t down to Quebec, at which place he arrived on the first day of
June.

In the reports of rebel prisoners at Quebec in June and July, 1778, are
three entries referring to Dodge as follows: "John Dodge, 24 years old,
from Connecticut, a trader settled at Detroit for seven years, sent down
by Lieutenant Governor Hamilton. His commercial effects at Detroit.
Taken up on suspicion of having been in arms with the rebels."[7] He
remained in Quebec until the ninth day of the following October when he
escaped, going first to Boston and subsequently to General Washington.
Dodge does not state where or when he met Washington, but as the General
was in attendance at Congress from December 21, 1778, until some time in
the following January, he probably met him at Philadelphia. Dodge says
he visited Congress "having some matters relating to Canada worthy their
hearing." This related to the "certain expedition" referred to by
Washington in his letter of December 29th, a proposition to invade
Canada. Dodge was at Fort Pitt in the early part of January, 1779, and
from that port wrote a letter to John Montour.[8] There is no record of
Dodge's appearance before Congress, but he wrote a letter on the
subject, to Congress, as follows:

Honorable Congress

Pitsburg Jeneary 25 1779--

as I have Ben one of the grateest Suferers that is now in the united
States of Ameraca Both in Person and Property

I have Sufferd Every thing But Death Robd Plundered of Every far
thing that I was master of But loock upon it as an honour that I
have Suffard in so just a Cause as we are now Engagd in and very
happy that I have made my Escape from the Enemi after Being Prisener
two years and nine months I think it my Duty as I am now in the
Service of the united States to Enform your honnours of the
Proceedings and Carriings on in the Department whare I am--it Both
greaves and Shagrans me to the hart to Se matters so Ill Conduckted
as theay are in this Department--it is very natural for Every one
that has the Cause of his Contry at hart to Enquire into the reason
of our grevences--is not one the farmers Being Drove of thair
Plantation on our fronteers By the Saveges--Could theay remaind on
thair Plantations theay Could have Ben very Sarvesable in Suppliing
our main army in Provisions in Stead of that the Poor mifortonate
Peopel are obleged to retreet into the thick Setled Contry a