General Schuyler to President of Congress

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New-York, July 2, 1775.

[Read July 5, 1775.]

SIR: Your letter of the 24th June, enclosing the resolutions of Congress, relative to the persons employed in taking possession of Crown Point, came to hand on Friday last. I shall procure the returns agreeable to the orders, and liquidate the sum to be paid them as soon after my arrival at Ticonderoga as affairs of more importance will admit.

Yesterday I had a conference with the Provincial Convention here on the subject-matter of employing the Green Mountain Boys, after which a Committee was appointed to take it into further consideration; the result, I apprehend, will be to employ five hundred of them, which is full as many as they can raise, and to appoint a Lieutenant-Colonel and Major to the command of them.

Doubts seemed to arise whether your intentions were that these men should be incorporated into those Regiments, for the raising of which they had already issued warrants and nominated the officers, or to make them a separate corps. My opinion was that Congress intended the latter, and, as such, they will be formed.

You will receive from the Convention here some accounts of Colonel Guy Johnson' s conduct, too much of which I fear is true; and the inhabitants in the western quarter of this Colony, of New-Jersey, and the northern parts of Pennsylvania, will probably be exposed to some insults from the savages in their vicinity. I beg leave, therefore, to suggest, that if two Regiments more, of seven hundred and fifty men each, were raised by this Colony, and stationed, one on the southern part of its western frontiers, adjacent to Jersey and Pennsylvania, the other towards the Oneida carrying place, it would strike so much awe into the Indians, as probably to prevent their making incursions upon us.

I fear Governour Trumbull will not have it in his power to furnish me with the necessary quantity of powder. Is it not possible to procure some from Pennsylvania? I shall be greatly distressed for want of a few field-pieces. I wish to see those in the State-House yard, Philadelphia, tried in actual service.

Governour Tryon continues a prudent conduct. I cannot learn that he has taken any step that will give umbrage. The rejection of the New-York Assembly' s Remonstrance by the House of Commons, has had the good effect to make those in this city hearty in the cause of America, whose sentiments, though friendly, differed as to the mode of procuring redress.

Congress has not provided for a deputy Adjutant-General in this department. The necessity of such an appointment would be superseded if another Brigade-Major was allowed, which seems more immediately necessary, as we have two Brigadiers.

Whoever sees the Connecticut Troops admires their strength, stature, youth, and agility, but every one laments their want of regimentals.

I am informed that seven or eight youths of the Caughnawaga tribe are at Mr˙ Wheelock' s school, in New-Hampshire.

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I should be culpable in my own opinion, and unjust to the Provincial Convention of this Colony, if I passed over, in silence, the distinguished zeal with which they second your views. Without immediately knowing for what purpose the supplies I have asked were wanting, they with alacrity have begun to procure them, judging, with propriety, that many military operations are of such a nature as do not, consistent with prudence, permit their being known to too many.

I am, Sir, with sentiments of the most profound respect, yours and the Congress' s most obedient servant,

PHILIPS SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress.