Albany Jany 5 1776 Sir I did myself the honor to address your Excellency from Fort George on the 17. Ult - I then was in hopes that we should [inserted: have] been able to have had the Cannon at Cambridge [struck: before] [inserted: by] this, [inserted: time] the want of Snow detain'd us some days & now a [struck: creul] cruel thaw, [struck: which] hinders from Crossing Hudsons River which we are oblig'd to do four times from Lake George to this Town - the first severe [strikeout] night will make the Ice on the river sufficiently strong, 'till that happens the Cannon & mortars must remain where they are [struck: some] most of them at the different crossing places & some few here - these inevitable delays [struck: give me the] [inserted and struck: chagrin] [inserted: pain] [Me] [struck: in the keenest manner] [inserted and struck: most sensible] [inserted: exceedingly] as my mind is fully sensible of the [struck: utmost] importance of the greatest expedition in this Case - In eight or nine days after the first severe frost they will be at Springfield from which place we can get them easily transported Altho there should be no snow - but to that the roads are so excessively bad It now will be necessary - We got over 4 more [able] fortified 12 pounders after my last to your excellency - I send a duplicate of the List for fear of miscarriage of the [struck: other] [inserted: first], General Schuyler has been exceedingly assidious In this matter, as to myself my utmost endevers have been & still shall be [are] to forward them with the utmost dispatch I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect Your Excellencys Most Obdt Hble Servt HKnox His Excellency Gen Washington