for; and if the inhabitants are not apprehensive of their enmity, I think it would, upon many accounts, be best to let them alone. General Arnold will, I suppose, resolve what measure to take with them; if not, I shall. By the information respecting the enemy contained in this Journal, you see how necessary it is, by every means, to expedite our naval armament. To that end, I have made the distribution of the carpenters and smiths between this and Skenesborough that you directed. You will not fail to send your orders to the commanding officer there to employ them to the best purpose. Musket-ball, of all sorts, buckshot, lead, and cartridge paper, are much wanted in this department, as are carpenters', smiths', and armourers' tools. The rest of our wants your own observation will inform you, and your zeal for the service, will, I am confident, supply. No news yet from New-York. My compliments to Mrs. Schuyler and the young ladies,

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

HORATIO GATES.

To Major-General Schuyler,

P. S. Axes and intrenching tools, I have great hopes you will speedly supply.

GENERAL ARNOLD TO GENERAL GATES.

Crown-Point, July 10, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Colonel Hartley arrived from a tour down the lake last night. Enclosed is a copy of his Journal. I make no doubt the enemy have a number of vessels in forwardness, and will exert themselves in building, to command the lake.

I have made a draught of the artificers, and have sent you a number of each, as per the enclosed memorandum. I have ordered the oar-makers to go between this and Skenesborough. If timber cannot be procured there, they must return here, where it is plenty. I believe the armourers will be wanted at Ticonderoga, and some few of the blacksmiths. The others will have employ at Skenesborough. All the house-carpenters you will doubtless want. The ship-carpenters are divided into gangs of fifteen each, and will most or all of them be wanted at Skenesborough. I have employed officers to command the artificers, which I believe will expedite the works. I have ordered to Ticonderoga some boards, plank, &c. All that can be procured will be forwarded to you immediately.

I am anxious to hear from New-York. You will be kind enough to transmit to General Schuyler a copy of Colonel Hartley's Journal.

I am, with esteem and affection, dear General, yours, &c., &c.,

B. ARNOLD.

N. B, I sent you about four tons lead yesterday, in sheets and ball. I have three tons remaining on hand. None can be found in the fort,

COLONEL HARTLEY TO GENERAL ARNOLD.

Crown-Point, July 10, 1776.

In pursuance of General Sullivan's orders, I set off from hence on the 5th instant, in the afternoon. We had a very great storm that evening, which had near destroyed several of our boats, and much injured our arms and ammunition. Against a very strong north wind, we arrived the second evening at Cumberland Head. Proper dispositions were made to provide against a surprise, or oppose an enemy, if any should appear.

We, on the 7th, found a small quantity of ship-timber there, which we destroyed. I ordered out several parties, who scoured the woods for many miles around Cumberland-Head. I sent also a boat down the lake as far as the Isle Motte, early in the morning; but neither of the parties nor boat discovered an enemy.

My whole detachment, consisting of about two hundred and fifty men, came to one William Hays's, in Cumberland-Bay, on the 7th, in the evening. Hays had, within a few days, sent a child to St. John's; and one Cross, his neighbour, had sent his wife there, as a place of security. Neither Hays nor Cross did incline to remove themselves or their cattle to Crown-Point. They alleged they were in no danger of the enemy, and that they were sure the Indians would not hurt them. They objected much against my removing their cattle. I gave positive orders. They complied; but seemed very uneasy. Though General Sullivan had recommended that Hays should be removed, yet, as his wife was very ill with the small-pox, I did not inform Hays that I had any order relating to his person, but proposed that he should remain with his wife, and retain a milch cow and calf, and all his household goods. He chose to come up himself to advocate his cause, and has left two men to take care of his wife. I have brought him and Cross along with me. They are here, and are very pressing to return.

I found several saws, intrenching tools, &c., very necessary for the publick service, at Hays's. I caused an inventory of them to be taken, and brought them here.

I brought away the chief of Hays's and Cross's cattle. They are now here. There is an inventory of them.

I found a quantity of good plank and crooked timber for ship-building at Hays's, which is the property of Mr. Udney Hay. I ordered the same to be brought here in several batteaus, which are now at the landing.

There was about one thousand feet of plank some miles from the shore, which, at this time of year, could not be conveyed to the boats on account of some large swamps. As it could not fall into the hands of the enemy till winter, (when, perhaps, we might procure it ourselves, if wanted,) I thought it improper to burn it.

At Hays's, we found Hays, Cross, and two other men, and by some address we collected the following intelligence: That Cross's father-in-law had been there within a few days; that he had informed that Generals Carleton and Frazier were at St. John's with a considerable body of Hanoverian and other troops; that they were repairing the works at St. John's, and that one hundred men were daily employed in cutting wood between that place and the Isle-aux-Noix; that they were building three sloops and two schooners at St. John's, which they expected would be soon finished, and that they intended immediately to proceed to Crown-Point; and that the enemy did not mean to injure any of the common people in their settlements. We also understood that there were several Indians at the Isle-aux-Noix.

Before we came to Hays's, we were informed that he kept an Indian about his house, and was determined to do it during the summer. At Hays's, by gathering something from each of the four, (though they seemed all averse to communicate anything to us,) we learnt that this Indian had some time before gone to hunt about twelve miles distant, and that two Indians had come up the lake within a few days, and he had gone to join them; since which, nothing of them had been seen.

From the conduct of Hays and Cross, as well as of the Indians in general on these waters lately, I considered these Indians unfriendly, and was persuaded they would act against us if an opportunity should offer. We fixed a plan against these savages with the greatest secrecy. We were very lucky in having one (Sergeant Cross) who was acquainted with the country. I detached Lieutenant Grier, Ensign Haffner, Sergeant Cross, and twenty-three riflemen. They left Hays's about one o'clock in the morning of the 8th, in a boat to the mouth of the river Sable. The party divided. Lieutenant Grier (an excellent woodsman) with his division some miles up the river took the Indian tracks which had been made the day before. The enemy had ten dogs with them; but the division managed with such secrecy and judgment, that Lieutenant Grier surprised three Indian men and seven women and children, in a wigwam, just at daylight; they seemed much agitated and hallooed out; the party seized four guns and other arms. The officer prevented any of them from being put to death, though the late cruel murder and scalping of several worthy men of the Sixth Battalion might have justified it. These Indians had a watch-house on the lake at the mouth of the river Sable, to watch what passed on the lake—they were not employed by us; the house or wigwam had been very lately made use of. They had their females in such a remote place that they thought no white people could discover them, and the men might act occasionally.

However these Indians may have conducted themselves in former times, they now appear as unfriendly persons. Two of them, as has been observed, came up the lake within these ten days, and since the murders committed below.