To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 July 1778
From Major General Philip Schuyler
Albany July 16th 1778
Dear Sir
I do myself the Honor most sincerely to congratulate your Excellency on your late glorious Victory obtained in New Jersey—May Heaven continue its Smiles on the honest Endeavors of America and protect you from every Disaster.
On the 11th Ult. Congress determined on an Expedition to the Detroit and into the Seneca Country: and directed that such of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs as might be at Albany should co-operate with General Gates and the Officer to command in the last mentioned Expedition upon the Mode of conducting it; the Force to be employed and on all other preparations requisite for executing the Measure—These Resolutions accompanied by a Letter from the Board of War I received on the 25th Inst. and prevented me from prosecuting my Journey to York Town on the next Day as I had intended1—On the 27th I wrote to General Gates on the Subject, who promised me in a Letter of the 2d Instant that he would write me on the Subject from the White plains—As I have not yet been favored with a Line from him, it is probable that he concieves himself discharged from that Business since your Arrival.
On the 14th Inst. some Chiefs of the Oneidas arrived here—They inform me that a very considerable party commanded by Butler were marched towards the Frontiers of pennsylvania that he expected to return to Tuindilla about this Time and that in about ten Days hence he with another party under the Command of Brandt intended to attack the Mohawk River and Schoharie—I have not any Reason to doubt the Truth of the Information, and I fear the Militia in that Quarter will be greatly too weak to prevent the Enemy’s Depredations.
Mr President Laurens in a Letter of the 20th Ult. informs me that Charges against me and the General Officers that were in this Department when Tyonderoga was evacuated have been made out and would be transmitted to your Excellency2—If they are come to Hand, permit me to beg the Favor of a Copy of your orders to attend at Head Quarters for my Tryal as soon as you conveniently can order a Court Martial. I am, with the most sincere Esteem and Respect Your Excellency’s obedient humble Servant.
Ph: Schuyler
LS, DLC:GW.
1. For Congress’s resolutions of 11 June, see , 11:588–90. The Board of War notified Schuyler of the resolutions in a letter signed by Timothy Pickering and dated 16 June (DNA:PCC, item 63).
2. For Henry Laurens’s letter to Schuyler of 20 June, see , 10:150–51. For the charges, enclosed with Laurens’s letter to GW of the same date, see , 11:593–603.