Camp near St Johns Novr 3rd
My Dear General
I have the pleasure to Acquaint you, the Garrison Surrendered last Night, this Morning we take possession, to Morrow I hope the Prisoners will set off, enclosed you have the Capitulation, which I hope will meet with your Approbation & that of Congress I have ventured to permit an Officer or two to go to their Families, which are in some Distress at Montreal, upon their Parole ー they can't do us any harm, & there would have been a Degree of inhumanity in refusing them ー When we had played on the Fort some Hours from our Battery of 4-12 pounders on the N:W: & another of 2-12 pounders & 2 four pounders on the East side ー some prisoners arrived who had been taken in an Action with Governor Carleton at Longaiel, he made an Attempt to land with 34 Boats full of Men [Seth] Warner's Detachment consisting of the Green Mountain Boys and 2nd Regt of Yorksers repuls'd them with Loss ー took 2 Indians and two Canadians prisoners ー We have Buried 3 Indians and it is supposed many in the Boats must have been killed ー we had not a Man even wounded ー (this I believe is his last effort) One of the above mentioned prisoners I sent into the Fort to Inform Major [Charles] Preston of the Circumstances of the Action, that he might Judge what prospect he could have of relief ー it had the desired effect ー the Garrison having been on half allowance for some time. I am making the necessary preparations to proceed immediately to Montreal by way of La Prairie ー as the Enemy have Armed Vessels in the Sorrell ー Send every body you possibly can immediately down, as it is much to be Apprehended many of the Men in this Service will insist on returning home, when their times are expired ー It will not be necessary fo keep people with arms for the present at Ticonderoga ー Several Men of Rank in Canada are among the prisoners ー I have permitted them to remain at Crown point till the return of two Gentlemen they send to their Friends for Money &c: they pleaded hard to return home ー but they are too dangerous to let loose again ー I have this moment received your Letter of 27th Octobr ー Not a word of Arnold yet ー I have sent two Expresses to him lately ー one by an Indian who promised to return with Expedition ー The instant I have any News of him I will acquaint you by Express ー Col: [James] Easton & Major [John] Brown with that Corps & Mr Livingston with I believe 1000 Canadians are going towards the mouth of the Sorrell and pushing Col: Allen McClean before them ー McClean had many Canadians, but they joined thro' fear of fire & Sword ー you may easily judge how they will fight ー I send you a list of Stores, Artillery &c: & am My dear Sir [&c.]
A True Copy
Neither [John] McPherson nor Renselear have Commissions ー
P.S. ½ after Six just received your favour of 31st Octobr ー a good deal of Artillery Stores ー but we have not time to ascertain them ー