been at Montreal, and returned to this place; he is a man I can confide in, and he informs that Saint Luke La Corne, who acted many barbarities towards our people the last war, for which he was sainted, has been using bis utmost influence to excite the Canadians and Indians to take part in the war against the united colonies; and that he, and Capt McCoy who commanded the Canadian attack, have made but little proficiency. Most of the said party of Canadians were appointed officers, but could procure but very few soldiers and not one Indian. Saint Luke advises, that some in every parish be immediately executed, except they will join the king's troops. There are lately come to Saint Johns, near two hundred regulars, and joined Capt. McCoy's party of about fifty Canadians, who have been mentioned as assailants on the reconnoitering party, and they are there fortifying. I still retain my sentiments that policy demands that the colonies advance an army of two or three thousand men into Canada and environ Montreal. This will inevitably fix and confirm the Canadians and Indians in our interest. Nothing gives me so much concern, as the mistaken policy in our worthy Congress and assemblies, who, for want of the real knowledge of certain facts, imagine, that to push an army thither would offend the Canadians and incense them against the colonies. The armed vessels are advanced to the north part of the lake to command it, and, consequently, to guard the frontier settlements thereon. We hear that Col. Hinman is appointed commander in chief of this department, and is marching hither with a thousand men. These are joyful tidings to us. We hope they will prove true; for we cannot long conduct our army without it be regularly organized with officers and under pay. I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant, JAMES EASTON. To the honorable the Gentlemen of the Provincial Congress, or, Proclamation of Cols. Allen and Easton. Ticonderoga, June 1, 1775. To our worthy and respectable friends and countrymen, the French people of Canada, Greeting: FRIENDS, FELLOW SUBJECTS, AND COUNTRYMEN:-You are, undoubtedly, more or less acquainted with the unnatural and unhappy controversy subsisting between Great Britain and her colonies, the particulars of which, in this letter, we do not pretend to expatiate upon; but refer you to the consideration of the justice and equitableness of our cause from your former acquaintance with the merits of it. We need only observe, that the inhabitants of the colonies viewed the controversy on their part to be justifiable in the sight of God and all unprejudiced and honest men, that have or may have opportunity and ability to examine into the ground of it. Fixed in this principle, those inhabitants are resolved to vindicate their cause at the hazard of their lives and fortunes, but have not the least disposition to injure, molest, or, in any way, deprive our fellow subjects, the Canadians, of either liberty or property; nor have they any design to wage war with them; and, on the other hand, from all the intelligence that the inhabitants of the said colonies have received from the Canadians, it has appeared that they were alike disposed for friendship, or at least neutrality, and not at all disposed to take part with the king's troops in the present civil war against the colonies. We were, nevertheless, surprised to hear, that a number of about thirty Canadians, attacked our reconnoitering party, consisting of four men; fired on and pursued them until they returned the fire. This is the account of the party who have all arrived at head quarters. We desire to know of any gentleman of the Canadians, the facts of the case, if they be different: as one story must be allowed to be good till another is told. Our general orders to the soldiers were, that they should not, on pain of death, molest or kill any of your people. But if it shall appear, upon examination, that the reconnoitering party commenced hostilities against you, they shall suffer, agreeably to the sentence of a court martial: for our special orders from the colonies were, to befriend and protect you, if need be, so that if you desire their friendship, you are invited to embrace it: for nothing can be more undesirable to the inhabitants of these colonies, than a war with their fellow subjects, the Canadians, or with the Indians. You are, undoubtedly, very sensible that a war has already commenced between Great Britain and the colonies: hostilities have already begun. To fight the king's troops has become inevitable. The colonies cannot avoid it. But pray, is it necessary the people of your country and ours should butcher each other? God forbid. There are no controversies subsisting between us. Pray let old England and the colonies fight it out, and the Canadians stand by and see what the arm of flesh can do. We are apprehensive, that the conduct of your people before complained of, had not a general approbation, and are still confident, that your country, as such, will not wage war with the colonies, or approve of the aforesaid hostile conduct of your people; as we conceive it impolitic, to the last degree, for the Canadians to enter into a bloody war with the English colonies, without either provocation or motive; but every motive of interest, virtue, and honor, to dissuade you from it. To conclude, we apprehend St. Luke La Corne, Monsieur Ronvelo, and Capt. McCoy, the last of whom commanded the Canadian party aforesaid, and probably some others, whose interest it is to irritate and excite your people to take up arms against the colonies, have inveigled some of the baser sort already to attack the said four men as before related. We expect, gentlemen, as to these particulars, you will, in good time, favor us with an answer, and in the interim, we subscribe ourselves your unfeigned friends, ETHAN ALLEN, At present, the principal Command ing Officers of the Army. A copy of the letter that we sent to the Canadians, to be communicated to them in print, translated into French by the favor of Mr. Walker, our friend at Montreal. This we submit to your honor's consideration. Yours, at command, ETHAN ALLEN, JAMES EASTON. Report of the Committee sent to Ticonderoga. Cambridge, July 6, 1775. The committee appointed to proceed to the posts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, &c., beg leave to report, that they proceeded through the new settlements called the New Hampshire Grants, and carefully observed the road through the same, and find that there is a good road from Williamstown to the place where the road crosseth the river called Paulet river, which is about fifteen miles from Skenesborough; from thence to the falls at Wood Creek near Major Skene's house, the road is not feasible, and is unfit for carriages, but cattle may be driven that way very well. Your committee, having taken with them the copies of the commission and instructions from the committee of safety to Col. Benedict Arnold, and informed themselves, as fully as they were able, in what manner he had executed his said commission and instructions, have found that he was with Col. Allen, and others at the time the fort was reduced; but do not find that he had any men under his command at the time of the reduction of those fortresses; but find that he did, afterwards, possess himself of the sloop on the lake. At Saint Johns we found the said Arnold, claiming the command of said sloop, and a schooner, which is said to be the property of Major Skene; and also all the posts and fortresses at the south end of Lake Champlain and Lake George, although Col. Hinman was at Ticonderoga, with near a thousand men under his command at the several posts. Your committee informed the said Arnold of their commission, and, at his request, gave him a copy of their instructions; upon reading of which, he seemed greatly disconcerted, and declared he would not be second in command to any person whomsoever; and after some time contemplating upon the matter, resigned his post, and gave your committee his resignation under his hand, dated the 24th of June; which is submitted, and, at the same time, he ordered his men to be disbanded, which he said were between two and three hundred. Your committee, not finding any men regularly under said Arnold, by reason of his so disbanding them, appointed Col. Easton, who was at Ticonderoga, to take the command under Col. Hinman, who was the principal commanding officer, at those posts, of the Connecticut forces, and endeavored to give the officers and men who had served under (1) The instructions to Walter Spooner, Jedediah Foster, and James Sullivan, Esquires, the committee, are entered in the Journals of Congress, June 13, 1775, ante page 327. said Arnold, an opportunity to reenlist; of whom, numbers enlisted and several of the officers agreed to hold their command under the new appoint ment. Your committee, having taken a critical survey of the garrison and posts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, found them in a very defenceless state, and after consulting with Col. Hinman, were of opinion, upon the whole, that it is necessary to retain in the service of this colony, for the present, the number of four hundred men, as the committee were informed from intelligence from Canada, that great preparations were making and all endeavors used to bring over the Canadians and savages to be inimical to these colonies. Your committee having found Capt. Noble at the Point, with a number of men who had been under said Arnold, willing to engage in the service, we paid to said Noble, one hundred pounds, to be delivered to the men, as advance pay; and appointed Mr. William Satterly, a worthy man, to muster them and inspect their arms; and took Capt. Noble's and Satterly's receipt for the same, and their promise to apply it for that purpose. Your committee returning to Ticonderoga, and Col. Easton being there, they paid into his hands the sum of two hundred and eighty pounds, to be applied for the purpose aforesaid, and took his receipt and promise so to do; and appointed Mr. Jonas Fay, a respectable person, to muster the men and their arms, all except Capt. Noble's company. We also paid into the hands of one Remember Baker, said to be a good officer, who engaged a certain number of men under Col. Easton, the sum of twenty pounds, and took his receipt and promise to apply said money as advance pay to said men; which completes the whole of the money delivered to said committee for the purposes aforesaid. Your committee have engaged to Col. Easton, that the remaining part of the advance pay should be immediately sent to him. Your committee found, that as soon as Col. Arnold had disbanded his men, some of them became dissatisfied and mutinous, and many of them signified to the committee, that they had been informed that they were to be defrauded of their pay for past services. The committee, in order to quiet them, engaged, under their hands, in behalf of the colony of the Massachusetts Bay, that as soon as the rolls should be made up and properly authenticated, they should be paid for their past services, and all those who should engage anew, should have the same bounty and wages as is promised to those who serve within said colony. Your committee inquired of Mr. Henry Bleeker, of Albany, how the men at those posts were supplied with provisions; who informed us, that he acted under his brother, who was commissioner of supplies from New York; that all the men at those stations, of whatsoever colony, were supplied by him, without distinction, and that he should continue so to supply, until otherwise directed. Your committee appointed Timothy Edwards, and Samuel Brown, Esq'rs, a committee to supply the men under Col. Easton's command, with such necessaries as should not be supplied from New York; and appointed Capt. Elisha Phelps, to act as commissary under them, to deal out to the men whatsoever should be supplied by the said Edwards and Brown. Your committee, being of opinion, that a major should be appointed under Col. Easton, and one surgeon to the battalion, and having inquired into the disposition of the officers and men who have engaged, have appointed John Brown, Esq., as major, and Mr. Jonas Fay, as surgeon. Your committee, when they had received Col. Arnold's resignation, directed him to return to Congress and render an account of his proceedings, agreeably to their instructions, a copy of which order is herewith submitted. Your committee made an examination of the military stores at those posts, a schedule whereof is herewith delivered, excepting some lead and iron balls, and old chains, which have been dug out of the ruins of Crown Point fort. Your committee, finding that the men at those stations had not a sufficiency of gunpowder to defend the posts, and upon a careful inquiry not finding any at Albany, have directed said committee of supplies to supply two hundred weight from some of the town stocks in the county of Berkshire, on the credit of the colony. Your committee are of opinion, that the maintaining of those posts is of the utmost importance to the security of the colony of New York and the New England colonies, which was a sufficient inducement to the committee to continue in the pay of this colony the number of men before mentioned. The fortresses not being at present tenable, then there must be a sufficient number of men to command the lake, and prevent the enemy from landing. Your committee are of opinion, that the best security of those posts in there present state, is by armed vessels of various construction, to be kept constantly cruising on the lake, and small boats with swivel guns to act as scouts, which will effectually prevent the army from sudden surprise. Your committee have, agreeably to their instructions, advised the Hon. American Congress, the Hon. Convention of the colony of New York, and the governor of Connecticut, by respectfully signifying to them, their opinion of the importance of the maintaining those posts, and the measures for effecting the same. All which is humbly submitted, WALTER SPOONER, by order. Return of Ordnance Stores at Crown Point. Seven punches for vents of guns; three scoops for shells; one pair brass scales; fourteen mallets; one set of measures for powder; three hundred and ten pounds of slow match; one hundred, eighteen-pound shot; five hundred and eighty, twelve-pound shot; five hundred and eighty, nine-pound shot; five hundred and eighty, six-pound shot; one thousand four hundred |