George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 12 October 1775

From Major General Philip Schuyler

Tionderoga [N.Y.] October 12th 1775.

Dear Sir

I did myself the Honor to write Your Excellency on the 26th Ult: which I sent by the Way of Albany, on the 4th instant, I received the Originals of the inclosed, Except that marked No. 2, which came to Hand Yesterday.1

It chagrines me much, that I have not more frequent Opportunities of addressing Myself to You.

I am extreamly apprehensive that a Want of Powder will be fatal to our Operations, I have sent Express to Albany and New York, but have not yet learnt whether I shall be supplied or not.

The Army is now supplied with Provisions to the 30th instant, but all the Pork that is to be had is gone, and altho’ we have a Sufficiency of Fat Cattle I fear we shall want Salt.

Inclose Your Excellency a Return of the discharged Men from this Army,2 Exclusive of this 150 at least occupy the General Hospital at Fort George and I fear as many more are ready to enter it.

I begin to gather Strength, my Fever has left me and I hope soon to be able to join the Army.

General Wooster’s Regiment I suppose will be this Evening at Fort George, they will be pushed off immediately on their Arrival here.

Be pleased to make my best Respects to General Lee, General Gates and the Gentlemen of your Suit, I hope we shall all meet at a merry Christmas.

Adieu My Dear General, my best Wishes attend You thro’ Life, happy If I can have an Opportunity of evincing how sincerely, I am Dr Sir Your most Obedt humble Servt

Ph: Schuyler

This moment Your Excellencys dispatches of the fourth came to hand. Capt. Buel waits for this can therefore only thank you for them.3

LS, DLC:GW; LB, NN: Schuyler Papers.

1The enclosure marked “No. 2” is a copy of Richard Montgomery’s letter to Schuyler of 6 October. The other enclosed copies of letters are: James Livingston to Montgomery, 27 Sept., Seth Warner to Montgomery, 27 Sept., Timothy Bedel to Montgomery, 28 Sept., and Montgomery to Schuyler, 28 September. These enclosures, all of which are in DLC:GW, include reports on Ethan Allen’s recent defeat at Montreal and Montgomery’s progress in besieging St. Jean. “Your Vigilance and Foresight,” Montgomery wrote Schuyler on 6 Oct. from his camp on the south side of St. Jean, “have saved us from the Difficulties that threatned us, we are no longer afraid of Starving—I wait now with Impatience for the Arrival of those Troops mentioned in your last, which I believe from the Number of Boats on the Way will soon be here, to take the Advantageous Post I formerly spoke of on a Hill to the Westward. . . . Mr Livingston some Days ago took Post at Hazen’s House with near 200 Canadians, they are erecting a Battery there, which seems to make the Garrison very uneasy. Yesterday they attacked them with their Row Galley, but were beaten back without Loss on the Side of the Canadians—No certain Intelligence Yet of Arnold’s Arrival, tho’ there are flying Reports to that Purpose, I wish he was at Quebec with all my Heart, I believe there is Nothing to oppose him. I am extreamly happy that You have sent for more Powder, I believe we have not more than two Tons & ½, this I am afraid will not do—Send us as many Men as You possibly can furnish with Provisions, I am greatly in Want of them, our Feebleness has intimidated the Canadians from embarking in so uncertain an Adventure, were I strong enough to send 500 Men to Montreal, it would certainly declare for Us, at least I have great Reason to think so.”

2Schuyler’s return, dated 12 Oct., gives the total of discharged men as 937.

3Nathaniel Buell (c.1734–1808) served as a captain in the 4th Connecticut Regiment until December of this year and as a lieutenant colonel in Col. Charles Burrall’s Connecticut state regiment during 1776.

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