WILLIAM HENSHAW TO GENERAL GATES.

Long-Island, June 8, 1776.

SIR: Your many kind interpositions in my behalf, since I have had the pleasure of being acquainted with you, demand my warmest acknowledgments and most sincere thanks, which I beg your acceptance of. I congratulate you on your promotion to a Major-General. It gives me great satisfaction in observing the honourable Continental Congress promoting gentlemen of abilities and merit. That you may still rise higher and higher in the esteem of your country and all good men, and enjoy everything which may tend to your happiness, is the real wish of your much obliged and most obedient, humble servant,

WILLIAM HENSHAW.

GENERAL WASSHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read June 10, 1776. Referred to the Committee appointed on the 6th, viz: Mr. Sherburne, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Sergeant, Mr. F. Lee, and Mr. Gwinnet.]

New-York, June 8, 1776.

SIR: In my letter of yesterday, which I had the honour of addressing you, and which was designed to have come by post, but was prevented by his departure before the usual time, I mentioned my having received by express a letter and sundry papers from General Schuyler respecting Sir John Johnson, copies of which I herewith transmit you for your inspection and perusal. They will show you what measures were planned and attempted for apprehending him, and securing the Scotch Highlanders in Tryon County.

Having heard that the troops at Boston are extremely-uneasy, and almost mutinous for want of pay, (several months of which being now due,) I must take the liberty to repeat a question contained in my letter of the 5th ultimo: “What mode is to be pursued respecting it, whether is money to be sent from hence by the Paymaster-General, or some person subordinate to him, to be appointed there for that purpose?” I expected some direction would have been given long ere this, from what was contained in yours accompanying, or about the time of, the last remittance. I presume it has been omitted by reason of the multiplicity of important business before Congress.

In perusing the several resolves you honoured me with when at Philadelphia, and since my return, I find one allowing a Chief Engineer for the Army in a separate department. The service requiring many of them, I wish Congress, if they know any persons skilled in this business, would appoint them. General Schuyler has frequently applied for and suggested the necessity of having some in Canada. I myself know of none.

I also find there is a resolve of the 3d of June, for taking Indians into service, which, if literally construed, confines them to that in Canada. Is that the meaning of Congress, or that the Commander-in-Chief may order their service to any place he may think necessary?

In respect to establishing expresses between the several Continental posts, who is to do it? The resolve does not say. Is it expected by Congress that I should? Whoever the work is assigned to, I think should execute it with the utmost despatch. The late imperfect and contradictory accounts respecting our defeat at the Cedars, strongly point out the necessity there is for it. No intelligence has yet come from any officer in command there, and most probably for want of a proper channel to convey it, though this misfortune happened so long ago.

When I had the honour of being in Congress, if I mistake not, I heard a resolve read, or was told of one, allowing the New-York troops the same pay of others in the Continental service. This, if any such, I do not find; and if there is not such a one. I shall be under some embarrassment how to pay the Militia to be provided by this Province. The resolve providing them says, they are to be paid while in service as other troops are; but if those inlisted heretofore in this Province are to receive according to the first establishment, it is a matter of doubt what the Militia are to have.

Before this comes to hand, a handbill, containing an account of a victory gained by General Arnold over the party that had defeated Colonel Bedel and Major Sherburne, will most probably have reached you. I have inquired into the authenticity of this fortunate report, and have found there is no dependance to be put in it, nor do I believe it deserving of the least credit. I shall be happy not to hear the reverse.

I have the honour to be, with sentiments of great esteem, sir, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

P. S. If Congress have come to any resolution about an allowance to induce men to reinlist, you will please to favour me with it, as the time the Rifle Regiment is engaged for is just expired.

As the Militia will be coming in, and they will be in much need of covering, please to have all the tents, and cloth proper for making them, that may be procured, forwarded as soon as possible.

Fort George, May 31, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Your Excellency’s letter of the 22d instant was delivered me last evening. I learn, with particular satisfaction, that Congress has requested your attendance to advise with them on the measures necessary to be adopted for the present campaign. I foresee many salutary consequences from this step.

Although I have transmitted you some further disagreeable accounts from Canada since the date of your favour, yet I hope they will be the last. By a letter from General Thompson, I find he was ordered to repossess himself of Deschambault, with sixteen hundred men, and that he was to leave Sorel (where General Thomas was arrived) on the 20th; he laments, however, that Colonel Greaton’s Regiment had been inoculated for the small-pox. An hour after I had despatched my last of the 28th, thirteen of our staunch friends, the Oneidas, arrived here with a speech from the sachems, informing me that some of the Six Nations had gone from Niagara in order to join our enemies, and that they were on their way to Canada, to prevent the defection of the Canadian tribes. They remained here a few hours, and then proceeded.

This morning thirty carpenters left this to repair to Skenesborough, by the way of Ticonderoga, in order to construct gondolas, although nothing is prepared for building them. I hope, nevertheless, to finish one in a short time, at least I will do everything in my power to complete it the soonest possible, and for that purpose I shall leave this tomorrow to put all in train. Since General Sullivan’s departure, I have finished sixty batteaus, nor shall I cease until I am advised by your Excellency that no more troops are coming this way.

I wish a person that understood the construction of the best gondolas was sent up express to me, for although they should not be able to get down the Falls of Chambly, yet they will be of service on Lake Champlain, should our Army be obliged to retreat. The vessels we have there (except the Royal Savage) are of very little force.

I enclose your Excellency my orders to Colonel Dayton, his letters, and other papers relative to the transaction in Johnstown. William Yates, the Secretary of Indian Affairs, will transmit you the speeches of the Indians, and the answer to them.

I am just informed that General Thomas has taken the small-pox, is at Chambly, and rather in a dangerous way.

I have not yet had any return from Canada, either of the Army, the provisions, or stores, nor the least information, from any officer in command, of the disaster that befel Colonel Bedel at the Cedars; but I fear it is too true, as it is confirmed by several persons arrived since I wrote this letter, who left Montreal on Sunday, the 26th.

I am informed, by persons of good credit, that about one hundred persons, living on what are commonly called the New-Hampshire Grants, have had a design to seize me as a Tory, and perhaps still have. There never was a man so infamously scandalized and ill treated as I am, and I hope Congress will publickly do me that justice which I thank your Excellency for having done me in your letter of the 21st, if that respectable body is convinced (of which I make no doubt) of my zeal and attachment to the cause of my injured country.

I am, dear sir, ever most sincerely your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To General Washington.

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