GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Albany, July 12, 1776.

SIR: On my way to Crown-Point, I was honoured with your letter of the 2d instant, an answer to which I could not conveniently send from thence. This day at two I returned here, and about four received your favour of the 9th, by Mr. Brown. I am extremely happy to learn that I may soon expect the carpenters. The allowance your Honour recommends shall be complied with; and if any account of disbursements, paid or ordered by you, be transmitted to the Deputy Paymaster-General here, he will immediately discharge it. On our way to Crown-Point, we left your amiable son, Colonel Trumbull, to reconnoitre the grounds opposite to Ticonderoga. His report was favourable, and accompanied with such judicious remarks that they confirmed me in my opinion that it was the properest place effectually to prevent the enemy from penetrating into the Colonies; and I had the pleasure to find that it was unanimously embraced by the other General Officers. Copy of their resolutions I enclose. On our return from Crown-Point, General Gates, the Chief Engineer, your son, and several other officers, again minutely surveyed the ground, and found it capable, with little labour, to be made tenable against a vastly superior force. On this spot we propose to encamp, and employ the Militia; and here they will be separated from the others by the lake, which is at this place about half a mile wide. The sick and infected with the small-pox are all ordered to Fort George, where hospitals are built and building for their reception. I believe the last of these unhappy people will be there this evening or to-morrow at farthest.

It gave me great pleasure to meet my much esteemed friend General Waterbury this morning at Saratoga. His vigilance will second my wishes, and I dare say we shall prevent the unhappy malady, which has so greatly distressed us, from reaching the troops now marching up to our support.

The enemy, from the last accounts, were fortifying at St. John's. From the number of tents there, they do not exceed one thousand, at St. Therese about one hundred and fifty, and as many at Chambly. What further numbers they may have we know not.

We are greatly distressed for felling axes. All I shall be able to procure here will be vastly short of what we shall want. Your Honour's goodness, and the despatch with which everything comes from you, will expose you to much trouble and many applications; but as I know where your consolation lies, I do not hesitate to beg your assistance on this occasion. I flatter myself that a great many axes may be procured from what the inhabitants of your Colony may have for their own use, and wish your Honour to appoint some person to do it, and to deliver them at Albany, for which he will be paid whatever consideration you shall be pleased to promise, together with every attendant expense. I do not know how conveniently to transmit the money to pay for the axes; perhaps it may be furnished out of your Treasury, to be replaced immediately by the first safe conveyance. I wish to have as many (under one thousand) as can be procured.

When I was at Crown-Point, I proposed to a council of officers an expedient to procure the return of the deserters from the northern Army; and it was 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. May I be permitted to entreat your Honour to issue such Proclamation in your Colony.

We expect a very numerous meeting of the Indians at the German Flats. My colleague Commissioners set out with me to-morrow for that place.

I am, with perfect esteem and respect, sir, your most obedient humble servant, PHILIP SCHILLER

To the Honourable J. Trumbull, Esq.

GENERAL GATES TO MOSES MORSE.

Ticonderoga, July 12, 1776.

SIR: I this moment received your letter of the 9th instant, and entirely approve of the establishment of a post between Watertown and the northern Army. I am sorry for the unhappy account you give of the sickness in Boston, and wish the same pestilential disease had not for some months sorely afflicted our troops in this department. Three thousand of the Army are now in hospitals, and others daily falling sick; so that, what with the losses sustained at Quebeck, the Three-Rivers, and the Cedars, and the consequent retreat from Canada, together with the death and desertion that has happened since the 1st of April, our Army is diminished upwards of five thousand men, exclusive of the sick above mentioned. This miserable situation of our affairs, and other circumstances considered, induced the council of war, which General Schuyler held a few days ago, unanimously to resolve, that the Army should immediately retire from Crown-Point to Ticonderoga, where, upon the strong ground on the eastern side of the lake, directly opposite to the east point of Ticonderoga, an encampment is marked out for the Army. The sick and infected are removing to the fort at the south end of Lake George, where the general hospital is fixed. Our naval force upon the lake is, in the mean time, refitting with the utmost diligence; but the loss of all the field-cannon in Canada, with many carriages and artillery stores, very much retards this business, as carnages are to be made here, where our conveniences for doing it are very scanty. Brigadier-General Arnold is at Crown-Point, forwarding the troops, artillery, stores, and provisions, to Ticonderoga; as fast as these arrive, I shall endeavour to place them in a situation to maintain their post; but should the enemy gain a naval superiority upon the lake before this Army is augmented by at least six thousand men, I think our possession of any ground upon the navigable part of these lakes exceedingly doubtful.

By intelligence received yesterday from St. John's, the enemy are very busy constructing three sloops and two schooners. General Carleton and General Frazer are said to be at that post, with a large body of troops. General Schuyler has ordered a number of gondolas to be built at Skenesborough; three are already finished, but the providing them with artillery and rigging will be a work I am apprehensive will take more time than we have to spare.

As I would not detain the express, I have only given you a general description of the state of affairs here. General Schuyler, who commands in this department, assured me he would write particularly to the Eastern Governments; he left Ticonderoga the day before yesterday, to go to an Indian treaty that is to be held the 15th instant at the German-Flats, upon the Mohawk River.

I am exceedingly anxious to know the true state of affairs at New-York, from whence I have not heard a syllable that can be depended upon since the 1st instant.

The Almighty may chastise us for a time, but he surely will not suffer our righteous cause to perish. That the peace and freedom of America may, in his good time, be established, is the fervent prayer of, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

HORATIO GATES.

P. S. I desire the Militia sent to our assistance may come complete in arms and ammunition.

GENERAL ARNOLD TO GENERAL GATES.

Crown-Point, July 12, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Enclosed is a list of officers and seamen, which I have sent you under the care of Captain Mayhew. I have engaged them the same wages as the seamen now on board the fleet. They will all be wanted to fix the vessels and gondolas; after which, I think it will be best to divide them into gangs of twelve or fifteen men for the gondolas now building. Captain Mayhew has in charge thirteen Indians, taken by Colonel Hartley and Major De Hart, who it will, perhaps, be best to send to Albany, and retain as hostages for the good conduct of their tribe. Enclosed is a letter I have written General Schuyler on the subject, which I beg the favour of you to forward.

All the artillery and stores will go off this day: one company of the Train are ordered to Ticonderoga, to receive and take charge of the same, and the others will go off tomorrow. The whole Army may leave this place on Sunday, unless you think proper for part of them to remain here until barracks can be built at the new camp, as many of them are destitute of tents. I should be glad of your instructions