Letter from General Gates to General Arnold

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Tyonderoga, October 12, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: I have received your favours of the 7th and 10th instant, and am pleased to find you and your armada ride in Valcour bay in defiance of the power of our foes in Canada. The Liberty arrived last night, and sails this moment with the provisions you wrote for, and some of Mr˙ Yancey' s best beef. I have long ago urged the necessity for continuing to increase our naval strength upon the lake, and shall now send your letter to General Schuyler, and desire him to make such extract from it as is further requisite to induce Congress to direct the forwarding that useful work.

No news is good news; for except what is in the enclosed paper, I know none to send you. I firmly believe that the beating the enemy received from our troops upon Monday the 16th ultimo, and the fire of New-York, have cooled their ardour so much, that it remains a doubt with me whether General Howe will make another attempt before he gets succours from England. Perhaps his foreign and national troops have disagreed. Perhaps he waits fresh instructions from his master. Whatever is the cause of his inaction, it is quite certain he has given our army three weeks to form their blockade of New-York, and to strengthen their posts in such a manner as not to be forced but with greater loss than I think General Howe can afford.

Enclosed is a resolve of Congress, which, when put in execution, will establish their independency, and effectually and forever put a period to the domination of Great Britain.

My respectful compliments to General Waterbury and Colonel Wigglesworth.

I am, dear General, your affectionate, humble servant,

HORATIO GATES.

To General Schuyler.

[Duplicate of the above to Brigadier-General Arnold.]