Thursday [May 18, 1775]. After rowing hard all night we arrived within half a mile of the place at sun rise, sent a man to bring us information, and in a small creek, infested with numberless swarms of gnats and muskitoes, waited with impatience for his return.
The man returning, informed us they were unapprized of our coming, though they had heard of the taking of Ticonderoga and Crown point. We directly pushed for shore, and landed at about sixty rods distance from the barracks; the men had their arms, but upon our briskly marching up in their faces, they retired within the barracks, left their arms, and resigned themselves into our hands.
We took fourteen prisoners, fourteen stands of arms, and some small stores. We also took the King's sloop, two fine brass field pieces, and four boats. We destroyed five boats more lest they should be made use of against us. Just at the completion of our business, a fine gale arose from the north! we directly hoisted sail and returned in triumph. About six miles from St. John's, we met Colonel [Ethan] Allen with four boats and ninety men, who determined to proceed and maintain the ground. This scheme Col. [Benedict] Arnold thought impracticable, as Montreal was near, with plenty of men and every necessary for war: Nevertheless Col. Allen proceeded and encamped on the opposite side of the lake (or river as it is there called) the next morning he was attacked by two hundred regulars, and obliged to decamp and retreat.
