yesterday evening sent an officer and seven men after Brown, but he is gone. Unless he is at Ticonderoga, he is fled to the enemy. However, I have sent in search of him this morning again; but have no prospect of success.

There is no news yet from down the Lake. I wish I could get a couple of canoes from Head-Quarters, as we have not one here. We want also some cordage for ropes to the sails of the batteaus.

I have laid out my encampment near the Grenadier-Redoubt. The sick I will keep in the long store-house. From the numerous detachments and sickness, I have not two hundred men now here fit for duty. Part of these are daily employed in the boats.

Mr. Hops, a young gentleman from York, in Pennsylvania, was wounded in the action at Trois Rivieres, where he behaved with the utmost bravery. He stood far back in point of seniority in the regiment, so that I could have no prospect of advancing him soon, without giving disgust. He was recommended to General Arnold, and was commissioned as a Lieutenant of Marines on board the large schooner. He was to have twenty-five men. We would willingly furnish the whole number from our regiment, were it not for the losses and distresses we have suffered. At present, from our low state, it would be almost impracticable. There is not one day of intermission scarcely between one day and another. I would propose that good men should be draughted from the Army as marines, when we shall cheerfully afford our proportion.

The vessel will be ready to sail in a few days. I would wish that you would be pleased to take such steps as to have him the complement of twenty-five marines. He is a gentleman of the greatest worth, and will prove himself deserving of his office.

I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your most humble servant,

THOMAS HARTLEY.

P. S. Brown is taken just now. I send him with Lieutenant Hops. I send also all the oars that are now ready. I imagine it must have been a bad place for timber where the oar-makers were first sent. They are changing their ground.

T. H.

COLONEL HARTLEY TO GENERAL ARNOLD.

Crown-Point, July 21, 1776, 8 o'clock, P. M.

HONOURED SIR: I just now received your favour of this day. A few minutes before it came to hand, eight batteaus, with forty-four pieces of timber, under Captain Polliphemus, arrived from the mouth of Onion River. In the late storm, the raft broke, and the timber was scattered on the sands. They say there was one hundred and twenty pieces in the whole. Seventy-four men were employed in bringing up these eight boats, and I am told the timber is but of a very indifferent quality, and that much better can be had nearer Head-Quarters. The men on this party have experienced the greatest fatigue. They have been three weeks gone, and if we might calculate on the future by what is past, it would require three weeks for two hundred and ten men to bring up the rest of the timber. There are also boarsd collecting there. It is said they bring them fourteen miles overland. This is certainly very bad policy, when we can procure boards from other saw-mills, without any land-carriage. The saw-mill by this place could be put in order in five or six days by four or five carpenters and as many labourers. If the carpenters of our regiment now at Ticonderoga are sent down, with proper tools, it shall be done immediately.

Our regiment is now very weak from sickness and the numerous detachments that have gone from it; so that ordering a considerable party from it, would prevent us keeping the necessary guards. We have not one hundred and seventy fit for duty on the spot. Some are coming in daily, and others are recovering their health.

We have no smith nor tools here. If the smiths of our regiment were sent here from Ticonderoga, I would make search for tools, though I much doubt if any good ones can be had, notwithstanding what Mr. Gilliland said. It will, I apprehend, be absolutely necessary to have some smiths here.

Captain Wilson was at Onion River with his party four days ago. He was within a few hours of the party of five which you sent off a few days before, and intended to overtake it, which no doubt he effected, as he had a fair wind; so that, from the whole, you have a right to expect success from our friends. It is said still, that the enemy are cutting timber about the Isle-aux-Noix. If that be the case, we shall soon know.

There is, it seems, a Tory, who has a saw-mill about fifteen miles below the mouth of Onion River. He may, perhaps, supply the enemy, or do the Army here an injury.

I enclose you a note which I have just received. If a party is to be sent down the Lake, Major Dunlop, who was down with me, would be a very proper person to command it. We shall be ready to add our proportion to those who come from Ticonderoga from the main Army.

I would submit, whether a quantity more than sufficient for this regiment in provisions should not be here, to supply any parties who may accidentally stand in need. One Mr. Nicholl I have appointed, to take care and act for the regiment. He would be proper to do the other business, and I would be accountable for his conduct.

I have collected the above facts, and I make no doubt such steps will be taken as the exigency of affairs requires.

I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your most humble servant,

THOMAS HARTLEY.

P. S. The eight boats with timber will be up to-morrow at Ticonderoga. Captain Hay is gone up. Quere: Would he not be very proper to go down the Lake?

S. METCALF TO COLONEL JACOB BAYLEY.

Prattsburgh, July 21, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I am sorry I had not the pleasure of seeing Mr. Witherspoon, &c., &c. The bearers hereof are four Canadian officers, late of Colonel James Livingston's regiment, who inform me that the forces in Canada are no ways equal to what they were at first reported; and that General Carleton has miscarried in the plan he had laid to make himself master of this Lake, by drawing three vessels, which had been previously built for the purpose, over sand, past the rapids of Chambly, they being entirely broke to pieces in the attempt, and now totally abandoned; so that General Sullivan will undoubtedly remain master of this country for the season at least, he having fortified with an intrenchment and cannon. Point-au-Fer, on the north end of the Lake, where, stands a brick house, commonly called the White-House, is a very advantageous situation, as it commands the navigation towards St. John's, and is formed into a kind of an island, by a deep morass that runs behind it from one bay to the other. I having no boat to assist these people with, who are on their way to Albany, they were constrained to go this road; and as they speak very little English, you had better give them a pass to Albany.

I am, dear sir, your friend and obedient humble servant,

S. METCALF.

COLONEL A. WILLIAMSON TO W. H. DRAYTON.

Camp at Baker's Creek, South-Carolina,

July 22, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Your favour of the 12th instant is now before me, giving an account of the agreeable news of your having beat the British fleet. I shall try my utmost endeavours to follow your example, and beat the Cherokees, of whose treachery and faithless behaviour you are well acquainted.

I am now encamped here with about seven hundred effective men from this regiment, which, with one hundred and thirty who do duty in the different forts, you will perceive have turned out pretty well. My numbers would soon increase if I had arms. If any can be spared from Charlestown, you can never do this part of the country a greater service than by using your endeavours to have them immediately sent here.

Captain Tutt's and Prince's companies of Riflemen have just now joined me; they consist of ninety-three effective men; and to-morrow Colonel Williams (who has been at least fourteen days contriving a mode to cross Saluda River) will also join me with about two hundred men. Captain Hammond marched off with a detachment of one hundred