require it) will be permitted to cross the ferries, ride or walk out of town, or about the streets, for amusement or diversion; and that all parents and masters will be careful to restrain their children and servants from playing and straggling about this City on the ensuing day, which ought to be, and we trust will be, kept as the most solemn day this devoted Continent has ever yet beheld.

A true copy from the Minutes. Published by order of the Committee.

JOSEPH WlNTER, Secretary.

GENERAL SULLIVAN TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Albany, May 16, 1776.

MY DEAR GENERAL: I this moment returned from Still-water, where I have been to give some directions about conveying the provisions forward to our troops in Canada. Immediately upon the receipt of the letters which I forwarded to your Excellency I drafted a number of men for the batteaus from the regiments here, being well convinced that the men appointed for that purpose would not in a year carry forward provisions enough to last our troops a month. I sent off all the batteaus to Half-Moon, (the night the express arrived,) well loaded with pork. Our men, though unacquainted with the river, carried up the batteaus and returned again early in the morning. I had them immediately loaded and sent off again. When I had ordered them constantly to make two trips in twenty-four hours, I thought best to proceed up the river to see whether it went from thence without being delayed by the indolence of such rascally batteaumen and wagoners as we are cursed with in this city. When I arrived at Half-Moon (about twelve miles from hence) early on the 15th instant, to my surprise I found three hundred barrels (which I had sent forward) lying on the beach, without any teams to carry them to Stillwater, about twelve miles farther. I inquired for the Wagonmaster, and was informed he was at his own house about six miles off. I immediately wrote him of the necessity of his exerting himself at this time. I heard of some wagons ready to enter the service at New-City. I immediately ordered the Commissary there to send for and employ them. I then proceeded the same day to Stillwater; there I found some batteaus setting off with one oar and a paddle; some indeed had neither; some of them making one trip to Saratoga-Falls in a day, and some but one in two days, though the distance is but sixteen miles, and the water not half so rapid as between this and HalfMoon. I immediately drafted a number of watermen from Colonel Winds’s Regiment for the batteaus, ordered a party to make proper oars and paddles, and, with the assistance of the overseer there, contrived matters so that two trips may be made in twenty-four hours, at least double the number they have heretofore made. I wrote an account of the steps I had taken to General Schuyler, and on my return this day was happy to find the wagoners formerly employed jn the service exerting themselves well, with a number of new ones, who had joined them, in a manner really astonishing. I met in twelve miles riding one hundred and thirty barrels of pork, in wagons, many of which were doubtless at Stillwater by twelve o’clock, and I doubt not double the number will go on to-morrow, and I shall do everything in my power to increase the number from day to day till the provisions are gone, when I hope to follow with all possible expedition to assist our friends in Canada. I laid the matter before the Committee here, who were kind enough to collect a number of strong wagons to go through to Lake George, without any water carriage at all. I find now that we have sent off a great part of our pork, and in two days more we shall have none to send unless it arrives from New-York. Your Excellency will give such directions about this matter as you may think proper.

Assure yourself, my dear General, that nothing shall be wanting on my part to forward the business here; and believe me to be, with the most profound respect, your Excellency’s most obedient servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

To His Excellency General Washington.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Fort George, May 16, 1776—10 o’clock A. M.

MY DEAR GENERAL: This moment Captain Gqforth arrived, with sundry letters and papers to me, copies of all which I do myself the honour to enclose to your Excellency.

The distress our Army is in from their variety of wants is truly affecting, and gives me the most poignant anxiety. Some of the enclosed papers observe that General Thompson’s brigade carried only ten days’ provision with them; but this is happily a mistake, for they carried from three to five barrels of pork in each batteau, with all the flour that was at the post, insomuch that Colonel Wynkoop had to send an express-boat here for pork and flour for his garrison. On the 13th, I sent off one hundred and twenty barrels of pork, with orders to have it forwarded without delay. Colonel Wynkoop writes me that one hundred and fifteen barrels of it left Ticonderago on the 14th, and it will probably reach St. Johns to-day.

Immediately on receiving the intelligence of our distress in Canada, I flew to the communication below; sent on part of Reed ’s Regiment, the front of which I met (on the fifth day after their leaving Albany) twenty-three miles below this; those I sent on, being picked men, arrived here the same evening, being the 14th, and yesterday they crossed this Lake with one hundred and nine barrels of pork; twelve barrels more are gone off this morning, and one hundred and seventy barrels, with half the remainder of Reed ’s Regiment, will move to-morrow; and the next day I hope to send an equal quantity, and after that, about fifty barrels a day along with the troops ordered to move on Saturday next from the several places where they were halted.

When I met Colonel Reed ’s Regiment, I had their heavy baggage taken out of the batteaus, and loaded them with pork, acquainting the officers and men with the distress our people laboured under in Canada for want of provisions; but as I could not stay to see the boats off, being obliged to push further down the river to the other places of embarkation, no sooner was my back turned when the officers threw the provisions out of the batteaus, and reloaded their baggage; by which means I have forty-eight barrels of pork less than I had ordered. At this outrage and infamous conduct I must, however, wink, lest the service should be still more retarded.

I hope a considerable quantity of pork is coming; if there is, one hundred and fifty barrels will be sent off daily from here after the 21st instant. I shall be quite out of nails on Tuesday; I hope a supply is on the way up. Intrenching tools of every kind will be wanting. More powder, lead, and cannon-ball, and guns for the vessels on Lake Champlain; rigging, sail-cloth, and sailmakers, to be sent up.

I have received further proofs of the hostile intentions of Sir John Johnson, and have sent orders to have him apprehended, and all the Highlanders to be removed; but as this is a matter that might give umbrage to the Indians, I have referred the expediency of it to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs and the Committee of Albany, who, if they approve, will deliver the orders, otherwise not.

I am obliged to be so continually on horseback to see that everything is kept in train, that I have little time to write; I shall, however, not let a single opportunity slip to advise your Excellency of every information I receive, by which means Congress will be informed of all.

The misfortunes we experience would in all probability have been prevented, had the Connecticut Troops not quitted Canada so early as they did last year, or had it been possible for Congress to have complied with my repeated solicitations to send troops.

Although I believe we shall lose Canada, which will be attended with many disagreeable consequences, yet I am not under the least apprehensions that they will be able to penetrate into this Province.

I am, with every wish for your Excellency’s health and happiness, dear sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

GENERAL ARNOLD TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Montreal, May 11, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: By the bearer you will receive letters from the honourable Commissioners, advising you of our situation and prospects in respect to provisions, &c. You will also have enclosed a copy of a letter from General