COLONEL DUBOIS TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read August 1, 1776.]

New-York, July 17, 1776.

SIR: On my arrival at New-York, I applied to General Washington for recruiting orders for the officers of my regiment, according to appointment of the honourable Congress, which he granted me. I thereupon notified the several officers of their appointments; but, to my great surprise, I found many of them offended, and soon after they sent me their resignations, with their reasons, which I now enclose you.

I could hardly have believed that gentlemen would have disputed for rank they all the winter acquiesced in, and performed duty accordingly in the Army before Quebeck; especially as the arrangement of the officers of the regiments to be recruited out of the four New-York regiments in Canada was made on the same principle, to wit: agreeable to the appointment by the late worthy General Montgomery.

I also enclose you a certificate of the rank of the officers of the Third Regiment, in which I served in Canada, certified by Colonel Weissenfels, who then acted as Brigade-Major, by which it will evidently appear that the gentlemen who have resigned assigned false reasons, and that the arrangement of my regiment, as far as it respects the late officers of the Third Regiment, is perfectly agreeable to the rank they bore therein. And should there be any mistakes in respect to any of the officers of the other regiments, it was without any design in me to injure them; nor do I believe there is any, except in the case of Lieutenant Gano, which I offered to have corrected, as it might have been done, as the men in whose favour it was unintentionally made, resigned. It is true, there was one Mr. Gilliland left out of my regiment, who served last winter in Canada; but I hope I shall stand justified in not returning his name in my list of officers made by the Convention of this Colony to Congress last spring, because he is noted as unfit to serve, as is mentioned by that return. If I am rightly informed, the Congress of this Colony decline appointing the remainder of my officers. This will tend so much to delay the filling my regiment, that I would beg to be informed by your honourable House, how they are to be appointed, that I may take the proper steps for that purpose. A number of good men have offered their services, and say they can raise their proportion of men in a few days.

I am, with the profoundest respect, your most obedient servant,

LEWIS DUBOIS, Colonel.

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

To LEWIS DUBOIS, Esq.:

We, the subscribers, do hereby resign the appointments we held in the regiment lately ordered to be raised and commanded by Lewis Dubois, Esq., for the following reasons:

First: We have been ungenerously superseded, which the old arrangement of officers, made by the Provincial Congress will fully evince; for we assert that the youngest Lieutenant in the Third Regiment, to which Mr. Dubois belonged, is appointed a Captain over the heads of the First Lieutenant of the First, and other regiments; likewise, that Sergeants and Corporals, who went out in said Third Regiment, have superseded officers who bore commissions in the last campaign.

AARON AERSON, Lieutenant.

JONATHAN PEASE, Lieutenant.

RICHARD PLATT, Lieutenant.

DANIEL GANO, Lieutenant.

GARRET VAN WAGENEN, Lieutenant.

New-York, July, 1776.

Arrangement of the Third Battalion of YORKERS.

Returns of the Officers belonging to the Third Battalion of YORKERS, commanded by Colonel CLINTON, in rank, as they served at CANADA, the last campaign, agreeable to General MONTGOMERY'S appointment.

Lewis Dubois, Major.

CAPTAINS.—1st, Jacobus S. Bruyn.

2d, Robert Johnson, provided for at Canada.

3d, David Dubois.

4th, Elias Van Bunschoten.

5th, E. Cooper, provided for at Canada.

6th, Thomas De Witt.

1st LIEUTS.—1st, Philip Dubois.

2d, Albert Paulding.

3d, Cornelius T. Jansen.

4th, James Gregg.

5th, William Martain, provided for at Canada.

2d LIEUTS.—1st, Evens Wherry.

2d, Henry Vandenburgh.

3d, Nathaniel Conklin.

4th, Henry Docty.

I can certify that the above gentlemen were appointed by General Montgomery, and did duty as such the time I was Brigade-Major to the Army before Quebeck.

FRED. WEISSENFELS, Lieutenant-Colonel.

July 17, 1776.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

German-Flats, July 17, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Your Excellency's favour of the 11th instant was delivered me this morning, with the sundry papers mentioned in it. It gives me a very sincere and heartfelt pleasure that I can declare that the difference in opinion between General Gates and me has been simply such, unattended with that little jealousy which would have reflected disgrace on both of us. Be assured, sir, that the most perfect harmony subsists between us, and that I shall, by every attention to General Gates, strictly cultivate it, as well to increase my own felicity as to promote the publick service.

You have a formidable and well-appointed Army to contend with; but I still hope that when Americans see the danger, nay, the ruin with which they are threatened, they will with alacrity support you, and put it in your power to give a good account of the foe. May Heaven aid and direct you, and make you the happy instrument of ensuring freedom to the Western World.

Colonel Dayton arrived at Fort Stanwix on the 13th. I cannot learn that taking post there gives any umbrage to the Indians, of whom we have about one hundred and fifty here, and momently expect very large numbers. We have hopes, from what information we have received, that we shall be able to keep them neuter at least.

I am extremely happy to hear that your Excellency has ordered three regiments from Boston to the Northern Army. I believe General Burgoyne will attempt to penetrate into the Colonies, but I think it will be impossible for him to effect it, even if he should cross the lakes, which I cannot conceive he will be able to do, as our naval strength greatly exceeds his, and as we shall certainly build as fast as he can.

I am very much afraid that Mr. Livingston will resign his office, if Mr. Trumbull appoints any person to act to the northward independently of him. If so, I shall be under great apprehensions that the service will not at this critical time be carried on so well as I wish. Will you be so good as to communicate this to Mr. Trumbull.

I shall immediately transmit the Declaration of Congress to General Gates, and desire him to proclaim it throughout the Army.

I am, dear sir, with every affectionate wish for your health and happiness, and with perfect esteem, your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To His Excellency General Washington, &c., &c.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 29, 1776. Referred to the Board of War.]

German-Flats, Wednesday, July 17, 1776.

SIR: I am honoured with your letter of the 8th instant, covering the resolutions of Congress of the same day.

When gentlemen act with candour to each other, a difference in opinion will seldom be attended with any disagreeable consequences. I am happy, sir, that I can assure you that the most perfect good understanding subsists between General Gates and me, insomuch that it gave him pain that I was under the necessity of quitting the Army to repair here at this critical juncture. You will please to assure Congress that I am deeply impressed with the necessity of mutual confidence amongst all its officers, and that I shall never neglect any measure that may have a tendency to so desirable an end.

I have seen with the deepest affliction the unhappy jealousy which reigned in the Northern Army, occasioned by Colonial distinctions—distinctions both injurious to the