Our affairs begin daily to wear a darker aspect in Canada, and I fear will not change for the better, unless more troops are sent in.

I dare not by any means remove Colonel Dayton’s Regiment from Tryon County, for I am morally sure that Sir John Johnson would immediately fall upon that part of the country and ravage it without mercy; an event that would so intimidate the people that I should procure very few to be employed on the communication, lest they should be cut off by scalping parties of Indians.

As Colonel Knox took with him all the guns from the Royal Savage, I have none left to arm her with; but such as she is, she will go off loaded with provisions in a few days.

The fort at Ticonderoga should immediately be put into a proper state of defence, but I have unfortunately no troops to set about it. I hope soon to see one or more Engineers in this quarter.

Your Excellency’s letter of the 21st, enclosing a copy of the infamous libel transmitted to you by the Committee of King’s District, I received last night. Whilst this was only report, I treated it with contempt, without taking any notice of it; but it is now a duty I owe myself and my country to detect the scoundrels; and the only means of doing this is by requesting that an immediate inquiry may be made into the matter, when, I trust, it will evidently appear that it was more a scheme calculated to ruin me, than to disunite and create jealousies in the friends to America. Your Excellency will therefore please to order a Court of Inquiry the soonest possible, for I cannot sit easy under such an infamous imputation, as on this extensive continent numbers of the most respectable characters may not know what your Excellency and Congress do, of my principles and exertions in the common cause. It is peculiarly hard that, at the very time that assassins and incendiaries are employed to take away my life and destroy my property, as being an active friend to my country, at the very time when I had taken measures and given orders, some of which are actually executed, to secure the Tories and send them down to your Excellency, a set of pretended Whigs (for such they are that have propagated these diabolical tales) should proclaim me through all America a traitor to my country.

I do not recollect that I have given a permit to any officers whatever to go to Pennsylvania to settle their affairs. Those that were sent from Canada in the latter end of February, either remained at Albany or were sent as far as Esopus, in Ulster County, there to remain until the navigation should open, to save the enormous expense of land carriage to Pennsylvania, where the remainder of their corps were disposed of. To these, and to no others, unless my memory very much fails me, have I given permits to pass to their corps. Another party is now on their way down, who are under the circumstances above-mentioned, and a Captain Dundee, whom I confined in Kingston Jail, because he refused to give his parole, has my pass also to go to Pennsylvania, after making proper concessions and giving me his parole in writing. Several prisoners still remain at Esopus, who, in the present situation of affairs, ought to be sent elsewhere, as being too near the Indians. Major Campbell, the Indian agent, and La Corne St. Luc, are of the number; and beg your Excellency will take some measures with them.

I am, dear sir, with the most respectful sentiments, your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington.

GENERAL SULLIVAN TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Ticonderoga, May 27, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Mr. David Henry, Commissary for St. Johns, has this moment landed, and informs that the Eighth Regiment, joined by a number of Canadians and Indians, attacked Colonel Bedel at the Cedars, and have cut him and his party off. Major Sherburne, of Colonel Patterson’s Regiment, with a hundred men, went to assist them, engaged and drove four hundred of the enemy some miles; but they being joined by a number of Canadians and Indians, making the whole amount to about a thousand, renewed the fight, and cut off Sherburne and his party to a man. The same party attacked the Caughnawaga Indians, defeated them, and killed sixty. The Caughnawaga Indians have sent an express to our Army demanding assistance, and threatening if they had not immediate relief, to join the enemy. This being a true state of facts, I beg you would send Colonel Dayton, with his regiment, on as fast as possible. I beg you to write to General Washington for more troops, and that you would please to order the armed vessels here to sail to the other end of the lake immediately, to keep command of the water. I am this moment embarking at this place. The weakness of the teams and badness of the weather has prevented our getting the boats across as soon as we expected.

Dear General, I am, with much respect, your most obedient servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

To the Honourable Major-General Schuyler.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO COMMISSIONERS IN CANADA.

Tort George, May 28, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I am just now honoured with your favour of the 17th instant. I hope that before this the greater part of the provisions I have sent from hence is arrived in Canada, and that you have a sufficiency for twenty or twenty-five days, which I hope to keep up; provided it is sent in sufficient quantities from New-York, that I can get troops to convey it, and that I am not obliged to appear before a Court-Martial, to answer a charge of high-treason against me by the Committee of King’s District, founded on the affidavits of persons that are not to be named. I am informed that one of the charges against me is, that I am sending all the provisions in this country to Canada, with a view that it may fall into the enemy’s hands.

Although I could find materials at this place for building such a gondola as the two I caused to be constructed last year, yet I cannot in less than a fortnight begin one on Lake Champlain, and if finished ever so soon, it will be too late to get down the rapids of Chambly, as the water will be too low. The row-galley we took from the enemy last year might be converted into one, and I shall immediately order her to St. Johns; indeed, I had ordered her there some time ago, with the shot, shells, cannon, &c, but she could not go for want of sails, a difficulty now obviated.

I have transmitted a copy of your letter to General Washington. I wish you to hint to the commanding officers the necessity of sending me regular returns.

Doctor Franklin and Mr. Carroll left Albany on Wednesday last in my chariot, which they are to take down to New-York.

I am, gentlemen, with the most respectful and friendly sentiments, your most obedient, bumble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Hon. Commissioners of Congress, in Canada.

COLONEL BABCOCK TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Stonington, May 28, 1776.

SIR: I should be extremely obliged to you if you would be pleased to lay before the honourable the Continental Congress the following proposals: That I have leave to raise two battalions of marines, to consist of five hundred men each, and each battalion to consist of six companies, with a Captain-Lieutenant to each battalion, four officers to each company. Make not the least doubt, provided I have leave to name the officers, that I raise the men in two months. Would recommend the paying two months’ pay in advance, but that I leave to the wisdom of the Congress.

I should expect the rank of Brigadier-General, as the last war I had the rank of Colonel in the years ‘58 and ‘59, and one thousand in my regiment. In the glorious year 1759. General Amherst, unsolicited, wrote Governour Hopkins the following paragraph, viz: ” Whereas Colonel Babcock has, throughout the whole campaign, continually manifested his great zeal for the publick service, I should not do him justice were I to omit giving him this publick testimony of it, and designing you to return him my particular thanks for the same.”

I heartily condole with you in the loss of that best of women, Mrs. Hancock. I must desire, if the great load of