Crown-Point 29th May 1775
Gentlemen,
Your resolution of the 18th. Inst & recommendation of Measures to the City's of New-York and Albany, in Consequence of the taking Possession of Ticonderoga &c. has this moment been deliverd me, as Commanding Officer here, the Purport of which Induces me to believe, the Committee of Safety of the Massachusetts Bay, have not Informed you of my Appointment, or Instructions from them which I have taken the Liberty to inclose, & in Consequence arrived in the Neighbourhood of Ticonderoga the 9th. Inst where I met One Colo [Ethan] Allen with about 500 Men, rais'd at the Instance of some Gentlemen from Connecticut, who agreed we should take a joint Command of the Troops, the next morning at 4 oClock we surpriz'd the Garrison & took them prisoners, the particulars of which you have doubtless heard ー Some dispute arising between Colo Allen & myself, prevented my Carrying my Orders into Execution untill the 16th. when being Joined by 50 Men of my own Regt & a small Schooner taken at Skeensborough which I immediately Armed, & Sailed for St Johns in quest of the Sloop, the 17th being becalmed within ten leagues of St Johns I mann'd out two small Batteaus with 35 men & after rowing all night, at 6 oClock next morning, landed at St Johns & took a Sergt and his party of 12 men Prisoners, the Kings Sloop of 70 Tons mounted with two Brass Six pounders, & seven men, and in two hours after left St Johns, having previously taken on board such Stores &c. as were valuable. Providence remarkably smiled on us, as a few hours Delay would have ruined our Design, a party of 120 men with six pieces Cannon for the Sloop, being on their March from Montreal at only 20 miles distance, add to this a party of 40 men on their march from Chamble, 12 miles Distance, ー Colo Allen arrived at St Johns the same Evening with 100, men & being Attacked the next morning by the Regulars, retreated, & left three men behind (two of wch are since arrived) ー I have Armed the Sloop with Six Carriage and two Swivel Guns, the Schooner with four Carriage, & Eight Swivels, I have sent to Lake George, One Brass Twelve Pounder, Six large Brass & Iron Mortars & Howitz, & am making all possible preparation, for transporting all the Cannon here, and as many as can be spared at Ticonderoga, to Fort George ー I must beg leave to observe Gentlemen, that the report of Ticonderoga's being abandoned, has thrown the Inhabitants here into the greatest Consternation, there is about five hundred families to the Northward of Ticonderoga, who if it is evacuated will be left at the mercy of the Kings Troops & Indians, & who have part of them joined the Army, & cannot now remain neuter, to whom a remove would be intire Ruin, as they have large Families, & no Dependance, but a promising Crop on the Ground. I need not add to this Gentlemen, that Ticonderoga is the Key of this extensive Country, & if abandon'd leaves a very extensive Frontier Open to the Ravages of the Enemy, & to Continual Alarms, which will probably cost more than the Expence of repairing and Garrisoning it.ー
I esteem'd it my duty as a Servant of the public's to give you the foregoing hints & hope the Exigence of the times will be a sufficient Apology for the liberty I have taken ー I have the Honour to be very respectfully Gentn [&c.]
Benedict Arnold Colo & Commr of Ticona &c.