To John Jay from Philip Schuyler, 17 August 1777
From Philip Schuyler
Albany August 17th 1777
Dear Sir
This morning I had the pleasure to recieve your favor of the 12th. Instant.1 Mr. Duane has acknowledged the receipt of my letter to you Inclosing the orders &c. I am happy that he thinks my “Conduct needs no Apology” he also Informd me that the mottives for my removal were the same as you gave.2 They were certainly sufficient to Induce Congress to the measure but they might have done me the Justice to have advised me thereof.—3 In making my defence against any Charges that may be brought against me, I propose to lay before the Court all my letters to Congress Gen. Washington and Every public body, with their Answers, and Every order I have given since the Close of last Campaign that they may become part of the proceedings of the Court, by which means I can procure a Copy of the whole and deliver It to the Public who will then be Enabled to Judge whence the Cause of my Misfortunes to the Northward have Originated, and hope Every Candid reader will Exculpate me—4
Gen: Gates left Van Schaicks Island and the other posts which the Army occupyed
when he took the Command in the fullest Intention to proceed in pursuit of Gen. Burgoyn whom he declared would not dare to risk a battle. I wish things had turned out as he flattered himself they would,5 they have not and he is halted three miles above Still water, and Occupys ground that I do not think very Advantageous, there is better In the vicinity but It lays at a little distance In his rear and I suppose he dare not retire to It least It should damp the Spirits of his troops, which are high so far he may be right,—but I cannot conceive he was so In detatching so Capital a part of his Army as that ^Corps^ under the Command of Gen: Lincoln is to so great a distance6 It is certain that he is at Skensborough and has detatched two thousand more from thence to Tycnderoga & Mount Independence—7 of what Consequence is either of those places If we should be beat at Still water? I believe he sees his Error for he has called on all the Militia of this County to March and reinforce him—before I left the Army I had ordered Lincoln to the North part of Cambridge which is about fourteen miles East of Saratoga from thence to try and make an Impression on to some of the Enemies posts. And If that was not practicable to move down keeping on their flank by this means I conceived he would be always at hand to assist when a General Engagement should take place, perhaps It was a sufficient reason to change this disposition because I had made it.
A Gentleman In the army observes that when Gen. Gates was coming up to take the Command the British Army by his Account did not Exceed five or six thousand men, but that now It is made to be ten or twelve thousand what must It have been before the Bennington Affair,—8 If he really believes [illegible] It is so numerous he is Inexcusable for dividing his army. If not he ought not to hazard the Effect such an Account may have on his troops,— God Grant him success our all depends upon It, but If he has It I can never Impute It to his Military abilities, for altho he may have Courage I am sure he has nothing Else, before I left the Army I offered him my services and beged he would call on me whenever he had occasion. I suppose he has had none for he has never advised with me, nor given me the least Intimation of his Intentions— Perhaps I might have been of Some Service—
The Oneidas Tuscarros and such part of the Onandagas as are here have taken the Hatchet About Fifty or Sixty will Join our Army to day.—
I am anxious to hear from the Southward. I wish the Enemy had Stuck to their Original plan and had Attempted to penetrate by Delewar river, where they are they will have a great Accession of Tories—9 Adieu My Dear Sir I am most Sincerely Your Obedt. and Humble Servant
Ph. Schuyler
Hon. John Jay Esqr.
ALS, NNC (EJ: 7119). Addressed: “Hon. John Jay Esqr.” Endorsed.
1. Not located.
2. James Duane to Schuyler, 23 Aug. 1777, , 7: 535–36.
3. The Continental Congress ordered Schuyler to headquarters on 1 Aug. 1777. On 3 Aug., Washington was ordered to select a successor, which he refused to do on 4 Aug. Congress then chose Gates as Schuyler’s successor. Schuyler was not informed that Gates was his successor. , 8: 598, 600–604.
4. These were reprinted in Proceedings of a General Court Martial, Held at Major General Lincoln’s Quarters, Near Quaker-Hill, In the State of New-York, By Order of His Excellency General Washington, Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States of America, for the Trial of Major General Schuyler, October 1, 1778. Major General Lincoln, President. (Philadelphia: Hall and Sellers, 1778; , no. 16142).
5. Gates had hoped to drive the British into Canada. Samuel W. Patterson, Horatio Gates (New York, 1941), 149.
6. Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810), a Continental major general from Massachusetts, was in Vermont with about 500 militia, ready to move against Burgoyne’s rear. , 2: 500.
7. In fact, troops were not dispatched to Skenesboro and Ticonderoga until the middle of September. , 2: 523.
8. The British suffered severe losses at the battle of Bennington (14–16 Aug.): 207 dead and 700 prisoners.
9. Howe had abandoned his plan to sail up the Delaware River and was heading south around Cape Charles toward the Chesapeake. , 1: 331–33.