470 Journal and Correspondence

any lines, Breastwork or forces to oppose them, as soon as
this movement of the Enemy was discovered a Body was
sent to oppose them, of the british Troops there were only 40
privates and one Captain killed, of the Hessians there were
200 privates killed, and 27 officers killed & wounded of our
Troops only 30 privates and a Colonel Baxter, and a Capt.
Miller, of Pennsylvania killed, 2,200 of our Troops are
prisoners. The fort was victualled for three months and
amply supplied with cannon and all military Stores. If this
account be true, we have again blundered. Our loss is
certainly very great. D^r Rush says that Gen^l Washington is
abandoning Fort Lee.

All is well at Ticonderoga.—I have this Evening received
an exact account of the Enemies Naval force on Lake
Champlane.

1 Ship - - - 16 Guns

1 Snow - - - 16 D^o

1 Schooner - - -140^o

1 D^o - - - - 12 D^o

1 D^o - - - - 12 D^o

1 Sloop - - - 10 D^o

1 D^o - - - - 10 D^o Bomb Ketch

1 Large floating Battery 24— 10 Pounders

20 Gondolas of 1 Gun each 12 & 16 pounders

15 Battoes for boarding 1 Gun in each 3 Pounder.

Manned with 1000 men.

I have seen your opinion to our commissioners that they
should proceed and enlist our Troops for three years. I am
apprehensive you do not see the opinion and object of Con-
gress in its fullest extent. The Congress will agree that
Maryland may raise her Troops for three years, but have
declared, and now hold, our State bound to contribute her
proportion of the Expence attending the procuring of lands
for the officers and soldiers furnished by other States for the
war.—We have proposed and urged in Congress, that the
Question as to the procuring Lands at the Expence of the
United States, and our claim that the back lands acquired
from the crown of G. B. in the present war should be a
common stock for the benefit of the United States, and should
remain open for the determination of some future Congress.
We have proposed that any State which may raise its Quota
for the war, and give a bounty in lieu of land sho^d indemnify
the United States from any claim from their officers and
soldiers who received an allowance in Lieu of Land, and that
such State should not be chargeable to the united States for
any part of the expense attending the procuring of Lands for
the officers and soldiers of the other States who shall furnish