To George Washington from Brigadier General James Clinton, 19 November 1780
From Brigadier General James Clinton
Albany Novr 19th 1780.
Sir,
In my last of the 12th inst. I had the Honor to inform your Excellency that Col. Weissenfels had marched for Fort Schuyler, and proceeded as far as the little Falls, where the Ice has obliged him to collect Teams to transport his Baggage by Land;1 but the Provision which had previously been sent on with a Detatchment under Captain Dunscomb, fortunately arrived at the Garrison safe before the river closed. But as the roads will require considerable repairs, the Colonel in all probability has not reached the Fort yet.2
As the Time of Service for which the Levies have been inlisted will expire by the first and middle of next Month, it is necessary that proper Steps should be taken when to have them replaced as speedily as possible. It will require three hundred Men to keep a Line of Communication open between Schenectady and Fort Schuyler, and maintain those necessary intermediate Posts, which otherwise must be evacuated. Col. Gansevoort I have stationed at Saratoga & Fort Edward to the Security of the northern Fronteir.3
We have not yet been able to procure any Quantity of Provision, altho’ the State-Agent flatters4 me with the Arrival of a Drove of Cattle in a few Days5 But we are so deeply indebted to the Inhabitants both for Beef and Flower, that I can expect but a temporary relief from it. However at all events I am determined to throw a full Proportion of them into the Garrison as soon as they arrive.6 I am with the most perfect respect Your Excellency’s Most obedient and Humble Servant
James Clinton
ALS, DLC:GW. Clinton wrote “Express” on the cover.
1. See Clinton to GW, 12 November.
2. Lt. Col. Frederick Weissenfels wrote New York governor George Clinton from Fort Schuyler, N.Y., on 21 Nov. to report his arrival and explain that “the Severe Spell of Frost prevented my making use of Boats and I wass under a Necessity, to employ Waggons, to tranport the State Stores; some Provision I had Collected and Baggage of the artillery and the Regiment. This Conveiance has been represented to me as impracticable, but by mending the Roads as I went along, I found it not only Practicable, but, Tollerable Easy” (, 6:425).
3. Clinton elaborated on his concerns regarding sufficient troops when he wrote his brother George from Albany on this date: “The times of the Enlistments of those Levies under the command of Major Hughes will in all probability expire before or very soon after they are relieved by Col. Weissenfels, who has been remarkably slow in his progress to the Fort. None of the six weeks men have yet arrived, except a few from Dutchess County, owing, as I suppose, to the late alarms. It will, therefore, be necessary to make application to Head Quarters for a body of men sufficient to keep up the communication on the Mohawk River, as the 3d Regiment is stationed at Saratoga and its appendages” (, 6:420–21; see also n.2 above). Col. Peter Gansevoort commanded the 3d New York Regiment.
4. Clinton wrote “fatters” for this word.
5. Clinton means Lt. Col. Udny Hay (see James Clinton to George Clinton, 5 Dec., in , 6:475–76).