Col. Van Schaick to the New-York Committee of Safety

v2:1719

Albany, July 24, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I yesterday received yours of the 17th instant, and agreeable to your request, have made out a return, as near as I could, which you have on the other side.

The five first companies on this return, are those raised by the Committee of this City and County, who are now in actual service at Lake George, and the posts adjacent, from whence General Schuyler has ordered an officer out of each company down the country to complete the levies of those companies. The officers of the last five companies on this return have but lately received their warrants, and are now raising me in this and the neighbouring Counties.

I have sent orders to the recruiting officers, to send to me without delay, returns of the number of men they have enlisted; and shall, on receipt thereof, lay before the Congress a return of the state of my Regiment.

You will please to observe, that several of the officers appointed by the Provincial Congress refused to accept their warrants; in lieu of whom, the Committee of this City and County, at the request of General Schuyler, have appointed others, as the General conceived that waiting for the appointment of others by the Congress would create such a delay in the levying of the companies, as might be productive of ruinous consequences; so that the return consists of those who have accepted their warrants from the Provincial Congress, and those appointed by the Committee in the room of those that declined serving.

It is impossible for me at present to say when my Regiment will be ready to take the field, as I cannot determine with what success the recruiting officers will meet.

You may depend upon it, that nothing will be wanting on my part to expedite the completing of the Regiment, as I am convinced that the circumstances of the Country admit of no delay.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,

GOOSE VAN SCHAICK.

To the Committee of Safety for the Colony of New-York, during the recess of the Provincial Congress.