General Schuyler to Continental Congress

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[Read July 5, 1775.]

New-York, July 3, 1775.

SIR: Your letter of Saturday last, with the resolution of Congress of the same day, and copy of the military arrangements enclosed, was delivered me at five this morning.

Permit me, Sir, to observe, that the resolution seems to be founded on a supposition that the inhabitants in the neighbourhood of Ticonderoga are a people distinct from those called Green Mountain Boys, and that they are numerous; whereas the fact is, that most of the inhabitants in the north-eastern part of the County of Albany, and in the County of Charlotte, and who reside on what are commonly called the New-Hampshire Grants, are distinguished by the appellation of Green Mountain Boys; and although they are settled in an extent of country upwards of one hundred and thirty miles in length, from nearly as far south as Albany to forty or fifty miles north of Crown Point, yet so lately has that country begun to settle, that it will be difficult (as Colonel Allen observes) to raise five hundred men in it, although there are more inhabitants, but necessarily occupied in procuring subsistence for their families. Such of them as assisted in the reduction of Ticonderoga, and afterwards garrisoned it, are already returned to their respective habitations. Hence, Sir, you will perceive that the troops in that quarter cannot be re-enforced, at any rate, by more than five hundred men, to be procured there, and those still to be levied.

From what information I have been able to procure, I suppose that the forces under Colonel Hinman' s command do not exceed thirteen hundred men, including those that occupy Fort George, the landing at the north end of Lake George, and the post at the Saw-mills, and such as are necessarily employed in transporting provisions, &c˙, from Albany, winch will probably reduce them to eleven hundred and under; and if of these I leave two hundred to garrison Crown Point and Ticonderoga, the remainder will then exceed General Carleton' s regular Troops by about three hundred men only, a force very inadequate barely to attempt destroying his floating batteries, boats, and vessels, without hazarding the loss, not only of the command of the lakes, but of the fortresses in our possession on its banks. These observations I have taken the liberty to mate, that Congress, by being more truly possessed of facts, may make a probable guess of the consequences that will follow an attempt which I conceive myself not at

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Preparations are making here to fortify the pass in the Highlands. I had proposed that part of General Wooster' s corps should have gone on that service. If Congress intends that any of them shall be employed in that way, they will please to signify it, as they cannot otherwise, since the last order, be moved from New-York.

I am, Sir, most respectfully and very sincerely, your obedient and humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

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