Philip Schuyler to George Washington, 25 June 1781
From Philip Schuyler
Poughkepsie [N.Y.] June 25th 1781
Dear Sir
On my return to this place1 I found a letter from Mr Cuyler dated Albany 23d June 1781 In answer to mine of the 18th. he writes “I am happy to Inform you that there appears a general Inclination in the Carpenters and others to do this piece of work (meaning the building of the Batteaux) upon the terms of payment you propose, and that to be certain; I have it not in my power the time has been too short to inform you in general of the disposition of those that have boards, of which article there is by no means a Scarcity, but I have every reason to believe they cannot be procured without a fixed time for payment and as short as possible, and I am led to believe upon tryal the whole business might be carried on with great dispatch provided the payment can be depended on.”2
I shall leave this to morrow and proceed to Albany, and Immediately prosecute the work, Your Excellency will Observe the footing on which the payments are put, permitt me therefore to Intreat you to urge Congress & Mr Morris to take such measures as that my credit may not suffer.3
As our boards are all of the length of 14 feet I find they will work to most advantage If the boats are 32 instead of 35 feet long and that such a boat will require 12 lb. of twenty penny nails, 14 lb. of ten penny, and Eight pounds of eight penny, this Your Excellency will please to let one of the Gentlemen of your family advise Colo: Pickering of.
If the nails and Oakham arrive and the weather prove favorable I am in hopes to Compleat the batteaus In twenty days after my arrival at Albany, As Mr Cuyler Informs me that 150 Carpenters may be procured at 14/ Currency per day for the master Carpenters and 10/ for the Others they finding themselves in rum and provisions and tools.4
If It be not improper I could wish Gen: Stark to be requested to advise with me relative to the disposition of the troops in the northern quarter of the State, and on the means of procuring Supplies should at any time the public Stores be destitute.5 I am Dr Sir with Every Sentiment Of respect and Esteem, Most Sincerely Your Obedient Servant
Ph: Schuyler
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Schuyler and other New York officials had met GW, likely at Peekskill, on this date (see , 3:382, 384). The New York legislature was then in session at Poughkeepsie.
2. Jacob Cuyler served as deputy commissary general of purchases for the northern department. Schuyler had offered to assist with boat construction (see GW to Schuyler, 19 June).
3. For the desired actions, see Schuyler to GW, 20 June, n.3.
4. GW’s secretary Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., sent this information when he wrote Q.M. Gen. Timothy Pickering from Peekskill on 28 June and added: “His Excellency being exceedingly anxious for the Completion of the Boats—hopes that no Failure may happen on your Part, to produce any the least Delay to the finishg the Number mentioned by Genl Schuyler in the Time he has sett” (DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 26053; Pickering wrote on the docket: “recd 28th. acted upon”).
Pickering replied to Trumbull from “Camp” on 29 June: “Previous to General Schuylers demand for nails, I had ordered from pensylvania all that could be spared from the immediate services of the posts in that state; in consequence, Colo. Miles, my deputy there, sent from philadelphia—487 lbs. spikes & deck nails[;] 1099 [pounds] 30d. nails[;] 2081 [pounds] 24d. [nails;] 5813 [pounds] 20d. [nails;] 587 [pounds] 12d. [nails] which were forwarded from Trenton June 22d by teams to go thro’ to King’s ferry.
“These I suppose have arrived to-day at Kings ferry: Tomorrow morning my storekeeper will go down to receive them. Such as suit with Genl Schuyler’s estimate will be sent to Albany without delay. Colo. Miles had no 10d. nails, which are the kind most wanted for the boats: However, these, with the 8d. nails, being the smallest that are required, & takeing but little iron to make them, I should not despair of furnishing enough of them, even if none should come from pensylvania in consequence of my last demand. Of the sizes above mentioned there will now be more than sufficient for twice the number of boats required. As the caulking of the boats is the last part of the builders work, I cannot doubt of receiving oakum in time from philadelphia, should none arrive in the interim from Springfield.
“You will be pleased to communicate this information to the General” (DLC:GW).
Schuyler reported eighty-four bateaux completed “as to the Carpenters work” when he wrote GW on 21 July (DLC:GW).
5. See GW to John Stark, 28 June, found at GW’s reply to Schuyler, 30 June, n.4.