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Stringer, Samuel (b. 1725) to William Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00477 Author/Creator: Stringer, Samuel (b. 1725) Place Written: Lake George, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 October 1776 Pagination: 4 p. : address : docket ; 29.6 x 22.9 cm. Order a Copy

Rants about not receiving any letters from Knox. Discusses in detail the "fatal Catastrophe of our Navy," commanded by Benedict Arnold, on Lake Champlain, as well as subsequent activities around Crown Point and Fort Ticonderoga, including the actions of Indians fighting for the British. Describes the strong works at Fort George and Fort Ticonderoga. The letter continues on 3 November 1776 and discusses local military and naval activities since 28 October. Written from Fort George in Lake George, New York. Enclosure cited is GLC02437.09538.

[draft]
Fort George 28.th Oct. 1776.
My dear Friend
I have hesitated for some time past, undetermined whither to write to you or not; one while loading you with reproaches, and at another, studying apologies for your conduct; and altho I have so far satisfied my prejudice as to give you another Letter, I must inform you that you are not yet fully justified by all the excuses I can invent, for not favouring me (anxious as you must suppose me) with a Line before now - I request you therefore to clear this Matter up to me, and wipe away all remaining Doubts - You intimated at our parting, a fear for want of subject & I then told you that I should furnish you. Have I not done it? Have you not received four or five Letters from me containing Matter worthy the attention of a Friend, of the professed W:K - x? And should I not have known the consequential Effects? Answer me, and answer me quickly, & explicitly to every requisite, or my resentment will transport me so far as, to petition the Gods to [strikeout] [inserted: resign] you to the Mercy of old Maids, Batts & Screech Owls - You'll say hoy; the Devil; what does he mean by all this? My meaning is DLa, DLa, DLa ,-
I shall endeavour to reinforce my almost exausted Patience, a little longer to keep my good opinion of you, in hopes of your amendment; & for the present shall change my - subject for a Martial one -
You must, my Friend, undoubtedly have heard related the fatal Catastrophe of our Navy on the Lake, under the Command of General Arnold.
On Friday the 11th. Inst. at about 8 oClock A.M: the Enemy have in sight of our Fleet, then lying in Cumberland Bay near the Isle Bell cour, or Volcour, & at 11 the engagement became general & continued with great spirit on both sides until about 5 P.M: when both parties drew off - What loss the Enemy sustained is not yet known. Our loss [struck: is] [inserted: was] about 60 Men killed & wounded; the [2] Schooner Royal Savage was run on shore [struck: by our people] & blown up by our own People, & one Gandola was sunk - The Enemy were much shattered, but lost more of their Vessels - The succeedin day was chiefly employed in repairing the Vessels on both sides, & on Sunday ye. 13th. the engagement was renewed, at a little distance below the Split Rock - We made principally a runing fight of it, but had the misfortune to loose all our Fleet (taken & sunk) except five, which got safe into Ticonderoga, & the Guns [inserted: of two] are since mounted on the Works [inserted: we lost this day but few men] - General Arnold was forced to run his Vessel on shore (being too much wounded to keep above water) & take to the Woods with his Crew, and are all safe arrived to the Army again.
From that time [inserted: until lately] the Enemy have lain at Crown Point, to the amount of about 7000 including Canadians, & about 700 Savages, occupying both sides of the Lake, which is in that part narrow; and now a large Body of Indians, their Light Infantry, & Grenadiers are posted at an advantagious place, called Putnams Creek, on the west side, about 4 or 5 Miles nearer towards us, where they have thrown a Boom across the Channel of the Lake, and are [struck: throw] making Redoubts & other Fortifications - Our Army are in hourly expectation of the Attack, which had not happened yesterday - The Indians have taken several of our Men Prisoners, & killed one of the poor wounded whom two others were carrying across the portage between the Landing place [struck: of] at the Nth. end of this Lake, & the saw Mill near the other Lake [inserted: the 2 men were made Prisoners]. The Prisoners [strikeout] have been since sent back to us, as well as all those taken with the Fleet, consisting of Genl. Waterbury, & upwards of 100 Men, but are all laid under a Parole not to take up armas against the King of Great Britain again during the present contest - Intended as a stroke of Policy -
Our Works are very strong, consisting of a Breast work of sods, as far as the old French lines extended, on the outside of which is a large ditch & a Glacis; upon the Counterscarp (I believe it is called) a line of Piequets & another small Ditch; from the End of those Lines, and on the N: side for some distance, is an almost inaccessible [Precipice], which requires but little works, [struck: and after] & from thence, swampy & flat, low grounds continue to the Lake, & are extended several Miles toward the Enemy, which for better than a Mile from our Army, is defended by a chain of six Redoubts [inserted: besides the old French Redoubt] 18 feet thick with Sods; the farther most mounting 6 pieces of heavy Metal; from whence to the opposite shore we have [3] laid a Boom, to prevent their Vessels coming up before the Camp; but should they effect that, they will not be able to annoy it much, it being above the elevation of their Guns; and from the 1st. Redoubt they would be commanded, to the last, & also from Mount Independence, which is said to be impregnable, & from whence, to Ticonderoga side, we have made a floating Bridge, to keep up an easy communication; over which 6 Men can march abreast. - Our Army are now about 8000 Effective Men, & the Militia are coming in fast, so that we shall presently be very strong, when it is hoped we shall give Mr. Carlton a severe drubing - It is my opinion that he will winter his Army at Crown Point, Tho' he has expressed an intention to our Men, [inserted: (the Prisoners)] of doing it in Albany - General Burgoin [sic] he says is left sick, expected to die. It is supposed from the number of Tents &c: that his Army consists of about 7000 as I said above, but it is, probably more
Near Our Boom lies the Sloop, a Gandola & 2 Gallies - One Gallie was not down with the Fleet, being not ready - The Enemy got possession of only two Gandolas, all the rest of the Vessels lost were either sunk or blown up - Inclosed you have a list of both Fleets, at least the Vessels that engaged. I am informed that the Enemies Navy lies now, about 3 Miles on the other side of Crown Point.
Thus my Friend have I given you as full a detail of our Circumstances as I am able to collect - I forbear any mention that is made of Conduct among the Commanders
I shall not conclude my Letter now, having not an immediate opportunity of forwarding it, & possibly before one offers I may have other matter of consequence to add; but least I may forget it, Let me beg you to observe the Cautions I gave you before in writing to me
Novr. 3d. On Monday 12 Boats with Men approach'd our Boom, one came so nigh that she recd. 4 shots from two of the Redoubts & one Gandola which caused them all precipitately to retire; they however landed at 3 mile Point & left 2 fresh Graves; it is also said, but from what authority I know not, that one Officer was also wounded. Just now an Officer arrived who left the Camp the day before yesterday & says it was there reported that the Enemy at Putnams Creek had struck their Tents - I now think it probable they may be going off [4] By the first opportunity you may hear further from me; for want of one I am obliged to send this by way of the Post from the Camp at New York.
I am dr. Billy
Yr. Affect. Friend &c:
Saml. Stringer
P.S. Be pleased to give my best Compts. to Mrs. Scot, & Blanchard, and my sincere Regards to Mrs: & Mr. Jervis; to Col: Jackson my Friend Smith &c &c:
[address leaf]
Mr. William Knox.
Boston
[docket]
Letter from Doctr. Stringer
28 Octr. 1776.

Stringer, Samuel, b. 1725
Knox, William, 1756-1795
Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801

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