GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Albany, July 2, 1776.

DEAR SIR: An hour after the post was gone the express arrived with your favour of the 28th continued to the 29th. I am extremely happy that your Excellency approved of the orders given to General Sullivan.

None of the expresses I sent to the eastward to hasten on the Militia and to try to procure carpenters are yet returned. Mr. Giles, one of the Council of New-Hampshire, who brought me some money, arrived on Sunday; he informs me that their Government’ did not receive the orders of Congress for sending Militia until the 21st ultimo; that orders were soon after issued to engage them; that he did not expect they would be at Ticonderoga for some time to come. I have assured the Eastern Colonies that every precaution will be taken to prevent their being infected by the small-pox.

On Thursday last and on Sunday two gondolas were finished. I hope we shall complete two every week with what carpenters we now have.

Everything is prepared and now carrying over to Schenectady for taking post at Fort Stanwix. I hope the greatest part of the stores will be embarked there to-morrow and move the next day; if so, I hope Colonel Dayton will be on the 9th or 10th at Fort Stanwix; he has his orders. His forces will consist of five hundred of his own regiment, about one hundred and fifty of Wynkoop’s, seventy-five Militia intended for Canada, and three hundred Militia of the County, except one hundred of these men to be left at the German Flats; so that he will be about nine hundred strong.

We shall want every man Congress has ordered to the northward; but I fear that the shameful tardiness which prevails in almost all the Colonies will greatly prejudice our cause. I was in hopes you would have been more effectually supported by them. What can they be about?

I am this moment going to mount; I will try to be back in such time as to be at the conference at the German-Flats.

I am, dear sir, with the greatest esteem, your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington.

GENERAL SULLIVAN TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 16, 1776.]

Crown Point, July 2, 1776.

MUCH RESPECTED SIR: I beg leave to inform Congress of the unhappy state of our Northern Army, which arrived here last evening from Isle-la-Motte. After evacuating St. Johns, I thought best to make a stand at Isle-aux-Noix, till we could have some direction from Congress or the Commander-in-Chief. This I knew would afford an opportunity to our frontier inhabitants to remove, with their effects, to some place of safety, which they have in general done. We have given them every assistance in our power for that purpose. The amazing number of our men taken down by sickhess at that unhealthy spot obliged us to remove to Isle-la-Motte, and from thence to this place. To give you a particular account of the miserable state of our troops there, and the numbers which daily keep dropping into their beds and graves, would rather seem like the effect of imagination than a history of facts. I beg leave to suggest that this must be owing to the troops living so long upon salt provision, and having nothing to drink but the poisonous Water of the Lake. I am now in hopes, as this is a healthy spot, and as the country affords good spring water, that we shall soon find the Army regain their health; and that we shall be able to make an effectual stand at this place. I have ordered all the sick to be removed at a distance from the other troops, that the sight of such pitiful objects may not disperse the rest. I shall do everything in my power to preserve the health of the Army, and reduce the troops to some kind of order. I am now about fortifying this post, which I think may, in a short time, be made strong enough to baffle all the attempts of our enemies. I think that a number of row-galleys upon the Lake, upon the construction of those at Philadelphia, will be of great advantage. I am now preparing timber for that purpose, and beg Congress would send a workman from Philadelphia that understands constructing them. A few of those vessels, in conjunction with those we already have, must effectually give us the command of the Lake, and prevent the enemy from penetrating the country.

I enclose a petition from the inhabitants about Onion River for protection. Colonel Warner offers to raise a regiment to protect that quarter. This I could not consent to, as I have no such authority; but beg leave to recommend it to Congress, as those men are much better calculated for the purpose than any others, as they have such a thorough knowledge of the country. I have sent Colonel Winds, with a hundred and fifty men, to take post there till the pleasure of Congress can be known. The reason of my sending a chief Colonel with so small a detachment is, because he cannot do duty anywhere else for fear of the small-pox; this is also the case with most of the men who are with him.

I beg Congress to send rne some directions about the defence of the frontiers, and building armed vessels here. Every order shall be complied with as soon as received. I have sent several times back to discover the motion of the enemy. A Lieutenant, who went off with four men, has just returned. He counted the number of tents at St. Johns, and found them about a hundred and fifty; he found twenty-five at St. Rays, and fifteen at Chambly. He sent off two of his men from St. Johns to give information, but they have not arrived. He tarried two days longer about St. Johns and Chambly, and then returned through the woods to Missisque Bay. He found their trails at Missisque River, but could discover nothing of the men. I apprehend that the Indians have entrapped them. The Lieutenant could discover but two boats at those places; and I think it must take them so long to construct vessels to transport their Army over the Lake, that we shall by that time be ready to receive them. I am determined, however, not to lose a moment in securing this important post in the best manner possible, as I am convinced that the loss of this place would be next to losing our country.

I beg leave, my dear sir, to assure you and the honourable Congress that I never had an idea of pain equal to that. which I felt at the evacuation of Canada. I hope Congress will not attribute it to my timidity or want of resolution. I must refer you to Colonel Allen for the particular reasons which obliged us to abandon that country. I beg leave to recommend him to you as an intelligent, brave, and active officer, and one who will give you a perfect account of the miserable state of our Army in Canada, and what is their present situation. I shall feel myself extremely happy if Congress should be satisfied with the steps I have taken. It is seldom that an officer can claim any merit from a retreat, and [ am far from laying in a claim of the kind; yet it gives me some satisfaction that, under all our disadvantages, we saved the whole of the publick stores, the baggage of the Army, and left not one of our sick behind us. This I hope will at least convince Congress that we did not retreat in hurry and confusion. The fatigue we had to save our batteaus, cannon, &c, and get them over the Rapids, was beyond anything that ever I went through, and what was never done by an army in our situation before, and what, for my own part, I never wish to attempt again. I must beg Congress to give some direction about the redemption of General Thompson, Colonel Irvine, and some other officers, who have fallen into the hands of the enemy. Opposite the Isle-aux-Noix, Captain McLean, Lieutenants McTierran, McAlister, and Hogg, of Colonel Irvine’s Regiment, were taken prisoners by the Indians, and are now, I apprehend, at Quebeck. I wish Congress would consent to an exchange of prisoners; if they should, I will send a flag immediately to St. Johns, to treat upon the subject.

I beg leave to assure you and the Congress that nothing on my part shall be wanting to prevent the enemy from penetrating the country in this quarter; and that I am, with the highest sentiments of respect and esteem, my dear sir, your most obedient servant,

JOHN SULLIVAN.

To Hon. John Hancock, Esq., President of Congress.

To the Honourable JOHN SULLIVAN, Brigadier-General in the Northern Department.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: We, the inhabitants of the New-Hampshire Grants, being appointed a Committee