Tyonderoga Novr 27th 1775.
[Extract]
Sir, In my Letter of the 20th instant I observed that about six hundred & fifty or seven hundred Troops raised in Connecticut remained in Canada. I have not had a Return from thence but from the best Information I have been able to procure and from former returns I am convinced they do not exceed two hundred, the in closed State (tho' imperfect) will exhibit nearly our Force in Canada.
It may be asked why [Seth] Wamers Regiment were suffered to come away & some other of the Troops raised in this Colony, as the Term for which they were engaged would not expire until the last Day of next Month? The unhappy Cause is this, At St Johns the Connecticut Troops were so very importunate to return Home, that General Montgomery was under the Necessity of promissing, That all those that would follow him to Montreal should have Leave to return home this Declaration he could not confine to the Connecticut Troops as such a Discrimination would have been Odious. ー It might have been expected that Men influenced by a Sense of Liberty would not have required such a Promise, and that Others to whom it was not immediately intended would not have taken the Advantage of It, but all this Flows from the same unhappy Source with the other Disorders too, too prevalent in our Troops, a Want of Subordination & Discipline, an Evil which may prove fatal to Us.
Few of the Troops now in Canada will be able to come Away, until they can cross upon the Ice. But as soon as that happens, I believe the greater Part will return; And should we not be able to possess ourselves of Quebec, Which it is probable we will not, if Colo: Arnold me[e]t[s] with any Opposition as the Weather has been so excessively severe that No Troops could lay out, the Consequences may be very deplorable, perhaps It may be thought necessary all Circumstances considered to raise three Thousand Men in Pensylvania & New Jersey & order them to rendezvous with all possible Dispatch at Albany to prepare and be ready to march as soon as the Lakes are passeble, Conducted by whatever Officer Congress shall appoint to command in that Quarter.
General Washington writes me that he is in very great Want of Powder, Lead, Mortars, Cannon & most Sorts of Artillery Stores & begs that I will send him all that can be spared from this Quarter. What Operations Congress may intend to carry on this Way, I do not know, & consequently cannot determine If any can be spared. ー But at present none can be sent, as we must wait until Lake George is frozen over in Order to transport them, the little Powder here is going to New York agreeable to the Order of Congress. Lead we have little left, and all the Ordinance & Military Stores in Canada are either carried off or destroyed by Genl Carlton Except what was taken at St Johns & what was sent from hence.
As the Ministry seem determined to carry on the War with Spirit, ー Would it not be adviseable as soon as there is good Sledding, to remove all the Prisoners from Connecticut to some of the Interior Towns in Pensyvlenia, both because It will enable the former Colony to oppose more Men, & save the Expence of transporting Provisions from Hudsons River for the Supply of the Eastern Armies, Which I think I can foresee must be the Case in the next Campaign.
27th 2 o'Clock, I have this Moment received a Letter from General Montgomery, Copy of which I do Myself the Honor to inclose You in a Note of the 20th he advises me that he hoped to proceed towards Quebec the next Day, But complains that the Troops leave him in great Numbers and of the Green Mountain Boys especially, who had promised to go down with him.
I am informed, that all the Vessels in which Mr Carlton had embarked himself, his Troops & Stores, have surrendered by Capitulation; That Carlton Got on Shore & was gone towards Quebec I believe It to be true & hope soon to give You authentic Intelligence of It.
The Schooner & Row Galley taken at St Johns are just arrived here together with our Sloop & Schooner full of Prisoners & their Baggage, I am much distress'd to get them on, My Cattle fairly worn out & only six Horses which I sent for from my own Stables, & the Boats that go from the Landing to Fort George, do not return above once in Eight Days from Hence, as I have few Men there and the Troops that are going home, will not by any Means send a few Hands to bring them back, ー2