prevailed, can only be prevented by the closest attention to see that the Deputies do their duty, and make regular returns to you once every ten days, specifying the number of troops victualled at every post since the preceding return. From these returns you will once every fifteen days make out and send me a general return, on the regular receipt of which much depends, as it will necessarily influence the orders I must give to the Deputy Commissary-General here. You will also, immediately on your arrival in Canada, take the most effectual means to procure a return of the provisions that will be then in store, which you will transmit to me with all expedition, together with your opinion of the quantity of provisions you can immediately procure.

The duty of a Commissary-General, under the present state of affairs in Canada, is a very arduous one; it will claim your closest attention, the utmost exertions and activity, as well in yourself as in such persons as you may employ, to purchase and collect the provisions at such places on the banks of the St. Lawrence, Sorel, and other navigable rivers, as that they may be conveyed to the Army as much as possible by water.

A farmer considers the expense of transporting what he may sell, to some landing, as a mere trifle, and yet if done at the publick expense it will amount to a very considerable sum. Economy must be used in a department so excessively expensive as yours necessarily is; you will therefore give orders to every person you employ in purchasing, at what price he is to try to get the articles for, that one may not be offering more than another, and thus get the price enhanced with all.

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To James Price, Commissary-General of Canada.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Head-Quarters, Albany, February 21, 1776.

Whereas great abuses have heretofore prevailed, as well in the returns made for drawing provisions and in issuing the same, as by embezzlement of those employed in the transportation: In order to prevent which for the future, the following orders are to be strictly and minutely attended to and complied with:

The Deputy Commissary-General and his Deputies to keep exact accounts of all stores, of what kind soever, by him or them forwarded from one place to another, specifying the particulars sent, the time when, the person or persons by whom; delivering, at the same time, a copy of such account to the person taking the provisions or stores in charge; upon the delivery whereof such person shall receive a certificate from the Commissary or person to whom the same shall be delivered; but if there shall be a deficiency in any of the articles, the Commissary, or person to whom the same shall be delivered, shall mark such deficiency on the certificate, and charge the person to whose care the provisions or stores had been delivered with such deficiency, in a book to be kept for that purpose, and transmit a monthly return thereof to the Deputy Commissary-General, who shall immediately send a copy thereof to the Deputy Paymaster-General, that he may, and he is hereby required to deduct the amount out of the pay of such person into whose care the provisions and stores were delivered: Provided always, that if any provisions or stores should be lost by unavoidable accidents, and the same can be proved to be so, by sworn witnesses, before any officer commanding at the post where such provisions or stores were intended to be sent to, such officer’s certificate, with the proofs annexed, shall be a sufficient voucher to the Commissary to cancel such charge, by writing over against the charge “Cancelled by order of . . . . . . . . , commanding here.”

No provisions to be issued to any troops but upon a return signed by the officer commanding a corps, or by the Quartermaster, or by the officer or non-commissioned officer commanding a party thereof when detached.

And whereas it has frequently happened that troops who had been victualled at one post to a certain time, and were ordered from thence and arrived at another post, before the time to which they were victualled expired, and have nevertheless on their arrival at such post drawn provision as though they were entitled to it; to prevent which, whenever any corps moves from one place to another, the commanding officer shall procure a certificate from the Commissary, signifying to what day inclusive such corps was victualled. The commanding officer of every party shall do the same; and if a detachment is composed of men from different corps, and who may be victualled to different days, the return shall be made, and the certificate shall specify the time to which each man was victualled; and no Commissary at any post shall revictual such men unless such certificate be produced. But lest, by the negligence of any officer in not procuring the certificate, the men should suffer for want of provisions, and the service be obstructed, the Commissary is permitted to victual the corps or party, and to charge the officer commanding therewith, and make return, that the same may be deducted out of his pay, as in the preceding articles: Provided, That if such certificate be procured and delivered within thirty days after the drawing of such provisions, without certificate, the Commissary shall cancel the charge in the manner before directed.

Every Commissary to keep the accounts of provisions issued to every corps, or parts or detachments of corps, separately, that it may be readily compared with the monthly returns, as a check upon the provision returns.

All provision returns, or orders to issue provisions, to be by the Commissary numbered and endorsed, with the date and number of men victualled, and carefully filed, to be produced when called for.

A weekly return to be made to the Commander-in-Chief of the Department, and to the General or Officer commanding the troops in Canada, of what provisions are in store at every place in the Northern Department.

The Commissaries to apply to the Commanding Officers at every post for working parties to assist in securing the provisions and stores; and such Commanding Officers are hereby required to give such working parties, and afford all kind of assistance in their power to secure the provisions and publick stores. Every Commissary in the Northern Department to keep these orders continually posted up in his issuing store, that no person who may be concerned in the execution of them may plead ignorance.

The officers commanding at the different posts to have copies of them posted up in one or more of the most publick places about their posts.

By order of the General:

HENRY B. LIVINGSTON, Aid-de-Camp.

The above is a true copy:

Attest:

RICHARD VARICK,
Secretary to Major-General Schuyler.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Albany, Friday, May 10, 1776.

DEAR SIR: The Canada post is just arrived, and has brought me the enclosed; I was requested by the Commissioners to seal and forward that to Congress. There can be no impropriety in your Excellency’s perusing it. I have therefore left it open, to be sealed before it leaves you.

The little quantity of provisions at Quebeck is truly alarming. They will receive all that was at the posts above, by General Thompson’s brigade; but besides what I have mentioned to be now on the way from hence to Fort George, no more can be sent until the troops are passed.

I believe the gentlemen are mistaken, and that more troops are in Canada than they mention; for supposing Bedel’s, Porter’s, Burrel’s, Warner’s, Maxwell’s, De Haas’s, and Sinclair’s, to consist of five hundred, the number will be three thousand five hundred, exclusive of the troops that remained in Canada last winter, few of which are yet returned, unless they are gone by the route of Onion River into New England.

Will your Excellency be so good as to transmit Congress a copy of my orders to Mr. Price?

Yesterday I reviewed General Sullivan’s brigade. The Indians to the number of about two hundred and sixty attended, and were greatly pleased with the order and regularity of the troops, and surprised at the numbers, which the Tories had industriously propagated consisted of three companies only, but that we have them continually walking the streets, in order to induce the belief of a greater number than there really was. A few Indians will leave this with the Interpreter in a day or two on a visit to your