us to the enemy. Our guides (perhaps traitors) had led us through several windings, and were rather carrying us off from the post; the General was enraged at this conduct.

The enemy discovered our approach, and fired from the ships upon us, which our people returned, and killed several that were in a barge. Our scheme was no longer to be accounted an enterprise; it might have been, perhaps, prudent to have retreated—but no one would propose it. We endeavoured to penetrate through a swamp to the town, and avoid the shipping, but had no idea of the difficulties we were to surmount in the mire, otherwise the way by the shipping would have been preferred. We waded three hours through the mud, about mid deep in general, the men fasting, and in the distress above-mentioned; we every moment expected to get through and find some good ground to form on, but were deceived. The second division, under Colonel Wayne, saw a part of the enemy, and attacked them; Captain Hay, of our regiment, with his company of Riflemen, assisted, and behaved nobly. Colonel Wayne advanced; the enemy’s Light Infantry were driven from their ground, and the Indians on the flanks were silenced. The great body of the enemy, which we knew nothing of, consisting of two or three thousand men, covered with intrench-ments, and assisted with the cannon of the shipping and several field-pieces, began a furious fire, and continued it upon our troops in the front; it was so heavy that the division gave way, and from the badness of the ground could not suddenly form again. Colonel St. Clair’s division advanced, but the fire was too heavy. Part of Colonel Irvine’s division (especially the Riflemen) went up towards the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Hartley, understanding the Army was in confusion, led up the reserve within a short distance of the enemy; Captains Mc Clean and Grier’s companies advanced with spirit; Mc Clean’s men took the best situation, and within eighty yards of the enemy, exposed to the fire of the shipping. Not a man of Captain Mc Clean’s behaved ill; Grier’s company behaved well; several of the enemy were killed in the attack of the reserve. Under all these disadvantages, our men would fight, but we had no ground for it. We had no covering, no artillery, and no prospect of succeeding, as the number of the enemy was so much superior to ours. Colonels Wayne and Allen rallied part of our men, and kept up a fire against the English from the swamp; the enemy, in the mean time, detached a strong body of men to cut off our retreat to the boats, which was observed, and as the enterprise had failed, it was thought expedient, by several of the officers, to retreat. Our General and Colonel Irvine were not to be found—they had both gone up in a very hot fire. This gave great uneasiness, but a retreat was necessary. It was impossible to do it regularly, as we could not regain the road, the shipping and artillery of the enemy being in the way; small parties went off through the swamp. Colonels Wayne and Allen collected some hundreds. I got as many in my division as I could, with several others, amounting to upwards of two hundred. Colonel Wayne with his party, and we with ours, endeavoured, by several ways, to return to our boats. Colonel Wayne, not far from the river, was obliged to march near a body of seven hundred men of the enemy. He intended to have attacked them regularly, but his people were so much fatigued that it was deemed unsafe. The enemy fired their small-arms and artillery on our men as loud as thunder. They returned a retreating fire, when several of the enemy were killed, and a number of ours. Our party advanced within a mile of the place where our boats were, but our guard had carried them off. The English had possessed the ground near the landing, so that we could not get there, but we saw part of them. The enemy had so many men that they sent parties to fortify all the ferries we were to pass, and the shipping proceeded up the river to cover them. Colonel Wayne, with his party, lay near the enemy. We passed through a prodigious swamp, and at night took possession of a hill near the enemy. Our men, without provision, without sleep, and after all this fatigue, required some rest. The mantle of Heaven was our only covering; no fire, and bad water our only food. We mounted a small quarter-guard, fixed our alarm post, and made every man lay down on the ground, on which he was to rise for action in case of an attack. I slept a little by resting my head on a cold bough of spruce. Morning appeared; what was to be done? We consulted our officers and men: they said they were refreshed with sleep; it was agreed to stand together, and that they would support and effect a passage through the enemy, or die in the attempt. A little spring-water refreshed us more; the necessary dispositions were made, but we had no guides. We heard the enemy was within half a mile of us, but no one seemed alarmed at it; so we proceeded, and luckily fell in with Colonel Wayne’s track. We pursued and overtook him near the river Du Lac. This made us upwards of seven hundred strong. We had confidence, and agreed to attack them if they fell in our way to Bokie, opposite to this place. The ships had moved up the river. We were sure that this fort would be attempted before we could arrive. As we came up, the English left the ferries, and drew all their forces back to the Trois Rivieres, by forced marches; and, surmounting every difficulty, we arrived here on Monday afternoon, and brought near twelve hundred men with us of our party; many are yet missing—one hundred and fifty or two hundred. Some scattered ones are continually coming in, so that our loss will not be so great as was at first imagined.

Colonel Wayne behaved exceedingly well, and showed himself the man of courage and the soldier. Colonel Allen exerted himself several times, and is a fine fellow. Colonel Maxwell was often in the midst of danger, but his own division was not present to support him. He was also very useful in the retreat, after he joined Colonel Wayne, of the York County troops. Lieutenant Edie, I fear, is killed; he was a fine young fellow, and behaved bravely; he approached the enemy’s works without dismay several times, and remained in the swamp to the last; he was in the second engagement, where it is supposed he was killed. Ensign Hops, of the same company, was wounded near the breastwork, when the reserve was led up. I cannot give too much commendation of him; he showed the greatest courage after he had received several wounds in the arm. He stood his ground, and animated his men. He nobly made good his retreat with us through a swamp of near eighteen miles long. The ball has hurt the bone, but I hope it will do well. Several of our men were killed—I imagine between thirty and fifty; the rest missing, have been taken by the enemy, quite worn out with fatigue and hunger.

The English had never the courage to turn out to fight, or pursue us out of the reach of their shipping or artillery. They had many more men killed than we. General Burgoyne was there, and commanded. It is certain that almost all the English in Canada were there, which must have been many.

We received intelligence that between fifty and severity sail of vessels had arrived within this month.

The English hallooed during the action, to encourage their men, that they had three to one; I believe really they had, and more, but we have been moderate in our computation. Upon the whole, we were repulsed, and not beaten. Their cowardice, or some other cause, prevented them from injuring us more.

They have now a superior army in Canada. We expect them hourly, and as they have possession of the river St. Lawrence, and almost all the other side of the river, our situation is rather critical; but we are determined to fight inch by inch, and embrace every favourable opportunity to annoy the enemy.

June 13.—Last night a sort of a flag of truce came from the enemy. General Thompson, Colonel Irvine, Doctor McKenzie, and Lieutenants Edie and Currie, and Parson McCauley, are prisoners. They were taken up by some of the rascally Canadians in the most treacherous manner. The prisoners are treated well by General Burgoyne. We hope for an exchange soon.

We have erected some pretty good works here. We hear the enemy now firing; this will be a hot week. The English have a much greater force in Canada than we expected so soon. We wish to hear good news from our own country, as that from here will be very tragical. I apprehend we must have more troops.

THEODORE STANTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

New-London, June 12, 1776.

SIR: I am of opinion that Mr. Amos Stanton may do as well for a Lieutenant of Marines as any person who can