The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from a Gentleman in Albany to his friend in this city, dated July 10, 1777.

The seventh instant we had a report of the loss of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, without a single circumstance, of consequence not easily credited. But at night Col. Hay, D. Q. M. General, who was the last off the ground, and had left Fort Ann that morning, arrived; by him we got an account that the evacuation of those posts was made the most sudden, and with the greatest confusion and precipitation, after a council of war of the General officers, to the great regret of this army, who were in high spirits, and enraged at leaving every thing behind them.

General St. Clair retreated with the main body of the garrison, by the way of Castleton, and as yet has not been heard of this way. What batteaus were fit for service (it is said about seventy) with some armed schooners, and two howitzers, and about five or six hundred men, retreated by water up the South bay to Skeenborough, and had got within two miles of that place, when the wind failing, and being closely pursued by the enemy, who had a bomb ketch that out-sailed them, after engaging them some time, not being able to tow them quite to the landing to get some cannon on shore to make a stand, were obliged to abandon boats and vessels, and were attacked by the enemy, who they beat back; and as Mr. Winslow has left the pay office, and in the artillery, Mr. Pierce got up just time to secure the military chest and public papers which Mr. Winslow had caused to be put into a batteau; as for giving you any distinct particulars, it is impossible. We have lost all our cannon, ammunition, stores, provisions, medicines, and baggage, tents, boats, and vessels; not a single thing destroyed, as we hear.

The day of the retreat the garrison was reinforced with eight hundred men, who drove in ninety head of fat cattle, all which we believe are gone, with all the waggons, ox teams and horses, both public and private. The enemy then attacked our people, who were retired to Fort Ann, they consisted of a party of light armed foreigners, and, it is said, some Canadians and Indians; they were beat back to Skeenborough, and our party surrounded a large scouting party of the enemy, and sent to General Schuyler, who is at Fort Edward, for a supply of ammunition, which was immediately sent. The Claverack militia requested to turn out volunteers to go with it, they came up with the enemy, had a smart skirmish, took a Captain, Lieutenant, Ensign, Doctor, and some privates, prisoners.

Major Rensselaer, brother to Phil. is wounded, having his thigh broke. Half the militia, on the first alarm, was ordered up, and since that the other half; and yesterday General Nixon set off for Fort Edward with his brigade, suppose about a thousand.

You know what dependence can be placed on the militia of this county. If General Schuyler can but collect a respectable army of continental troops and militia at Fort Edward, this country may be saved; otherwise nothing can prevent their forming a junction, General Howe comes up, as Sir John Johnson is at Oswego, it is reported, with eight hundred men besides Indians, others say only forty five regulars, some Canadians and Indians, inviting the Indians to meet him there with Butler, that he may speak to them of peace, as the commissioners at Albany have done; and desires them only to go with him as companions, and see how brave he is; he does not want any assistance, he tells them.
"I now take up my pen, to hear further.

Seven o'clock in the evening.

Mr. Furcker and Dr. Potts are just come in; they left General St. Clair with the main body, at some place between Bennington and Castle-town; there they are to be with General Schuyler at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning; much fatigued, but in good spirits. By their accounts the rear of General St. Clair's was attacked about seventeen miles from Mount Independence, and five from Castle-town, by eighteen companies of light infantry and grenadiers, and were engaged for two hours; our main body was got into Castle-town, and on hearing the firing some regiments were detached to support the rear guard, when both parties quitted the firing and retreated, seemingly satisfied with each other. A Colonel Reed, a Gentleman of veracity, declared he counted, with the point of his sword in a certain circumference, fifty of the enemy lying, and from the appearance of the slain lying about, he believes on his honour, they must have lost three hundred dead on the field; what our loss is cannot say, but there are four or five hundred missing in that affair. Our people fell in with a foraging party, one Capt. Frazer, forty five regulars, and a number of Canadians and Indians; they say they drove the party, and got possession of their cattle, on which they lived, having taken no provisions with them from Mount Independence.

Of the prisoners taken in the affair, when Major Rensselaer was wounded, a Captain Montgomery, a relation of General Montgomery, wounded in the leg, and a Doctor, are come in. By the last accounts from head quarters, we have a strong party at Fort Ann, have brought off from Fort George forty pieces of cannon, fifteen tons powder, a quantity of provisions, and getting away the remainder of the stores, to be in readiness to destroy the vessels on that lake, and evacuate that post which is useless to us, unless we had a strong army here. General Schuyler and the troops with him in good spirits; the militia from every part moving up, but I hope that will not prevent continental troops coming, for in them is all our hopes. Oh for some Virginia rifle-men! Colonel Morgan's regiment would be of great use this way. It is reported that the roads to the eastward are full of men, but I much fear it is Tory news to make people as ready to turn out, as was the case after the death of General Montgomery, when they were afraid we should have twice the number of men necessary, so got few or none. We shall however keep ourselves in readiness to secure the public papers and our baggage, but which way, have not yet determined, should we be obliged to move."