25th. Breakfasted at Squire Cogswells1—dined at Colo. Vandeburgs & reached head Quarters about Sunset where I found letters from Generls. Schuyler & Clinton, full of uncertain information respecting the enemys landing at Crown point & intention to penetrate on the Hudson & Mohawk Rivers.2 This uncertainty respects the number, not the fact—the latter seeming to be beyond a doubt. In consequence of this information I ordered the Companies of Vanscaicks Regiment3 at West point to hold themselves in readiness to Move at an hours warning.
1. The tavern kept by William and Anna Whittlesey Cogswell was “near the village of New Preston, in the town of Washington” (, 1:63).
2. The letters from James Clinton and Philip Schuyler to GW, both dated 22 May 1781, are in DLC:GW. Schuyler’s letter relayed a report that “four thousand of the Enemy are actually come to crown point and Tyconderoga.”
3. Goose Van Schaick (1736–1789) became colonel of the 2d New York Regiment in June 1775. Van Schaick’s regiment at this time was the 1st New York Regiment, of which he served as colonel from Nov. 1776 to Nov. 1783 (, 84).