To George Washington from Brigadier General John Stark, 5 July 1778
From Brigadier General John Stark
Albany 5th July 1778
Honoured Sir
last night came to hand your favour of the 20th May, Informing of General Sullivans desire, that I should Join him this Campeign—had it been the pleasure of Congress, to have ordered me to that place, I should thot myself very happy, to serve a Campeign with that Worthy Officer.
and would still be glad to Join him if it should be thot for the good of the service—I Look upon myself in a Very disagreeable situation, pened up in a poor City, very little Employ Except to Guard the Frontiers, no Troops to do it with but some Militia, who are Engaged but for a month at a Time—here I cannot gain any great Advantage to the Publick, nor any Honor to myself1—Notwithstanding, I shall Cheerfully comply with any Instructions, or orders, Congress may think proper to Intrust me with—the good of the common cause is my ambition. I am Sir with Great Respect Your Very Humbl. Sevt.
L, DLC:GW. The letter is docketed in part, “from Genl Starke.”
1. Stark expressed his opinions more forcefully in a letter of this date to Maj. Gen. John Sullivan: “this is a Cursed place & people. … we can do but Little on our part we have no troops but Militia & they turn out like drawing a Cat by the tail if they are safe they dont care if the Devil had all their Neighbours” (, 2:86–87).