Please to order up the sundry articles mentioned in the enclosed list of naval stores, (No. 7.)

Lead is an article we stand in great need of; if any can be spared, your Excellency will be so good as to order it to be sent up.

July 13th. The lead is just arrived, but the anchors and cables I fear are by some mistake landed at Poughkeepsie. Be so good as to order Mr. Hughes to make inquiry into the matter.

* * * * * * * * * * *

unanimously agreed that I should write to the different Governments from whence troops had been sent, entreating the Governours and Commanders-in-Chief to issue their proclamations promising pardon to all such as should return by a limited time, to be fixed by such Governours, &c.; and to require all officers, civil and military, in their respective Governments, to apprehend all such deserters as should not comply with the terms offered, which I hope will meet with your approbation.

I am, dear sir, with the most unfeigned esteem and respect, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington.

[No. 1.]

MINUTES OF A COUNCIL OF WAR.

At a Council of War held at Crown-Point, July 7th, 1776, the Honourable Major-General Schuyler, President; Honourable Major-General Gates, Brigadier-General Sullivan, Brigadier-General Arnold, and Brigadier-General De Woedtke, Members:

Resolved, That under our present circumstances the Post of Crown-Point is not tenable; and that, with our present force, or one greatly superior to what we may reasonably expect, it is not capable of being made so this summer.

Resolved, therefore, That it is prudent to retire immediately to the strong ground on the east side of the Lake, opposite to Ticonderoga, with all the healthy and uninfected troops; and that the sick and infected with the small-pox be removed to Fort George; it appearing clearly to the Council that the post opposite to Ticonderoga will the most effectually secure the country, and removing the infected with the small-pox obviate every objection that may at present retard the Militia (ordered by Congress) from joining the Army.

Resolved, That the most effectual measures be taken to secure our superiority on Lake Champlain, by a naval armament of gondolas, row-galleys, armed batteaus, &c.

Resolved, That one or more Surveyors be immediately employed to trace out a road between the high ground opposite to Ticonderoga and the road leading from Skenes-borough to the Northern settlements.

[No. 2.]

REMONSTRANCE OF COLONEL STARK AND OTHER FIELD OFFICERS TO MAJOR-GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Crown-Point, July 8, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: We, whose names are hereto subscribed, Field-Officers of the several regiments in the Continental service now at this place, beg leave, with the utmost respect, to acquaint your Excellency, that when we have been heretofore called upon in a council of war to give our opinion respecting the propriety of a retreat from Canada, we were informed, by the then commanding officer in chief, that the positive orders of the Continental Congress were, "to dispute every inch of the ground in Canada."

That order we have complied with, so long as we or our General (in council) thought would be most conducive to the publick weal. And at the last council of war to which we were called, it was almost (if not quite) unanimously resolved to retreat to this place, and here make a stand against the Ministerial Army.

Since our arrival at this place we have been informed by your Excellency that the honourable Continental Congress have ordered and directed the superiority of the lakes to be maintained. Also, that the Army are to be removed to Ticonderoga.

We would not pretend to dictate to you, sir, or to the other Generals, what orders you should issue; neither will we ever decline obeying them; but at the same time beg leave to remonstrate to your Excellency that the order for our removal to Ticonderoga appears to us to militate with both the foregoing orders of Congress, in the spirit (if not in the letter) of them, for, the reasons following, viz:

1st. We cannot but judge from our own observation of the ground here, that we can maintain it against any forces our enemy can send against us.

2d. That this post appears to us to be the only one where we can maintain a naval superiority upon the lakes.

3d. That whenever we quit this post, we give our enemy an opportunity of taking possession of it, with all the advantages already made by former works, which it will be impossible for us ever to retake from them without an amazing expense of blood and treasure.

4th. By admitting the enemy to get the possession of this place, it not only entirely destroys the communication with the lower parts of the lakes, but opens a plain and easy passage for them into the heart of the four New-England Governments and frontiers of New-York.

5th. Our retreat from this place to Ticonderoga must occasion the retiring of hundreds of families from their farms, and quitting their crops of grain, which would be much more than sufficient to maintain themselves, and drive them upon other towns, which must occasion a consumption of whatever could be spared for the publick service, if not a famine amongst them.

6th. That this place will afford an asylum for the savages, from which they may much easier make excursions upon the frontier settlements and secure their retreat.

7th. That the place to which we are ordered to remove, has ever proved extremely unhealthy, and will tend to increase the distresses our Army have laboured under by reason of sickness.

These, sir, are some of the many reasons which we beg leave to offer to your Excellency's consideration why we are not entirely easy with the determination of the General Officers respecting our removal, and hope our zeal for the publick good, which induces us to make these observations, will be a sufficient apology for this interruption upon your publick business, and that your Excellency will pay such regard hereto as the importance of the affair demands.

We are, with great esteem, your Excellency's most obedient humble servants,

To His Excellency General Schuyler.

[No. 3.]

Ticonderoga, July 9, 1776, nine P. M.

GENTLEMEN: Your remonstrance of yesterday's date was delivered me at eight o'clock this evening by General Sullivan. Previous to any observations on it, give me leave to remind you of a mistake you have made in supposing that I informed you that Congress had directed me "that the Army was to be removed to Ticonderoga." My expression was exactly in these words: "That it be recommended to General Schuyler to form a strong camp in the vicinity of Ticonderoga or Crown-Point." I observed, that as I quoted from memory, and had not the resolution with me, I could not repeat the Very words of it. I rather wish to impute your mistake to misapprehension, than to any intentional false repetition of what I said, which I cannot suppose any gentleman can be guilty of.

The reasons which induced the council of General Officers unanimously to give their opinion to remove the main body of the Army from Crown-Point, I cannot conceive myself at liberty to give without their consent. For myself, I declare with that frankness which I wish always to cha-