Philip Schuyler to George Washington, 8–9 June 1781
From Philip Schuyler
Albany June 8th[–9] 1781
Dr Sir
Yesterday I received a line from Mr Fox, which I have the honor to Inclose Your Excellency, I cannot credit the tale of the 4000 troops at Halifax, as I think we should have had some account of their arrival there.1
Young Shepherd, alluded to, left this on the 20th ult., and carried the papers mentioned In the intercepted letter, transmitted Your Excellency by Genl Clinton.2
On the 3d Instant, I dispatched fourty Oneidas, and five trusty white men on a Scout to Ti[c]onderoga, and Crown point with directions to reconnoitre the Enemy as closely as possible, and Afterwards to bring of some prisoners.3
I find by some emissaries that the principal Tories In this quarter, have received some Intelligence which deeply Chagrins them, but they keep the particulars so secret as not even to let the Inferior ones know It.
This moment Your Excellencys favor of the 30th ult: was deliverd me. If the Vermonters will take an Active part with us, I think we shall have little to fear from any force the Enemy can probably send now that we have some regular troops to lead on the Militia.4
If the Enemy at N. York are advised of a reinforcement coming in force from France they may be under the necessity of concentring all their force, either at N. York, or in the Southern states, and as four or five years Experience has evinced that they cannot Accomplish any Important penetration In this quarter. this reflection, and the reasons Your Excellency assigns for them, may probably induce them, to remove to the Southward, but on the contrary, when It is considered that by quitting New York, they not only abandon their friends in that place, to the resentment of an exasperated people, but damp the hopes of all their adherents In the northern states, and diminish the Confidence the tories in every quarter have in permanent protection, besides the prejudicial Influence such a measure would create against them in Europe It seems little probable that they will take the step.5
Saturday 9th that night by Major Popham I received a line from Mr Robert Morris requesting me to procure 1000 Barrels of flour to be delivered to Your Excellency’s order, notwithstanding the Scarcity of Money, and that my Credit has already been stretched to supply the troops & Indians here, I have made shift to procure 500 Barrels which You will receive assoon as a sloop can be provided to transport It from Esopus, & other landings in ulster County, the remaining 500 Barrels, will be detained here, until Your Excellency shall have Signified, whether you chuse they should be sent to West point, or delivered for the use of the troops here,6 lest your letter Should pass me on the road as I Intend for Pokepsie in a day or two, permit to beg you to send any directions relative to the flour to Jacob Cuyler Esqr. of albany.7
An Indian is never satisfied without a little rum. I have no money to purchase any with nor is there any in store, If It be possible to Spare a hogshead from below I shall be greatly relieved by It, and It will be so sparingly expended as to last, I hope, Until winter. I am Dear Sir with the Sincerest sentiments of respect Esteem & affection Your Excellency’s Obedient Servant
Ph: Schuyler
ALS, DLC:GW. GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman docketed the letter: “And by letter of 16th to Mr Jacob Cuyler” (see n.7 below).
1. The enclosure has not been found, but see James Clinton to GW, 30 May, and n.1.
2. For the intercepted letter and William Shepherd’s son, see Clinton to GW, 30 May.
3. For the activities of this Oneida Indian party, see Glatthaar and Martin, Forgotten Allies, 282; see also John Tayler to George Clinton, 16 Oct. 1781, and Marinus Willett to Clinton, 18 Dec. 1781, in , 7:405–7, 600–602.
4. See GW to Schuyler, 30 May; see also GW to Schuyler, 14 May.
5. Erroneous reports circulated that the British planned to evacuate New York City (see Arthur St. Clair to GW, 21 May, and n.2 to that document).
6. Robert Morris, superintendent of finance, had written Schuyler on 29 May with this request for flour (see Morris’s second letter to GW, 29 May; see also Morris to GW, 15 June; Schuyler to GW, 20 June; and Thomas Lowrey to GW, 1 July). For Schuyler’s expenditures, see his letters to GW, 20 and 25 June and 1 July; see also , 447.
7. GW wrote Jacob Cuyler, deputy commissary general of purchases for the northern department, from headquarters on 16 June: “By a letter from General schuyler I am informed that he has purchased one thousand Barrels of Flour for the Army by order of Mr Morris. 500 are sent down here and the remainder are detained at Albany untill I give further directions concerning them—You will be pleased to deliver them to the order of Brig. Genl Clinton for the use of the troops to the Northward—I have taken the liberty to address you upon this subject, at the desire of Genl schuyler, who will probably have left Albany to attend the Legislature at Pougkepsie” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). Schuyler met GW at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., during a legislative session (see GW to Schuyler, 19 June, n.1).