Intelligence received in Congress, October 21st, from the Middle and Northern Departments.

That on the 11th instant, at 8 o'clock in the morning, the enemy's fleet on Lake Champlain, consisting of one ship mounting 16 guns, one snow mounting the same number, one schooner of 14 guns, two of twelve, two sloops, a bomb ketch, and a large vessel, (her force unknown) with fifteen or twenty flat bottomed boats or gondolas, carrying one 12 or 18 pounder in their bows, appeared off Cumberland Head: General Arnold with his forces immediately prepared to receive them ー At 11 o'clock the attack began, at half past 12 the engagement became general and very warm; some of the enemy's ships and all their gondolas beat up and rowed within musket shot of our fleet. They continued a very hot fire with round and grape shot till 5 o'clock when they thought proper to retire about six or seven hundred yards distance, and continued there until dark. Gen. Arnold and his troops conducted themselves during this action with great firmness and intrepidity, and made a better resistance than could have been expected against a force so greatly superior ー the whole of our killed and wounded amounted to about 60. The Philadelphia gondola and a schooner were lost in the engagement, but all the men were saved. The enemy landed a large number of Indians on Schuyler's Island and on each shore, who kept up an incessant fire, but did little damage. The enemy had to appearance upwards of 1000 men in batteaus prepared for boarding.

The enemy's force being so greatly superior, it was determined in Council to remove to Crown Point, in order to refit and collect our force. At 2 o'clock, P.M. the 12th, our fleet weighed anchor, with a fresh breeze to the southward: the enemy's fleet at the same time got under way: Our gondolas [made] very little way ahead. ー In the evening the wind moderated, and we made such progress, that at six o'clock next morning we were about 28 miles from Crown Point. The enemy's fleet was very little above Schuyler's Island, the wind breezed up to the southward, so that we gained very little by beating or rowing; at the same time the enemy took a fresh breeze from the N.E. and, by the time we had reached Split Rock, were along side of us. The Washington and the Congress were in the rear, the rest of our fleet were ahead, except two gondolas sunk at Schuyler's Island. ー The Washington galley was in such a shattered condition, and had so many men killed and wounded, that she struck to the enemy after receiving a few broadsides. The Congress was then attacked by a ship mounting 12 eighteen pounders, a schooner of 14 sixes, and one of 12 sixes; two under her stern and one on her broadside, within musket shot: The enemy kept up an incessant fire about five glasses with round and grape shot, which was returned as briskly. The sails, rigging and hull of the Congress were shattered and torn in pieces; when, to prevent her falling into the enemy's hands, Gen. Arnold, who was on board, ran her ashore in a small creek ten miles from Crown Point, where after taking out her small arms she was set on fire, with 4 other gondolas; with whose crews the General reached Crown Point that evening, luckily escaping the savages, who way-laid the road in two hours after he had passed it. ー Of our whole fleet we have saved two gallies, two schooners, one gondola, and one sloop.

Gen. Arnold behaved with such intrepidity, that he covered the retreat of the few vessels we saved at the expence of one third of his crew ー Our commanders and men behaved most gallantly; some vessels having lost all their officers, fought notwithstanding, and refused to yield but with their lives. The enemy acknowledge our bravery, and confess their loss of men equal to ours.

Our troops are now busily employed in compleating the lines, redoubts, &c. at Crown Point, expecting the enemy to attack them with their fleet and army. But as the season is now far advanced, and our men are daily growing in health, they have the most flattering expectations of maintaining their post against any force the enemy can bring.

N.B. Two of the enemy's gondolas were sunk the first day by our fleet, and one blown up with 60 men.

A schooner, Captain [Alexander] Wilson, bound from Boston for Bourdeaux, was taken about five days after she sailed, by the Perseus man of war, of 20 guns, lately arrived from England; after taking out the master and mate, they put two midshipmen and four sailors on board, to navigate her to New-York, but she ran ashore last week near Sandy-Hook, and was taken possession of by our troops, who saved the cargoe, and it is thought the vessel may be got off. The midshipmen and sailors were made prisoners, and arrived here last Monday night.¹