To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 24 April 1777
From Major General Philip Schuyler
Philadelphia April 24h 1777 ten O’Clock A.M.
Dear Sir
At nine this Morning I was honored with your Favor of Yesterday’s Date.
On the 22d Instant, Congress resolved that all the Troops in this State should immediately be moved to New Jersey,1 I accordingly ordered that they should march next Morning by the Way of Trentown to prince-Town, and from thence to Morris Town, by such a Rout as General Putnam or the commanding officer at prince-Town should direct—I hope they marched Yesterday and shall by this Conveyance send Copy of your Orders to General putnam, that the Troops may be disposed of agreeable thereto.2
I have had Colonel Wood with me, but the Account he gives of the State of his Regiment is so confused that I can make Nothing of it—I have therefore ordered him to make a Return with explanatory Notes, but I fear I shall not get it in Time to inclose in this Letter.
Congress have appointed a Committee of Ways and Means for reinforcing you, who will also point out some Mode by which the Militia of this State may be drawn out.3
Inclose your Excellency a Return made by Lieutenant Gurney, whom I sent to Maryland to hasten on the Troops—Most of the Effectives mentioned in it are already passed this and are included in Colonel Spotswood’s Return.4
I shall not fail to send on the Troops as fast as they arrive and can get their Cloathing the Want of which some Times detains them. I am Dr Sir with every Sentiment of Respect Your Excellency’s most obedient humble Servant
Ph: Schuyler
LS, DLC:GW; LB, NN: Schuyler Papers.
1. Congress on 22 April directed Schuyler “immediately, to send forward, all the troops now at Bristol, with orders to join General Washington with all expedition” and “immediately order all the troops now in Philadelphia, and which may hereafter arrive, with the utmost despatch to Bristol, there to wait farther orders” (, 7:289).
2. An extract from GW’s letter to Schuyler of 23 April was enclosed in the brief letter that Schuyler on this date wrote to Israel Putnam, informing him of the march of the troops from Pennsylvania to Princeton (NN: Schuyler Papers).
3. This committee, which was appointed on 23 April, consisted of William Duer, Samuel Adams, James Wilson, Jonathan Bayard Smith, Richard Henry Lee, and Roger Sherman (see , 7:294). The letter-book copy reads: “who will also try to point out some Mode by which the Militia of this State, may be drawn out.”
4. The letter-book copy reads: “Inclose your Excellency a Return made by Lieutenant Colonel Gurney.” Neither of these returns have been identified.