Please to make my compliments to Major Scammell. The few blank commissions I have are at Fort George, and I will order one to be forwarded to you to be filled up for him. The ague, which now attacks me every day with the utmost violence, has considerably reduced me; and a few fits more, unless they become more moderate, will render me equally unfit to think or act. God bless you, and may Heaven smile propitious on your endeavours.

I am, dear sir, with the best wishes for your health and happiness, your obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Hon. Brigadier-General Sullivan.

Albany, June 25, 1776—5 o’clock A. M.

DEAR GENERAL: Near twelve last night I was favoured with your letter of the 19th by General Arnold. Painful as the evacuation of Canada is to me, yet a retreat without loss greatly alleviates that pain, not only because it reflects honour upon you, but that I have now a confident hope that, by recruiting your Army, and keeping up a naval superiority on the Lake, we shall be able to prevent the enemy from penetrating into the inhabited parts of these Colonies.

I have written his Excellency General Washington that I wish you had complied with the opinion of your Council of War, and retreated as far south as Crown Point; because I fear the greatest embarrassments in sending supplies, as the enemy may throw themselves between you and the broad part of the Lake, and greatly incommode, if not totally obstruct, the passage of batteaus, or any vessels we have, by batteries of small cannon, by wall-pieces, and even musketry; that, if I had not thought the danger of remaining at Isle-aux-Noix too great to admit of the delay of knowing his pleasure with regard to a further retreat, I should not have presumed to order it. I am, dear General, so far at least in sentiment with your Council of War, that I think and wish you to retire at least into the broad part of Lake Champlain. Perhaps Point-au-Fer or Isle-la-Motte might be thought eligible places, until General Washington’s pleasure can be known; but should you retire to Crown Point it may be proper to keep all the armed vessels and some batteaus, with swivels fixed upon them, to cruise about Isle-la-Motie, and prevent any attempts the enemy may make to harass the settlements on the east side of the Lake.

I momently expect some despatches from General Washington, when I shall write you again.

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

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Hon. Brigadier-General Sullivan.

Albany, June 25, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: By this express you will receive advice from General Schuyler of our evacuating Canada; an event which, I make no doubt, (from our distressed situation,) you have some time expected. The particulars of General Thompson’s repulse and captivity, as nearly as could be ascertained, have been transmitted you; on advice of which, and very direct intelligence that the enemy were greatly superior to us in numbers, I advised General Sullivan to secure his retreat, by retiring to St. Johns. He was determined to keep his post at Sorel, if possible, and did not retire until the 14th instant, at which time the enemy were as high up with their ships as the Sorel. The 15th, at night, when the enemy were at twelve miles distance from me, I quitted Montreal, with my little garrison of three hundred men. The whole Army, with their baggage and cannon, (except three heavy pieces left at Chambly,) arrived at St. Johns the 17th, and at the Isle-aux-Noix the 18th; previous to which it was determined by a Council of War at St. Johns, that, in our distressed situation, (one-half of the Army sick, and almost the whole destitute of clothing and every necessary of life except salt pork and flour,) it was not only imprudent but impracticable to keep possession of St. Johns. Crown Point was judged the only place of health and safety to which the Army could retire and oppose the enemy. It was found necessary to remain at the Isle-aux-Noix for some few days, until the sick, heavy cannon, &c., could be removed. General Sullivan did not choose to leave the Isle-aux-Noix until he received positive orders for that purpose, and thought it necessary for me to repair to this place and wait on General Schuyler. I arrived here last night, and am happy to find him of our sentiments in quitting the Isle-aux-Noix, which, from its low situation, is rendered very unhealthy, and, from the narrow channel leading to it from the south part of Lake Champlain, of six miles in length and from three to eight hundred yards in breadth, is rendered very insecure, as the enemy, by light pieces of cannon and small-arms, might render all access to it dangerous, if not impracticable. It now appears to me of the utmost importance that the Lakes be immediately secured by a large number (at least twenty or thirty) of gondolas, row-galleys, and floating-batteries. The enemy, from undoubted Intelligence, have brought over a large number (it is said one hundred) of frames for flat-bottom boats, designed to be made use of on Lake Champlain; and, from their industry and strength, will doubtless become masters of the Lake, unless every nerve on our part is strained to exceed them in a naval armament. I think it absolutely necessary that at least three hundred carpenters be immediately employed. Fifty sent from Philadelphia, who are acquainted with building that kind of craft, would greatly facilitate the matter. A particular return of the Army could not be obtained in our hurry and confusion; it will be transmitted you in a few days. I believe the whole to be about seven thousand, and at least one-half of them are sick and unfit for duty, but daily recovering. Upwards of one thousand more are yet to have the small-pox. The enemy, from the best intelligence that can be obtained, are near ten thousand, exclusive of Canadians and savages, few of the latter having joined them as yet.

I make no doubt it will be thought necessary to repair Crown Point, or build a new fort near that place; the former, from the advantage of its situation and the fine barracks nearly completed, will, I believe, be thought most proper. I make no doubt but General Gates, whom I am happy to hear is on his way here, will pay immediate attention to it.

I flatter myself our arms under your immediate direction will meet with more success than they have done in this quarter. I make not the least doubt our struggles will be crowned with success.

I am, with every friendly wish, most respectfully, dear General, your affectionate and obedient humble servant,

B. ARNOLD.

To His Excellency General Washington.

Return of the Men who drew Rations on the 23d and 24th of JUNE, 1776.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 1, 1776.]

New-York, June 27, 1776.

SIR: Upon information that Major Rogers was travelling through the country under suspicious circumstances, I thought it necessary to have him secured; I therefore sent after him. He was taken at South-Amboy, and brought up to New-York. Upon examination, he informed me that he came from New-Hampshire, the country of his usual abode, where he had left his family, and pretended he was destined to Philadelphia, on business with Congress.

As, by his own confession, he had crossed Hudson’s River at New-Windsor, and was taken so far out of his proper and direct route to Philadelphia, this consideration, added to the length of time he had taken to perform his journey; his being