by the several Towns in this District, beg leave to address your Honour in behalf of our constituents and ourselves. We are greatly alarmed at the retreat of our Army out of Canada, and the news of the savages killing a number of our men on the west side of Lake Champlain; in consequence of which events, the frontier settlements are removing their families into the country; but the inhabitants thus removing being greatly desirous that the frontier settlements should be protected, and anxious to return and secure their crops, we earnestly beg and entreat your Honour to send a guard to Onion River, or some other place which your Honour shall think most advantageous to the Army and inhabitants. We are much alarmed on account of our unhappy situation, and would express our great concern for the invaded liberties of the Colonies in general. We have a number of good woodsmen, well acquainted with fire-arms; and should your Honour, in your wisdom, think proper and give leave, we would immediately raise a battalion of effective men for the defence of the United Colonies, and the frontiers of New-Hampshire Grants in particular. And likewise earnestly desire that your Honour would give orders that our frontier towns, which are destitute, may be supplied with ammunition as your Honour shall think proper.

We, the subscribers, have appointed Colonel Thomas Chittenden and Captain Herman Allen to present this Memorial to your Honour, and to act in our behalf.

Committees of Safety for several Towns in the

New-Hampshire Grants.

GENERAL SULLIVAN TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Crown Point, July 2, 1776.

MY DEAR GENERAL: I have from time to time endeavoured to give your Excellency the earliest intelligence of our movements in this quarter; but the distance is so great that we are under necessity of making many without having your Excellency’s advice. In my last I mentioned that I should remain with the Army at Isle-aux-Noix till your Excellency’s pleasure could be known. This, I supposed, would serve to cover and protect the inhabitants settled by the Lake till they could remove with their effects, and at the same time give us an opportunity of receiving your Excellency’s directions where to make a stand; but, unfortunately, sickness of almost every kind seized both officers and men to such a degree that I was forced to leave that unhealthy place and retire to this, where I hope the Army will soon recruit. We have, I think, secured everything, even to an axe, except three cannon at Chambly, and those not very good. We have taken one out of the Lake, a fine twelve-pounder, which in part makes up our loss. I am now fortifying this place, and will endeavour to have it as strong as possible, and fix as many galleys to command the Lake as I can. I have sent for some person acquainted with those constructed at Philadelphia, that we may have some of that kind built if it is agreeable to your Excellency. I have written General Schuyler for his advice, which hope soon to receive. In the interim I shall be procuring as much timber and boards as possible.

I hear that a number of Militia are ordered here. I don’t think them necessary at present; but should they be sent, I wish they may be such as have had the small-pox, as there is no avoiding it in our camp. As the air is pure at this place, and the Army can have fresh provisions and good water, I hope they will soon recruit. If they should, sure I am that we shall have enough to fortify and hold this place, and at the same time command the Lake. A Lieutenant whom I sent to reconnoitre at St. Johns and Chambly has returned, and says that he counted about one hundred and fifty tents at St. Johns, twenty-five at St. Rays, and fifteen at Chambly; and that the Regulars are very busy in fortifying at St. Johns. He saw no boats except a canoe and one batteau at Chambly. He despatched two of his men from St. Johns to give me intelligence, who have not since been heard of. I fear the Indians have entrapped them.

In my route I have given every assistance in my power to remove the frontier inhabitants with their effects, and have ordered Colonel Winds, with a hundred and fifty men, to take post at Onion River, to guard there till I could have your Excellency’s and General Schuyler’s opinion. I have sent Congress a written application from these inhabitants for assistance. Doubtless they will make some order upon it, which I hope will be that Colonel Warner, of the Green Mountains, shall raise men for that purpose, as I think those men much better calculated to defend that part of the country than any others. I shall now be able to make your Excellency a proper return of men and stores, which shall be immediately forwarded. In the interim I remain, with the highest sentiments of respect, your Excellency’s most obedient servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

To His Excellency General Washington.

P. S. We are in great want of about six or eight fieldpieces, which beg may be forwarded as soon as may be.

Your Excellency’s most obedient servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

GENERAL SULLIVAN TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Isle-aux-Noix, June 24, 1776.

MY DEAR GENERAL: It is with the greatest pain I inform you that, after our retreat from Canada to this place, of which I have given your Excellency an account through General Schuyler, and after I had determined to make a stand here till I received your Excellency’s order, I find myself under an absolute necessity of quitting this Island for a place more healthy, otherwise the Army will never be able to return, as one fortnight longer in this place will not leave us well men enough to carry off the sick, exclusive of the publick stores, which I have preserved thus far. The raging of the smallpox deprives us of whole regiments in the course of a few days, by their being taken down with that cruel disorder. But this is not all. The camp disorder rages to such a degree that of the regiments remaining, from twenty to sixty in each are taken down in a day, and we have nothing to give them but salt pork, flour, and the poisonous waters of this Lake. I have, therefore, determined, with the unanimous voice of the officers, to remove to Isle-la-Motte, a place much more healthy than this, where I have some hope we shall preserve the health of the few men we have till some order is taken respecting our future movements. I think it would be by far the best to remove to Crown Point, fortify that, build row-galleys to command the Lake, and by scouting parties to defend our frontiers, as the savages have already begun upon us. They have made two attacks upon our men, killed and taken near twenty, among whom are some officers. These officers went on shore unarmed, when I was gone to reconnoitre Point-au-Fer. The other party went on shore at river Lecot to buy milk. They were in boats loaded with flour, which they brought off, but had some men killed. The whole of our loss in killed and taken amount to about twenty. This happened in both cases for want of that care which should ever be taken in an enemy’s country. I hope it will be a warning to our people in future. I hear from all quarters that the enemy are very numerous in Canada. Their shipping is also numerous, and it can not be doubted that all the Canadians and all the Indians in this quarter will be compelled to bear arms against us. This I know they would gladly have avoided; but finding that we are not able to afford them that protection we promised, they are obliged to make their peace in the best manner they can. I think it is now past a doubt that the neglect and inattention to this department has not only lost us Canada, but involved us in a war with all the blacks and whites in this quarter; and to check their progress I know of no better method than to secure the important posts of Ticondcroga end Crown Point, and, by building a number of armed vessels, command the Lakes, otherwise the forces now in Canada will be brought down upon us as quick as possible, having nothing now to oppose them in that Colony. They have a number of batteaus framed, which they brought from Three Rivers. They will doubtless construct some armed vessels, and then endeavour to penetrate the country toward New-York. This I am persuaded they will attempt, but am sure they can never effect, unless we neglect to secure the important posts now in our power. I have written to General Schuyler, and wait with impatience for his answer, as I know that no time ought to be lost in fortifying this place or Crown Point. If I attempt to fortify here, and afterwards am