Holland House Jany 5th 1776. [Near Quebec]
Copy Dear General.
Last Night a faithful Accadian belonging to our Train of Artillery, and who was taken prisoner in the unhappy Affair of the 31st was sent out of Town by [Guy] Carleton and Lenaudere with the inclosed Note and Seal, previous to which he was terrified with Threats of being hanged & when thought a true Convert he was told to carry the Note to one Mange at Verrenne who was to raise two hundred Men &c the Seal was to be delivered to Mr Jacob Jordan the King's Commissary at Montreal, 2 this the Man seemed to consent to, when they promised him his Fortune should be made, He was further ordered to call on the Captains of Militia on his Way up and endeavour to prevail on them, to raise their parishes against us, the Needful to be done in Consequence of this Intelligence I have no Occasion to mention, I make no Doubt of your sending those people out of the Way of Danger & Mischief ー Every Thing remains quiet here at present, I believe the Enemy dare not Venture out tho' they threaten it, I pray God they may not, for we are in a miserable Condition to receive them ー We have brought three peices of Cannon from our Battery I intend getting the whole here as soon as possible for defending our Magazine ー As there was several French prisoners in Town who will doubtless be tampered with and may not be proof against their Artifice, I have thought proper to send an Express on purpose that you may guard against their plots ー I find by our exact Return made the 2d Instant we have not quite eight hundred Men including Col: [James] Livingston's Regiment of about 200 ー Some of the Country people have come in to our Assistance in general they appear friendly & concerned for us, many offer to join us who have no Arms I have given out several Commissions to the Inhabitants who are raising Men we are entirely out of Lead ー Inclosed is a List of sundry Articles, much wanted which with such as have been wrote for before, I make no Doubt you will order as soon as may be ー I am very anxious to see you here ー The Burthen lies very heavy on me considering my present Circumstances ー I find myself unequal to the Task, my Wound is in a fair Way and less painful ー I hope The Express will meet you on your Way down and am very respectfully Dr General [&c.]
B. Arnold Coll: &c
1. Papers CC (Letters of Major General Philip Schuyler), 153, I, 460-61, NA.
2. Ibid., Lanaudiere's note read: "We have drubbed the Rebels We have taken seven hundred kill'd wounded & Prisoners, & their General Montgomery, It remains with You to compleatly drive away our Enemies, We fear Nothing here, & Will soon give You Proofs My Dear Fellow Citizens Signalize Yourselves; to retrieve the Honor of the Canadians & to gain every Happiness to Your Parish the Others will all follow Your Example, two hundred Men will destroy the Remains of these Miserable Wretches for You will raise all the Other Parishes coming down. ー Lanaudiere Junr Maje the 4th in the Evening."
