1. For McHenry’s dispatch to Guy Carleton, Lord Dorchester, governor of the British provinces in North America, see McHenry to GW, 9 May, n.1. Col. George Beckwith replied to McHenry from Quebec on 3 June: “I have the honour to acquaint you that the necessary orders have been transmitted for the Evacuation of the Frontier Posts in the Upper Country, in which Officers Guards will be left for the security of the Works and Buildings, until the Troops of the United States shall be ready to take possession, Captain Lewis having represented that this measure would meet the Presidents wishes and be generally pleasing to your Government. This Gentleman has received the necessary orders to the Officers Commanding those Guards, that he may dispose of them according to his Instructions.

“As it does not appear that similar ideas of importance are attached to the small Posts held upon Lake Champlain and at Oswegatchie, our Parties will be withdrawn from those places in a few days.

“I have it in particular charge from Lord Dorchester to unite his cordial good wishes to yours, that the most solid and lasting Friendship may be perpetuated between the two Nations” (CaOOA: Archive Reports 1891; see also McHenry’s first letter to GW, 27 June, n.8).

2. McHenry wrote the enclosed copy of orders provided at Quebec on 2 June over Beckwith’s signature. The orders directed the officer commanding the British guard at each post to evacuate it “to such officer belonging to the forces of the United States of America, as shall produce this authority to you for that purpose and who will precede the troops destined to garrison it, by one day, in order that he may have time to view the nature and condition of the works and buildings, of which he is to receive a statement from you in writing. You will require this officer to sign a Duplicate of the statement which you are to forward to the Adjutant General at Quebeck” (DLC:GW).