[Manor of Livingston] Wednesday 30t [October]
A Visit Yesterday from Mr. Walter Livingston, late Commissary for the Northern Army, & succeeded on his Resignation by one [Elisha] Avery the Son of a New England Innkeeper.
He represents Arnold as having Courage without Conduct, says the American Fleet was destroyed but 36 Miles to the Northward of Crown Point where Carleton now lays with the British Vessels. ー That 3 Weeks ago the Provincial Army at Tcononderoge according to his supplies consisted of 13,000 Men, of whom 2,000 may be Non Effectives. That Arnold's Fleet lay behind an Island, & were passed by Carlton's, & by this Negligence might have been cut off & starved. The British Army are momently expected and the Militia halt at Fort Edward till they are called up. They count 1200 Tents now at crown point and conjecture that the Land Force there may be about 6,000 Men.
1. Sabine, ed., Memoirs of William Smith, II, 28.