I then left it to be settled by General Wooster and the officers there. Lieutenant-Colonel Elmore (who had been a Major last year, and was promoted to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in a regiment commanded by General Wooster, and raised for the winter service, of the raising of which corps I never had any information officially given me) was appointed by General Wooster Colonel to one of the two intended regiments; Nicolson was the other; and both are come away from Canada, and, if common fame says true, (for I have no other information,) not an officer or man of either is left in Canada, nor do I know that they have any men, excepting about nineteen or twenty, lately gone to Ticonderoga, of a Captain Cochran’s Company, which is the mighty work of several recruiting officers of Elmore’ s Regiment, who have had large sums advanced them, so early as the month of February, for the recruiting service.

Some more of the officers have applied to me for money to recruit; but as I neither knew them, nor by whose leave they came from Canada, I did not choose to risk any more. I shall, however, write to Colonel Elmore and Colonel Ni-colson to repair to this place, and take their orders, not that I expect any considerable good will result from it; perhaps it would be better to break both regiments, and reappoint such of the officers as are proper to be employed, and cause them to inlist men during the war.

I am happy that your Excellency had not ordered pay to any officers from Canada. The Paymaster-General here has orders to settle with them; and notwithstanding all the care that both he and I have been able to take, some have drawn double pay, and others are gone off without accounting for moneys they had received from General Montgomery. Other officers, Committees, &c, one in particular, a Captain Stewart, of Easton’s Regiment, who I cannot get into my possession, has defrauded the publick, as I am informed, of near two hundred pounds, although he swore to his pay-roll.

I have been under the necessity, to prevent clamour, of granting warrants to persons who had never been returned to me as officers serving in Canada, but who I was convinced had served as such. It was very irregular in me, but occasioned by the negligence of never deigning to send me a return from, or letting me know what was doing in, Canada. Much money to the publick, and much trouble would be saved, and a great deal of fraud would be prevented, if Regimental Paymasters were appointed, especially where troops are so continually on the move as they are to the northward.

I had got thus far, when I was honoured with your Excellency’s of the 14th instant. It is certain that what I intended for a requisition of cannon I find, on reperusal, was not sufficiently explicit. I hope, however, that I have not often given cause for the observation, and I hope some allowance will be made on account of the infinite variety of business I am driven to attend to.

I think eight pieces of cannon and carriages will do—four nine-pounders and as many of six, with one hundred rounds to each, with the necessary implements, which 1 cannot more particularly specify, as I have not one artilleryman here. A dozen Artillerymen will also be wanted. These men and articles your Excellency will please to order up.

I am this moment informed that about two tons of powder is at Mr. Livingston’s Mill, which I will instantly send for. I believe it will therefore be needless to send any for the western service, but a considerable quantity is wanted in Canada; but as I have no return from thence, I cannot possibly specify the quantity. I must also beg your Excellency to order up two tons of lead, either in ball or staves, as most convenient.

I shall immediately write to the different Governments who are to send Militia, agreeable to your Excellency’s orders, and send the route I would wish them to take.

My disorder has again attacked me severely, and I begin to fear that it will again confine me to my room. 1 have been in bed most part of the afternoon, which has occasioned my detaining Bennett.

I am, with the most sincere regard, dear sir, your Excellency’s obedient humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington.

P. S. Bennett has now received ten dollars on account. Enclose an extract of a letter just received from Fort George, with a return of provisions forwarded from thence.

CAPTAIN WYNKOOP TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Ticonderoga, June 10, 1776.

SIR: Your favours of the 6th and 3th instant I have this moment only received. The letter the General mentions, I have sent with Lieutenant Stockwell, of Captain O’Hara’s Company, to Skeneshorough, where I expected he would find the General; we have since understood by some of the men that returned, that the letters were sent after the General by one of the men that went with the Lieutenant.

Of the prisoners that came here from St. Johns, of Colonel Bedel’s Regiment, there are only fifteen men left, except a few in the hospital; the rest have all deserted. Nineteen of Colonel Paterson’s Regiment deserted last night. I have understood this morning only that the deserters go across about three miles from this place, and go by the way of No. 4. The garrison at present is so weakly manned, that I could spare no men to send after them. I have just now ordered an officer, with a party of men, to fetch the boat away from the fellow who sets the deserters across.

The row-galley arrived here yesterday, the Captain of which brought me a letter from the Commodore, who writes me that the commanding officer at St. Johns ordered the row-galley off to Ticonderoga, contrary to the General’s orders, and has ordered the Captain to take in salt, belonging to one Mrs. Tucker, who is landed at Crown Point, as the Captain tells me. There are one hundred and fifty bushels of salt, which I have ordered, and is now in store, and shall wait your Honour’s order what must be done with it. The Commodore’s letter is dated the 7th instant; he writes me that our Army is gone down to Point Deschambault, where they mean to make a stand.

I am, your Honour’s very humble servant,

CORNELIUS WYNKOOP.

To Major-General Philip Schuyler, Esq.

JOHN LANSING, JUN., ASSISTANT SECRETARY, ETC., TO CAPTAIN VARICK.—EXTRACT.

Fort George, June 13, 1776.

The orders to Steven’s and Downes’s Companies, to go off for Canada, I received on Tuesday last. On Wednesday, Colonel Gansevoort communicated them to the officers, with directions to embark immediately, who pretended that they wanted a day to prepare themselves, and solicited very ardently to have their departure delayed till the subsequent day; Colonel Gansevoort at last complied with their request. Yesterday morning upon calling the rolls, upwards of twenty were found to have deserted, the rest went off with evident reluctance. Pray communicate this to the General.

A true copy. Attest:

RICHARD VARICK,

Secretary to Major-Gen. Schuyler.

JOHN LANSING, JUN., TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Fort George, Juno 14, 1776.

SIR: By the enclosed memorandum, you will perceive that seven hundred and eighty barrels of flour and eighty-four of pork have been forwarded since your departure; seventy-seven of the former and twelve of the latter remain still at this post.

Colonel Gansevoort has sent off so many of his men to Ticonderoga with provisions, that he says he cannot immediately comply with your order with respect to carrying the batteaus across the Lake. He proposes to forward as many to-morrow morning as possible. The Colonel has ordered a scouting party, consisting of four officers and three privates.

Should the enemy pay a visit at this post, they must inevitably succeed in destroying all the stores and batteaus which remain here, as the garrison is in no condition to prevent it. Enclose a return of the garrison.

By Colonel Gansevoort’s desire, I have sent three casks of nails to Albany, with directions to the wagoner to deliver them to Mr. Livingston.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your most humble servant,

JOHN LANSING, Jun.

To the Honourable General Schuyler.

P. S. Forty barrels of pork are arrived since writing the above.