1. On 15 Apr., Gates had been ordered by Congress to Fishkill to “take the command of [the] . . . northern department; and immediately take effectual measures to secure the communication with the eastern states, by maintaining the possession of Hudson’s river; and for that purpose,” Gates was authorized “to call for militia and artificers from the states of New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts bay, and New Hampshire.” JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 10: 354.

2. Gates had alienated many leading New Yorkers in 1776, when he applied to the Bennington Committee of Safety, a body not recognized as lawful by New York, for supplies for the army. Hall, History of Vermont description begins Hiland Hall, The History of Vermont (Albany, N.Y., 1868) description ends , 222–23.

3. Gouverneur Morris and William Duer were currently New York delegates to the Continental Congress. Morris wrote to Robert R. Livingston on 3 May; the New York delegates, joint letter to Clinton is dated 30 Apr. 1778. LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 9: 524, 551, 588–91.

4. Following word or words obliterated in manuscript.