, that the men would have been troublesome.

I have no prospect of getting my health re-established at this place; but in the present critical moment I dare not leave it. Much, very much, is to be done, whether we succeed or fail in Canada. The distance between this and Philadelphia is so great,and the season so far advanced, that the least delays may be attended with the most fatal consequences. I therefore humbly submit it to Congress, if it would not be best to send up a Committee with full powers to direct our future operations; to me, such a measure appears highly necessary.

General Wooster is just arrived here. As he was appointed a Major-General by the Colony of Connecticut, and as I did not know his sentiments with respect to the rank he considered himself in, in the Continental Army, my intentions were to have him remain at this post; but assuring me that his Regiment would not move without him, and that although he thought hard of being superseded, yet he would most readily put himself under the command of General Montgomery; that his only views were the publick service, and that no obstructions, of any kind, would be given by him; this spirited and sensible declaration I received with inexpressible satisfaction, and he moves tomorrow with the first division of his Regiment.

Mr. Bedford has mustered such of the New-York troops as he possibly could; they were so scattered that it was morally impossible he could see the whole. He has done every thing in his power to fulfil his duty, without being able to complete it. The reasons of this failure are various. He will inform the honourable Congress why the Connecticut troops were not mustered. I have directed him to return to Philadelphia, and report what has been done. Previous to his departure, I desired him to deputize Mr. McPherson, my Aid-de-Camp, in case it should be possible to make another muster, which, I believe, will hardly take place this campaign.

I am, Sir, with the most respectful esteem, your and Congress’s most obedient and most humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., &c., &c.

[No. 1.]

GENERAL MONTGOMERY TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Camp south side St. John’s, October 6, 1775.

DEAR GENERAL: Your diligence and foresight have saved us from the difficulties that threatened us; we are no longer afraid of starving. I wait now with impatience for the arrival of those troops mentioned in your last, and which, I believe, from the number of boats on the way, will soon be here to take the advantageous post I formerly spoke of, on a hill to the westward. Since my last, I have had some proposals of an accommodation, through the channel of the Caughnawagas, from the formidable St. Luke La Corne, and other principal inhabitants of Montreal. To-morrow is appointed for a conference at La Prairie. I have sent Major Brown to manage it. McPherson goes with him; and Mr. Livingston, of Chambly, will attend. The result of this negotiation I hope soon to make you acquainted with. Mr. St. Luke’s character gives me all the reason in the world to be on my guard against him. I shall insist upon some substantial proof of his sincerity.

Mr. Livingston, some days ago, took post at Mr. Hazen’s house, with near two hundred of the Canadians; they are erecting a battery there, which seems to make the garrison very uneasy. Yesterday they attacked them with their row-galleys, but were beaten back without loss on the side of the Canadians. No certain intelligence yet of Arnold’s arrival, though there are flying reports to that purpose. I wish he was at Quebeck with all my heart; I believe there is nothing to oppose him. I am extremely happy that you have sent for more powder; I believe we have not more than two tons and a half; this, I am afraid, will not do. Send as many men as you possibly can furnish with provisions; I am greatly in want of them. Our feebleness has intimidated the Canadians from embarking in so uncertain an adventure. Were I strong enough to send five hundred men to Montreal, it would certainly declare for us; at least I have great reason to think so. The miserable weather we have had has distressed us much; but I hope it is now over.

Let the hard cash come up as soon as possible, that our reputation may hold good. Mr. Carleton is not departed, as I informed you. We want both iron and steel, and turner’s tools. The large mortar is ready to play.

I am, &c.,

RICHARD MONTGOMERY.

To General Schuyler.

P. S. I shall send some more boats in a few days.

[No. 2.]

GENERAL MONTGOMERY TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Camp south side St. John’s, October 9, 1775.

DEAR GENERAL: This evening I have been favoured with yours by Colonel Clinton. Every re-enforcement is welcome, but I expected more men in fourteen batteaus. I find my numbers but little increased, as I seldom see any of those return I send to Ticonderoga. The two barrels of sugar turn out to be two barrels of flour. We now have here, and at the Isle-anx-Noix, three hundred barrels of pork, and three hundred and twenty-eight barrels of flour; so that I think you may venture to send more men than provisions. The season advances fast, and we shall have a heavy piece of work to get our cannon to the westward, where we must have a strong post, as it is at a distance from support, and near the enemy.

Our conference with St. Luke has ended in smoke. He made the Indian deliver my letter to Carleton, who had it burnt without reading it. The Indian told the Governour, very honestly, that he was sent to me by St. Luke and others. The Indians of Caughnawaga attended at La Prairie, according to appointment, and are much displeased at the trick put upon them by those gentlemen. They seem to think St. Luke was discovered in his plan, and dared not venture to carry it through. I hope we shall have more powder.

The enemy are exceedingly uneasy at the post on the east side, and have made two ineffectual and, indeed, feeble efforts to dislodge the Canadians. The battery there is not finished; they don’t love work. I have been obliged to send them assistance. The very high prices which officers must pay here for every thing brought from Ticonderoga, are far above what their scanty pittance of pay will allow of. I must request you will represent the peculiar hardship of their situation, which displaces them entirely from the footing of the troops employed among their friends, in the midst of a plentiful country. If their pay cannot be augmented, a gratuity may be made to them, adequate to the difficulties they labour under. It might extend to Subalterns and Captains; perhaps it may not be so absolutely necessary to go any higher up. And, indeed, the detachment in the country, and on the north side, live very well, and, by what I can find, cheap. I am afraid I shall have a disagreeable reckoning with some of them concerning the publick money.

I send a considerable corps of sick; little mischief since my last; one or two wounded.

Your residence at Ticonderoga has probably enabled us to keep our ground. How much do the publick owe you for your attention and activity.

I am, &c.,

RICHARD MONTGOMERY,

To General Schuyler,