Dear Sir
As the Ice has now left Hudson's River, you will forward the Cannon & whatever Military Stores are now here as fast as possible to Fort George to be conveyed to [illegible] as soon as Lake George shall be navigable ー If the Batteaus at that place are not already repaired no Time should be lost in doing it The Shooner there should also be overhauled and put in Repair without Delay.
The Ship Carpenters now moving up to Fort George will require a Number of Carriages to draw in the Timber for the Vessels they are to buildThese Carriages you will furnish immediately and send one of your assistants to superintend the Works at that place ー The Hospital there will also require Repairs and should be done immediately.
Two Blacksmiths must be kept at Work there, and a Quantity of Iron sent up ー If the Ship Nails are not already forwarded send them on without Loss of Time ー A Company of Carpenters to consist of an Overseer and twenty Men must be engaged and sent without Delay to Fort Stanwix ー Capt: Marquisie, the Engineer, who is at Schenectady will take Charge of them.
Lake George will probably be navigable by the first Week in April About that Time therefore the work Cattle designed for Tyonderoga and the carrying place should be at Fort George to be transported without Delay.
All the working Cattle for the Communication between this and Fort George and Fort Ann should also be there about the first of April.
Nails pitch or Tar and Oakham for the Batteaus building at Saratoga [illegible]
Three ploughs and as many Harrows [with] the necessary apparel must be sent to Tyonderoga under the Care of a trusty person who understands farming and gardening in order to prepare the Earth for raising Turnips and other Vegetables for the Use of the Army ー You will give orders to supply them with working Cattle and Men and direct your Assistant to procure a piece of Land for the purpose ー As soon as the Ice has left Wood Creek you are to cause it to be cleared from the old Timber which obstructs its Navigation.
The Saw Mills at Wyng's and Cheshire's, Skenesborough and Tyonderoga must be immediately set to Work.
Thirty of the Batteaus building at Saratoga must be sent to Wood Creek to be employed between Fort Ann & Skenesborough.
Do not forget the Ferry Scows I formerly ordered to be constructed, nor the Repairs to the Roads.
At Half Moon, Stilwater, McLarin's, Fort Miller, Fort Edward and Cheshire's Turning Cranes should be erected to load & unload the Batteaus with ー They are a trifling Expence and will greatly preserve the Batteaus, which sustain more Damage in loading & unloading than by any other Means whatever. I am Dr Sir [&c.]
