General Schuyler to Continental Congress

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Ticonderoga, July 26, 1775.

SIR: I do myself the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches of the 18th instant, (which were delivered to me last evening,) enclosing a copy of a speech intended to be made to the Six Nations, the Declaration of Congress, and a newspaper containing the Articles of War. It gives me great satisfaction to learn, that a thousand of the troops raised in the Colony of Connecticut are ordered to Albany.

You will perceive, Sir, by the enclosed, that I am not likely to have any other in time to act offensively, and the necessity of such an operation becomes daily more evident to me. It cannot be surprising, then, that I am chagrined that I have not yet any of the stores here (nor do I learn that they are arrived at Albany) for building craft to carry me across this lake, nor any of the intrenching tools. I have increased my carpenters, and they are constantly employed in procuring the materials for building boats; the moment I have sufficient craft and carriages for a few guns, I will pick my men and give them the best of the arms, and proceed to St˙ John' s. Major Brown left Crown Point early on Monday morning, and as the winds have been favourable to carry him to the north end of the lake, I hope he is now near Caughnawaga. He is accompanied by a Canadian and three people from hence, and I trust that he will bring me more certain intelligence of the state of things in Canada than any we have yet had.

I am very happy that a Commissary-General and the other appointments have taken place; we really stood in great need of them, Mr˙ Livingston is at Albany, and I shall immediately give him directions far supplying the Army, that we may not be retarded in that department. I am very sorry to find so little pork in the Colony as is mentioned in the enclosed letter, and for the want of the arrival of fat cattle here, I am under the disagreeable

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I have not yet been able to execute your order relative to the men employed in taking and garrisoning these fortresses. I find it will be extremely difficult to ascertain their number with any degree of precision.

As an immediate Convention of the Indians at Albany is indispensably necessary, I shall take the liberty to desire Mr˙ Douw, and the Committee of Albany, to despatch the proper messengers to invite them down; and, as I cannot fix on a day for the meeting, shall leave it to them, and request them to give notice to the other Commissioners, that they may attend; and as, in all probability, I will not be present, I shall send the speech to Mr˙ Douw, to be delivered to his colleagues when they arrive at Albany. Mr˙ Francis cannot be too early at Albany; that gentleman might promote the business much, especially among the Mohawk Tribe.

A fracas has happened in Tryon County, between the well-affected and the Sheriff of the County. I enclose the account I have received of it. It is a very alarming circumstance, that four hundred men in that County, inimical to our cause, should be possessed of arms. I should be at no loss what measures to take, were it not on account of the delicate situation we are in with respect to the Indians. Perhaps these people might be induced to give up their arms (of which we are in great want) on assurances that they will be protected from insult.

I shall leave great part of the troops ordered from New-York at Albany, until I receive the necessaries for building, &c˙, to prevent the expense of feeding them at this place, unless any intelligence from Canada should make it necessary to have them here sooner.

The artificers that I am under a necessity of taking out of the troops here, will not work unless they are paid; I promised them the same that was allowed last war, only until the determination of Congress.

I feel very sensibly the attention of Congress in the appointments I recommended, and in their assurances to give me every support to enable me to do my duty; in the discharge of which, I shall arduously strive to merit a continuance of their countenance.

I have ventured on the measure of calling the Indians, as they cannot be collected sooner than the first of September, if so soon, and in that time I supposed every necessary might be prepared for them.

I am, Sir, with the greatest respect, your most obedient and most humble servant,

PH˙ SCHUYLER.

To the Hon˙ John Hancock, esq˙, &c.