COLONEL DAYTON TO GENERAL SULLIVAN.

Johnstown, May 19, 1776.

SIR: I arrived at this town about five o’clock this day, and immediately sent Major Barber, and one of the Committee of Tryon County, with a letter to Sir John Johnson, informing him that I had arrived with a body of troops to guard the Highlanders to Albany, and desired that he would fix a time for their assembling. When these gentlemen came to Johnson Hall they were informed by Lady Johnson that Sir John Johnson had received General Schuyler’s letter by the express; that he had consulted the Highlanders upon the contents, and that they had unanimously resolved not to deliver themselves as prisoners, but to go another way, and that Sir John Johnson had determined to go with them. She added, that if they were pursued they were determined to make an opposition, and had it in their power, in some measure. As this makes a total alteration in our expedition, I have thought advisable to send you immediate notice by express, to receive further orders in this matter. I have likewise despatched an express to the German-Flats, in order to alarm the people, and to know whether Sir John Johnson has taken that route.

The Commissioners who went to inform the Indians of the inarch of our troops have returned from the Castle, and acquaint us that the old Sachems are peaceable and well-affected; but about thirty Indians, who are attached to Sir John, have just marched, armed, to Johnson Hall. Whether they are gone to assist Sir John, (who may possibly not be gone from his house,) or whether to join a body of other people, I cannot say.

Whilst I am writing this, another party, of twenty-five Indians, have passed another way into the town. In this situation of affairs I have thought it advisable to take every precaution to prevent surprise, till I hear further from you. To-morrow morning I shall send proper persons into the settlement, to see whether the Highlanders are in reality gone off; and to discover, if possible, what force Sir John can collect. If you think proper to pursue any vigorous measures in order to apprehend these persons, we shall immediately want a further supply of provisions and powder, &c.

ELIAS DAYTON.

To the Hon. John Sullivan, at Albany.

LIEUTENANT JOHN PAUL JONES TO JOSEPH HEWES.

SIR: I had the honour of writing you the history of our cruise in the fleet from the Capes of Delaware till our arrival at New-London, on the 14th ultimo, enclosing an inventory of all the stores taken at New-Providence, &c. The letter contained a particular account of the action with the Glasgow, in an extract from the Alfred’s log-book; also, some free thoughts on certain characters in the fleet, &c.; it was enclosed to Mr. Sproat, and, by ill-luck, fell into hands not the most agreeable on its way to the post office, from which circumstance I much fear it hath miscarried; for I have just now parted from Captain Lenox, and though he is late from Philadelphia, he hath no account of any letters from me to his uncle, Mr. Sproat. I now enclose you the minutes of two court-martials held on board the Alfred, the evidences at large excepted; these minutes have not yet been seen in print. In consequence of the last trial I was ordered to take the command of this vessel, the 10th current. I arrived here yesterday afternoon, in thirty-six hours from Rhode-Island, with a return of upwards of one hundred men, besides officers, which General Washington lent to the fleet at New-London. I left the Andrew Doria and Cabot at Rhode-Island, ready to sail together on a four-weeks’ cruise. What will become of the Alfred and Columbus heaven only knows. The seamen have been so sickly since the fleet returned to the continent, that it will be impossible to man them both without others can be entered. I have landed General Washington’s soldiers, and shall now apply to shipping men, if any can be obtained; but it appears the seamen, almost to a man, had entered into the army before the fleet was set on foot; and I am well informed that there are four or five thousand seamen now in the land service. The unfortunate engagement with the Glasgow seems to be a general reflection on the officers of the fleet; but a little reflection will set the matter in a true light; for no officer under a superior, who doth not stand charged by that superior for cowardice or misconduct, can be blamed on any occasion whatever. For my own part, I wish a general inquiry might be made respecting the abilities of officers in all stations, and then the country would not be cheated. I may be wrong, but, in my opinion, a Commander in the Navy ought to be a man of strong and well-connected sense, with a tolerable education; a gentleman as well as a seaman, both in theory and practice; for want of learning, and rude ungentle manners, are by no means the characteristicks of an officer. I have been led into this subject on feeling myself hurt as an individual by the censures that have been indiscriminately thrown out; for although my station confined me to the Alfred’s lower gun-deck, where I commanded during the action, and though the Commodore’s letter, which has been published, says “all the officers in the Alfred behaved well,” yet still the publick blame me, among others, for not taking the enemy.

I declined the command of this sloop at Philadelphia; nor would I now have accepted it, had it not been for the rude unhappy temper of my late commander. I now reflect with pleasure that I had philosophy sufficient to avoid quarrelling with him, and that I had even his blessing at parting. May he soon become of an even, affable disposition, and may he find pleasure in communicating happiness around him.

There is little confidence to be placed in reports, otherwise the Lieutenants of the fleet might have reason to be uneasy when they are told that the several Committees have orders to appoint all the officers for the new ships, except only the Captains. I cannot think they will be so far overlooked who have at first stepped forth, and shown at least a willingness; nor can I suppose that my own conduct in the service will, in the esteem of the Congress, subject me to be superseded in favour of a younger officer, especially one who is said not to understand navigation—I mean the Lieutenant of the Cabot, who was put in command of the Fly, at Reedy-Island, after I had declined it. I was then told that no new commission would be given, and I considered her as a paltry message-boat, fit to be commanded by a midshipman. But on my appointment to the Providence, I was indeed astonished to find my seniority questioned; the Commodore told me he must refer to the Congress. I have received no new commission. I wish the matter in dispute may first be cleared up; I will cheerfully abide by whatever you think is right; at the same time I am ready at any time to have my pretensions inquired into by men who are judges. When I applied for a Lieutenancy, I hoped in that rank to gain much useful knowledge from men of more experience than myself. I was, however, mistaken, for instead of gaining information, I was obliged to inform others. I formed an exercise, and trained the men so well to the use of the great guns in the Alfred, that they went through the motions of broadsides and rounds as exactly as soldiers generally perform the manual exercise. When I have got what men are to be had here, I am ordered back to Providence, for further instructions. The sloop must be hove down and considerably repaired and refitted before she can proceed properly on any cruise.

I should esteem myself happy in being sent for to Philadelphia, to act under the more immediate direction of the Congress, especially in one of the new ships. I must rely on your interest herein. The largest, and I think by far the best of the frigates, was launched the day after I left Providence; but, from what I can learn, neither of them will equal the Philadelphia ships. The Columbus was heaving down, and the Alfred was hauling in to the wharf the day I sailed.

I send this by the Commodore’s steward, who hath leave to visit his wife at Philadelphia, and will call on you on his return, in a day or two. I expect that he will overtake me here if I succeed in entering men; but if I should be gone he will follow me to Rhode-Island and Providence. May I hope for the honour of a letter from you by his hands; it will most singularly oblige me, and greatly add to the favours already conferred on, sir, your much obliged and very humble servant,

JOHN P. JONES.

N. B. If you have not received my last I will send a copy if desired.