"Sir,
"With all due deference to your Excellency's superior judgment, it appears to me, that an operation of this magnitude, and probable duration, should not be undertaken without the most ample means, and at the very best season of the year; that not less than 8,000 infantry, with a strong efficient corps of artillery and engineers, should be employed on this service; that Watertown and Brownville should be occupied in force by strong corps of observation, capable of covering the operations; that there should be an intermediate rendezvous for the assembly of the troops and stores, between this and the place of debarkation; and, that above all, we should have the decided superiority on the Lake, before the service is undertaken.
"I have the honour to be, with great respect,
"Your Excellency's most obedient
"And most humble servant,
"James Kempt.
Lieut.-Gen."
No. XXIX.
Extract of a Letter from Sir J. L. Yeo to Sir George Prevost, dated 29th Aug. 1814, p. 141.
"I have this day received a correct statement of all the officers and men belonging to the establishment on Lake Champlain.
"I enclose your Excellency a scale of the complement of each vessel, agreeable to the Admiralty order, by which you will perceive that, after each complement is complete, there will remain 97 seamen over and above. Your Excellency must be aware, that when this squadron proceeds up the Lake, I shall be under the necessity of taking the seamen out of the gun-boats; neither will the number of seamen we have in this country, afford a sufficient number of men to man the gun-boats on Lake Champlain, independent of the ships."
No. XXX.
Correspondence between Sir George Prevost and Capt. Downie, p. 145.
"Head-Quarters, Plattsburg,
Wednesday, 7 a. m. 7th Sept. 1814.