George Washington Papers

Brigadier General James Clinton to George Washington, 12 May 1781

From Brigadier General James Clinton

Albany May 12th 1781

Sir

Your Excellency’s two Favours of the 4th & 7th inst. I have been honour’d with;1 that of the 6th mentioned in the latter has not yet been received.2

The small Supply of Provision, which was received a few Days since, came very opertunely for the Relief of Fort Schuyler.3 It left Schenectady the 10th, but the uncommon Inundations, occasioned by the late heavy Rains, will retard its Progress up the River much longer than was at first expected, tho’ I have not a doubt of its being thrown in, in good Time.4 No other Supplies have yet been received, owing I presume to the same Cause as I hear there is a small Quantity at Claverack, destined for this Place, & which I expect as soon as the Rivr subsides.

The Governor, in a Letter of the 6th int. has furnished me with his Impress Warrents for two thousand Barrels of Flower, & four hundred Barrels of Beef or Fish.5 The Flower I flatter myself may be procured, was it not for the Difficulty of discriminating, betwext that in Possession of Individuals; and that purchaced for the Use of the french Army. I hope to procure a little Fish, but Beef, I have little expectation of, as it is a real Scarcity in this State—The Warrents shall be put in full force without loss of Time—Mr Gamble will set out immediately for the State of Massechussetts Bay, and receive the Instructions of Mr Phelps, agreeable to your Excellency’s request.

I am fully persuaded of your Excellency’s Disposition to afford me every Assistance in your power, and sincerely lement that you are not furnished with Means equal to your Desires. I beg leave in return to intreat your Excellency’s Confidence in my Zeal for the Good of my Country, and that no Exertion shall be wanting on my Part, to render the Burden as light as possible.6 I have the Honor to be with the greatest Respect Your Excellency’s most obt & Most Huble Servt

James Clinton

ALS, DLC:GW.

1These letters addressed the need for provisions in the northern department (see GW to Clinton, 4 and 7 May).

2GW’s letter to Clinton dated 6 May has not been found.

3GW sent these provisions (see GW to Clinton, 7 May, n.3).

4These provisions reached Fort Schuyler, N.Y., on 19 May (see the entries in Samuel Tallmadge’s journal for 14–19 May in Lauber, Orderly Books of the Fourth and Second New York Regiments description begins Almon W. Lauber, ed. Orderly Books of the Fourth New York Regiment, 1778-1780, the Second New York Regiment, 1780-1783, by Samuel Tallmadge and Others, with Diaries of Samuel Tallmadge, 1780-1782, and John Barr, 1779-1782. Albany, 1932. description ends , 750).

5The letter from New York governor George Clinton to his brother dated 6 May has not been identified, but see George Clinton to GW, 6 May, n.4.

6For GW’s acknowledgment, see his etter to Clinton, 14 May, postscript.

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