1. Col. Goose Van Schaick wrote Clinton from Albany on 17 May: “The repeated applications which are hourly made by the Inhabitants of the Western & Northern Frontiers for Protection & Support while they display their Apprehensions of the Enemies Incursions in striking Colours afford me the most painful Sensations excited by a Conviction that their Fears are far from groundless and the Reflection that it is not in my Power to mitigate the Evils with which they are threatened—much less effectually to guard against them.

“The exposed and defenceless State of our Frontiers Settlements which will in all Probability if longer continued be attended with very serious Effects—The Militia of Tryon County, much harrassed by the Military Services which their Situation renders indispensible, are at present exceedingly dispirited and appear averse to adopting the Measures necessary for repelling the Enemy they consider themselves as disregarded by their Fellow Subjects and devoted by their Inattention to Destruction—Hence the most remote Settlements are daily breaking up and unless some speedy and effectual Measures are taken to inspire those desponding People with Confidence it appears far from improbable that Schenectady will be our Frontier to the Westward—The Apprehensions of those to the Northward are equally lively and I should not be surprized if all the settlements to the Northward of the Mohawk and Westward of Hudson’s River were shortly either destroyed or abandoned—Upwards of one hundred Men have in a few Days gone off from this and Tryon County and amongst those some who were reputed good staunch Whigs—Actuated by their Fears and despairing of Succour many others may perhaps be induced to follow their Example.

“It is confidently reported by the disaffected in Tryon County that Sir John Johnson is on his March to make an Incursion into the Country and I have Reason to think from a variety of concurring Information that it is more than conjectural that the Enemy meditate a Blow in that Quarter—Upon the whole the Situation of the Frontier is truly distressing.

“Thus circumstanced—I am incapacitated to draw forth the Militia for Want of Provisions—Our Stores are exhausted and it is with Difficulty the Commissary furnishes Subsistence for those few Men who are in the public service in this Part of the Department—Drafts from the Militia have been made a Week or two since—some appeared at the Place of Rendezvous but being unfurnished with Provisions are obligated to disband.

“Tho this may possibily appear an exagerated account I think I have not heightened the Colours on this Occasion.

“General Ten Broeck in Consequence of my Application has ordered out one half of his Brigade with Eight Days Provision at the Expiration of which Time or shortly after they will probably be obliged to return as it is next to impracticable to subsist even that small Number with the Provisions which the Commissary will be able to provide.

“Perhaps the Disposition of a few Troops or Militia Drafts in Addition to the nine month’s Men in proper Posts on the Frontiers would have a Tendency to curb the Enemy’s Incursion and inspirit the Militia—I have the fullest Reason to think it would prevent the Inhabitants from quitting their Habitations in the Manner they do at present—But the Want of Provision disconcerts every Measure nor have we a Prospect of that Obstruction to our defensive Operations being soon removed” (DLC:GW).

2. Writing from Conajoharie, Tryon County, N.Y., on 12 May militia officers Col. Jacob Klock and Capt. Peter S. Deygert warned Clinton that “Sir John Johnson with a Body under his Command is under March to come out at Johnstown and to attack Stone araby. Brand [Joseph Brant] with an other Body is to fall upon Conajohary at the same Time” (Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers description begins Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds. Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777–1795, 1801–1804. 10 vols. 1899–1914. Reprint. New York, 1973. description ends , 5:701–3). The raids were intended to aid the escape of Loyalists to Canada (see GW to Samuel Huntington, 27–28 May, and n.4 to that document).

3. Congress had authorized the raising of 800 militia for New York frontier defense (see GW to Clinton, 18 May, and n.3).

4. Commissaries had been unable to purchase provisions in the winter and spring due to money shortages (see Goose Van Schaick to GW, 15 April). One report claimed that there were “no other Provisions in Tryon County but such as is destined and laid in for the Garrison of Fort Schuyler” (Abraham Ten Broeck to Clinton, 15 April, in Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers description begins Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds. Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777–1795, 1801–1804. 10 vols. 1899–1914. Reprint. New York, 1973. description ends , 5:629–31).

5. An “Act more effectually to supply the Army with Flour,” passed by the New York legislature on 12 Feb., authorized the seizure of wheat and flour in excess of one bushel or its equivalent “per Head per Month, to every Person belonging to the respective Families of the Persons in whose Possession the said Wheat or Flour shall be found” (N.Y. Laws description begins Laws of the State of New-York, Commencing with the first Session of the Senate and Assembly, after the Declaration of Independency, and the Organization of the New Government of the State, Anno 1777. Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1782. description ends , 101–2; see also Clinton to GW, 26 Dec. 1779, and n.3 to that document, and Clinton to GW, 21 Feb. 1780, and n.2 to that document).

6. GW replied to Clinton on 23–24 May.