GENERAL SCHUYLER TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

[Read September 13, 1775.]

Saratoga, July 16, 1775.

SIR: At three o’clock this morning I was favoured with a letter from the Committee at Albany, of which the enclosed is a copy; as also with two other papers, copies of which I do myself the honour herewith to send you, and which have in some measure removed my apprehensions for the people of Tryon County. It would, however, be imprudent to rely with too much confidence either on Colonel Johnson’s declarations or those of the Indians, and have therefore recommended that scouts should be continually kept out to prevent a surprise, and that early intelligence may be given to such places from whence they may receive relief.

I shall set out in a few minutes for Ticonderoga, from whence I shall do myself the honour to write you, and make the returns agreeable to the resolutions of Congress.

I am, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

ALBANY COMMITTEE TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Albany Committee Chamber, July 15, 1775,

SIR: We received yours dated last night at three quarters after eleven o’clock, with the orders to Captain Van Dyck enclosed.

We this morning examined Mr. Garret Roseboom, who lately left Montreal and came round by Oswego, where Colonel Guy Johnson gave a letter to Nicholas Stevens, (from Schenectady, who came in company with him,) directed to the President of the Provincial Congress, and told him the Committee of Albany might open it if they pleased; which we have presumed to do, copy whereof we enclose you, together with a copy of Mr. Roseboom’s examination. We now judge from the whole that it will be most advisable not to send Van Dyck’s company forward, until we have further information, as we would not choose (if we can avoid it) to give any cause of jealousy to the Indians, as they have signified their desire that we should not send troops up. We have therefore desired the Committee of Schenectady to keep that company in readiness on a minute’s warning; and we have sent one quarter cask of powder to be distributed among that company. We have also sent up six quarter casks more to the Committee of Tryon County. We should have sent the remainder, one hundred and twenty-five pounds, but for the hint in the examination of Roseboom.

We are, Sir, your very humble servants. By order of the Committee,

ABRAHAM YATES, Jr., Chairman.

COLONEL GUY JOHNSON TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Ontario, July 8, 1775.

SIR: Though I received your letter from the Provincial Congress several days ago, I had not a good opportunity to answer it till now. I suppose, however, this will reach you safe, notwithstanding all the rest of my correspondence is interrupted by ignorant impertinents.

As to the endeavour you speak of, to reconcile the unhappy differences between the Parent State and these Colonies, be assured I ardently wish to see them. As yet, I am sorry to say, I have not been able to discover any attempt of that kind, but that of the Assembly’s, the only true legal representatives of the people; and as to the individuals who you say officiously interrupt, in my quarter, the mode and measures you think necessary for these salutary purposes, I am really a stranger to them. If you mean myself, you must have been grossly imposed on. I once, indeed, went with reluctance, at the request of several of the principal inhabitants, to one of the people’s meetings, which I found had been called by an itinerant New-England leather-dresser, and conducted by others, if possible, more contemptible. I had, therefore, little inclination to revisit such men, or attend to their absurdities. And although I did not incline to think that your gentlemen had formed any designs against me, yet it is most certain that such designs were formed. Of this, I received a clear account by express from a friend near Albany, which was soon corroborated by letters from other quarters, particularly one from a gentleman of the Committee at Philadelphia, a Captain in your service, who was pretty circumstantial; and since, I have had the like from many others. I have likewise found that mean instruments were officially employed to disturb the minds of the Indians; to interrupt the ordinary discharge of my duties; and prevent their receiving messages they had long since expected from me.

To enter into a minute detail of all the falsehoods propagated, and all the obstructions I met with, though it could not fail astonishing any gentleman disposed to discountenance them, would far exceed the limits of a letter, or the time I have to spare, as I am now finishing my Congress entirely to my satisfaction, with 1, 348 warriours, who came hither to the only place where they can transact business or receive favours without interruption, and who are much dissatisfied at finding that the goods, which I was necessitated to send for to Montreal, were obliged to be ordered back by the merchant, to prevent his being insulted or his property invaded by the mistaken populace; that their ammunition was stopped at Albany; the persons on this communication employed in purchasing provisions for the Congress insulted; and all my letters, as well as even some trifling articles for the use of my own table, stopped. And this moment the Mayor of Albany assured me, that he was the other day aroused out of his bed at a certain Mr. Thompson’s, above the German Flats, by one Hirkema and fifteen others, who pursued him to search for any things he might have for me.

You may be assured, Sir, that this is far from being agreeable to the Indians; that it might have produced very disagreeable consequences long since, had not compassion for a deluded people taken place of every other consideration; and that the impotant endeavours of a Missionary (who has forfeited his honour pledged to me) with part of one of the tribes, is a circumstance that, however trifling, increased their resentment. I should be much obliged by your promises of discountenancing any attempts against myself, &c., did they not appear to be made on conditions of compliance with Continental or Provincial Congresses, or even Committees formed, or to be formed, many of whose resolves may neither consist with my conscience, duty, or loyalty.

I trust I shall always manifest more humanity than to promote the destruction of the innocent inhabitants of a Colony to which I have been always warmly attached, a declaration that must appear perfectly suitable to the character of a man of honour and principle, who can on no account neglect those duties that are consistent therewith, however they may differ from sentiments now adopted in so many parts of America.

I sincerely wish a speedy termination to the present troubles; and I am, Sir, your most obedient and humble servant,

G.JOHNSON.

P. S. I shall have occasion to meet the Indians of my Department in different quarters this season.

The Examination of GARRET ROSEBOOM, of the City of ALBANY, before the Sub-Committee of the said City and County of ALBANY, the 15th day of JULY, 1775.

Says that he left Montreal on or about the 26th June last. That in Canada the utmost means were used to induce the Indians to side with the Regulars, especially by Mr. St. Luke Le Corne; but that amongst the Indians where this examinant has been, particularly Canusadaga, Esqusasua, Oswegatie, and Caughnawagas, they decline taking up the hatchet against the Bostonians, (a term by which the general opposition is distinguished.)

That the Caughnawagas particularly, are active in preventing the incursions of the other Indian nations, for which purpose they have stationed about a dozen of their trite at St. John’s with horses, with directions that if their endeavours should prove ineffectual, to give immediate notice to the tribe, who in that case are resolved prevent them by force.

That while this examinant was at Montreal, he saw about twenty-two Indians of the Messesagoes tribe, who were in their war-dress and accoutrements, set off to St. John’s on a scalping party towards the forts on the Lakes

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