My Lord ー

My being suddenly landed at a moment's warning and under an unavoidable necessity of leaving all my Baggage & Papers on board the Transport, prevents for this time my having it in my power to send Your Lordship my Journal, which otherwise I most undoubtedly should have done; but herewith do my self the honor to transmit to Your Lordship an Account of what has come within my knowledge from the time of my Arrival at Trois Riviere[s].

Our passage from England was rather long, but very good weather. When the English & Irish Transports joined they were upwards of 80 Sail. They were all very healthy, I did not hear of a man's dying. I lost Company with them in a fog before we made Newfoundland; in consequence of this I made the Master Carry all the Sail he Could, and make the best of his way for Quebec; by which means we were the first Ship that passed Quebec I say past it, because we did not stop there, as I was inform'd that General Carlton was in pursuit of the Rebels.

About 50 miles above Quebec we met General Carlton going down the River. He sent on board of me, and directed me to go on to Trois Rivieres where we Anchor'd the 3d instant. The Troops that were on board many of &the Ships that Could not get up the River, were order'd to be disembark[ed] march up by land; And as the Ships with Regiments had separated some of them were 60 leagues a Stern of the others, therefore they got up to Trois Rivieres by One, two, or three Companies of a Corps.

We continued increasing by the 8th instant I believe to the amount of two thousand. Colo Fraser being the Senior officer, some of the Transports from which the Troops had disembark'd, being arriv'd at Trois Rivieres the 6th, he order'd them to embark to make room for others, which they did on the 7th. At half past 3 the next morning much was I surpris'd to hear Colo Fraser hail me, & beg for God's sake I would send what Artillery on Shore I possibly could, assuring me the Rebels were within a mile of the Town, to the amount of two or three thousand. I could scarce believe it; however as I had 2 Six poundrs mounted on the Deck with 80 rounds of Case & round Shot, I had them on Shore in less than Twenty minutes, Sent Lieut Cox with one to take post in the great road leading into the Town to the Northward, and went my Self with the other & took post on the great road to the Westward. As Captn Walker had only arriv'd the day before, he could not be ready soon, I sent to him & he had 3 Six pounders on Shore much sooner than I could expect. By 5 in the morning most of the Infantry had disembark'd & form'd.

Lieut Dunbar, who had arriv'd the night before, was order'd to take post to the Right of the 62d Regimt & some other Troops that were form'd near a Wood, & a Mill in front, with two Grasshoppers (which I hope I never shall see any more with Rifle or 3 poundrs, but in the hands of the Enemy or at Woolwich). The Rebels endeavour'd to form at the Mill, not three quarters of a mile from the Town. Colo Anstruther of the 62d Regimt sent me word to beg that I would bring up a 6 pounder or two, which I did.

By that time Colo St Leger was the Senior officer. I requested of him to incline with a part of his line to the Right, & a part to the Left, in order that I might fire on the Mill, & into the Woods where the Rebels were, & bring off the Grasshoppers, this he readily granted. After the business was done there I beg'd that he would permit me to go on the Main road, & to let the 62d with Colo Anstruther cover me, this he readily granted. Soon after Colo Fraser with some Troops joined us. He at first order'd the Grenadiers & Light Infantry to lead, but at my request he permitted me to take the lead with two 6 pounders, [by] which means we kept the Rebels marching thro' a Marsh of 13 miles long in a parallel line with us, & thro' the Woods. Theywanted to get into the Main road, but our Guns kept them always in Cover. We took General [William] Thompson, Colo Irwin [William Irvine], their Aids du Camp, & I know not what number of them more prisoners.

We lay on our Arms all night. The next day General Carlton, Burgoyn & Phillips joined us from Quebec. We return'd to Trois Rivieres, for what reason I know not I am tired, and what follows is only a Copy of my Journal from the 10th instant.

June 10th Employ'd in re shipping the Guns & Stores.

11th & 12th Employ'd in all the Ordnance Transports in overhalling the Ships holds to get at some 6 pounders to have ready mounted to land with 80 rounds at the shortest notice.

13th At 7 in the morning sail'd with the Fleet from Trois Rivieres, and in the evening were obliged to anchor about a mile to the east of Nicholet.

14th Early in the morning got under Sail to the amount of 60 Sail. Got over the Lake St Peter's by 6 in the evening, & between 9 & 10 got within half a mile of Sorell. The man of war was the first ship & the Transport I was in the Second. The Fleet all anchor'd & the Grenadiers & Light Infantry landed.

15th I landed by 4 in the morning at Sorell with 5 light 6 pounders & 80 rounds for each Gun; & about 12 [o]Clock sent for another 6 pounder. Sent Capt Lt Mitchelson with the Light Infantry & Grenadiers, two 6 pounders, 2 Lieuts, 28 men. About 2 o'Clock compleated Capt Carter's Brigade of 4 light 6 pounders 2 Lieuts 48 men and sent him under the Command of Colonel Mackenzie, with part of the 31st 9th, & part of some other Regemts to the amount of 4 or 500. The Rebels left this yesterday at about One o'Clock. all their Guns & Stores were sent up the Sorell in Batteaus, Some 24 poundrs & 18 poundrs. One Battery to the east of the river Sorell for 10 Guns compleated, & for 8 Guns to the west finished. 3 they had thrown up a great many works, Stockades & Lines. They Certainly at first meant to make a stand here, but on our approach did not feel bold.

16th & 17th Lay wind bound at Sorell.

18th ー Disembark'd at 4 in the morning with 2 Six pounders, 24 men, 90 rounds P Gun; Landed about a mile above Sorell, & march'd by land to St Tower [St.Ours], got in by 5 in the evening ー miles 10.

19th ー Left St Tower at 4 in the morning, marched thro' Countdecure [Contrecoeur], ー halted at Vershear [Verchères] ー to Veronne [Varennes] in the afternoon ー distance 24 miles.

20th ー Left Veronne, went thro' Bushelviels [Boucherville], & arriv'd at Longuiel, ー 12 miles.

21st ー March'd to Chamblee [Chambly] with 6 pieces of Cannon 18 miles.

22d ー March'd to St Charles ー miles 18.

The King of Prussia when he has been on the brink of ruin never plann'd better than what the Rebels did by endeavouring to Surprize the Troops, & burn the Shipping at the Three Rivers. ー Nothing but the 6 pounders prevented their Succeeding. ー Nay had they not lost their road they would have been an hour sooner, & must have Carried their point.

They have burnt St Johns, Chamblee, 4 Schooners, & a number of Batteaus &c. We have found about 20 of their Guns: And I was Surpris'd to find a 32 pounder in the River near Chamblee fort. our Troops are mostly between this & St. Johns, and the Generals say we shall not be able to move for 3 weeks; but I say Six at least. I have the honor, etc.

[Endorsed] Rec'd Kew Lane Augt 11th, 1776