Letter from James Lockwood, April 24, 1775

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New-York, April 25, 1775.

This day, about noon, arrived a second express from New-England, with the following important advices:

Wallingford, Monday, April 24, 1775.

DEAR SIR: Colonel Wadsworth was over in this place most of yesterday, and has ordered twenty men out of each Company in his Regiment, some of which had already set off, and others go this morning. He brings accounts, which came to him authenticated, from Thursday in the afternoon. The King' s Troops being reinforced a second time, and joined, as I suppose, from what I can learn, by the party who were intercepted by Colonel Gardner, were then encamped on Winter Hill, and were surrounded by twenty thousand of our men, who were intrenching. Col˙ Gardners ambush proved fatal to Lord Percy and another General Officer, who were killed on the spot the first fire. To counterbalance this good news, the story is, that our first man in command (who he is I know not) is also killed. It seems they have lost many men on both sides; Colonel Wadsworth bad the account in a letter from Hartford. The Country beyond here are all gone, and we expect it will be impossible to procure horses for our wagons, as they have, and will, in every place employ themselves all their horses. In this place they send a horse for every sixth man, and are pressing them for that purpose. I know of no way, but you must immediately send a couple of stout, able horses, who may overtake us at Hartford possibly, where we must return Mrs˙ Noyes' s, and Meloy' s, if he holds out so far. Remember, the horses must be bad at any rate.

I am, in the greatest haste, your entire friend and humble servant,

JAMES LOCKWOOD

N˙B˙ Colonel Gardner took nine prisoners, and twelve clubbed their firelocks, and came over to our party. Col˙ Gardner' s party consisted of seven hundred men, and the Regulars one thousand eight hundred, instead of one thousand two hundred, as we heard before. They have sent a vessel up Mystick River as far as Temple' s farm, which is about half a mile from Winter Hill. These accounts being true, all the King' s forces, except four or five hundred, must be encamped on Winter Hill.

At the instance of the gentlemen of Fairfield, just departed from hence, this is copied verbatim from the original, to be forwarded to that Town.

ISAAC BEERS.