Honoured Sir:

I arrived here last night, ten o'clock, from Ticonderoga; am sent express by Colonel [Benjamin] Hinman to acquaint the Committee at this place, and also the Provincial Congress at New York, with the condition of the troops and garrisons at Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Fort George; expect to set out from hence for New York tomorrow; have not as yet waited on the Committee here, but write these lines by Captain [Aaron] Stevens, who will not tarry, but sets out for home this morning. When I arrived at Ticonderoga, Colonel Hinman had no command there, as Colonel [Benedict] Arnold refused to let him command either of the garrisons, but had given the command of Ticonderoga to Captain [Rufus] Henick, from whom Colonel Hinman's men were obliged to take their orders, or were not suffered to pass to and from the garrison. The same day a Committee of three gentlemen from the Massachusetts, viz: Mr. [Walter] Spooner, Colonel [Jedediah] Foster, and Colonel [James] Sullivan, returned to Ticonderoga from Crown Point, and informed us that they had been to Colonel Arnold, with orders from the Congress requiring him to resign the command to Colonel Hinman, and that he, with his regiment, should come under the command of said Hinman; which said Arnold positively refused; on which said Committee discharged Colonel Arnold from their service, and desired the privilege to speak with the people who had engaged under Arnold, but were refused. [They were] further informed that Colonel Arnold and some of his people were gone on board the vessels; that they understood they threatened to go to St. John's and deliver the vessels to the Regulars, and that Arnold had disbanded all his troops but those that were on board said vessels; that they were treated very ill and threatened, and after they came away in a batteau, they were fired upon with swivel-guns and small-arms by Arnold's people; and that Colonel Arnold and his men had got both the vessels and were drawn off into the Lake. On which I desired Colonel Hinman to let me, with Lieutenant [Jeremiah] Halsey and Mr. [William] Duer, (who was judge of the Court for the County of Charlotte, in this Colony,) with some men to row, have a batteau and proceed up the lake, and go on board the vessels. We obtained liberty and Colonel Sullivan consented to go with us. We got on board the vessels about eleven o'clock in the morning, and he confined three of us on board each vessel; men sat over us with fixed bayonets; and so kept us till sometime in the evening, when we were dismissed and suffered to return. We reasoned with the people on board the vessels all the while we were there, and convinced some of them of their errour, who declared they had been deceived by Colonel Arnold. After we returned to the fort, called on Colonel Hinman, who ordered Lieutenant Halsey, with twenty-five men, to return again to the vessels and get what people he could on board to join him, and bring one or both vessels to the fort, which was all settled the next day. Colonel Sullivan was much insulted while we were on board the vessels chiefly by Mr. [John] Brown, one of Colonel Arnold's Captains. Captain Stevens, who is waiting while I write these lines, will not wait longer, or you should hear more particulars. I expect you will have a full account from the gentlemen Committee after they have laid it before their Congress. Captain Elijah Babcock can give a full account of these matters; he tells me he shall be at Hartford in a few days. Shall give further accounts from New York.

I am, Sir, at command, [&c.]