Your Favor inclosing Holt’s papers of the 28th July I received on my way down from Moses Creek, and you will readily excuse my not having acknowledged it sooner, when you reflect that with a retreating Army an Officer that commands has seldom a Moment’s Time to himself.1 I have not one.

I am much obliged by the Measures you have taken to exculpate me, at least from the Charge of having ordered the Retreat—as soon as I can have an Hour or two, which, I hope, will be to Morrow, I shall send you Extracts of all my Orders relative to Tyconderoga, since my Return from Philadelphia, and a short Account, from Memory, of what Measures I took as early as the Beginning of November last, for the Security of that post. The Letters I have written and the Orders I have issued for that purpose, previous to my Departure for Philadelphia, would make a little Volume; and, I trust redound much to my Credit.2

If we should be enabled to force Burgoyne at this post and he meet with a Check it must be fatal to him; but unhappily such a Langor prevails, especially in the Eastern States, that they seem to have given up the Cause for lost— If they would pour forth part of those Thousands which they still have at Home (for not ^one^ in ten, Boys, Negroes and old Men excepted, of the Troops raised in their States are Natives) we shou’d still not only save our Country, but give a deadly Blow to the Enemy, for if Burgoyne was obliged to retreat the whole of the six Nations, I believe would join us and we should have Nothing more to fear in this Quarter.3 Adieu I am DrSir with every friendly Wish Your affectionate humble Servant