Letter from General Wooster to General Schuyler

v4:1483

Montreal, February 19, 1776.

SIR: The Paymaster has arrived, but has brought no hard cash with him. We can buy no provisions or wood with Continental currency, yet they must be had, and that before the middle of March; after that time, there will be no passing up and down this river for three or four weeks. Perhaps the expedition may fail for want of supplies. Flour may be purchased for nine livres per hundred weight. We ought to purchase a quantity of beef also. What we have will now soon be gone. I understand there is a quantity at Ticonderoga. I think it very necessary that it should be pushed over the Lake immediately. I need say nothing more than inform you that there is not one thousand left of the money which you sent us, and that will be gone in a very few days. I hope our friends will not suffer the enterprise to fall through for want of it.

I am told there is a Mr˙ Brazier, a gunner, at Crown-Point, who may be, doubtless, spared from there, and will be much wanted at Quebeck.

I shall be obliged to you if you will be good enough to inform me, whether there are any twelve or twenty-four-pound shot, or eight-inch shells, at Ticonderoga or Crown-Point; if there are, we shall be very glad to have them sent us; they will be much wanted. We have, at St˙ John' s, a twenty-four-pound, and several twelve-pound cannon, and an eight-inch howitzer. It will not be worth while to take them to Quebeck, unless we have shot and shells for them.

I am, in haste, your most obedient, humble servant,
DAVID WOOSTER.

To Major-General Schuyler.