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Skenesborough, August 27, 1776.
DEAR GENERAL: In answer to your favour of yesterday, with this I transmit you the original letter I received from
As the seamen were draughted from here to go with General Arnold, I shall be glad, sir, if you would give Captain Thatcher the liberty of bringing with him a few from your place, if any there be, to help rig the galleys. You cannot be more anxious than I am to have them completed. The business is pushed on with all might, and nothing shall be wanting to fit them for action. We are remarkably kept back by sickness, but I think it will be a great advantage to rig them while the carpenter work is doing. Diligent search shall be made for the fellows mentioned in Colonel Trumbull' s letter, and if they are found I shall send them to Ticonderoga.
I would mention to your Honour that there are some of Captain Wetherbee' s company that were inoculated, that were ordered to keep back, came to this place before I knew of their being in. I have sent them back a little distance, and shall wait your Honour' s orders concerning the matter. And am, dear General, with the greatest esteem, your most obedient, humble servant,
To the Hon˙ Major-General Gates.
P˙ S˙ The rain has been so great at this place, and the land so overflowed, there is hardly any passing from this to any part of the inhabitants or country.
Letter from General Waterbury to Gen. Gates
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General Schuyler relative to the small-pox, by the hands of Captain Thatcher, who now goes down to receive the rigging, &c˙, for the galleys, and you will oblige me to return it by him. In consequence of the above letter, I immediately despatched several officers, and gave each of them a copy of it, certifying that the above mentioned officers were sent by me to see that the orders of General Schuyler were faithfully to be executed. You will readily see that the general design of his Honour' s letter was to prevent the infection of the small pox from coming among us from any quarter, and it may be that the Continental Regiments, in consequence of the declaration of said letter, have stopped. Lest this should be the case, I shall send off immediately to meet them and hasten them on.
DAVID WATERBURY, Jun.