former will cost here. However, Lord Dunmore says that he will take upon himself to have whatever troops may arrive here properly supplied in the mean time, and his Lordship thinks that there ought to be a particular contractor appointed for this Colony, exclusive of any other.

Captain Fordyce, with Lieutenants Napier and Wallace, three Sergeants, three Corporals, two Drummers, and fifty-five private men, arrived here from St. Augustine the 20th of last month, from whence he brought some ammunition, bedding, and provisions, and was prevented from bringing a greater quantity of the two last articles by Governour Tonyn’s giving positive orders to the agent of the contractors and the Barrackmaster not to issue more on their peril.

I do myself the honour to enclose your Excellency two monthly returns, by one of which you will see that Captain Blackett died here the 14th of last month; in consequence of which, I flatter myself that Captain James Urquhart will succeed to the Company, Lieutenant William Brown to the Captain-Lieutenancy, and Ensign Thomas Appleford Wools to the Lieutenancy, as they are all very worthy men and good officers.

Norfolk, November 26, 1775.

On Tuesday, the 14th of this month, Lord Dunmore, with the detachment of the Fourteenth Regiment that I have the honour to command, and some volunteers, embarked in boats, and after going up the southern branch of Elizabeth River, we landed, about daylight, four or five miles below the Great-Bridge, with an intention to dislodge a number of men in arms from North-Carolina, who had taken possession of that pass; but they thought proper to retire and disperse upon our approach. After directions had been given to erect a kind of wooden fort to secure the pass, we proceeded nine or ten miles farther, to Kemp’s Landing, where we were informed there were three or four hundred of the Rebels ready to receive us, under the command of a Colonel Lawson. When we arrived within sight of Kemp’s Landing, our advanced guard was twice fired upon by the Rebels, who had concealed themselves in very thick woods on the left of the road; but upon our rushing in among them, they were very soon totally routed. Their very precipitate flight, and the closeness of the woods, prevented our giving a much better account of them. It is said that some of them ran away even before the firing began. However, five of the Rebels, that we know of, were killed, two drowned in endeavouring to escape across a creek, and, by all accounts, a great many of them were wounded. We had only one Grenadier wounded in the knee. Colonel Hutchings and seven of the Rebels were taken in the field, and Colonel Lawson and eight others were taken a day or two after. For further particulars, in regard to the abovementioned affair, and the consequences of it, I refer your Excellency to the enclosed newspaper.

We took possession of this Town the 23d instant, and are now busy intrenching ourselves in the best manner we can, as a large body of the Rebels, consisting of eight or nine hundred men, are within ten or twelve miles of us. They marched from Williamsburgh, about a fortnight ago, with an intention to pillage and burn this Town; which, however, we shall do every thing that is possible to prevent, and I flatter myself that our endeavours will be attended with success.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

SAMUEL LESLIE,

Captain 14th Reg’t of Infantry.

To his Excellency General Howe.

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Philadelphia, November 30, 1775.

SIR: It is with the utmost satisfaction that the Congress received your information of the surrender of Montreal, and the general success which has attended the American arms in the Province of Canada. They are sensible of the various obstacles you had to encounter, and have unanimously resolved that your conduct, attention, and perseverance, merit the thanks of the United Colonies, which I have now the pleasure of presenting to you.

The Congress hear with concern your request of leave to retire. They regret the injuries your health has sustained in the service, and beg you will not insist on a measure which would at once deprive America of the future benefits she expects from your zeal and abilities, and rob you of the honour of completing the glorious work you hare so happily and successfully begun. You have hitherto risen superior to a thousand difficulties, in giving freedom to a great and an oppressed people. You have already reaped many laurels, but a plentiful harvest still invites you. Proceed, therefore, and let the footsteps of victory open a way for blessings of liberty and the happiness of well-ordered Government to visit that extensive dominion. Consider that the road to glory is seldom strewed with flowers, and that when the black and bloody standard of tyranny is erected in a land possessed by freemen, patriots cease to remain inactive spectators of their Country’s fall. Reflect, Sir, that the happiness or misery of millions yet unborn, is now to be determined, and remember that you will receive an honourable compensation for all your fatigues, in being able to leave the memory of illustrious actions, attended by the gratitude of a great and free people, as a fair, a splendid, and a valuable inheritance, to your posterity.

To General Philip Schuyler.

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS TO GENERAL MONTGOMERY.

Philadelphia, November 30, 1775.

SIR: I am directed by the Congress to transmit you their thanks for your great and signal services in the expedition committed to your command, against the British troops in the Province of Canada. The reduction of St. John’s and Montreal they esteem of inexpressible advantage to the United Colonies, and the most mortifying contravention to the Ministerial system of enslaving the extensive territory of Canada. It cannot, therefore, fail of reflecting singular lustre on the character of a General so essentially instrumental in preserving that liberty by the abolition of which a corrupt Parliament intended to annihilate every appearance of freedom in America. Nor are the humanity and politeness with which you have treated those in your power less illustrious instances of magnanimity than the valour by which you reduced them to it. The Congress, utterly abhorrent from every species of cruelty to prisoners, and determined to adhere to this benevolent maxim till the conduct of their enemies renders a deviation from it indispensably necessary, will ever applaud their officers for beautifully blending the Christian with the conqueror, and never, in endeavouring to acquire the character of the hero, to lose that of the man.

The victories already gained in Canada afford us a happy presage of the smiles of Providence on the further designation of the Continental arms in the North, and will, in all probability, greatly facilitate the entire reduction of the deluded malignants in that Province to liberty. These, Sir, are exploits so glorious in their execution, and so extensive in their consequences, that the memory of General Montgomery will doubtless be of equal duration with the remembrance of the benefits derived from his command.

At the same time that the Congress rejoice with you in the success of their arms under your more immediate direction, they cannot avoid expressing their concern at the intimation you give of your intention to retire from the service. They are sensible that the loss of so brave and experienced an officer will be universally regretted, as a misfortune to all America. But they still hope that, upon reconsidering the matter, the same generous and patriotick motives which first induced you to take so capital a part in opposing the unprovoked hostilities of an unnatural enemy, will prompt you to persevere in the cause, and to continue gathering fresh laurels, till you find our oppressors reduced to reason, and America restored to her constitutional liberties.

To General Montgomery.

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS TO GENERAL WOOSTER.

Philadelphia, November 30, 1775.

SIR: That a conscious pleasure arises from patriotism, your experience must have already evinced to you. Your

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