Thompson, and that with Colonel De Haas, contains the flower of our Army at present. Some regiments are nearly out of the small-pox, and will be fit for duty in a few days. Our numbers will be daily increasing. I should rejoice, however, to see General Greene here, with his brigade, if he can be spared from New-York.

June 12, 1776.—I could not close the foregoing letter till I could get some certain intelligence of General Thompson and his party, most of which, after being unfortunately repulsed, are now returned; but the General himself, with Colonel Irwin, Dr. McKinzie, Mr. Currie, Mr. Burd, Mr. Edy, and Parson Colley, are unluckily fallen into the hands of our enemies. A flag has arrived this night for their baggage, by which he writes that he and the other gentlemen are treated with the greatest politeness by General Burgoyne, who commands at Three Rivers. The officers suppose they had about twenty-five killed, and we find missing in the whole about a hundred and fifty, some of which we expect in yet, as some have arrived this evening, and say more will be in. The General was taken after the retreat by some Canadian Militia, summoned in by Carleton. I have also a number, which I have summoned in to take part with us, under the Baron De Woedtke. Our people say that the Canadians were, in general, very kind to them upon their retreat, and gave them every assistance in their power. The unfortunate defeat of General Thompson and his detachment happened in this manner, viz: The repeated accounts from Three Rivers of the smallness of their numbers induced General Thompson to detach Colonel St. Clair to attack them with seven hundred men, before my arrival. This not being put in execution, and St. Clair remaining at Nicolete, and the account of their weakness being confirmed, the General solicited the liberty of attacking them, which I granted, giving the orders which I enclosed in my last. He crossed from Nicolete to Three Rivers in the night, but being led into a morass by his guides, was obliged to return back near two miles; in which time the day broke, he was discovered, the ships began to cannonade, and continued while he marched through a swamp, which took near an hour and a half. The people came up to the attack, but, unluckily for them, twenty-five vessels had arrived that evening with troops, which they landed, while he marched on, and, being well prepared, gave them so warm a reception that the troops soon broke and quitted the ground. The cannonading and all the firing after that was a mere random firing, which answered very little purpose. When they found our troops began to give way, they detached a party of six hundred by the side of the river, to attack them in flank, and to secure our batteaus. The batteaus were pre served by Major Woods, who brought them off. One batteau only was taken, with four barrels of powder, and nothing else on board, the men escaped.

This, dear General, is a state of this unfortunate enterprise. What you will hear next, I cannot say. I am every moment informed of the vast number of the enemy which have arrived; some, indeed, say that great numbers have arrived from England, and all the troops from Halifax. This I do not believe; but I apprehend their numbers now are very great. I have here only two thousand five hundred and thirty-three rank and file. Most of the officers seemed discouraged, and, of course, their men. I am employed day and night in fortifying and securing my camp, and am determined to hold it as long as a person will stick by me. I have heard nothing of Colonel Dayton’s or the residue of Colonel Wayne’s regiment, or of the others ordered here; sure I am that they are much wanted. There are some regiments all down with the small-pox—not a single man fit for duty. This will be remedied in time, unless the enemy make a sudden push, which, indeed, we expect every hour. If so, we must, with the numbers we have, sustain their efforts, and I hope repulse them.

Dear General, I am, with much regard, your most de voted, humble servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

P. S. Our old friend Colonel Louis, of the Caughnawagas, has this moment arrived express from that tribe. He says all the Indians have made peace, even the Canasadagas, and those tribes which joined Captain Forster at the Cedars, except the Roundorks —these have refused in council, and say they will take arms for the King, and have sent to General Carleton to let him know it. This tribe consists of fifty warriors only. The Caughnawagas and other tribes desire we should send up some other tribes, which they will join with, to extirpate them. This they would do themselves, but are apprehensive that some few French, through the influence of their Priests, will join them. In deed I can but illy spare the force; but it is a matter of too much importance to be neglected. I must therefore send some force under the command of an experienced officer.

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

JOHN SULLIVAN.

Nicolete, June 7, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL : I arrived here at one o’clock this morning, and as the men were much fatigued, their arms wet, and the night so far advanced, it rendered it impossible to get to Three Rivers before light, and must have passed in sight of the enemy’s vessels, ten in number, that have got about five miles above Three Rivers.

I have ordered the whole detachment to be in readiness to embark at nine o’clock this evening, and shall pass the river St. Lawrence about three miles above the shipping, and after leaving a guard of two hundred and fifty men with the boats, proceed by land to the Three Rivers, and, if possible, begin the attack at daylight.

No certain accounts of the number of the enemy—the intelligence is from five to fifteen hundred. If I shall find that they are numerous, and that they are strongly intrenched, I shall not risk a battle, as a defeat, at this time, would greatly distress us.

I have not found a proper place near this to fortify, the banks being overflowed at the mouth of the river; nor would I venture to keep troops below the vessels, as they surely have it in their power to prevent our boats from passing, and it is out of our power to keep up a communication by land. I believe, therefore, we must make the best of the banks at or near the Sorel, or fortify the Islands.

I have ordered Captain Stevens to stop above the Lake with the artillery till further orders, as the loss of the few he has with him would be very fatal to us. You will hear from me to-morrow.

I am, dear General, your affectionate, humble servant,

WILLIAM THOMPSON.

St. Johns, June 13, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: I wrote you a few days since from Montreal that I had seized a parcel of goods for the use of the Army by particular orders from the Commissioners of Congress. Our hurry and confusion was so great when the goods were received, it was impossible to take a particular account of them; every man’s name was marked on his particular packages, with intention to take particular account of them at Chambly or St. Johns, where the goods were ordered to be stored. Major Scott was sent with them, with orders to have them stored under the care of Colonel Hazen, who commanded at Chambly. On his arrival there he received orders from General Sullivan to repair to Sorel. Colonel Hazen refused taking the goods into store, or taking charge of them; they were heaped in piles on the banks of the river. Colonel Hazen finally received them, and placed sentinels over them; they were, however, neglected in such a manner that great part were stolen or plundered. On receiving this intelligence I repaired to Chambly; the goods were sent to St. Johns by Colonel Hazen, in different parcels, all under the care of a French corporal; and through them I found the goods broken open, plundered, and mixed together in the greatest confusion, and great part missing. Mr. McCarthy has General Sullivan’s orders, and is now receiving the goods. I have sent over to Ticonderoga a quantity of nails and goods, the property of Thomas Walker, Esq., and ordered them to be stored there, and delivered to his order.

We have a report that on Sunday last our Army, of about two thousand men, under the command of General Thompson, attacked the enemy near Three Rivers, and were re pulsed, with the loss of twenty men and some batteaus. We have received no particular accounts of this matter, though several days have elapsed since the affair happened.

Near one half of our Army are sick, mostly with the small-pox. If the enemy have a force of six or eight, and some say ten thousand men, we shall not be able to oppose them. Sick, ragged, undisciplined, and unofficered, as we