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Desertions Increase Militia desertions in the Niagara region continue to increase, one hundred in one night alone. What had been 4,000 militia has now dropped to 1,500. Fort Niagara reports being out of bread and the 500 troops there can no longer be feed. Two regular regiments and one militia regiment now mutiny for lack of pay. Anger continues to increase as the troops are still wearing light clothing issued for the summer. Local supplies are available, but because the troops are unpaid they have no money and cannot purchase supplies. In the fall, the daily high temperatures in November had fallen to 46° degrees Fahrenheit. Nightly temperatures dropped to 34° degrees Fahrenheit. Rain had been so heavy and frequent that tents were no longer sheading water. Water simply dripped through the tents onto the occupants. To make matters worse Congress had not passed new taxes to support the war, hoping that it would be over quickly and unpopular taxes would not have to be raised. Supply vendors were now refusing to supply food since they were no longer being paid. At Black Rock, soldiers who died of disease (mostly do the exposure and malnutrition) were being buried four to a grave.
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