Your Excellencies letter of the 16th Instant was handed to me at this place yesterday—Immediatly after receiving Tents and other necessaries for executing the orders I received from your excellency at Albany. All our State troops that were Most fit for active service were assembled at Fort Herkimer and ordered to march without loss of time to the head of the Communication between the Mohawk and the waters of Ontario, in order to compleat the buildings and other works ordered to be done by your excellency—The extreem backwardness of the Contracters in furnishing provisions retarded the marching of the troops a Considerable time, And the very great rains that since took place have been obstacles in the way of executing those orders—But notwithstanding those difficulties, the day before I left Albany last (which was five days ago) I received advice from Captain [pearsey] Who has the immediate command of the detachment that had that service to perform; That the Store house and the two block houses were almost compleated that Wood Creek was intirely cleared as That the roads were repaired and intire new bridges made from german flats to Fort Schuyler except the Bridge across the Oriska Creek, And that in a few days he expected to have the whole of the works directed by your excellency compleated.

Altho by the reform that is now going to take place in our State troops I shall be mustered out of Service, I beg leave to mention to your excellency that I shall esteem myself happy in obeying any Commands your Excellency may think proper to direct to me. I have the honor to be—with the highest respect Your Excelllencies most obedient and very humble Servant