To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 11–12 June 1776
From Major General Philip Schuyler
Albany June 11.[–12] 1776.
Dear Sir
I had the Honor to address Your Excellency Yesterday by Post, Since which Mr Deane the Indian Interpreter is arrived from Oneida, and Contradicts the Account contained in the Paper inclosed in mine of Yesterday. But says that an Account arrived at Oneida, & the Oneidas beleived it to be true, “That Butler had Called a Meeting of the six Nations at Oswega.”1 The Oneidas apprehend that he will attempt to procure the six Nations to join the more Western Indians and assist them in falling on the German Flatts. I have recommended the greatest Vigilance to the Committee of that County and to keep Parties continually scouring the Woods as far as and Even beyond Fort Stanwix to prevent a Surprize.
I have already sent a Message inviting the six Nations to a Conference at the German Flatts on the first of next Month, The Oneidas desired Mr Deane to request me to send for the Indians that left this on a Visit to the Sea Coast, as these are chiefly our best Friends, I wish to have them here the soonest possible, And that Every Mark of Attention should be given them by the People with whom they come up.2
We are in great Want of Powder and Lead, and equally so for Intrenching Tools of Every Kind, a few Pieces of Cannon with the Appurtenances, and a Competent Number of Artillerymen, having None on this Side of Canada.
I am preparing Every Thing I can with the utmost Secrecy for taking Post at Fort Stanwix which I propose to do immediately after the Conference with the Indians And should the Mohawks, Onondagas & Cayuagas declare against Us, I will if possible cut off the two latter as soon as they are got home by a Detachment from Fort Stanwix, the farthest live about Ninety Miles from that Place, and at the same Time seize on the Mohawks, the Senecas are out of our Reach. Be pleased to order up some Flints.
Some Time in April a Mr Blake of Montreal presented me two Bills, drawn on me in his Favor by General Wooster, One of which amounting to £417.18.9 Lawful was to be paid in Specie which as I could not Comply with I offered to discharge in Continental Bills, he refuses to accept them and Complains of a Breach of Public Faith, I confess that I had authorized General Wooster to draw on me in that Manner, and had Reason to beleive from the Advices I received from Congress that I should have been enabled to discharge such Drafts, but such has been the Scarcity of Specie, and such the Call for It in Canada, That what little has been sent me from below I have immediately forwarded, and upwards of two thousand pounds which I borrowed in February last on my private Security to be repaid in three Weeks, is still due as I have never Yet been enabled to discharge It; Blake makes such a Stir about this Affair, that I could wish he was paid, If so much Specie can be got at New York.3
General Sullivan has sent for the Exchanged Prisoners that had returned to Tyonderoga & Fort George & I have ordered them back, but Many of Colo: Bedel’s Regiment are already deserted.
[12 May]4 Yesterday General Wooster delivered me a Return of which the inclosed is a Copy,5 I mention this least It should be said That I had received regular Returns. I have not Yet had one from Canada, Either of the Army or from any Commissary whatsoever, Not Even a single Line from Mr Price, Altho’ I so Earnestly pressed him—In my Instructions of the 7th May, to let me know the State of Provisions in Canada,6 In Short If I had not apprehended that Difficulties would have arizin in procuring Flour & prepared accordingly, the Army must have starved, they are out of Danger now, unless No Pork should soon arrive.
If the Militia ordered into Canada from the New England Colonies should not have had the small Pox they will rather weaken than strengthen our Army. Would It Not be adviseable to order them to send None but such as have already had that Distemper.
I have about One hundred and twenty Batteaus at Fort George, which will I beleive be fully sufficient to Convey All the Militia that will go. I am Dr Sir with the Greatest Respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble servt
Ph: Schuyler
LS, DLC:GW; LB, NN: Schuyler Papers; copy, DLC:GW; copy, enclosed in GW to Hancock, 16 June 1776, DNA:PCC, item 153; copy, DNA:PCC, item 170; copy, DLC: Hancock Papers. The dateline of the letter-book copy in the Schuyler Papers reads “Albany June 10th 1776.” Although the copy in DLC:GW was originally dated “June 10th 1776,” the copyist corrected it to “June 11th 1776.” The other copies are dated 11 June. For the date of the last three paragraphs, see note 4 below.
1. John Butler, who later raised a corps of Loyalist rangers, was attempting to persuade the Indians to support the British (see Eleazar Wheelock to GW, 26 Jan. 1776, and note 2).
2. Schuyler apparently is referring to the Indians who visited GW at New York in May and were in Philadelphia during late May and early June. See Message from the Six Nations, c.16 May 1776, and source note.
3. Gen. David Wooster wrote to Schuyler from Montreal on 16 Mar. 1776: “This will be handed to you by Mr Blake in whose favor I have taken the Liberty to draw upon you—One Order of the 13 Instant for £394.15.3 Lawfl Money which is for Blankets &c. purchased for the Use of the Troops & one Order of the 16 Inst. for £471.18.9 Lawful Money in Cash borrowed of him for the Use of the Army and which we have had for some time without Interest[.] he has been very friendly to us & granted us every Assistance in his Power” (DNA:PCC, item 153). John Blake, who had been a merchant in Montreal for many years before the war, subsequently moved to the United States and unsuccessfully petitioned the Continental Congress for restitution (, 22:288, 24:271, 27:402; Blake to the Continental Congress, 21 May 1782, DNA:PCC, item 142; Blake et al. to the Continental Congress, 18 April 1783, DNA:PCC, item 41).
4. The last three paragraphs appear as a postscript dated the “12th” in the copies in DLC:GW, DNA:PCC, and the Hancock Papers at DLC. In the letterbook copy in the Schuyler Papers, these paragraphs are included in the main body of the letter but are also dated the “12th.”
5. Wooster’s return was accidentally omitted (see GW to Schuyler, 16 June 1776).
6. See Schuyler to James Price, 7 May 1776, DNA:PCC, item 153.