Dear Sir ー

I make no Doubt you will, soon hear, of Our Misfortune, on the 31. Ulto, and be very Anxious to know Our Present Situation. ー Our loss, and repulse struck an Ama[z]eing Panick, into both Officers & Men, and had the Enemy improved their Advantage, Our affairs, here must have ben Intirely ruined  It was not in my power to Prevail on the Officers to Attempt saveing Our Mortars, which had ben placed in St Roque's, ー of Course they fell into the hands of the Enemy. ー Upwards of One hundred Officers, and Soldiers, Instantly set of[f] for Montreal and it was, with the greatest difuculty I could persaude the rest to make a stand. ー The Panick soon subsided, ー I aranged the Men in such Order, as effectually to Blockade the City, and enable them to Assist each other if Attacked. ー It was urged by the Officers, to move our Ammunition, and Artillery Stores Of which we had a large quantity and tho' the risque was great, I could not Approve the measure, as it would undoubtedly, have made Unfavourable impressions on the Minds of the Canadians, and Induced them to withdraw their Assistance, which must have ended in Utter Ruin, I therefore put the best face on Matters and betrayed no marks of Fear. ー I have withdrawn the Cannon from our Battery and placed them round the Magazine, Our Present force is only Seven hundred I am in Daily expectation of a reinforcement from Montreal of two or three hundred Men, I expected Genl [David] Wooster, but find he Cannot leave Montreal, Colo [James] Clinton Just Arived, I have put on foot the raiseing A Regt of 2. or 3 hundred Canadians, which I make no Doubt of effecting, Our finances are very low, however I hope we shall be able to rub along, Mr [James] Price is our Only resource, and has exerted himself, I wait with great Anxiety the Arival of a reinforcement from below, I have Wrote the Honble Congress, my Opinion that five thousand Men will be Necessary to Insure us Quebec, tho it may posably be reduced with a less Number, it Appears a Blockade may Answer the Purpose, I think Quebec an Object of too Much Consequence, to trust it to the event, if reduced Five thousand Men will be Necessary for a Garrison.

Your favr of the 5. Ulto is Just Come to hand It gives me a most sensable pleasure, to have your Approbation of my Conduct, I beg you'd accept my Thanks for the Notice you have ben pleased to take of me, and my Officers, in your New Establishment Most of them are provided for in an unexpected manner, Not very pleasing to me. ー Inclosed is a List of the killed and wounded, Both officers, & Men behaved with the greatest, Intrepidity, and had not the Genl ² ben basely deserted by his Troops we should doubtless have Carried the Town, my Detacht had Carried the First Battery, (my being wounded) & the loss of their Guides retarded them much, after the Death of the Genl, they Sustained the Force of the whole Garrison for a Considerable Time, who fired From under Cover and had every Advantage of Situation, their Retreat was Cut of[f] by the Enemy's gaining a Narrow Defile thro' which they were obliged to pass, they were overpowered by Numbers, and obliged to resign, tho deserveing a Better Fate. ー Govr [Guy] Carleton treats them with Humanity, & has given leave for their Baggage to be sent to them ー I heartily Congratulate you on the Success of your Privateers I think the ballance of the last years Accot is still in Our favour, tho' we have met a severe Check here, I hope soon to have the pleasure seeing Genl [Charles] Lee or some experienced officer here, I heartily Wish you the Protection & blesing of the Almighty & am with very great Respect & Esteem, Dr Sir [&c.]

[Enclosure]

List of Killed Wounded & Prisoners In the Attack on Quebec

Decr 31 1776 [sic 1775]

Non Commission Officers & Privates killed & Wounded About Sixty Names Unknown The whole Detachment Prisoners except Capt [Matthew] Smith, [Aaron] Burr, & [David] Hopkins, 7 Subalterns & abt Two Hundred Privates Sick & on Command ー