The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from an officer in the army at Ticonderoga, to his friend in this city, dated August, 1775.

"I have now the pleasure to inform you, that we arrived here on the 19th ult. in good spirits, though we have had a very fatiguing march, being obliged to go round by Skenesborough, as there were not boats on lake George to bring us over. Out of the four companies, we had twelve deserted from us on the road, and most of those were old deserters from the regulars. We held a court-martial at every other stage, and gave several of the unruly ones Moses's laws, i. e. thirty nine; and they now begin to behave very well, being kept under as strict discipline as any of the regulars. There is the greatest plenty of fresh and salt provisions here, the men have as much as they can use, a gill of rum and as much spruce beer as they can drink every day, so that they have no occasion to drink the lake water, it being reckoned very unhealthy. The number of troops here at present is 1700 men, and 700 at Crown Point, about 14 miles from here. We expect this day four companies of the second battalion of New York forces, the boats being already sent for them. We are ordered to be in readiness in eight days, to sail for St. John's, where we shall have a smart brush with the regulars; the batteaus are now making with the greatest expedition, and I am afraid the rest of our regiment will not be here in time. The General talks a good deal of their being so dilatory in coming up, and seems to regret very much the being obliged to go without them. There has been a French Gentleman here lately from Canada, who has put our men in great spirits, by assuring us that the greatest part of the Canadians would join us on our arrival, but that they dare not make themselves known to be our friends, till we are landed amongst them. The same Gentleman, who is a person of great property there, declared that upon our arrival, he would kill five fat oxen to make a treat for the officers. As for my own part, there is nothing gives me the least uneasiness.

P. S. Since writing the above, a spy of ours arrived from St. John's, who says, that there were two vessels ready to be launched at that post, each mounting 16 guns, in order to take possession of the Lake, which would render it impossible for us, for some time, to get past, therefore we have received immediate orders to embark for that place, and are to sail to-morrow morning the 28th.

"Col. Waterbury's regiment of 1000 men, Capt. Mott's company of 100 men, and our four companies, with 700 that are now at Crown Point, and 200 of the Mountain Boys, are to join us.

Our spy informs us that there were only 570 regulars at St. John's, and 50 Indians; so that I am in hopes we shall meet with very little resistance, if we do, we are pretty well prepared for them.

We have five companies of the second battalion of New York forces here, and about three companies of the New England troops.

This is all the intelligence I can give you at present."