1Instructions to Major General Philip Schuyler, 25 June 1775 (Washington Papers)
You are to take upon you the Command of all the Forces destined for the New York Department; and see that the Orders of the Continental Congress are carried into Execution with as much precision and Exactness as possible. For your better Government therein you are herewith furnished with a Copy of the Instructions given to me by that Honorable Body. Such parts thereof as fall within the Line...
2From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 10–11 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I receivd your Favor of 1st Inst. by Express from New york; but as I am exceedingly hurried in making out my Dispatches for the Hble Congress at Philadelphia it is not in my Power to answer it in so full a Manner as I wish. Notwithstanding Governor Tryon’s plausible Behaviour I recommend it to you to watch him narrowly and as any unlucky Change of Affairs on our part may produce in him a...
3From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 27 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday a Deputation from the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire attended me with a Request that three Companies raised in that province, and now posted on Connecticut River at and between the two Cohhess commanded by Capts. Timothy Reedle, James Osgood & John Parker might be continued for the Security of the Frontiers of that Province on the Continental Establishment. As it did not appear...
4From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 28 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you Yesterday by way of New York, and in two Hours afterwards was favored with your’s of the 15th & 18th Inst: with their respective Inclosures. I was extremely glad to find your first apprehensions of an Incursion by the Indians in some Degree removed by the later Advices: at the same Time I think it evident from the Tenor and Spirit of Col: Johnson’s Letter, that no art or Influence...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Schuyler, 8 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society Your Letter to the President of the Congress, arrived here just now by an Express from Albany, and is brought to me, the Congress being adjourn’d and all the Members out of town but my self. I have taken the Liberty of looking into it, to see if it required any Service from hence in our Power to render. I wish we had more Powder to send you as you desire:...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Schuyler, 10 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I did myself the Honour of Writing to you by the Return of your Express on the 8th Instant. Immediately after dispatching him, it occurr’d to me to endeavour the obtaining from our Committee of Safety a Permission to send you what Powder remain’d in our Hands; which tho’ it was thought scarcely safe for our selves to part with it, they, upon my Application and...
7From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 14 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favor of the 31st July informing me of your preparations to cross the Lake, and inclosing the Affidavits of John Shatforth, and Deguid—Several Indians of the Tribe of St Francis, came in here Yesterday, and confirmed the former Accounts of the good Disposition of the Indian Nations and Canadians to the Interests of America. A most happy Event, on which I sincerely congratulate...
8From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 20 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 15th Inst. I have been favored with your’s of the 6th, I am much concerned to find the Supplies ordered you have been so much delayed: By this Time I hope Colonel McDougall whose Zeal is unquestionable, has joined you with every Thing necessary for prosecuting your plan. Several of the Delegates from Philadelphia, who have visited our Camp, assure me that powder is...
9From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 8 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Favor of 31st august and am much engaged in sending off the Detachmt under Col: Arnold upon the Plan contained in mine of the 20th Ultimo: A Variety of Obstacles have retarded us since the Express returned with your’s of the 27th August from Albany, but we are now in such Forwardness that I expect they will set out by Sunday next at farthest. I shall take Care in my...
10From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 4 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 20th Ult: came safely to Hand, and I should have dispatched the Express much sooner, but Colo. Arnold’s Expedition is so connected with your operations that I thought it most proper to detain him till I could give you the fullest account of his progress. This Morning the Express I sent him returned and the Inclosure No. 1. is a Copy of his Letter to me. No. 2. is a Copy of a...
11From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 6 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you Yesterday of which the inclosed is a Copy. Since which I have been informed that your Illness has obliged you to quit the Army, and General Wooster as the Elder Brigadier, will take Rank and Command of Mr Montgomery—General Wooster I am informed is not of such Activity as to press thro’ Difficulties, with which that Service is particularly environ’d. I am therefore much alarmed for...
12From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 26 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your several Favors of the 12th & 14th Instant came safely to Hand, though not in the proper Order of Time with their several Inclosures. You do me Justice in believing that I feel the utmost Anxiety for your Situation: that I sympathize with you in all your Distresses, and shall most heartily share in the Joy of your Success—My Anxiety extends itself to poor Arnold, whose Fate depends upon...
13From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 5 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 26th Ulto with the Inclosures containing an account of the Surrender of Fort Chamblee was an excellent Repast, but somewhat incompleat for Want of Montgomery’s Letter which (a Copy) you omitted to inclose. On the Success of your Enterprize so far I sincerely congratulate you. as the acquisition of Canada is of unmeasurable Importance to the Cause we are engaged in—No acot of...
14From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
My last to you was the 5th Inst. I have since received your most agreeable Favour and its Inclosures of the 7th—The Surrender of St John’s is a pleasing Presage of the Reduction of Quebec in effecting which I hope Colonel Arnold will cooperate, the last Account from him is dated 13th October at the 2d portage from Kennebec to the dead River, from whence he had dispatched an Express to you and...
15From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you this Day by Express and informed you therein the great Necessity I was in for Ordonance Stores & ammunition, and that [I woud Send] Henry Knox Esqr. to New York to procure there as much as can be spared, from thence to proceed to you, that Gentleman will deliver you this Letter, I recommend him and the Business he goes upon to your Attention, should he find more Money than he...
16From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 28–30 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
You may easily conceive that I had great pleasure in perusing your Letter of the 18th Instant which with the Inclosures I received last Evening—It was much damped by my finding that General Montgomery had the same Difficulties to encounter with the Troops under your Command that I have with these here—No Troops were ever better provided or higher paid, yet their Backwardness to inlist for...
17From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 5 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your much esteemed Favour of the 22d Ultimo covering Colonel Arnold’s Letter, with a Copy of one to General Montgomery, and of his to you I received Yesterday Morning. It gave me the highest Satisfaction to hear of Colonel Arnold’s being at point Levi, with his Men in great Spirits after their long and fatiguing March, attended with almost insuperable Difficulties, and the discouraging...
18From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 18 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favours, the first of the 28th Ultimo and the two last of the 9th Instant with their Inclosures I received —I am happy to hear of your being better, and heartily wish that you may be soon perfectly recovered from your Indisposition. I should have been very glad, if Mr Carlton had not made his Escape, I trust e’re long he will be in our Hands, as I think we shall get possession of Quebec,...
19From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 24 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 15th Instant came Yesterday to Hand, with Copies and Extracts of your late Letters to Congress—I have with great Attention perused them—I am very sorry to find by several paragraphs, that both you and General Montgomery incline to quit the Service—Let me ask you Sir, when is the Time for brave Men to exert themselves in the Cause of Liberty and their Country, if this is not?...
20From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 16 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 5th Inst. inclosing Copies of General Montgomery’s and General Wooster’s Letters I received for which I return you my Thanks. It was from a full Conviction of your zealous Attachment to the Cause of our Country and Abilities to serve it, that I repeatedly pressed your Continuance in Command, and it is with much Concern Sir, that I find you have Reason to think your holding...
21From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 18 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favour of the 13th Instant with its Inclosures and am heartily sorry & most sincerely condole with you upon the unhappy Fall of the brave and worthy Montgomery & those gallant officers & Men, who have experienced a like Fate. In the Death of this Gentleman, America has sustained a heavy Loss, as he had approved himself a steady Friend to her Rights and of Ability to render her...
22From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 27 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 22d Inst. inclosing Col: Arnold’s Letter of the 2d explained the Doubt we were in respecting his Detachment —Happy would it have been for our Cause if that party could have got out of the City of Quebec; as I am much afraid from the Complexion of the Letters from that place that there is little Hope of Arnold’s continuing the Blockade without Assistance from Wooster which he...
23From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 1 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
On the 27th Ulto I had the pleasure of writing you and then mentioned my being under some Embarrassment, respecting the Application which I expected from our Caghnawaga Friends—I have now the pleasure to inform you that in a Talk they honored me with Yesterday, that they put the Matter upon the Footing I wished, that is, to join the Forces in Canada whenever you shall call for their...
24From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 25 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding I have adopted every Measure which my Judgment directed for procuring arms in these Governments for the army under my Command, as well by applications to the several assemblies and Conventions as by sending officers to the several Towns to purchase, I am under the disagreeable and melancholly Necessity of informing you, that there is at this important Crisis a very great...
25From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 27 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
Last Night I received your Favor of the 14th Instant by Mr Bennet, inclosing a general Return of the Artillery & Military Stores in our possession in Canada. It gives me great pleasure to hear that you are improving in your Health, before long I sincerely hope you will be so recovered as to be able to go to the Army in Canada, where I am convinced you are much wanted, and wou’d be of the...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Schuyler, 11 March 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library The Congress have appointed three Commissioners to go to Canada, of which Number I have the Honour to be one. We purpose setting out some day this Week. I take the Liberty of mentioning this, as possibly a little previous Notice may enable you more easily to make any Preparation you shall judge necessary to facilitate and expedite our Journey, which I am sure you...
27From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 19 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
The 17th Inst. Mr Bennet handed me your Favor of the 9th it mortifies me beyond Expression to find the Troops going to Canada so badly provided with arms—I have so often mentioned the Situation we are in from the same Cause, that I shall not trouble you more thereon—Indeed your Letters and mine seem Echo’s to each other enumerating our mutual Difficulties—Should Success crown our Labors the...
28From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 3 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I this day receivd your favor of the 27th ultmo with a Letter from General Arnold. the enemy have quitted this Harbour Last week, we have no Certain account of their destination it is generally thought they are gon to Halifax if this shoud prove true, it is probable, they will attempt to penetrate into Canada, when the Communication by the River St Lawrence is open—by a Late Letter I received...
29From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 15 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
Previous to the Receipt of Your Favor of the 7th Instant I had been directed by the Honorable Congress to detach four Regiments to Quebec. If they could be spared from the Service here. I am very sensible of the Great Necessity of sending a reputable Body of Troops immediately into that Country, & have Accordingly Ordered four of the strongest Regiments to hold themselves in Readiness, & am...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Schuyler, 17 April 1776 (Franklin Papers)
AL : New York Public Library We are all concern’d to hear of your Indisposition, and join in requesting you earnestly to take care of your self. We purpose staying here as you advise in your kind Note of this Morning. We left all well at your House: The Sergeant has a Letter that I brought for you: Mrs. Schuyler requests that you would send him back as soon as may be. I return inclos’d the...