Ticonderoga, May 11, 1775
Gentlemen
I wrote you yesterday tliat arriving in the vicinity of this place, I found one hundred and fifty men collected at the instance of some gentlemen from Connecticut (designed on the same errand on which I came) headed by Colonel Ethan Allen, and that I had joined them, not thinking proper to wait the arrival of the Troops I had engaged on the road, but to attempt the Fort by surprise; that we had taken the Fort at four o'clock yesterday morning without opposition, and had made prisoners, one Captain, one Lieutenant, and forty odd privates and subalterns, and that we found the Fort in a most ruinous condition and not worth repairing; that a party of fifty men were gone to Crown Point, and that I intended to follow with as many men to seize the sloop, &c. and that I intended to keep possession here until I had farther advice from you. On and before our taking possession here, I had agreed with Colonel Allen to issue further orders jointly, until I could raise a sufficient number of men to relieve his people; on which plan we proceeded when I wrote you yesterday, since which, Colonel Allen, finding he had the ascendancy over his people, positively insisted I should have no command, as I had forbid the soldiers plundering and destroying private property. The power is now taken out of my hands, and I am not consulted, nor have I a voice in any matters. There is here at present near one hundred men, who are in the greatest confusion and anarchy, destroying and plundering private property, committing every enormity, and paying no attention to public service. The party I advised were gone to Crown Point, are returned, having met with head winds, and that expedition, and taking the sloop, (mounted with six guns,) is entirely laid aside. There is not the least regularity among the Troops, but every thing is governed by whim and caprice; the soldiers threatening to leave the garrison on the least affront. Most of them must return home soon, as their families are suffering. Under our present situation, I believe one hundred men would retake the Fortress, and there seems no prospect of things being in a better situation. I have therefore thought proper to send an express, advising you of the state of affairs, not doubting you will take the matter into your serious consideration, and order a number of Troops to join those I have coming on here, or that you will appoint some other person to take the conrmand of them and this place, as you shall think most proper. Colonel Allen is a proper man to head his own wild people, but entirely unacquainted with military service; and as I am the only person who has been legally authorized to take possession of this place, I am determined to insist on my right, and I think it my duty to remain here against all opposition, until I have further orders. I cannot comply with your orders in regard to the cannon, &c., for want of men. I have wrote to the Governbur and General Assembly of Connecticut, advising them of my appointment, and giving them an exact detail of matters as they stand at present. I should be extremely glad to be honourably acquitted of my commission and that a proper person might be appointed in my room. But as I have, in consequence of my orders from you, gentlemen, been the first person who entered and took possession of the Fort, I shall keep it, at every hazard, until I have further advice and orders from you and the General Assembly of Connecticut.
I have the honour to be, gentlemen [&c.]
P.S. It is impossible to advise you how many cannon are here and at Crown Point, as many of them are buried in the ruins. There is a large number of iron, and some brass, and mortars, &c., lying on the edge of the Lake, which, as the Lake is high, are covered with water. The confusion we have been in has prevented my getting proper information, further than that there are many cannon, shells, mortars, &c. which may be very serviceable to our Army at Cambridge. B.A.