To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 10 June 1777
From Major General Israel Putnam
Peeks Kill [N.Y.] June 10th 1777.
Dear General,
There has for this Long time past an Unhappy Difference, subsisted between Genl McDougall and Colo. Henry B. Livingston, which I fear will never be Amicably setled—soon after I came here, Col. Livingston was Arrested by Genl McDougall; his Crimes were—for Traducing the Character of Genl McDougall in ordering the Retreat of the Continental Troops on the 23d March Last—For neglecting to bring down his Regt in Time on that Day Altho’ orderd in time for abusive Language to Genl McDougall on the 23d Ultm. at his own Quarters Unbecoming the Character of an officer and Gentleman—and several other Crimes were Alledgd against him1 I orderd a Court Martial to sit to try Col. Livingston of which Genl Geo: Clinton was President—the members all Field officers and such as both parties were satisfy’d with.
Col: Livingston was found Guilty of a Breach of Respect to his superior officer—but not such as would warrant the Appellation of Unbecoming the Character of an officer and Gentleman.
But was orderd to be reprovd in publick orders—I approv’d of the Judgement of the Court—and Reprovd Col. Livingston in the Genl Orders—Neither party seemes satisfy’d with the Determination of the Court—Col. Livingston has apply’d to be Remov’d from Genl McDougalls Brigade into the Jersey’s as you will see by the Inclosd2 As there is Little probability that this dispute will ever be setled to eithers satisfaction, would it not be proper that his Regt should be removed from this Department—and (if necessary) another supply its place.
Inclosed I send you a most scandalous Letter Circulated in the Camp, supposed to be wrote by Livingston which I think is Mutiny, in the true sense of the word—if it Could be proved upon him—but there is no prospect of it.3
General McDougall says he is no ways desirous that he should be Dismiss’d the service—he thinks him a verry spirited young Fellow and one that will make an exceeding good officer after being a Little Longer when there is a Considerable Army form’d—but he has ever since his first entering the service been on Detachment when he has had the Command himself.4
There is a Detachment from several of the New England Regts under the Command of Lt Colo. Butler now with you—would [it] not be proper that they should Join their Regts—Your Directions when I Left you were that the Rhode Island Troops and Saml B. Webbs Regts should be form’d into one Brigade—since that I have Recd your orders to send the R. Island Troops forward—I have agreable to them Directions sent forward all the Troops from that state—I wish to have your Directions whether Col. Webbs Regt shall go forward with the R. Island Troops or remain here.
since writing the above your favor of the 8th Inst. Came to hand Col. Hughs is Just came from Fish Kill—and say’s he expects the Cloathing there this day—I shall order it down here as soon as it Arrives there—I have a Letter from Col. Hamilton your A.D.C. dated the same day your’s was—directing me not to Deliver out any of Cloathing till a Depty Cloather shall Come—Altho Directed in your’s to appoint some person Immediately to Deliver it out—I hope however by the time the Cloathing gets here—we shall have a man sent from the Cloather Genl to Delivr it out otherwise I dont know but I shall [be] obliged to appoint one—Genl Nixon and Genl Parsons both arrived here yesterday and the Troops are coming in verry fast—we had two Deserters Came out to day, who Informs that since Roger’s Rangers are gone the [enemy] has about 1000 Hessians Encamp’d on this side the Bridge. I am Dear General with the greatest Respect your Most Obt Hume sert.
L, DLC:GW.
1. For accounts of the British raid on Peekskill on 23 Mar., see Henry Beekman Livingston to GW and Alexander McDougall to GW, both 29 Mar. 1777.
2. Henry Beekman Livingston writes Putnam in the enclosed letter of 9 June: “The late unfortunate Diffirence I have had with General McDougal (Who After Chalenging me, has refused to Fight me, on the Frivolous pretence ‘that I behaved in an Improper manner after my Arrest’) induces me to make Application to your Honour to be removed from this Post as soon as possible, as I have great Reason to think the Inveteracy of his Hatred to me will not permitt him to Rest untill he has Effected my Ruin.
“I should be exceedingly happy if I could be removed to Jersey where I shall be out of the Reach of my Advesary—A more Powerfull reason is that as most of the Officers here are taking Part on One side or Other, My Continuance at this Post may be of Infinite prejudice to the Service and Render many unhappy” (DLC:GW).
3. The enclosed undated and unsigned letter addressed “to the Public” does not name McDougall, but it clearly refers to him in its spiteful account of “a poor contemptible mean half starved Scotchman” who rises from common sailor to become a privateer captain and “returns home weighty in Purse but unpolish’d in Manners[,] rough as his profession & mean as the meanest of [his] Race & here forgetting all the former Occurrences thro’ Life[,] his Money intitles him as he imagines to Commence the Gentleman.” (DLC:GW). The Scotchman then becomes a “dabling Politician” and a general. “Unaccustomed to that Company which his present [position] intitles him to keep & ignorant of that Politeness which is necessary to constitute a part of the Character, he uses the Phrases of his Original & best suited Character the Tar & scruples not to say you lye and that he’s willing to give you Satisfaction, that is that he will box you over a Chest or a Table, here the Man destitute of every noble principle, void of Gratitude & forgetful of the very hand that rais’d him, injures his only friend, betrays his mean, dirty & despicable Origin & becomes the Scorn & Hatred of the human Race. . . . May we not with propriety think he would stoop to any Office, do as his Ancestors have done before him sell Milk by the Quart, betray & dispose of his Maker like another Judas to make a penny & seek the Salvation with this only hope that a want of Soul may prevent the Damnation of his Body” (DLC:GW).
4. McDougall wrote George Clinton on 18 June: “As there is no prospect of your being troubled with any more Court martials, between Col. Livingston and me, I inclose you a Copy of a paper he circulated in Camp, while in arrest, and sent a number of them to a Captain [John] Davis of his regiment, then at Fish Kill to be sent to New Haven. One would immagine from his pretended delicacy of manners, no such production could come from him. But it can be proved by a number of witnesses He sto[o]pped to such meaness, as to get Captain [Samuel] Sacket[t] to Copy them.
“Poor boy, if he knew how little Pain his scribling gave me he would have saved himself the trouble of Composing it” (Hastings, Clinton Papers, 2:37–38).