a most important officer; General Thomas appointed a man totally unfit for the office, as we are informed by General Thompson and Colonel St. Clair. On General Arnold’s recommendation, Colonel Antil now does that duty; and we gave him expectation of being paid. We are by no means proper judges of his abilities and fitness for that station, but we are informed that it requires a gentleman of great activity and abilities. You have no Mustermaster. We have authority only to fill up such vacancies as may happen during our continuance in Canada. We met Mr. Flemming, appointed by Congress Deputy Adjutant for this Colony, in New-York; and Captain Rensselaer, the Deputy Mustermaster, passed us on the Lake. In some few instances it may be necessary to make new appointments, e. g., more Deputy Commissaries and Deputy or Assistant Quartermasters. Your Generals here have hitherto exercised that power.

The detachment of one hundred and fifty men, mentioned in our last to have been sent to the relief of the Cedars, under the command of Major Sherburne, were intercepted; we were some time before we could learn the fate of both parties. General Arnold, upon his arrival from Sorel, set off with a party of one hundred men, and took post and intrenched at La Chine, about nine miles from this city. Captain Young, with a small detachment posted at fort St. Ann, on the end of this Island, evacuated his post, and retreated back, leaving the provisions and stores, on a report that some Indians were landed on the Island. His post might have been defended some days, until relief could be sent. General Arnold was soon reinforced by part of Greaton’s Regiment, and some other troops. Colonel De Haas, with one hundred and ten riflemen, and three hundred musketeers, was despatched immediately from Sorel. By the best intelligence we can get, the enemy are about six hundred—about forty or fifty regulars, three hundred Indians, and two hundred and fifty Canadians. They have the two pieces of cannon, taken from Colonel Bedel’s party, and were yesterday within three miles of General Arnold’s camp; but finding he had been reinforced, made a precipitate retreat. Colonel De Haas set off at six o’clock yesterday morning to endeavour to cut off their retreat, and General Arnold was to follow in a few minutes in pursuit of them. We hope hourly to hear that our prisoners are liberated, and the enemy routed. The Canadians being threatened to have their habitations destroyed by the savages, through fear are induced to join the savages. We have also a party of Canadians.

We enclose you copies of letters from Generals Thomas, Arnold, and Thompson; and are, sir, with great respect to yourself and the Congress, your most obedient servants,

To the Honourable John Hancock.

P. S. General Arnold arrived on Sunday evening with the troops at St. Ann’s, just in time to see the savages carrying off from an island the last load of our unhappy prisoners; we had no boats to follow them. He sent a Caughnawaga chief to the savages to inform them if they injured any of our prisoners that he would destroy their villages, and follow them to the end of the earth; they replied, if he attempted to cross over, or attack them, that they would immediately kill all their prisoners, and for that purpose had collected them together. A council of war, notwithstanding, determined to attack them and the King’s troops in the morning. Lieutenant Parke was sent by Captain Forster to inform General Arnold that the savages were determined to kill their prisoners if attacked; that he could not control them, and, therefore, from the dictates of humanity, he would propose to release all our prisoners, on condition that they should not bear arms against the King during the war, and that an equal number of his Majesty’s troops, of the same rank, should be returned in exchange. This proposal was rejected by General Arnold. The enclosed is a copy of the agreement entered into. This hypocritical, insidious, base, and wicked conduct of a British officer, needs few comments. The Governours, agents, and officers of a British King, incite the savages to join them in a war against these Colonies, without the least provocation or injury. No cause of quarrel subsists between the savages and the Colonies. If, by the chance of war, any of our troops are made prisoners, they are delivered by the King’s officers into the murderous hands of those cruel and barbarous savages, contrary to the practice and usage of every civilized nation in the world. The British troops secure their safety by threats from the savages to murder the prisoners if attacked. Captain Forster alleged he had it not in his power to control the savages from an act which he declares to be opposite and contrary to the humane disposition of the British Government, and to all civilized nations. If the commanders of British forces cannot control the savages from committing acts of cruelty and barbarity, why do they incite them to arm against us, or act in conjunction with barbarians whose savage customs they condemn? This same conduct in the French, during the last war, was censured and execrated by the British nation. Captain Forster had sufficient influence over the savages to induce them to deliver up their prisoners, (though our troops surrendered to him,) in order to procure an exchange of so many of the King’s troops, now our prisoners. He could control their will for the advantage of the British nation, but had not the least influence over them to prevent their murdering our people in cold blood. The fear of the Indians of being attacked by our forces, was only a pretext; for Captain Forster appears desirous of commencing hostilities before the expiration of the time limited. Five or six of our prisoners were murdered by the Indians, in the most cruel manner, after the surrender. The whole were stripped, contrary to the terms of capitulation, and driven in a neck of land, during a very stormy and tempestuous night.

Tuesday, May 28, 1776.

GENERAL THOMAS TO COMMISSIONERS IN CANADA.

Head-Quarters, Sorel, May 20, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I am unfortunately obliged to inform you that the Army here have now for two days been entirely destitute of meat; that no contractor is provided, nor have I any money to purchase provisions, were they to be procured in the country; that, in addition to this, a great part of the Army are, or speedily will be, unfit for duty by means of inoculation, notwithstanding everything I have been able to do to prevent it; that, in consequence of the intelligence I have this day received of the unhappy situation of the troops under the command of Colonel Bedel, I have thought it prudent to detach two regiments, the one to Montreal, the other to Chambly and St. Johns. The want of provisions has made it absolutely necessary for me to order Colonel Maxwell, with the troops under his command at Three Rivers, immediately to join me here. In order to judge truly of my situation, you will be pleased to figure to yourselves a retreating Army, disheartened by unavoidable misfortunes, destitute of almost every necessary to render their lives comfortable, or even tolerable, sick, and (as they think) wholly neglected, and no probable prospect of a speedy relief. If you will be pleased, gentlemen, for a moment to reflect on these circumstances, you will not be surprised when informed that there are great murmurings and complaints among the soldiery. In short, such are our present circumstances that, unless some effectual spirited steps are immediately taken for our relief, it will not be possible to keep the Army together, but we must unavoidably be obliged to abandon a country of infinite importance to the safety of the Colonies, and to leave our friends here a prey to those whose mercies are cruelties.

I am, gentlemen, with much esteem, your most obedient, and very humble servant,

JOHN THOMAS.

To the Honourable Commissioners of Congress.

P. S. You will be sensible, gentlemen, of the absolute necessity of sending here all the batteaus which can possibly be spared.

J. T.

GENERAL ARNOLD TO COMMISSIONERS IN CANADA.

Sorel, May 17, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have the pleasure of your letter by General Thompson and Colonel St. Clair, who arrived safe here last evening. Herewith you have a letter from General