arms taken out of her, as well as my proceedings in general.*

I have the happiness to acquaint you that all our people behaved with much courage.

I am, gentlemen, your humble servant,

JOHN BARRY.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., or any of the Marine Committee.

GENERAL PUTNAM TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Head-Quarters, New-York, April 7, 1776.

SIR: I arrived here on Wednesday evening last, having his Excellency General Washington’s orders to take the command of the forces in this city, and to erect such works as I should think necessary for its defence; in which we are now busily employed. After getting the works in such forwardness as will be prudent to leave, I propose immediately to take possession of Governour’s Island, which I think a very important post. Should the enemy arrive here, and get post there, it will not be possible to save the city, nor could we dislodge them without great loss.

The enclosed letter I received by express from Fort Constitution, last evening, which I should have immediately forwarded on to you, had the contents been such as required it; but as the fleet have not arrived, (which was the supposition of the gentleman who wrote it,) I thought it needless to forward it on by express.

Friday: Arrived at the Narrows a small ship of eighteen or twenty guns. Sent her boat immediately on board the Dutchess of Gordon. Soon after which the Governour, in the Dutchess, sailed; where bound we know not.

This morning she sent her boat to the watering-place for water. The day before, I had detached three companies of the Rifle Battalion to Staten Island, with orders to scour the shores. A midshipman and ten sailors were in her. She was fired upon, and lost two men. The riflemen took the rest prisoners, and hauled up the boat. The ship immediately began a heavy fire, and slightly wounded one man; since which, the ship has fallen down below the Narrows.

As hostilities are now commenced in this Province, I have thought fit to order no more provisions to be sent the men-of-war.

Enclosed is an extract of a letter received by the post, the contents of which I thought necessary to acquaint you with.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

ISRAEL PUTNAM.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President of the Congress.

SIR: We this evening arrived here, and, from curiosity, Mr. Chase and Mr. Carroll went ashore, and found the state of the fort as follows: Three Companies of Minute-men, (Captain Moffat’s, Captain Raymond’s, and Captain Woshon’s,) consisting of five Lieutenants, six sergeants, eight corporals, two drummers, one fifer, and one hundred and two privates. Mr. Seth Marvin, First Lieutenant of Captain Moffat’s Company, has now the command.

On the south bastion are thirteen six-pounders and one nine-pounder, mounted; and on the east bastion are seven nine-pounders and one six-pounder, mounted. There are eighty-one quarter-barrels and one whole barrel of powder. About one half of the privates are armed, and about ten bayonets among them. In the block-house are eight double-fortified four-pounders, mounted. The fort, on the land side, is entirely open. There is not one gunner or artillery-man in the fort. Nothing but pork, beef, and flour; no vegetables. No Barrackmaster. The Minute-men work about six hours in the day, and that with great reluctance.

We are informed, by Captain Bedlow, that at Pooplo-pen’s Kill there are one hundred and eighty troops, under the command of Lieutenant Lee; that six thirty-two-pounders, and all necessaries for cannon, except powder, arrived there on the 3d instant.

The fortifications directed by Congress on the 15th of February, and laid out by Mr. Smith, remain wholly neglected.

Hearing of the arrival of part of the fleet at the Hook, we thought it proper to give you this information by express. You will be pleased to communicate the substance of the above to Congress.

We are, sir, your obedient servants,

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM EDMUND QUINCY TO COLONEL MIFFLIN, DATED STOUGHTONHAM, APRIL 1, 1776.

A Captain and two seamen, that were taken by the men-of-war, deserted on Friday from the fleet. They say the first division, consisting of the Fowey and Nautilus, with sixty-eight transports, sailed for Halifax last Monday. The second division, Admiral Shuldham, in the Chatham, the Centurion, and the Lively, with sixty-two transports, sailed Thursday. From all they could learn, they were bound to the southward, not half manned, and had been at short allowance fourteen days.

The Renown, of fifty guns, the Senegal, of twenty-eight guns, and the Hope, of sixteen guns, moved from their station in King’s Road, off the Light-House, for fear of our firerafts; but it is determined they shall put to sea speedily.

The Niger sailed Friday, with six transports, for Halifax. Had it not been for six transports that came from Halifax with fresh provisions, killed a month ago, they could not have gone to sea for some time, unless forced by our fire-rafts, under the command of Major Tupper.

It is said, by a vessel from London to the fleet, that fifty sail of merchantmen, loaded, were hound to Boston. It is to be hoped that Captain Manly will give some account of them.

The whole that sailed, Mr. Nutton says, had not three weeks’ provision left. I hope the Philadelphia Fleet will speak with those gone southward.

A large mortar (thirteen and a half inch) was fished up near Mr. Row’s wharf; where was also discovered, at low water, a great quantity of shot, shells, &c.

BURNETT MILLER TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Easthampton, April 7, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: An opportunity presenting, we embrace it to acquaint you that our guard at Montauk, about sunset yesterday, saw a number of vessels to the southward of Block-Island, and this morning, being foggy, saw nothing of them; until, about nine o’clock, the fog cleared off in part, when they saw thirteen vessels between Fisher’s Island and Gardiner’s Island, but could not tell what sort of vessels they were, by reason of thick air. We saw this afternoon about eight or nine vessels, all together, off, against this town, standing to the eastward; but the fog came on, and saw no more of them. They have fired single cannon by spells, all this afternoon, from both quarters, and supposed they fired in order to keep the vessels together, the fog being very thick.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servants.

By order of the Committee of Easthampton:

BURNET MILLER, Chairman.

To the New-York Committee of Safety.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Albany, April 7, 1776.

MY DEAR GENERAL: The regiments destined for Canada arrived here very incomplete. Sickness and desertion hare still reduced them much more, so that our Army in Canada will fall greatly short of what was intended. I have, therefore, applied to Congress for a reinforcement, (as you will perceive by the enclosed,) not knowing that they had requested your Excellency to detach four regiments, of which I was only informed this morning by the gentlemen Commissioners,

* PHILADELPHIA, April 11, 1776.—This morning arrived a sloop, (mounting six three-pounders and eight or ten swivels,) late a tender, belonging to the Liverpool man-of-war, and commanded by a Lieutenant Boucher, of said ship, having thirty-five picked men on board, who, on Saturday last, off the Capes of Virginia, fell in with Captain Barry, of the Continental brig called the Lexington. A battle ensued, which was continued desperately for one hour and twenty minutes, when the tender struck.