importance, or, indeed, any in our rear except St. Johns and Chambly, which will ever secure a retreat, and to these I will pay particular attention.

I hope, dear General, to give you, in a few days, some agreeable intelligence; while I remain, with the most profound respect, your Excellency’s obedient servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

To His Excellency General Washington.

P. S. I shall soon obtain proper returns of our scattered Army, and will forward them with return of stores, &c.; after which you may expect them weekly. I have, for your diversion, enclosed you one which is similar to what the other Colonels must make if called upon. I enclose your Excellency a letter from Colonel Duggan : I have appointed a Court of Inquiry into the accusation against him. I am informed by General Thompson, Mr. Bromfield, and others, that the accusation is false, and that he is a very useful man. He has, at my request, since he wrote the above letter, raised and armed upwards of two hundred men for us.

I have the honour to be your Excellency’s most obedient servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

As I have not time to write the Congress, beg your Excellency to forward them a copy of this.

J. S.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR GENERAL THOMPSON.

Sorel, June 6, 1776.

DEAR SIR: You are to march as soon as possible, with Colonel Irvine’s and Colonel Wayne’s Regiments, together with those of Colonel St. Clair, now remaining at this place, and join Colonel St. Clair at Nicolette, and take command of the whole party; and unless you find the number of the enemy at Three Rivers to be such as would render an attack upon them hazardous, you are to cross the river at the most convenient place you can, and attack them; you will pay particular attention to the preservation of your batteaus, keeping them at a convenient distance above the shipping, which lies at or near the Three Rivers. I would by no means advise to an attack if the prospect of success is not much in your favour, as a defeat of your party at this time might prove the total loss of this country.

Sir, as I have (without flattery) the highest opinion of the bravery and good conduct of yourself and the officers you command, I forbear attempting particular instructions, being well assured that neither prudence nor resolution will be wanting to answer the great purpose we have in view. I have the highest opinion of the bravery and resolution of the troops you command, and doubt not but, under the direction of a kind Providence, you will open the way for our recovering that ground which former troops have so shamefully lost.

Wishing you the greatest success and safety, I am, sir, your obedient servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

To General Thompson.

To FRANCIS GUILLOT, of River Dahoup, Gentleman :

Reposing especial trust and confidence in your friendship, zeal, and attachment to the cause of liberty, and relying upon your exertions to oppose and frustrate the cruel designs of a wicked Ministry, formed against the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabitants of the Thirteen United Colonies of America, which, if carried into execution, must, in its operation, prove as fatal to this and the other American Colonies as to those which have already united in opposition to the wicked designs of Administration, —I do, by virtue of the power and authority delegated to me by the honourable the Continental Congress, appoint you, the said Francis Guillot, to be Captain of an Independent Company of such brave French Canadians as you already have, or may hereafter inlist, to act in concert with the American Troops, in opposition to the Ministerial Army in Canada. You are from time to time to receive and obey such directions as you shall receive from the Commander-in-Chief or other your superior officers. The pay of yourself, your under officers and soldiers, to be the same as any other troops sent here under the command and direction of the Continental Congress.

Given at Head-Quarters, at Sorel, the 6th June, 1776.

GENERAL ARNOLD TO GENERAL SULLIVAN.

Montreal, June 5, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: I have complied with your orders, as far as in my power, respecting the destination of the troops. I intended setting off this day for Sorel, but have been much hindered by taking the goods in town. Every possible obstacle has been thrown in my way; however, I shall secure many articles much wanted by the Army. Yesterday Colonel De Haas, with his detachment, set out for Sorel. Last night and this morning I have received intelligence of four or five hundred savages and Canadians being on the Island, with intention of attacking our post at La Chine; and as the garrison is so weak, we can spare few men from it, I have thought proper to order Colonel De Haas to return. I think it absolutely necessary some effectual methods should be taken with the savages immediately, or we shall be obliged to keep up a large force here, and shall be continually harassed with them. This affair will prevent my joining you at Sorel as soon as I could wish. It will not be in my power to take an account of the goods and send them off this three days.

I believe the enemy below will not advance very suddenly. I make no doubt you will have time to prepare for them, and that we shall be reinforced in tune to secure this part of the country.

I have ordered Colonel Bedel, his Major, and Captain Young, to Sorel, for their trial.

An express arrived here from Three Rivers yesterday. I must refer you to General Thompson for the advice he brought. We have only two pieces of cannon here, and no matrosses.

With great esteem and affection, I am, dear General, your obedient, humble servant,

BENEDICT ARNOLD.

To General Sullivan.

Returns of the forces here, at Longueil, and La Prairie, will be sent you as soon as possible.

J. DUGGAN TO GENERAL SULLIVAN.

St. Johns, June 5, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIR: I beg leave to introduce the bearer, Theodore Chartre, to your Honour, as an honest worthy man, and well attached to the cause. He has great influence among the Canadians and Indians; and were your Honour to give him authority, would raise one or two hundred men directly, and march down to Sorel to join the Army. The men, by his information, are daily deserting from Colonel Hazen; and should we be unfortunate, he has reason to think they would be against us, and that there is some foul play going on there. I should be much obliged to your Honour for an answer. As to myself, I think I cannot, consistently with my character as a man of honour, take upon me any commission to raise men until that unjust aspersion on my character by Colonel Hazen is cleared up. I applied to his Honour General Thompson for a Court of Inquiry, to inspect into my conduct; and, notwithstanding the General’s orders, I could not get him to attend the said court, to make good his accusation against me. The bearer, by order of General Woedtke, drew provision at Chambly while the General staid here, but as soon as the General was gone, he was deprived of that privilege; as he is a man that, by his good conduct and behaviour, is very deserving of that benefit, what Colonel Hazen’s reasons were for not obeying the General’s order I cannot tell.

As to my character, from the first of the war, I should be much obliged to your Honour to inquire of any person who knows me, particularly Colonel Campbell. Till that point respecting Colonel Hazen’s accusations is cleared up, I cannot, in honour and common decency, take any part in the present affairs.

I beg leave to acquaint your Honour that there are one thousand pounds sterling offered by General Carleton for my head. I promised your Honour to return to Sorel to day, but the extreme hurry of business here at present will deprive me of that honour to-day, but will if possible wait on your Honour to-morrow.

I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient humble servant,

J. DUGGAN.

To General Sullivan.