Letter from General Schuyler to Governour Trumbull

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Albany, March 9,1776.

SIR: I am honoured with your favour of the 1st instant. I wish the Paymaster-General had it in his power to comply with my intentions of sending money to your Colony; but he has very little left in chest. An equal scarcity prevails in Canada; but there its consequences are more to be dreaded. The Canadians will not by any means take our paper money, and General Wooster is greatly distressed for specie. I have, with much difficulty, and by giving my own security, procured and sent to him about five thousand three hundred dollars; but vastly more was already due for the necessary contingencies of the Army. Cannot your Colony, my good sir, assist us with some gold or silver? If but a little, it will still be of great service. I have begged Congress to appoint a Committee to liquidate the accounts occasioned by the taking of Ticonderoga. The people unjustly blame me that they have not got their money. On the 6th of August, when I had been but nineteen days at Ticonderoga, I pointed out to Congress the necessity of paying the people, and observed that "many were most truly necessitous." The river and roads above are almost impassable, which I fear will cause a considerable detention of the troops here. General Washington, I find, is in great distress for arms. I fear I shall not have half enough, after Colonel Burrell' s Corps is supplied, to arm Colonel Van Schaick' s Regiment. We have a variety of difficulties to surmount; but perseverance, I hope, will bear us through. And may Heaven grant, that when our posterity may relate to each other the pain of the struggle, they may feel and reflect on the blessings of the event.

I am, sir, with great esteem and regard, your most obedient humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Esq.