Letter from General Schuyler to Governour Trumbull: Pay of the Troops

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Albany, January 6, 1776.

Sir: I have the honour of your favour of the 1st inst. The Paymaster-General has delivered me the rolls of some of General Wooster' s regiment, as, also, Captain Curtis' s pay-roll, by which, I observe, he is paid for sundry premiums, allowed by your Colony. As these differ from the allowances made in other Colonies, and having no directions from the Continental Congress on that head, I cannot venture to give any warrants for their payment. I believe, at any rate, that this would best come as a Colonial charge against the Continent, together with the days added for returning home. In this view, I have taken the liberty to enclose your Honour a form of a pay-roll, agreeable to which I have paid the troops raised in this Colony. It will be almost impossible for many of the Captains to ascertain the dates of the discharges of many of their men, but this can be supplied from my books; as to such as were discharged by Colonel Hinman or me, I propose to give warrants for the pay, and that the Paymaster should, immediately after the accounts are finished, repair to Connecticut, and pay the Captains there. Such of the men as have reinlisted in Canada, to have their names entered in the roll, following each other, and, if the Captains are not certain as to the time, then to make up the wages due to them the 18th November. I have ordered the Captains of the troops raised in this Colony, to send me accounts of the distance the people had to travel from where they were discharged to their places of residence, that I might lay it before the Congress, which I wish yours, also, to do. The billeting money, which I will grant warrants for, I wish to have in separate rolls.

General Montgomery was still before Quebeck, on the 16th December, and had intentions of storming, but he has so few troops, (only eight hundred, and a few Canadians,) that I tremble for the event. I wish he could have prevailed on more of the troops to remain in Canada.

Please to accept my best wishes, with the compliments of the season.

I am, sir, with much respect and esteem, your Honour' s most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

Governour Trumbull.

P˙ S. I take the liberty of enclosing fifty dollars, which General Prescott sends Mr˙ McKay, begging your Honour to cause the same to be delivered to him.