The New Hampshire Gazette

Extract of a Letter from Crown-Point, September 20.

Hereby end you an Account of some of our present Proceedings here.- Crown Point is almost an Island, compassed by Lake Champlain, about 11 Miles round, all clear Land, and as good a Soil as any I ever saw, and a great many Houses on it, but none Inhabited since the Commencement of this War. The old Fort is of no Strength at all :-It will be a Place of Strength before we have done with it, worthy to be called Crown-Point.-We are making an Addition of 4 Forts to that Place, and each of them as strong as Ticonderoga Fort is.--We have built a large Brig, of 22 Carriage Guns and 18 Swivels; She carries 200 Tons, and 120 Men, and is to cruise upon Lake Champlain.-- We have also built a Vessel, which we call a Floating Castle; which mounts 10 24 Pounders, 2 18 Pounders, and 2 13 Inch Mortars; is of 300 Tons, and finished as strong as Wood and Iron can make her; and contriv'd so that 'tis impossible for the Enemy to board her: She rows with 40 Oars on each Side; and has two large Masts, and square Sails with running Rigging: so that in short no Ship can lay along Side of her.--Here there are likewise 5 Row Gallies which mount 18 Pounders, each of them one; the Gun is placed fore and aft and fires out at the Head; they row with 14 Oars on each Side, carry 30 Men each, and can fight and go well:--- The Experiment was tried this Year, on July 13. when a Party was sent consisting of 300 of our Army, and one of these Row Gallies, along with a Party commanded by Major Campbell of the old Highlanders; who on the same Day were met by a Party of 900 French, at a Place called the first Narrows, on an Island on the Lake.-- The French at our Approach, were glad to see so small a Party of us there, not expecting such a Thing as an 18 Pound Cannon in our small Fleet, came out to receive us, and immediately killed 3 Rangers and two Indians, and wounded several more in our Boats: But to their great Surprize, the 18 Pounder let to work; and in less then a Quarter of an Hour they were all running away, faster then they came up: In this Affair the Enemy lost 3 of their Battoes, and all the Hands killed or drowned ;- This was the first Experiment ever try'd with a Row Galley, and prov'd effectual.-- Major Rogers is gone out, with 207 Men, towards Montreal; but is not returned as yet; and what Success he may have, is yet unknown.