From George Washington to Major General Philip Schuyler, 20–21 June 1776
To Major General Philip Schuyler
New York June th 20[–21] 1776.
Dear Sir
I herewith transmit You sundry Resolves of Congress respecting the Indians, the fortifying Fort Stanwix &c. & for rendering more easy & Commodious our passes into Canada.1
As the Resolves are of an Interesting & Important Nature, I must request Your particular Attention to them & most Active Exertions for accomplishing & Carrying the whole into Execution with all possible Dispatch.
I am hope full the Bounty Congress have agreed to allow, as You will perceive by the last Resolve, will prove a powerful Inducement to engage the Indians in our Service, & their Endeavours to make Prisoners of all the Kings Troops they possibly can. You will use Every Method You shall Judge Necessary, to conciliate their Favor, & to this End, are Authorized to promise them a punctual Payment of the Allowance Congress have determined on, for such Officers & Privates belonging to the King’s Army as they may captivate & deliver Us.2
June 21st. I have this Moment received Your Favors of the 15 & 17 & the Post being about to depart have not Time to Answer them fully, & shall only add that Lady Johnson may remain at Albany till further Directions from Me. I am Dr Sir, Your Most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
LB, NN: Schuyler Papers; LB, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW enclosed copies of Congress’s resolutions of 14 and 17 June authorizing a conference with the Six Nations, the establishment of a post at Fort Stanwix, the improvement of the route from Fort Edward on the Hudson River to Lake Champlain by way of Wood Creek, the stationing of additional men and boats on the Hudson between Albany and Fort Edward to save the cost of land transportation, the appointment of officers to supervise the carrying of provisions and military stores to Canada, the building of as many armed vessels as necessary “to make us Indisputably Masters of the Lakes Champlain & George,” the employment of Indians wherever GW deemed them most useful, and the payment of Indians for the capture of British soldiers. Congress also sought Schuyler’s opinion about the need to build “a temporary Fortification or Entrenched Camp either at Crown Point or opposite to Ticonderoga” (NN: Schuyler Papers; see also , 5:442, 450–52).
2. Congress authorized GW to offer the Indians “a reward of one hundred dollars for every commissioned officer, and of thirty dollars for every private soldier of the King’s troops that they shall take prisoners in the Indian country, or on the frontiers of these colonies” (ibid., 452).