General Washington has ordered me to ship flour from hence to Albany, which I am now doing. The demand here being so much increased, and finding I could get that article from Philadelphia delivered here something cheaper than I could purchase here even now, thought myself justified in taking the measure; and as it cannot be effected without cash, and the chest here not being over-supplied, I have taken the liberty to draw on you, of this date, in favour of Mr. Matthew lrwin, of Philadelphia, for sixty thousand dollars, payable at four days’ sight, which, I hope, you will honour with payment, and have charged to me accordingly.

I have likewise desired Mr. lrwin to purchase me what pork he can in Philadelphia. If he can purchase any, I shall have occasion to draw on you in his favour for a further sum, which I shall do unless I am forbid by return of the post. I wish your direction whether I may or may not draw on you from time to time for such sums as I may want to use in Philadelphia for necessaries for the Army.

I am, dear sir, with great esteem and respect, your most obedient, humble servant,

JOSEPHTRUMBULL.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.

To His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq., Command-er-in-Chief of the Continental Forces:

The Memorial of GARRET ROORBACK, of the City of NEW-YORK, humbly showeth:

That on the 18th day of January last, your Memorialist was appointed by the Committee of Safety in the City of New- York to the office of Barrackmaster, for the said City and County.

That he has acted in that capacity ever since, in subordination to the Barrackmaster-General; and flattered himself that he had fully discharged the duty of his office, and given general satisfaction.

That your Memorialist, however, has been so unhappy as to find that complaints respecting his conduct have been made to Colonel Moylan, the present Quartermaster-General, who has forbid him to act any longer as Barrackmaster as aforesaid.

That your Memorialist has not been informed of the particulars of the charge against him, and is apprehensive that some evil-minded person or persons, who are not friendly to the cause of American freedom, and who are enemies to your Memorialist, are the authors of this charge, with a view to deprive him of his office.

That your Memorialist, being conscious that he has executed the duty of his office to the utmost of his ability, is desirous that he may be made acquainted with the nature of the accusation against him, and that some proof may be given to convict him of the same.

Your Memorialist therefore humbly prays that your Excellency will be pleased to order that, before another is appointed in his stead to the office he now enjoys, he may have an opportunity of defending himself against an accusation which he is convinced is ill founded and unjust.

GARRET ROORBACK.

New-York, June 17, 1776.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Albany, June 17, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Bennett arrived at eight last night, and delivered me your Excellency’s favour of the 13th ultimo.

I was apprehensive that few intrenching tools could be spared from New-York, and therefore I employed all the blacksmiths here in making what they could, and have written to the Committee of Tryon County (on the 15th instant) to collect all they could as soon as possible at the German Flats; by these means I hope to procure a considerable number.

Your Excellency’s letter to General Sullivan I have sent under cover of one of mine, in which I have transcribed that part of yours to me which relates to Bedel’s and Butterfield’s conduct, and the appointment of Courts-Martial, and have observed that as General Montgomery imagined that he could not, without my consent, order punishment to be inflicted when offenders were capitally convicted, that I had, agreeable to his request, authorized him to do it, conceiving that I should be justified in delegating that power, as the delay which would be occasioned by waiting for my consent might prove prejudicial to the service, and that I requested he would also proceed to order execution in such cases, unless he thought proper to pardon. It would we well, however, as I conceive, to obviate any difficulties that might arise, that he should have your Excellency’s orders on the subject.

I am happy that I have anticipated your Excellency’s advice to convene the Indians, of which I informed your Excellency in mine of the 11th instant, and in that of the 15th, which you will receive by this conveyance, enclosing the resolutions of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, of the 13th instant. Mr. Douw and Mr. Edwards have requested me to prepare a speech; part of which I have drafted, and as soon as completed, which I hope will be in a day or two, I shall do myself the honour to forward it to you. I am quite in sentiment with your Excellency that it will be proper to omit saying anything about the time of taking post at Fort Stanwix, but we are under a necessity of informing the Indians that we intend doing it. No post that we can possess between the German Flats and Fort Stanwix can prevent the enemy from intercepting any convoys going to the latter, unless they are sufficiently strong to make effectual resistance; but to guard against this evil, I propose to send immediately a sufficient supply of provisions for some months, and have already procured forty-seven batteaus for that purpose.

The German Flats is so respectable a settlement, and the country about the Canajoharie Falls below it now so well inhabited, that I do not apprehend any attempts will be made to intercept our provisions, &c., at that place. It will be proper, however, to have a small picket fort on the western part of the German Flats, as a place of rendezvous for the Militia, in case any attempt should be made on the fort intended to be built near to where Fort Stanwix formerly stood. The Oneidas, who live only twenty-four miles from that place, and I believe are very sincerely attached to us, will, I doubt not, give us the most early intelligence of the motions of the enemy in that quarter; and a body of Militia may be sent up whenever there may be occasion.

The spot where Ticonderoga now stands was, I conceive, very judiciously occupied by the French, because it commanded both the passes by water into these Colonies, and afforded an easy access to any reinforcements they might choose to send up, as well as a safe retreat whenever they might be under the necessity of making one. But although it equally commands, now in our possession, the waters which lead to this part of the country, yet it is so situated that, if invested by an army, the intercourse with the fort by Lake George is immediately cut off. Nor can any attempt be made to raise a siege unless such a number of boats were always kept at the south end of Lake George as would be sufficient to convey a superior force at one embarkation across Lake George, and even then many difficult passes must be carried before an enemy need retire. If a fortress was erected on the east side of Lake Champlain, nearly opposite to Ticonderoga, it would equally command both communications, with this advantage, that the Militia of the Northern Colonies are more at hand for immediate succour, may all march by land to the fort, and attempt to raise a siege, whilst their provisions may be conveyed by Wood Creek, the waters of which are navigable to within thirteen miles of Fort Edward. But, as I have already observed in mine of the 15th, we have no men, and, I may add, no implements, even to put Ticonderoga in a state of defence.

Enclose your Excellency copy of a letter from Colonel Wynkoop, and another from my assistant Secretary at Fort George; the return of the garrison mentioned in the latter did not come to hand. I suppose it was forgotten to be enclosed.

The scandalous desertion which prevails in our Army causes very disagreeable reflections, especially as, through the mistaken lenity of the officers, that inadequate punishment which our military code permits to be inflicted, seldom is.

Congress imagined that two regiments could be raised for this campaign’s service out of the corps that served last winter in Canada. I very early gave them my opinion that it was impracticable. I wish I had been mistaken. In obedience to their commands, I suggested a plan for the appointment of the officers. It was disapproved of in Canada.