Dear Sir,

Yours with a Copy of General Gates's I have Rec'd and agreeable to your request have Orderd Colonel S. B. Webb's Regiment to march & Immediately join you;¹ I will Immediately make inquiry about the Arms you mentioned & if Possible they shall be Conveyd over to you with the Utmost Dispatch; Last night I arrived here, the Bag­gage Ordinance Stores &c. are moving up with all Possible expedition;

Since I had the pleasure of seing you, many Circumstances of lmportance strikes my attention which I now shall with pleasure Communicate to you, In the first, Its my Opinion that the Enemy's Vessel of Four² which are now Down the River, are only kept there with a view of Drawing Our Attention towards them & prevent us from making that Preparation (which in my Opinion we aught by every Possible means to do) to Oppose there Progress to Albany, they may Probably bring up there Shipping near the Cheveaux De Frize, but its my real and Sincere Opinion that Destroy­ing the Chain &c. are by no means (at this juncture) there Chieff Object, Its my firm Opinion that they will by every Possible Means Indeavour to Make Forced Marches towards Albany, & Convey up the Baggage Stores &c. in the small Crafts;­—I shall use my Utmost Efforts & Collect the Militia with all Possible Speed, the same Steps I make no Doubt will be forwarded by you.

Joining Burgoyne is Certainly there first & Chieff Object. I would therefore Men­tion that the Moment our Baggage Stores &c. are mov'd into some secure Place, we aught to Proceed towards Albany & act in Conjunction with Gen^l Gates. I have wrote Him & shall hope to have his Opinion very soon, yours upon the Subject I hope to be favourd with Immediately which will greatly Oblige, Sir Your verry Hble. Serv't

P.S. General Putnam begs the favor you'l meet him this Morning on this [side] the Ferry at 11 O'Clock, if any thing should prevent you from Crossing the River, he begs you'l let him know. I am [&c.]

T. Yates A. D. C.

[To G. C.]