Hond Sir

The bearer Mr Smith is a gentleman officer of the Artillery, who was taken at St Johns and likewise Dr Landon who is in company with Mr Smith; those two gentlemen with the whole garrison of St Johns I had orders from Gen'l Schuyler to march to Connecticut with a guard of 100 men ー but recd orders while at Mr Huffman's Landing from the Continental Congress to march the men to Lancaster in the Province of Pennsylvania & the officers to Lebanon and Windham in Connecticut, but by a previous engagement of Genl Schuyler's to the gentlemen officers that they should see their men quartered ー I am now marching them all, both Officers and privates to Lancaster, except Mr Smith & his Corps of Artillerymen The sea officers and their men who with the greatest part of their baggage & part of the men and all their officers went off by land from Albany for Connecticut, on which I have thought proper to consent that the remainder should go and join them ー

Mesrs Smith & the Dr I have been intimate with in our whole route to this day; take them to be gentlemen of Honour & will punctually observe any restrictions your Honor may lay on them ー Should wish that they may be gratified in any request they may make consistent with the good of the country ー I should have wrote more to you but want of time ー Subscribe myself Sir [&c.]