The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette

Extract of a Letter from an Officer of distinction, dated Castleton, July 9, 1777.

"... I have just time to mention the receipt of your obliging letter of the 20th ult. which came to hand this moment.

As the evacuating Ticonderoga must have alarmed the country, and raised their curiosity at the same time, permit me to give you some account of that matter, with the reasons that induced me to propose it to the other general officers."

"The garrison consisted of about 3300 men, of whom 2089 only, were fit for duty, many of those mere boys, altogether incapable of sustaining the fatigues of a soldier, naked & ill armed, not above one bayonet to every tenth man, the place nearly invested, and their batteries completed, and, from the intelligence of my spies, the investiture was to be completed on Sunday last, the day we left it, when all possibility of retreat or support would be cut off. The loss of this army must see it so, was the inevitable consequence, and would have been a very great misfortune, much greater, in my opinion, than the loss of the post, as there would have been nothing left for the militia to collect to, in this quarter to stop the progress of an enemy, flushed with conquest.—"

I therefore determined to attempt a retreat whilst it was practicable, but previously consulted the other general officers, who were unanimously of opinion that it ought to be attempted without loss of time. We accordingly prepared for it that night and having, in the course of the night, embarked as many of our stores and provisions as possible, marched off at break of day. We had have got off altogether, unobserved by the enemy, had it not been for the accidental burning of a house, and the desertion of two men of the artillery, who, in the hurry, went off, with small boat, to the enemy. The rear of our army evacuated Mount Independence, as the front of the enemy entered they exchanged a few shot, but did not offer to pursue, which I ascribe to their being the Brunswickers that took possession. A considerable body, however, were sent up a creek, that enters some distance into the country, who, next morning, attacked our rear guard; they defended themselves very well, and, though obliged to retreat, killed and wounded a great many of the enemy; since which we have seen nothing of them. My design was to have marched to Skenesborough, but the enemy had got before me, which obliged me to change my route, and bear this way, on account of provisions, which I shall be able to obtain to-morrow when I shall proceed, with every possible dispatch, to join Genl. Schuyler, at fort Edward, where I hope we shall soon have an army of force, sufficient to stop the progress of Mr. Burgoyne.

"The force of the enemy is seven British regiments, 8 foreign ones, & a number of Indians and Canadians; on the whole, I think myself very happy to make my retreat from under their noses"