To George Washington from Philip Schuyler, 30 June 1779
From Philip Schuyler
Saratoga [N.Y.] June 30th 1779.
from Gen: Schulyer.
I have the honor to inclose your Excellcy copy of a paper written by a friend in Canada in a tory stile, and forwarded to me by a person I sent thither some time ago, the bearer left Boucherville1 on the 12th inst. and arrived here only yesterday having been detained by a sprained ancle, he says that from what he could learn Sir John Johnsons regiment is not more than three hundred strong—that the Indians called Les tetes, du beauf had been at Montreal but could not be prevailed on to go to the Westward—that the enemy continued to work at the fortifications at Sorrel, but no re-inforcements had arrived.2
L, in James McHenry’s writing, enclosed in GW to John Jay, 15 Aug. 1779, DNA: PCC, item 166; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169.
1. Boucherville is a Canadian village on the east bank of the St. Lawrence River about ten miles northeast of Montreal. At least 160 miles separated Boucherville from Saratoga.
2. The enclosure that Schuyler sent with his letter to GW has not been identified, but it apparently was a letter of 10 June from a friend of Schuyler’s in Montreal that was copied by McHenry at the same time that he copied the letter of this date from Schuyler to GW. McHenry’s copy of the letter from Schuyler’s friend reads: “Some of the ships on Lake Champlain are sailed from St Johns where they are to be stationed to afford Shelter and assistance to scouting parties, and such of our friends as are persecuted by the rebels, and cannot stay among them, no troops are to be sent from hence this year to attack the rebels on the South side of the lakes, but we hope they will be severely chastised in other places—Capn Butler and Brandt the Indian a bastard son of Sir William are returned to Niagara—they came here to solicit for soldiers and Indians to assist them against the rebels, who it is said are preparing to come into the Indian country with two thousand men, and I have great pleasure to tell you, that 200 men from St Johns, and 150 from three rivers are arrived here—these with 100 more from this place are to march in about 8 days, and with half of Sr John’s regiment, and about 100 of our refugee friends are to join the Indians. These it is said will be enough when joined to the Indians, and some troops from Niagara to give the rebels a drubbing—thirty indians are to go with the troops from here, a greater number would have gone but the rascally Canadians prevents them; these fellows since hostilities are known to have begun between us and the French are become very saucy—they have got a notion that Canada will soon be in the hands of the French—Some people believe that the French will make an attempt to recover the country, but as Quebec and point Levi are fortifying and most of our troops kept there, others think there can be no danger. We have accounts from London that 10,000 men are to be sent to New-York, and that the war is to be carried on with more vigor than ever, please to send me by the bearer as many news papers as you can, and write me all the news with you” (DNA:PCC, item 166).