Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809 to Henry Knox

Received Knox's letter via Captain Shaw, and was pleased by Knox's good spirits. Hopes to defeat the British, but worries about the lack of manpower, hearing that Washington only has 4,000 men. "If this is the case you must expect a whipping very soon." Hears that there are only 1,200 men and no field officers at Fort Ticonderoga, that Indian skirmishes there have cost many American lives, and that "Colonel Baldwin the Engineer" was taken prisoner. Unless action is taken he fears this "most important post on the Continent" may be lost. Colonel Crane lost his struggle to be permitted to use the town bounty in recruiting men. Without the bounty he will lose fine men he could otherwise recruit. Nothing has been done about raising their three battalions, and the legislature says nothing will be done until fifteen other battalions are raised first. Thinks this point will never come, and wishes Washington would order these battalions raised quickly. Worries his young officers will leave if the situation remains stagnant. Has a number of boys learning the drum and fife, but nothing for them to do.