The Committee appointed to proceed to the posts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, &c. beg leave to report, that they proceeded through the new settlements, called the New-Hampshire Grants, and carefully observed the road through the same, and find that there is a good road from Williamstown to the place where the road crosseth the river called Paulet River, which is about fifteen miles from Skenesborough; from thence to the falls of Wood Creek near Major [Philip] Skene's house the road is not feasible and unfit for carriages, but cattle may be drove that way very well.
Your Committee having taken with them the copies of the commission and instruction from the Committee of Safety to Colonel Benedict Arnold, and informed themselves as fully as they were able in what manner he had executed his said commission and instructions, and find that he was with Colonel [Ethan] Allen and others at the time the fort was reduced, but do not find that he had any men under his command at the time of the reduction of those fortresses; but find that he did afterwards possess himself of the sloop on the lake at St. John's. We found the said Arnold claiming the command of said sloop and a schooner, which is said to be the property of Major Skene, and also all the posts and fortresses at the south end of Lake Champlain and Lake George, although Colonel [Benjamin] Hinman was at Ticonderoga with near a thousand men under his command at the several posts.
Your Committee informed the said Arnold of their commission, and, at his request, gave him a copy of their instructions; upon reading of which he seemed greatly disconcerted, and declared he would not be second in command to any person whomsoever; and after some time contemplating upon the matter, resigned his post, and gave your Committee his resignation under his hand, dated the 24th of June, 1775, which is herewith submitted, and at the same time he ordered his men to be disbanded, which, he said, was between two and three hundred. Your Committee not finding any men regularly under said Arnold, by reason of his so disbanding them, appointed Colonel [James] Easton, who was at Ticonderoga, to take the command, under Colonel Hinman, who was the principal commanding officer at those posts of the Connecticut forces, and endeavoured to give the officers and men who had served under said Arnold an opportunity to re-engage, of which numbers enlisted, and several of the officers agreed to hold their command under the new appointment.
Your Committee having taken a critical survey of the garrison and posts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, found them in a very defenceless state; and consulting with Colonel Hinman, were of opinion, upon the whole, that it is necessary to retain in the service of this Colony, for the present, the number of four hundred men.
As the Committee were informed, from intelligence from Canada, that preparations were making, and endeavours used to bring over the Canadians and savages to be inimical to the Colonies, your Committee having found Captain [James] Noble at the Point, with a number of men who had been under said Arnold, willing to engage in the service, we paid to said Noble one hundred Pounds to be delivered to the men as advance pay and appointed Mr. William Satterlee, a worthy man, to muster them and their arms, and took Captain Noble's and Satterlee's receipt for the same, and their promise to apply it for that purpose, which is herewith submitted.
Your Committee returning to Ticonderoga, and Colonel Easton being there, they paid into his hands the sum of two hundred and eighty Pounds, to be applied for the purpose aforesaid, and took his receipt and promise so to do, and appointed Mr. Jonas Fay, a respectable person, to muster the men and their arms, all except Captain Noble's Company. We also paid into the hands of one Remember Baker, said to be a good officer, who engaged a certain number of men under Colonel Easton, the sum of Twenty Pounds and took his receipt and promise to apply said money as advance pay to said men, which completes the whole of the money delivered to said Committee for the purposes aforesaid.
Your Committee have engaged to Colonel Easton that the remaining part of the advance pay should be immediately sent to him.
Your Committee found that as soon as Colonel Arnold had disbanded his men, some of them became dissatisfied and mutinous, and many of them signified to the Committee that they had been informed that they were to be defrauded out of the pay for past services. The Committee, in order to quiet them, engaged under their hands, in behalf of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, that as soon as the rolls should be made up and properly authenticated, they should be paid for their past services, and all those who should engage anew should have the same bounty and wages as is promised to those men who serve within said Colony.
Your Committee inquired of Mr. Henry Bleecker of Albany, how the men at those posts were supplied with provisions, who informed that he acted under his brother, who was a Commissioner of Supplies from New-York; that all the men at those stations, of whatsoever Colony, were supplied by him without distinction, and that he should continue so to do until otherwise directed.
Your Committee appointed Timothy Edwards and Samuel Brown, Esquires, a Committee to supply the men under Colonel Easton's command with such necessaries as should not be supplied from New York, and appointed Captain Elisha Phelps to act as Commissary under them, to deal out to the men whatsoever should be supplied by the said Edwards and Brown.
Your Committee being of the opinion that a Major should be appointed under Colonel Easton and one surgeon to the battalion, and having inquired into the disposition of the officers and men who have engaged, have appointed John Brown, Esquire, as Major and Mr. Jonas Fay as Surgeon.
Your Committee when they had received Colonel Arnold's resignation, directed him to return to [Provincial] Congress, and render an account of his proceedings, agreeable to their instructions, a copy of which order is herewith submitted.
Your Committee made an examination of the military stores at those posts, a schedule whereof is herewith delivered, excepting some leaden and iron ball and old chains, which have been dug out of the ruins of Crown Point fort.
Your Committee finding that the men at those stations had not a sufficiency of gunpowder to defend the posts, and upon a careful inquiry could not find any at Albany, have directed said Committee of Supplies to supply them with two hundred weight from some of the town stocks in the County of Berkshire, on the credit of the Colony.
Your Committee are of opinion that the maintaining of those posts is of the utmost importance to the security of the Colony of New-York and the New-England Colonies, which was a sufficient inducement to the Conmittee to continue in the pay of the Colony the number of men before mentioned. The fortress not being at present tenable, there must be a sufficient number of men to command the lake and prevent the enemy from landing.
Your Committee are of opinion that the best security of those posts in their present state is, by armed vessels of various constructions to be kept constantly cruising on the lake, and small boats with swivel guns to act as scouts, which will effectually prevent the army from sudden surprise.
Your Committee have, agreeable to their instructions, advised the honourable American Congress, the honourable Convention of the Colony of New York, and the Governor of Connecticut, by respectfully signifying to them their opinion of the importance of the maintaining those posts and the measures for effectuating the same. All which is humbly submitted.
