Philadelphia [September 25].
Extract of a letter from Ticonderoga.
A letter from General Gates, enclosing one from Gen: Arnold, is just received, which acquaints us, that our fleet is safe, and that a party of our sailors, who had imprudently trusted themselves on shore, were attacked by a number of savages, at Wind Mill Point, about 90 miles from Crown Point ー In the skirmish three of our men were killed and five wounded. ー The Indians afterwards coming near the shore of the lake, several cannon were discharged at them, which dispersed them, and must have been the firing heard by Colonel [Thomas] Hartley. ー Gen. Arnold imagines the enemy will double man all their batteaus and attempt to board the gundalos, and has begged an addition to the fleet. More row-gallies and gundalous are building, and will shortly be fit for action. As a further addition several double manned batteaus are to be sent him, with a swivel on each side, to fight under cover of the larger metal; by this means our fleet on Lake Champlain will soon make a very respectable appearance, and give Carleton, with his Hessians, Westphalians, WaIdeckers, and other mercenaries, more trouble in crossing the Lakes to Ticonderoga than they at first expected; indeed several hundred of the enemy were advanced as far on their journey as the Isle aux Fate, but precipitately fled at the approach of our Navy.