To the Hon. Jona. Trumbull, Governor of the Colony of Connecticut.
N. B.—General Schuyler will transmit to your Honors a copy of the affidavits of two intelligent friends, who have just arrived from Canada. I apprehend that what they have delivered is truth. I find myself in the favor of the officers of the Army and the young Green Mountain Boys. How the old men came to reject me I cannot conceive, inasmuch as I saved them from the encroachments of New York.
E. A.
This Jonathan Trumbull, be it remembered, was the original "Brother Jonathan."
Allen's first connection with the campaign in Canada is explained in his own narrative:
Early in the fall of the year, the little army under the command of the Generals Schuyler and Montgomery were ordered to advance into Canada. I was at Ticonderoga when this order arrived; and the General, with most of the field officers, requested me to attend them in the expedition; and though at that time I had no commission from Congress, yet they engaged me, that I should be considered as an officer, the same as though I had a commission; and should, as occasion might require, command certain detachments of the army. This I considered as an honorable offer, and did not hesitate to comply with it.
September 8, 1775, from St. Therese, James Livingston wrote to General Schuyler:
Your manifestos came to hand, and despatched them off to the different Parishes with all possible care and expedition. The Canadians are all friends, and a spirit of freedom seems to reign amongst them. Colonel Allen, Major Brown and myself set off this morning with a party of Canadians with intention to go to your army; but hearing of a party of Indians waiting for us the same side of the river, we thought it most prudent to retire in order, if possible, to raise a more considerable party of men. We shall drop down the River Chambly, as far as my house, where a number of Canadians are waiting for us.
September 10, 1775, at Isle-aux-Noix, General Schuyler in his orders to Colonel Ritzemd, who was going into Canada with five hundred men, says:
Colonel Allen and Major Brown have orders to request that provisions may be brought to you, which must be punctually paid for, for which purpose I have furnished you with the sum of £318 1s. 10d. in gold.