To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 1 January 1779
From Major General Philip Schuyler
Albany [N.Y.] January 1st 1779
Dear Sir
Your Excellencys favor of the 18th ult: Covering Copy of your orders to the Quarter Master General I had the honor to receive on the 30th.
I shall with the utmost alacrity Carry your Excellencys orders Into Execution, nor shall my resignation Even after It shall have been Accepted by Congress prevent me In the least from giving my personal Aid to procure every thing necessary for the Enterprize You meditate. the various Injurys I have Sustained have not diminished my affection for my Country Indeed My Dear Sir I shall be happy in every oppertunity which is afforded me to Evince my regard and Attatchment to you, which alone would be Sufficient Induce to me to give the public Altho In a private Station every assistance In My power.
I shall do myself the honor to write you fully to Morrow and transmit some more papers Which I have found relative to the upper Country.1
Inclose you Copy of a letter from Mr Deane a Number of the Oneidas were with me when It came to hand I have ventured to Assure them A Picket Fort would be Immediately Erected for their defence If they required It. permitt me to Intreat the favor of you to transmit Copy of Mr Deans letter to Congress with what I have said on the Occasion.2 I have the honor to be with the Most Sincere respect & Esteem Dear Sir Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble Servt
Ph: Schuyler
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Schuyler’s letter to GW of 2 Jan. has not been found.
2. The enclosed copy of a letter from James Deane to Schuyler, dated 24 Dec. 1778 at Fort Schuyler, N.Y., reads: “In my last I informed you that Wm Johnson was at Oneida—The Quiyogas, by him, made two proposals to the Oneidas—First, that they would reunite with the Confederacy and take an active part against the united States or that they would, in future, observe the most strict and perfect neutrality in the present War, agreeable to former promisses—In Case of their Refusal to comply in either Respect, the Quiyogas assure them they shall not see another Spring in peace, but that this Winter shall determine their Fate—He closed with demanding an immediate Answer.
“The Oneidas replyed that the Affair was of Importance and required the Deliberation of the whole Tribe—That several of their people were not returned from hunting and that an Answer must be deferred until their Arrival—The party that went from this to Oneida returned without effecting any Thing as William was gone before their Arrival.
“The Onedias are much in Want of Cloathing and beg that the Store at this place may be opened as soon as possible—Those Indians among the Oghgwagas who have been our Friends have all arrived at Oneida—Application has been made for provision for them—But as the commanding officer here has no particular Orders upon the Subject—Their Request has not been granted. I believe Sir it would be for the Good of the Service if those people should be supplied with provision at this post and could wish an Order might be issued for that purpose—The Oneidas begin to think of removing their Women and Children to some place of greater Safety and shall not be surprised to see the whole of them set out towards Albany this Winter.
“The six Nations, who are now generally gone to meet with Colonel Butler I am told determine upon their Return, to revisit the Settlements upon the Mohawk River; seize all the provision they can find and cut off the Communication between this and Schenectady—But I hope to know more of their Designs in a few Days” (DLC:GW).