Letter from General Washington to General Thomas expressing his concern at the deficiency of the Regiments destined for Canada

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New-York, April 15, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I am to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 7th instant, and cannot but express my concern at the great deficiency of the regiments destined for Canada; but as I am sensible of the necessity of having a respectable body of troops in that country, I am now preparing to send you four of the strongest regiments in the service; and you may rely upon it no time shall be lost in getting them forward as fast as possible. They will amount to about two thousand rank and file, and will go to Albany by water.

I have written to General Schuyler by this opportunity, and desired him to make the necessary preparations for their subsistence, and doubt not he will speedily despatch them to you.

I most sincerely wish you success equal to the importance of the cause; and am, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Major-General John Thomas, Albany.