Sir,

I am this Moment honoured with your Favour of the 20th Inst. The honorable Congress have my warmest Acknowledgments, and they may rest assured that Nothing on my Part shall be wanting to inforce that Success they so earnestly wish, and I hope soon to congratulate them on it. Whilst I deprecate the untimely Misfortune, which prevents me from sharing in the immediate Glory, it was perhaps inflicted in such a critical Hour to serve the Common Cause, for if I had not arrived here, even on the very Day I did, as sure as God lives, the Army would have starved. The Letters I have been obliged to write to several officers, I have been under the Necessity of couching in Terms that I should have been ashamed of, did not Necessity apologize for me. In twenty two Days 538 Barr: of Provisions only had been sent across Lake George, and two Hundred and sixty Men, which take as many Batteaus as would have carryed two Hundred Barrels more, and not an . Ounce had been sent from this Place, Except twenty Days Allowance for about 230 Men who had left this after me and before my Return here. In six Days since my Arrival, five Hundred and forty two Barrels have been brought over Lake George, and two Hundred Men with only the same Boats ー And have sent to the Army three Batteaus with Rum and Artillery stores two Hundred & eighty nine Barrels of Provisions, and 395 Men with 20 Days Provision each. The horrid Anxiety I suffered from this dreadful Situation of the Army is now abated; and I hope for so sufficient a Restoration as to enable me to join them.

I do not think I shall have Occasion for Genl Wooster's Regiment, as I only wait for Batteaus to send on five Hundred New Yorkers that I now have here, and which I suppose will soon embark, as the Wind is now favourable for Craft to come from St Johns and which I expect with Impatience.

The Troops from Connecticut have not been mustered ー They made Objections, which tho not satisfactory to me, I was under a Necessity of yielding to. I forsee a Variety of Difficulties in settling Accounts not only with them but every other Corps. They are however surmountable, and I believe that I have found a Plan which will answer the Purpose, and which I shall do myself the Honour to lay before Congress on a future Day. ー

Inclose your Honour a Copy of my last, which as I did not send by Express may be detained. That of the 19th I hope is come to Hand.

It is Pity there is no Post between New York & Albany. I believe it would be no public Expence. I am, honored Sir, [&c.]

[Endorsed] Read in Congress Octr 5th 1775.