Displaying 1 - 20 of 34
My last was of the 14th Instant by Mr [Bernard] Romans, via New Haven. I then acquainted you of the Occasion of Delay in not carrying your Orders into execution. ー The Afternoon of the same Day, being joined by Captains Brown & Oswald, with 50 Men inlisted on the Road, they having taken Possession of a small Schooner, at Skenesborough, we immediately proceeded on our Way for St Johns, and at...
Date: 19 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
My last was of the 19th Inst by Captain Jonathan Brown, I then Advised you of my taking Possession of the Kings Sloop, &c. & that on the 18th Inst on my return from St Johns Coln [Ethan] Allen with about 80 or 100 Men passed me with Intention of making a Stand at St Johns & not being able to disuade him from so rash a purpose, I supplied them with provisions &c, Yesterday he...
Date: 23 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
My Last was of the 23d Instant. I then Advised you of the Situation of Matters here: Since which, there has been no Material Alteration: Verry few men have Arrived; We have fixed the Sloop with Six Carriage & Twelve Swivel Guns: the Schooner with Four Carriage & Eight Swivels, both Vessels are in good Order & Tolerably well manned, Eight Gentlemen having arriv'd from Hartford, who are...
Date: 26 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Your resolution of the 18th. Inst & recommendation of Measures to the City's of New-York and Albany, in Consequence of the taking Possession of Ticonderoga &c. has this moment been deliverd me, as Commanding Officer here, the Purport of which Induces me to believe, the Committee of Safety of the Massachusetts Bay, have not Informed you of my Appointment, or Instructions from them which I...
Date: 29 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I was equally surprised and alarmed this day on receiving advice, via Albany, that the Continental Congress has recommended the removing all the cannon, stores, &c. at Ticonderoga to Fort George, and evacuating Ticonderoga entirely which being the only key of this Country, leaves our very extensive Frontiers open to the ravages of the Enemy, and if put into execution, will be the entire ruin...
Date: 29 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
An Abstract of the minutes of Council from the Continental Congress, signed Pr Mr Charles Thomson Secretary has just come to hand and tho' it approves of the taking the Fortresses on Lake Champlain and the Artillery &c. I am nevertheless much surprised that your Honours should recommend it to us to remove the Artillery to the South End of Lake George and there to make a stand, the Consequence...
Date: 29 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I am informed by Colonel [James] Easton that you are well satisfied with the economy and enterprising spirit of a number of the Sons of Liberty, who, animated with the glorious example of the brave action at Concord, were inspired to make those acquisitions to the United Colonies of which your Honours have received intelligence, viz: the sovereignty of Lake Champlain, and the fortresses thereon,...
Date: 9 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Colonel Ethan Allen; Major Samuel Elmore, of the Connecticut Farms; Colonel James Easton, of Pittsfield; Captain Seth Warner; Captain Hezekiah Balding, Captain Ebenezer Marvin, Captain Remember Baker, Captain George White; Captain James Noble, commandant at this place; Captain Amos Chapple; Captain Wait Hopkins; Captain Joseph McCracken; Captain John Grand; Captain Barnabus Barnum; Captain James...
Date: 10 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
As commanding Officer here, I think it my duty to acquaint you, that having lately sent one Mr Hoit, an Indian Interpreter to Montreal, & Caughnawaga, to consult with some Gentlemen of my Acquaintance in the former Place, and with the Indians in the latter, to know their Intentions in the present dispute ー he has returned with the agreeable Intelligence that the Indians are determined not to...
Date: 13 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
You having signified to the Committee who are Appointed and Directed by the Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts Bay, to inquire into the state of the fortresses of Crown point Ticonderoga, &c. and the appendages thereof, Your Resolution to resign all Your Command of the said Fortresses and the vessels and stores thereunto belonging, for Reasons under Your hand Expressed
This is to inform...
Date: 23 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Your instructions of the 14th instant from the Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts-Bay, in regard to my conduct here, being now before me, I will answer in course.
In the first place, I observe you are appointed to examine my conduct, and in what manner I have executed my commission. I look on this instruction at this juncture as unprecedented, and a very plain intimation that the Congress...
Date: 24 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Crown Point Sunday July the 30th Anno 1775 weighd Anchor & proceeded down the Lake Champlain at 4.P.M. saw a Boat under Sail, brought her to by the fire of a Gun, which proved to be Esqr Gillilands Boat; on Board of the Boat I found a Man that came from St Johns with a Pass to pass & repass up and down the lake from Major [Charles] Preston Commander in Chief at St Johns & by Mr....
Date: 30 July 1775
Volume: Volume 1
...I am now fortifying this place & will Endeavour to have it as Strong as possible & fix as many Galleys to Command the Lake as I can ー I have Sent for Some person Acquainted with those Constructed at Philadelphia that we may have Some of that [kind] Built if It is agreeable to your Excellencey; I have wrote General Schuyler for his advice, which hope Soon to Receive ー in the Interim I...
Date: 2 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I this moment recd yr favor of the 28th ult., am much obliged by yr kind offer of assistance, but have the pleasure to inform you that at present our army, weak and reduced by sickness as it is, will be fully sufficient to oppose any force wch may be sent against us at present; I am well convinced that the Enemy have neither Boats to transport any army nor armed vessels upon the Lake to defend...
Date: 3 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Just as I closed my last letter to you we heard the enemy's cannon, and expected an attack at the Sorel; we prepared ourselves to receive them, but they did not approach that day. We had certain information that between five and ten thousand had arrived in Canada; that the greater part were within a few leagues of us; and that the Indians and Canadians, with some Regulars from near the Cedars,...
Date: 3 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
Colonel [Thomas] Hartley arived from a Tour Down the Lake, last night. Inclosed is a Coppy of his Journal. I make no Doubt the enemy have a number of Vessells in forwardness & will exert themselves, in Building to Command the Lake ー
I have made a Drawft of the Artificers & have sent you a Number of each as pr the Inclosed Memorandum, I have ordered the Oar Makers to go Between this &...
Date: 10 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I have this morning Sent of[f] Colonel [William] Maxwells & [William] Winde's Regiments, with most of the Artillery & Stores, want of Boats prevented my sending of[f] all the Sick & Companies of Artillery. I have Just Sent of[f] the last Boats we had, to Onion river & other Places for Boards, believe I can procure Twenty or thirty thousand feet & send you in a few Days. ー we...
Date: 14 July 1776
Volume: Volume 5
I arriv'd here at 10 oClock last night much as I left Tyconderoga a little feverish but no ague Yet, a dose Phisick this afternoon I hope will set matters in order. I have applied to Doctr Sparham who (I believe) Cannot be persuaded to go with the Fleet ー I dont think it prudent to go without a Surgeon, Lieut [Isaac Budd] Dunn acquaints me, that the Surgeons Mate of Coln [Arthur] St Clair's Regt...
Date: 16 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
You will Immediately get your Vessells under sail & Proceed down the lake 7 or 8 Miles, if you make any discovery of the Enemy you will Immediately give me notice if none return as Soon as Possible.
Date: 17 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6
I am surpris'd you should pretend to Contradict my Orders to the Captains of the Schooners at this time when we are alarm'd by a Signal of the Approach or the Enemy, and much more so, as I acquainted you some time since that the Commander in chief had Appointed me to take command of the Navy on the Lakes, had I not receiv'd this Appointment from my rank in the Army and as commander in chief of...
Date: 17 August 1776
Volume: Volume 6