1To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 15 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was a great part of last light in Fort Mifflin; It is greatly shattered, but very defensible, had we the Men mentioned in my letter of yesterday. I shall send two Hundred Militia in this Night, They will be able to Work, & fight upon Occasion. What put it into the Enemy’s Head, I cant say, But they kept up a constant Cannonade and Bombardment all the Night, so as to prevent, in a great...
2To George Washington from Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum, 15 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Firing is universal from the Shipping Batteries &c. We have lost a great many Men to day, a great many of the Officers are killed and wounded. My fine Company of Artillery is almost destroy’d. We shall be obliged to evacuate the Fort this Night. I am your Excellency’s most obdt Servt Major Talbut is badly wounded, Major Fleury is wounded also. It is impossible for an Officer to possess...