Dear Sir

Your favour of the 29th Ulto I received at 1 oClock this morning, which gave me much Pleasure, I heartily Congratulate you On your Success, thus farr, I think you have Great reason to be Apprehensive for me ー the Time I mentioned to Genl Washington being so long Since elapsed, I was not then apprised, or indeed Apprehensive of One half of the Difuculties we have had to en[c]ounter, of which I cannot at Present Give you a Particular Detail, can Only Say we have, hawled Our Battoes up Over falls, up rapid Streams, over Carrying Places & Marched thro' Morasses, thick Woods & Over Mountains, About 320 Miles, many of which we had to Pass several Times to bring Our Baggage. These [di]fuculties the Soldiers have with the greatest Fortitude Surmounted, & About Two thirds of the Detachmenet [a]re, happily, Arived here & within Two Days March, most of them in good health & high Spirits. the other Part with Colo Enos Returned from the Dead River Contrary to my Expectation, he having Orders to Send back only the Sick & those that Could not be furnished with Provissions ー I wrote Genl Schuyler the 13th Octr By an Indian I thought Trusty, Inclosed to my Friend in Quebec & as I have had no Answer from either & he Pretends being taken at Quebec, I make no Doubt he has betrayed his trust, which I am Confirmd in as I find They have been Some time Apprised of Our Coming in Quebec & have Destroyed All the Canoes at Pt Levy to prev[ent] Our Passing, this Dificulty will be obviated by Birch Canoes as we have abt 20 of them with 40 Savages who have Joined us & profess Great Friendship as well as the Canadians, by whom we have been very Friendly received, & who will be able to furnish Us with a Number of Canoes.

I am informed by the French there is two Frigates & Several Small Armed Vessells Lying before Quebec, & a Large Ship or two Lately Arrived from Boston, however I propose Crossing the St Lawrence as Soon as Posable & if Any Oporty Offers of Attacking Quebec with Success shall [illegible] it, otherwise shall Endeavour to Join your Army [at] Montreal ー I shall As often [A]s in my Power Advise you of my Proceeding & Beg the favr of hearing from you by every Operty The Inclosed Letter to his Excelle[nc]y Genl Washington beg the favr of your forwardg by Express ー I am very Respectfully Dr Sir [&c.]

P S Since writing the Above I have Seen a Friend From Quebec whp Informs me, a Frigate of 26 Guns & 2 Transports & 150 recruits Arived from St Johns N Foundland last Sunday [November 5] which with the Inhabitants who have been compeld to take up Arms, Amt to abt 300 Men, that the French & English, Inhabitants in General are on Our Side, and that the City is short of Provissions, I shall endeavour to Cut of[f] their Communication with the Country & make no Doubt, if no more Recruits Arive, to Bring them to Terms soon, or at least keep them in Close Quarters until your Arival here, which I shall wait with Impatience, ー but If St Johns Should not have Surrendered & you can posably Spare a Regt this way I think the City must of Course fall Into Our hands ー

B A