Copy.

Dear Sir I wrote You three Days since of our Defeat & the Death of General Montgomery & others, with all the Information I then had of the Matter, We have been in suspence, with Regard to my Detachment until this Afternoon when Major [Return Jonathan] Meigs was sent out with a Flag for the Officers Baggage who he says are all taken Prisoners, Except Captain [William] Hendricks ー Lieut [William] Humphreys of the Rifle Men and Lieut [Samuel] Cooper who were killed in the Action ー General Carleton says our Loss in killed & wounded is an hundred ー Major Meigs thinks it does not exceed sixty and about three hundred taken prisoners who are treated very humanely ー These brave Men sustained the Force of the whole Garrison, for three Hours but were finally obliged to yield to Numbers, and the advantageous Situation the Garrison had over them; several other Officers I am told are slightly wounded we had the Misfortune of losing one Brass six pounder in the Engagement and all our Mortars were taken from St Roche the Evening after the Engagement ー This was the Fault of some of the Officers who commanded, as they might very easily have been brought away, agreeable to my positive Orders for that purpose mfr Force at this Time does not exceed eight hundred Men including Colo [James] Livingston's Regiment of two hundred Canadians, and some scattered Canadian Forces amounting to 200 more, many of the Troops are dejected and anxious to get Home and some have actually set off. I shall endeavour to continue the Blockade while there are any Hopes of Success ー for. God's Sake order as many Men down as you can possibly spare consistent with the Safety of Montreal, and all the Mortars Hoits [Howitzers) & Shells that you can possibly bring I hope you will stop every Rascal who has deserted from us and bring him back again Every possible Mark of Distinction was shewn to the Corpse of General Montgomery who was to be interred in Quebec this Day. ー Had he been properly supported by his Troops I make no Doubt of our Success, We are short of Cash not more than 4 or 500 pounds and only twenty Barrels of salt pork If any can be spared from Montreal, I think best to bring it down and all the Butter. I beg you will transmit a Copy of this Letter to the Honorable Continental Congress and another to his Excellency General Washington I think it will be highly necessary with the Reinforcement which I make no Doubt the Congress will send; that they should order all the large Mortars and Hoits at Crown point Ticonderoga and Fort George on to this place ー Monsieur Palliser who has a Furnace at three Rivers assures me that [he] can cast any Size and Number of Shells between this and the Beginning of April. ー I hope the Honorable Continental Congress will not think of sending Less than eight or ten Thousand Men, to secure and form a lasting Connection with this Country ー I am in such excessive pain from my Wound as the Bones of my Leg are effected I can only add that I am with the greatest Esteem Dear Sir [&c.]

N.B. Many Officers here appear dispirited. Your presence will be absolutely necessary. I don't expect to be in a Capacity to act, this two Months

B. Arnold.