1. See James Clinton to GW, 16 May, and n.1.

2. George Clinton wrote his brother James from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on 19 May: “Your Letter of the 16th Instant, was delivered me late in the Evening of the 17th. Business of Importance which I was then engaged in and which would not admit of Delay or my absence, made it impossible for me to wait personally on the Genl. as you requested & had this not been the Case I was apprized of his Intention of setting out early next morning for Weathersfield & was apprehensive I should not have been able to reach Fishkill in Season to see him without riding all night. I, however, wrote him by the same Express which carried your Letter, stating your Ideas respecting the abandoning of Fort Schuyler & establishing a Post at the German Flatts. The inclosed Letter from his Excellency which was left open for my perusal will inform you of the Result. I consider it a Point of a great Importance and delicacy; I could have, therefore, wished that the Genl. (who is possessed of every Information that I am) had favoured us with his Determination on the Subject, especially as the Propriety of repairing & maint[a]in the present Post or the abandoning of it & establishing a new one at the Flatts, may in a great measure depend either upon the Opperations of the ensuing Campaign or the regular Force, which may be employed for the Defence of the Northern & Western Frontier, of both which I am utterly ignorant.

“If offensive Opperations to the northward shoud take Place or a respectable Regular Force ordered for the Defence of the Frontier it woud in my oppinion be most elligible to hold Fort Schuyler; but if neither shoud be the Case under our present Circumstances, a Post at the Flatts will afford the greater Security to the frontier Settlements of Tryon & be supported with least Risk & Expence. I will not, however, venture at this Distance to give any possitive Oppinion on the Subject. I have directed Genl. Renselaer, who commanded last year in Tryon County, & forwarded suplies to Fort Schuyler immediately to repair to Albany, that you may avail yourself of his Sentiments on this Occassion & I woud advise that Genl. Schuyler, Genl. Gaansevoort & such other principle gentlemen on whose Judgm’t you can depend, be consulted, & that you be governed in your Determination on the Subject by the Sentim’ts, as far as Circumstances will admit & you may rest assured I shall chearfully acquiece. I am using every possible Exertion to draw out the Levies for the Defence of the Frontiers; & I have Reason to hope they will soon be complete” (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 , 6:886–87, brackets in source; see also George Clinton to GW, 17 May). Clinton also wrote Brig. Gen. Robert Van Rensselaer on this date to have him assist in determining whether to abandon Fort Schuyler “& establish a new one at the German Flatts” (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 , 6:892–93).

James Clinton replied to his brother from Albany on 22–23 May: “Your favour of the 19th Inst. with the Inclosed from Genl. Washington of the 18th I have had the pleasure to receive. Agreeable to your desire I have consulted with Generals Rensselaer, and Gansevoort, the Mayor and Council and several other Gentlemen respecting the abandoning of Fort Schuyler; and establishing a Post at the German Flatts, who are unanimous in opinion that under our present circumstances the Fort should be evacuated and the Garrison removed to Fort Herkeme[r].” Clinton elaborated on military concerns and “left open” enclosed letters for GW before adding on 23 May: “Since yesterday I have detained my Letter, expecting to receive farther intelligence from the Northward; last night … a second Letter from Genl. Schuyler was received with one for Genl. Washington which is left open for your perusal” (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 , 6:903–4; see also James Clinton to GW, 22–23 May).

George Clinton replied to his brother from Poughkeepsie on Sunday, 27 May: “Your Favour of the 22d & 23d Instant was delivered me Friday afternoon. I immediately forwarded its inclosures to Head Quarters; His Excellency the Genl. was at Weathersfield, & did not return before late yesterday Evening, which will account for your not receiving any Dispatches from him by the present Messenger. I intend to set out early Tomorrow Morning for New Windsor, to confer with the Genl. on the State of the Frontiers; you may rely on my using every Argument in my Power to induce him to order as great a Force for their Protection as can possibly be spared, & I am not without Hopes that he will give you the remaining part of your Brigade for this Service. I will also endeavour to have the Embarrassments you labour under, for want the means of Subsistence, removed, & acquaint you with the Result on my Return. Please to appologize to Genl. Schuyler for my not writing him by this Conveyance” (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 , 6:905; see also George Clinton to GW, 17 May, n.4, and GW to James Clinton, 5 and 10 June).

3. See The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June, editorial note.