Gentlemen

Our Fleet which suffered severely in an engagement on the 12th instant with the Enemy has been still more severely handled in a subsequent [one] ー insomuch that the Enemy are left masters of the Lake and are now coming on to attack our Army at Ticonderogaー

In this situation of affairs it is of the utmost importance that the Militia of your State should immediately march to sustain the Army ー Such as can most expeditiously come by the way of Albany should do so, and the others take the Route to Skeensborough ー Each man should come provided with as much provision and ammunition as possible ー The commanding Officer must send me information of his number and the progress in his march from time to time ー I shall be either at Fort George or at Skeenesborough, but as I cannot determine which, it will be proper to send expresses to both places ー Please to forward Copies of this to Governor Trumbull and to every Committee in your State in a situation of affording assistance, as also to the neighbouring Counties in the State of Connecticut. I must repeat Gentlemen, that it is of great importance that I should be duly furnished with an account of the movement and number of the Militia ー am Gentlemen [&c.]