Oct. 13th [1777]
You will have heard pro
bably, before this meets you, that my attempts
upon Fort Montgomery, Clinton &c, & all
their posts in the highlands have succeeded
beyond my utmost hope. The communication
with Albany is now open, but I fear Burgoyne
is not there to avail himself of it. I inclose
you a copy of a letter from the Rebel Governor
of this State: I have the original, taken from
among his papers: by it you will see the
consequence of the little stroke I have had
the good fortune to strike. I likewise send
you the letters, that passed between Bur
goyne & me, before I attempted it. In all
my letters, wrote in Cypher, to General
Burgoyne, I describe the defensive state
I have been left in; how little it is in my