11To George Washington from James Clinton, 9 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to inform your Excellency that this morning General Stark arrived here to take the Command of this Department; I have communicated to him such of your Excellency’s Instructions as may tend to the good of the Service and Security of the Frontier. The reports that the Militia from the Eastward are in a State of Preperation, and he expects a Detatchment of them in Town by the...
12From George Washington to James Clinton, 5 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with your Letter of the 30th Ulto also with one from His Excellency Governor Clinton of the 1st Inst. representing the exposed situation of the frontier of this State. I have in consequence, thought it adviseable, that the remaining part of Cortlands Regt (except the Light Company) should continue at Albany untill further Orders—I have also prevailed on Major General Lincoln to...
13To George Washington from James Clinton, 30 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s two Favors of the 15th and 20th inst. I have been honor’d with. In Consequence of the former, I immediately detatched four Companies of the 2d Regiment under the Command of Liut. Col. Cochran with forty Boats, being all that were, at the time, finished. In Consequence of the latter I have put the light Company in Motion, who will embark tomorrow morning in twelve Boats, and I...
14From George Washington to James Clinton, 20 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 12th I imagine before this reaches you, the first detachment of Boats will have been sent down. Should they not, you will be pleased to have the Light Company of Cortlands compleated and sent down with them. Should the Boats have come away, you will consider whether you can spare the light Company and have a sufficient number of Men left to bring down the...
15To George Washington from James Clinton, 20 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letter of the 14th inst. I have been honor’d with. I should have been happy that Money had arrived in Time to have prevented the late Murmur in the Regiment as every Circumstance of the kind is ulitmately distructive of military Discipline. I have not received the least Intelligence of the Movements either of General Starks, or the Militia from the Eastward; nor do I know...
16From George Washington to James Clinton, 15 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have written to General Schuyler to have all the Boats, Oars & Plank which he has been able to procure for the Public instantly sent to West Point & mentioned that you would furnish men for the purpose—I have now to request that you will order exactly a sufficient number of men, properly officered from the 2nd New York Regt to bring these Boats immediately down the River; the Boats will be...
17From George Washington to James Clinton, 14 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 10th—I am very sorry to hear the Disturbance which has taken place in the 1st Regt—especially as the P.M. Genl had just sent on a Sum of money for the Pay of your Brigade—unluckily it seems to have missed them . On Receipt of their money, this murmur I hope will be quieted. So long as the 2d Regt remains in Albany, I approve your keepg up Genl Schuylers Guard...
18To George Washington from James Clinton, 12 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor I have been this day honor’d with, the contents of which shall be punctualy attended to: the 2d Regt is encamped at this place, and every thing kept in the most perfect readiness to embark on the shortest notice. This day I have written to Col. Hay on the subject of supplies for this department and pointed out the necessity of having a quantity of beef forwarded on...
19To George Washington from James Clinton, 10 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honor’d with your Excellency’s favor of the 6th inst. in Season to countermand the Embarkation of the 2d Regt agreeable to your Direction, the rest of the Troops haveing previously sailed. This Regiment will now encamp in this place and the Transports shall be kept in perfect readiness to receive them on the shortest Notice. I am sorry to inform your Excellency, that the first Regiment...
20From George Washington to James Clinton, 9 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am favour’d with yours of the 6th—In consequence of my letter of the same date, the 2d Regt will be detain’d at Albany ’till further orders—Genl Schuyler is building a number of Flat boats for the Public—so many of them as are ready when that Regt is order’d down may be man’d by the Troops, and the Boats loaded with plank or such other materials as may be procur’d. Orders have been already...
21From George Washington to James Clinton, 6 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my last Letter, I requested you to forward all the Continental Troops from the Northward to West Point by Detachment as soon as possible—some circumstances since having made an alteration in the arrangements of the army, such of the Troops as shall not have been sent off, before the receipt of this Letter you will be pleased to detain at Albany untill further Orders: Causing the whole of...
22To George Washington from James Clinton, 6 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor of the 30th Ulto I have been honor’d with in Consequence of which I immediately issued the necessary Orders for puting the Troops in motion. Colo. Hazen’s, and the first York Regiments arrived in this City yesterday, and will sail for West Point the next Tide, I flatter myself they will reach their Destination before you can receive this, as the Wind is now favorable....
23From George Washington to James Clinton, 30 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with your Letters of the 27th and 28th Inst. and am pleased with the account you give of the perfect readiness in which the Troops are kept for a movement. On the receipt of this, you will instantly put the three Regts of Continental Troops, under your command, in motion for West Point—You will be pleased to have a sufficient number of Vessels for transports immediately procured...
24To George Washington from James Clinton, 28 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my Letter of yesterday, I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 25th inst. with its Enclosure, which I forwarded instantly agreeable to the address. I have already disposed of the New Levies in such a manner as to be able to move the Troops the moment I may receve your Orders, as they are constantly held in the most perfect readiness. As soon as the Eastern Militia shall...
25To George Washington from James Clinton, 27 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my last Letter to your Excellency nothing material has occured worth mentioning—I am taking the most effectual Measures to scour the Settlements on the Frontier, which are notoriously disaffected, and have found the most promising appearances of future good consequences, from the exertions already made—I have sent a Scout of Canadians, of Hazens Regiment to Crown Point, which may...
26From George Washington to James Clinton, 25 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
In a conference this day with the Governor—the Lieut. Governor—Genl Schuyler and Genl Ten Brock it has been determined that the Continental Regiments shall be withdrawn from the Northward as soon as a suitable number of Militia shall be sent in to relieve them. I have in consequence directed 600 men from the Counties of Hampshire and Berkshire to rendezvous at Albany. As they arrive you will...
27To George Washington from James Clinton, 21 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
My Letter of the 15th & 18th int. gave your Excellency an account of the Disposition of the Troops in this Department and of the Prospect of Supplies for their Support, since which I have been honored with your Excellency’s Favour of the 16th inst. the Contents of which should be attendd to most punctually. I have given Major Villefranch Directions to contract the Plan of the Work at the...
28From George Washington to James Clinton, 16 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 5th & 10th Inst. I intimated to you the necessity of keeping the Reinforcements lately sent to the Northward as much together as possible, and in such constant readiness for a movement, as that they might be recalled, if necessary, on the shortest warning: I must now inform you that the Operation which has been concerted between His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau, and...
29To George Washington from James Clinton, 15 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 28th ulto and 5th & 10th inst. I am informed by Col Courtlandt that the stores &c are all safely brought down from Fort Schuyler to the German Flatts, and the old Fort entirely destroy’d. Major Vellifranche has arriv’d and will proceed immediately to erect the intended Work at the Flatts, which from our very embarrass’d Circumstances, I...
30From George Washington to James Clinton, 10 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of repeated intelligence from the Northward, that the Enemy were assembled in force to make an incursion on our frontier, I odered Col. Hazen’s Regt and the six Companies of Col. Van Schaick’s to Albany: since which I am informed that the number of the Enemy was inconsiderable, and that those Troops, are supposed, to have been drawn together near the frontier, for the purpose of...
31From George Washington to James Clinton, 5 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 28 Ulto I informed you of the succour you might expect, if necessary. The five Companies of Van Schaicks Regt have since sailed—Hazens will follow tommorow. I have now to communicate my sentiments in general respecting the disposition, and application of this force. It is clearly my opinion, that the reinforcements lately ordered to the Northward should be kept together, as...
32To George Washington from James Clinton, 30 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose your Excellency a Copy of a Letter from Genl Schuyler, the Contents of which will inform you of the Measures which were adopted to acquire the Intelligence, of which, I also transmit, you a Copy Mr Fox who, you will please to observe, is the principle Agent acquited himself with so much address that he obtained the Enemy’s fullest Confidence, the original Letters,...
33From George Washington to James Clinton, 28 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon my return from Weathersfield the evening of the 26th I was favored with your two Letters of the 17th and 22nd Instant. General St Clair had previously given some directions respecting the military Stores which were wanted at the Northward. I have since referred the application to General Knox, who has made such farther arrangements for a supply, as our present circumstances would permit....
34To George Washington from James Clinton, 22 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Excellencies favour of the 18th Inst. agreeable to the Governors Advice I consulted Generals Rensselaer and Gansevoort, the Mayor in Council, and several other Gentlemen whom I could confide in respecting the abandoning Fort Schuyler, and establishing a Post at the German Flatts, who were unanimous in opinion that under our present Circumstance the Fort Should be...
35From George Washington to James Clinton, 18 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favor of the 16th Just as I was setting out for Connecticut to meet the Count de Rochambeau. I am exceedingly sorry for the unfortunate accident at Fort Schuyler—that with the destruction of the Works by Rain seem to make it necessary to abandon that valuable post. I however leave the determination upon that point to the Governor and yourself, as I do every measure which the...
36To George Washington from James Clinton, 17 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of yesterday, another Express has been received from Fort Schuyler, Copies of which Inclosed for your Excellency’s Satisfaction. By the Proceedings of the Court of Inquiry it appears that the loss of the Barracks was occasioned by Accident, however suspicious it appeared at first View, a Circumstance which affords me singular Pleasure. The Distruction of a considerable Quantity...
37To George Washington from James Clinton, 16 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
This morning I received a number of Letters from Fort Schuyler and Saratoga, the former containing the disagreeable Account of the Loss of the Barracks by Fire—the latter anouncing the appearance of the Enemy on the Frontier. My Letters to Cols. Courtlandt & Cochran, copies of which I enclose, will inform your Excellency of the Measures I have taken on this Occasion, and while I hope they may...
38From George Washington to James Clinton, 14 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter of the 7th Instant. The measure you took, for obtaining bread for the Troops, in their distress, by ordering up the flour from the Mills below has my entire approbation. General Heath has gone to the Eastern States, as I suggested, in my former Letter was proposed. One tenth part of the whole supply of Meat, from New England, is ordered to Your Department....
39To George Washington from James Clinton, 12 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s two Favours of the 4th & 7th inst. I have been honour’d with; that of the 6th mentioned in the latter has not yet been received. The small supply of Provision which was received a few Days since, came very opertunely for the Relief of Fort Schuyler. It left Schenectady the 10th, but the uncommon Inundations, occasioned by the late heavy Rains, will retard its Progress up the...
40From George Washington to James Clinton, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 4th Instant, by Express, was received in the course of the last night: by Mine of the 5th and 6th you will already have been made acquainted with the state of our Magazines, the partial aid we were then able to afford, and the measures, I advised, to be pursued: since which no provision of the meat kind has been received—whenever any quantity arrives, you may depend upon...
41To George Washington from James Clinton, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to inform your Excellency that this Day, a reasonable Supply of Provision, consisting of twenty-six Barrels of Pork, eight of Beef, and sixteen of Shad, with fifty Barrels of Flour, for the use of Fort Schuyler arrived here. Ten Barels of Beef were also recived yesterday, which I intended for the Escort appointed to take up the Hundred Barrels of Flour which I had procured on...
42From George Washington to James Clinton, 5 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my letter to you of yesterday in which I mentioned the measure I had taken respecting supplies, informed you of our only resources, and authorized military coertion in cases of extremity; I have received your favor of the 30th Ulto with a Postscrip of the 1st Inst. Alarmed at the critical situation of the Garrison of Fort Schuyler, I order’d out of the small pittance in our Magazines, 50...
43From George Washington to James Clinton, 4 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Instantly on the receipt of your Letter of the 16th Ulto (which came to hand in two days from the date) I dispatched a Copy of it to Congress; enforcing thereby the pointed representations, and earnest sollicitations, I was making at that moment, respecting the supplies of the Army: how far Congress will be able to devise ways & means for immediate releif, or induce the States to comply with...
44To George Washington from James Clinton, 4 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of addressing your Excly in a Letter of the 30th Ulto on the Subject of the Distresses of this Department; a Subject which I have had such frequent Occasion to trust of; that any thing I have now to say will be nearly a Repetition of what my former Letters have contained. From Your Excellency’s favor of the 12th Ulto I was flattered with Hopes of receiving a Supply, at least...
45To George Washington from James Clinton, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 17th inst. yesterday. I have communicated its Contents to Mr Rensselear, and expect in a few Days to have a satisfactory Account from him. It gives me peculiar Pain to be obliged to fill my Letters with Accounts which I am persuaded must be very disagreeable to you; but a Reguard to my Reputation and a Sense of the Duty I owe to my Country...
46From George Washington to James Clinton, 17 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I some time ago upon the representation of Mr Rensalaer the Commy of Stores at Albany gave him an unlimited order upon the Dy Commy of Hides for as much Leather or Hides as were absolutely necessary for the business of the Department. I am informed that the first draft he made was for 900 Hides, a quantity that to me seems far greater than there could possibly be occasion for, at one time at...
47To George Washington from James Clinton, 16 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received an Express from Lt Colo. Cochran commanding Fort Schuyler; which informed me that on the 9th inst. a small Scout from the Garrison had been fired upon by a Body of the Enemy by which two were killed and one wounded—our Party retired toward the Fort precipitately. the Enemy pursued and took two Prisoners—Col. Cochran immediately detatched a Company of light Infantry and one...
48From George Washington to James Clinton, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 5th by Mr Gamble. Nothing gives me greater pain than being obliged to hear daily complaints, which I know are well grounded, from every quarter, and not having it in my power to redress them. Mr Gamble informs me that about 100 Barrels of Salt Meat, which were at Barrington, are upon the way to Claverac. These will be a temporary supply. In the mean time, I...
49To George Washington from James Clinton, 5 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 7th Ulto To your Excellency containing an Account of the Capture of seventeen Men of the second Regiment at Fort schuyler by a party of the Enemy, nothing Material has occurred but what may reasonably be expected from the peculiar situation of our Affairs. In my former Letters to Your Excellency, I have been under the painfull necessity of representing the disagreeable...
50From Edward Hand to James Clinton, 28 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
His Exy desires me to inform you it is his desire that you Order Returns of the Troops under your Command to be regularly made out and transmitted to this Office so as to reach it by the last saturday in every Month agreable to Genl Orders formerly given. I am &c. DNA : RG 93—War Department.
51From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 28 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I observe by the last returns of Ordnance Stores from Fort Schuyler that 54 lbs of Powder had been expended in firing morning and evening Guns and salutes by order of Lt Colo. Weissenfelds —I do not know whether this practice is continued by Colo. Cortland, but you will be pleased, the first time you have occasion to write to him, to desire him, if it is, to lay it aside as not only useless...
52From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 20 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of a letter from His Excellency the Governor representing the situation of the Garrison of Fort Schuyler and the Troops at Albany and Schenectady for want of Meat —I have directed the Commissary Genl to give an order upon the Magazine at Richmond for two hundred Barrels of Salt provisions, which you have inclosed. Out of this, you will endeavour to throw a supply of three Months...
53George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 16 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] February 16, 1781 . Orders Clinton to march six companies of Colonel Goose Van Schaick’s regiment to West Point. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress; LS , in the handwriting of H, The Sol Feinstone Collection, Library of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia.
54From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
As we are making a detachment from this army, it is become expedient to withdraw a part of your brigade towards replacing it. You will therefore march to West Point, as speedily as possible, six companies of Col. Van Schaicks regiment, of which the light company to be one. You will make such a disposition with the rest of your brigade as you judge best calculated for the security of the...
55To George Washington from Brigadier General James Clinton, 17 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my Letter of Yesterday, I have the Pleasure to inform your Excellency, that by an Express just received from Col. Hay, I understand, that he has directed one hundred Barrels of Flower to be sent up for the Use of Fort Schuyler which togather with ninety Barrels, collected with difficulty on the Mowhawk River, will supply the Garrison untill the first of May. The Governor informs me that...
56To George Washington from Brigadier General James Clinton, 15 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honor’d with your Excellency’s two favours of the 19th & 26th Ultimo. I wish it were in my power to inform your Excellency that our supplies in this Quarter were either more regular, or our prospects more flattering than they are. But a general deficiency of every article necessary for the Troops is the melancholy Fact—I have repeatedly and in the most pressing terms applied to the...
57To George Washington from Brigadier General James Clinton, 20 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honour’d with your Excellency’s Favor of the 10th inst. as also with one from the Governor. Agreeable to Instructions contain’d in them, I have directed five Officers to proceed, without Loss of Time, to the three upper Counties of this State, on the recruiting Service; and have sent four to Poughkeepsie to be disposed of as the Governor may think proper. Major Davis also waits his...
58From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 19 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received Yours of the 5th. I hope by this time matters of supply are in better train in your quarter, and that they will continue with some regularity thro’ the Winter. A comfortable supply of Cloathing will be sent up to the Line in a few days. Wiesenfeld’s Regt drew their full proportion before they marched. Upon a representation made to me by Mr Shephard the Armourer at Albany, I...
59From George Washington to Brigadier General James Clinton, 19 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure of introducing to you the Chevr de Chatteleaux Majr Genl in the French Army, and the Viscount de Noailles & Count Damas who are anxious to see the Northern Frontier of New York, & may perhaps go as far as lake George. As they are Gentlemen of the first rank in France, I would wish every attention paid to them. You will be pleased to offer them an escort if they incline to...
60To George Washington from Brigadier General James Clinton, 5 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency’s favour of the 29th ulto and by a line from Gen. Heath of the 2th Inst. I understand the Troops are on their way for this place agreeable to your Excellency’s order —It is with particular pain I must inform your Excellency that the state of our provision and precarious expectation of future supplies afford the most gloomy prospects, I have mentioned in my...