Extract of a Letter from Ticonderoga

v3:511

Last Monday we were alarmed early in the morning by the appearance of a few of the enemy' s boats crowded with soldiers. Every man kept his alarm post almost through the day, expecting action every moment. In the course of the day a number of boats landed troops at Three-Mile Point, half an hour' s march from our alarm post; at the same time some of their boats came up the lake so near our batteries, that one boat received half a dozen shot from one of them. We since hear they lost one man by the shot. The next day there were some small manoeuvres of the same sort. After a few hours they reëmbarked for Putnow' s Creek and Crown-Point, but, from intelligence, we have expected them ever since. The troops here have been constantly supplied with three or four days' provision, which they kept cooked. And the night before last and yesterday, about eighteen hundred men, with cooked provisions, marched on a secret expedition, it appears since, to attack the enemy' s advanced post at Putnam' s Point; however, when they came there they found the place clear, all their tents struck, and no one to oppose them. They marched on to Crown-Point, found that likewise abandoned, one vessel only lying in sight, with live-stock on board. Whether they have hid themselves a little farther down the lake, and intend to come unexpected — whether this is their policy or not, time will determine. I rather think, as they had last week a fair view of our camp and strength, they wisely conclude the season is too far advanced to do any great things