not permitted to go farther than Niagara. The intelligence they bring is, that, as soon as it was known there that Sir John Johnson was gone off, a vessel, with twenty-five barrels of pork, as much flour, and some sugar and rum, was despatched to Oswegatchie; that the commanding officer declared that there were one thousand Indians there, chiefly of the Western Nations; that it was given out that Butler intended to hold a conference at Oswego, and that they had plenty of provisions.

As these batteaumen, if not Tories, were under the influence of a Mr. Ellis, who is greatly suspected of being our enemy, I do not give full credit to what they say, especially as to the article of provisions and the number of Indians, for the Oneidas informed Mr. Deane that all the Six Nations were at home except a small part of the Senecas.

I had already anticipated your Excellency’s wish that I should purchase all the goods I could get at this place and its vicinity, having employed proper persons the very day I returned from Fort George; but the difficulty we labour under is want of hard money; for some of the merchants, especially a Mr. Blake, whom I have mentioned before, would not sell a good assortment he had, although his price was not disputed, and although I had caused him to be informed that I had entreated your Excellency to give order for the payment of his bill in hard money if it could be got.

The disorder I labour under greatly distresses me, and has brought me very low; but my presence is judged, both by my colleagues and the Oneidas, so absolutely necessary at the ensuing treaty, that I am resolved to be there, and will go in a close carriage, if I cannot otherwise.

June 20th, eight o’clock, A. M. —I could not proceed with my letter of last night, as my fever, after an absence of two hours, returned, and has continued until half an hour ago; since which I have received a letter from Colonel Wynkoop, enclosing a copy of one from Colonel Poor to him, dated the 15th, at St. Johns, and advises that “our Army are now on their retreat out of Canada, and, as there is not batteaus enough here to transport our men and baggage over the Lake, you will immediately send all the boats that can be procured to St. Johns. Pray, sir, don’t fail, as a safe retreat may depend upon it. You will likewise order the shipping down, and let them stop near the middle of Isle of Motte, it being best for them to stop there, as the navigation this way of it is very difficult.”

I have ordered all the batteaus in Lake George to be carried to Ticonderoga, that they might be ready to go to Skenesborough to take in the Militia of the Massachusetts-Bay and Connecticut, whom I have desired to march to that place; those of New-Hampshire to Crown Point or Onion River, as should be deemed most convenient for them; those from this Colony I propose sending by Lake George. I find myself under a great dilemma. If I send on the batteaus the Militia cannot move; but I do not conceive the necessity of moving the Militia farther than Ticonderoga if our Army is obliged to retreat. I shall therefore order the batteaus to be forwarded, unless General Sullivan advises otherwise, whose express left Fort George before Mr. Lansing, who brought me the above letter, and informs me (as what he had from the express) that General Thompson and Colonel Irvine are certainly taken prisoners, and that our people were obliged to retreat, with the loss of about one hundred and twenty men, the enemy being considerably reinforced the evening before the attack.

Your Excellency will see by the enclosed return that the men at Fort George are inadequate, in point of numbers, to keep the garrison, in case of an attack, and man the batteaus, of which there are sometimes twenty and upwards, with five men in each, at once on the Lake, either going to or coming from Ticonderoga. I shall, therefore, at all events, retain a body of Militia there and at Ticonderoga, although the order of Congress is that they are to go into Canada; but as on the preservation of these posts the safety of the Army in Canada does absolutely and immediately depend, I think I shall be justified in the measure both with your Excellency and the Congress.

Yesterday Mr. Trumbull, the Deputy Paymaster-General, received to the amount of six thousand dollars in specie from the Colony of Connecticut. I have ordered it to be immediately forwarded to General Sullivan.

I thank your Excellency for the account of the prize taken to the eastward, and for the account that it is possible some more are taken. I am ever happy to receive such accounts, as I make the most of them to keep up the spirits of the people here, which are really lowered much by the repeated misfortunes in Canada.

I have this moment sent to the Committee to request that the proportion of the Militia of this County, which is four hundred and twenty-five, may be immediately collected, that I may send them to reinforce the garrisons of Fort George and Ticonderoga. Colonel Wynkoop writes me that he has sent on only three companies of Van Schaick’s to Canada, not being able by any means to spare the other.

Since my last accounts from Fort George a considerable quantity of provisions has been sent forward. I have desired Mr. Livingston to write fully to Mr. Trumbull on the subject of supplying the Army. No fat cattle are yet to be had`; but if they were we cannot get them, as we have not any money, and without immediate payment none will sell, either in this or the adjacent Colonies.

Your Excellency will perceive by General Arnold’s letter, that he had seized the effects of the Tories in Montreal : this was in consequence of a query of mine to the commanding officer in Canada, whether such a measure would not be necessary; giving at the same time my opinion that it was, and that these persons ought to be secured and sent down here. Mr. Lansing says that he has been informed that many of these goods were sent to Sorel, where our soldiers seized them as plunder.

June 20, eleven o’clock. —This moment the officer whom General Sullivan sent express has delivered me the enclosed. Taking the whole together of what he and General Arnold write, I do not by any means think the former’s resolution to keep post at Sorel a very eligible one, especially when he is “every moment informed of the vast number of the enemy which have arrived;” and although he does not believe “that great numbers have arrived from England, and all the troops from Halifax, ” yet he apprehends their numbers are very great; and as he has only two thousand five hundred and thirty-three rank and file, to oppose them, and “most of the officers seem discouraged, and, of course, their men.” But if your Excellency should be in sentiment with me that he ought to quit Sorel for a place from whence there is a greater prospect of securing a retreat to such part of Lake Champlain where the enemy cannot follow; yet I fear your orders will come too late. I should, however, conceive myself inexcusable if I did not advise it; for the safety of the Colonies depends in a great measure on the safety of that Army; and however disagreeable the consequences may be of evacuating Canada, they cannot ever be equal to the loss of our Army, and with it the whole country. General Sullivan, in his letter to me, confirms me that I am right in the opinion I have given above, for he says: “By the enclosed you will see our situation: our enemies multiply upon our hands, and we have few to oppose them. I believe the whole force intended for Canada has arrived, with Burgoyne at their head. I now think only of a glorious death or a victory obtained against superior numbers.”

Although our affairs are in such a disagreeable situation, I do not by any means despond; and do believe, if our Army can retreat into Lake Champlain, that it will be impossible for the enemy to reach as far south as Crown Point —at least not this campaign, and that they will never be able to penetrate into the country; but if our Army is lost, they will go where they please, in spite of our naval force on the Lake, which is by no means an object of much importance, nor will be unless greatly increased, which I shall do with all the despatch I am capable of in my low state of health.

Enclosed is the substance of the conference with the Indians returned from Canada.

I am, dear General, your most obedient humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington.

P. S. Agreeably to General Schuyler’s desire, who is sick in bed, I enclose your Excellency a copy of his letter of this date to General Sullivan.

From your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

RICHARD VARICK.

Albany, June 20, 1776.

Montreal, June 10, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: I received your letter of the 28th ult. to the honourable Commissioners respecting the Oneidas, the