Dear Genl

I Arrived here at one OClock this Morning and as the Men were much Fatigued, their Arms wet, & the Night So far Advanced, it Render'd it impossible to get to three Rivers before Light, & must have pass'd in Sight of the Enemies Vessels, ten in Number, that have got about five Miles above three Rivers ー

I have Ordered the Whole Detachment to be in Readiness to Embarque at nine oClock this Evening & Shall pass the River St Laurence about three Miles above the Shipping, and after Leaving a Guard of Two Hundred & fifty with the Boats, proceed by Land to the three Rivers, & if Possible begin the Attack at Day-light ー

No Certain Accounts of the Number of the Enemy ー the Intelligence is from five to fifteen hundred ー If I Should find that they are Numerous, & that they are Strongly Intrenched, I Shall not risque an Battle, as a Defeat at this time wd greatly distress us ー

I have not found a proper place near this to fortify, the Banks being overflowed at the Mouth of the River, nor would I Venture to keep Troops below the Vessels, as they Surely have it in their power to prevent our Boats from passing, & it is out of our Power to Keep up a Communication by Land, I therefore believe we must make the best of the Banks at or a near the Sorrell, or Fortify the Islands ー

I have order'd Capt [Ebenezer] Stevens to Stop above the Lake with the Artillery till further Orders, as the Loss of the few He has with him wd be very fatal to us, you will hear from me Tomorrow. I am Dear General [&c.]

Copy ー