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of what flour can be procured in Canada, I have thought it expedient, lest the Army should suffer, to order up a quantity. About three hundred barrels are gone on since the 13th instant, and eleven hundred and ninety-one of pork, one hundred and fifteen of which reached St. Johns on the 17th in the morning, and I believe about a like quantity arrived there on each of, the four succeeding days, so that all my ears of the Army’s starving are vanished.

I have this afternoon experienced a very severe fit of the ague. I was in hopes it had taken its farewell for this season. I shall vigorously attack it with the bark, and hope to eradicate it by that means.

If such a number of British and foreign troops are destined for Canada as is said, more of ours will be wanted there, and very soon too.

I am, most respectfully, dear sir, your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington.

An estimate of the number of Men necessary to transport Provisions for ten thousand men from ALBANY to CANADA, specifying the manner in which it is conveyed.

  Bbls.
Ten thousand weight of Pork, is 50
Ten thousand weight of Flour, 55
Add for Sundries, 15
To leave Albany each day,
 120
At Albany the provision is put into batteaus capable of carrying thirteen barrels, when Hudson River has plenty of water; but henceforward only ten barrels will be carried in each batteau. Thus it will take twelve batteaus; but I have stationed fourteen between Albany and Half-Moon, (which are about ten miles apart,) to make up for rainy days and accidents; each of these batteaus are navigated by three men,
 42
From Half-Moon it is conveyed in wagons to Stilwater; the distance twelve miles.
  
From Stillwater it is conveyed to Saratoga, twelve miles further in fourteen boats,
 42
From thence it is conveyed two miles by land to McNeil’s, and four batteaus receive it there and convey it to Fort Miller, which is about three and a half miles,
 12
Here is a land carriage of half a mile above the Falls; thence it is carried in fourteen batteaus, and the river being rapid and incommoded with rifts or small falls, each boat must have four men, the distance about eight miles,
 56
From Fort Edward it is carried to Fort George by land, distance fifteen miles. On Lake George we have a flat-bottomed boat with sails, which will carry about two hundred barrels; and allowing five days for a trip, she carries at the rate of forty barrels a day, and is navigated by
8
Eleven batteaus carrying thirty barrels each, and navigated by seven men, making a trip in four days, convey at the rate of about eighty-two barrels, (the length of the Lake thirty-six miles,)
 77
From the north end of Fort George it is conveyed one and a half mile by land to Lake Champlain, where it is put in one batteau, making four trips a day, and carried to Ticonderoga, the distance about one and a half mile,
 7
On Lake Champlain we have two schooners, a sloop and a row-galley, which may carry about six hundred barrels, and make a voyage to St. Johns (about one hundred and twenty miles) in ten days, which is at the rate of sixty barrels a day, navigated by sailors, assisted by about
 30
For the remaining sixty barrels per day, it will take twenty batteaus, carrying thirty barrels each, making a voyage in ten days, navigated by eight men each,
 160
434
Allow for sick, lame, and lazy, 66
500
A guard at Half-Moon of privates, 12
A guard at Stillwater of privates, 12
A guard at Saratoga of privates, 24
A guard at McNeil’s of privates, 12
A guard at Fort Miller of privates, 12
A guard at Fort Edward of privates, 24
A guard at the landing at the north end of Fort George, and at the north side of the Carrying-place, 48
A guard at Crown Point, 24
Fort George should not by any means have a garrison less than 200
Ticonderoga should have a like number, 200
1068
For opening Wood Creek and repairing roads, 232
1300
Colonel Van Schaick’s Regiment by last return, 425
Colonel Wynkoop’s Regiment, supposed at most to be 300
Hired batteaumen, 100
825

If no flour is to be sent, it will reduce the number of men to be employed in batteaus to about two hundred and fifty. If, therefore, about two hundred and fifty men were sent to these posts, it would suffice.

CAPTAIN WILKINSON TO GENERAL GREENE.

La Chine, May 24, 1776—12 o’clock at night,
about 12 miles from Montreal.
}

MY DEAR SIR: We are now in a sweet situation: a part of the garrison at Detroit, in conjunction with Indians and Canadians, to the amount of one thousand men, have made themselves masters of Colonel Beattie’s Regiment, who were stationed about nine miles from this place among the Cedars, and have cut off our friend Major Sherburne, with one hundred and forty men, who were detached to relieve the regiment, which defended itself in a little fort. The Major, with that courage which marks his character, pushed his way, after an engagement of four hours, into the fort, and was afterwards obliged to yield for want of ammunition and provision; since which time, General Arnold, with a handful of men, have been throwing up a breastwork here, in order to stop the enemy’s progress; and had, indeed, meditated a plan of attacking them. But alas, so astonishingly are matters conducted in this quarter that, notwithstanding the General’s most pressing solicitations, and the length of time since he took possession of this post, we cannot now muster more than four hundred and fifty men, whilst the proximity and movements of the enemy assure us that we shall be attacked within six hours. Their drums were heard this evening at our camp, and a man of mine was shot through the thigh within half a mile of it by an Indian, who took off a prisoner. But the morning dawns—that morn big with the fate of a few, a handful of brave fellows. I shall do my part; but remember, if I fall, I am sacrificed. May God bless you equal to your merits. Vale.

JAMES WILKINSON.

COLONEL SMALLWOOD TO MARYLAND CONVENTION.

Annapolis, May 25, 1776,

SIR: Being conscious that you and the honourable Convention at this time are much engaged in publick business of much consequence, it is with reluctance that I am obliged to address you on business of less importance; but am persuaded, as it will not trespass much on your time, and that it will appear necessary, hope this will, in some measure, excuse the application at this busy period, I find leather breeches and stockings are with much difficulty procured; and those, in all probability, not to be had in such quantities as will be wanting by the fall, when they will be absolutely necessary. This, perhaps, might be remedied by allowing the soldiers breeches and splatterdashes in one piece, made of osnaburghs, which would not only be uniform with the hunting shirts, but a good substitute for leather breeches and stockings, and would enable those who have been furnished, to lay them up for the winter. The soldiery would willingly purchase one pair, if the Convention would allow

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