LETTERS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO GEORGE AND JAMES CLINTON. (Fourth Paper) XXV WASHINGTON TO GENERAL CLINTON, MAY 4, 1781 Three page folio. The importance of Fort Schuyler in connection with the defense of the frontier was keenly appreciated by Washington, and in this unpublished letter from New Windsor we find him going to the extreme of suggesting resorting to "military coertion," if necessary, in order to obtain food for the garrison of this fort. The letter being franked, has two signatures of Washington. "Instantly on the receipt of your letter of the 16th ult. (which came to hand in two days from the date) I dispatched a copy of it to Congress; enforcing thereby the pointed representations, and earnest solicitations, I was making at that moment, respecting the supplies of the Army; how far Congress will be able to devise ways & means for immediate relief, or induce the States to comply with their former requisitions, I cannot determine-but in the mean time every possible exertion should be used, to obtain bread from this State, and meat from the Countries of Massachusetts most contiguous to you-and where persuation, entreaty, & requisition fail of success, Military coertion must be made use of. Rather than the Garrison of Fort Schuyler should fall; and the Frontier be again desolate and laid waste, I am persuaded the State will make a great effort to afford a supply of flour for the Troops in that quarter. And I confess I see no other alternative, under our present circumstances," etc. Entirely unpublished. The body of this letter is in the autograph of Col. David Humphreys, as are several of the other letters in this collection. XXVI WASHINGTON TO GENERAL CLINTON, MAY 7, 1781 Three page folio. This letter, which after three days followed the preceding letter, shows to what extremity Fort Schuyler had come. In it Washington gives Clinton such encouragement as is possible. The nobility of his words to the hard-pressed commander are characteristic of the hero of Valley Forge. We give here merely the concluding paragraph: "I should therefore advise, that the Garrison of Fort Schuyler should hold out to the last extremity, and I have no doubt of your still continuing, to use your unremitting exertions, thro' every possible difficulty, and embarrassment, to succor that Garrison, and to avert the disasters and calamities we have but too much reason to apprehend, from the present Temper of the Troops & complexion of our affairs in that quarter. Under these circumstances, should the worst evils take place, that may be dreaded, you will have the pleasing consciousness of having faithfully performed your duty to the public, and may rely upon the entire approbation and esteem of Dear Sir Your Most Obedient Humble Servant Entire unpublished. Compare Washington's letter of same date to Governor Clinton ("Clinton Papers," vol. vi, p. 848), in which Washington refers to this very letter to James Clinton. XXVII WASHINGTON TO GENERAL CLINTON, JUNE 5, 1781 Three page quarto. This letter of instructions from New Windsor regarding the defense of New York State is printed in full in Sparks, vol. viii, p. 67. "New Windsor, 5 June, 1781. Dear Sir, In my letter of the 28th ultimo, I informed you of the succours you might expect, if necessary. The six companies of Van Schaick's regiment have since sailed, Hazen's will follow tomorrow. I have now to communicate my sentiments in general, respecting the disposition and application of this force. It is clearly my opinion, that the reinforcements lately ordered to the northward should be kept together as much as circumstances will admit, or at least so near as to be speedily assembled upon an emergency; as it is not certain or probable, that they will be continued permanently in that quarter, and as they are designed while there to strike the enemy, should they be so presumptous as to attempt to penetrate into the Country. It also appears to me that the force on the Hudson & Mohawk Rivers ought not to be so widely scattered as formerly, but stationed in as compact a manner as may be, except such light parties as occasion may require to be kept out. By distributing the Troops, with a view of protecting every inch of ground, the efficient force is dissipated and lost, and the several posts are so weakened as to invite the enemy to enterprise. I wish you therefore to concentre your strength as much as possible at the points you may judge most expedient, to form a plan of defence for the frontier, and to transmit to me the result of your determination." In another letter, dated the 16th of June, the above orders were in part countermanded, so far as to direct General Clinton to keep these forces more compact than the first orders might imply, since it was to act with the main army in the expected operations against New York. XXVIII WASHINGTON TO GENERAL CLINTON, JUNE 10, 1781 Three page folio. At this period the most important fighting was going on under General Greene in the South, but it was of much consequence to prevent the enemy from gaining control of the northern frontier, and thus getting in a position to sweep New York State. The following letter, from Headquarters at New Windsor, being franked, has two signatures of Washington. "Dear Sir, In consequence of repeated intelligence from the Northward, that the enemy were assembled in force, to make an incursion on our frontier, I ordered Col. Hazen's regiment and the six companies of Col. Van-Schaick's to Albany; since which I am informed that the number of the enemy was inconsiderable, and that those Troops, are supposed to have been drawn together near the frontier for the purpose of enabling their Recruits from among us, to join them, with more safety and facility, than they could have done without such a protection.-If this is the fact -it is to be regretted the Reinforcements was sent, at a time when every man was exceedingly wanted here, and when the absence of such a corps, will be a great impediment to our preparations, and may be a considerable obstacle to the success of the operations in contemplation.-The Troops may however remain until further orders; but I would have them, (agreeably to my Letter of the 5th inst.) keep so near together and in such constant readiness for a movement that they may be withdrawn at a moment's notice. I hope before this time, the distresses of your Troops for provision are relieved -The salted meat at Springfield is ordered on, (if you are still in want) possibly it may be expedient to take some measures with the Quarter Master, at that place, to avail yourself of this supply. Mr. Phelps will also furnish a proportion of the beef cattle procured in that State. At the same time let me recommend to you, in the most earnest manner, that the greatest economy should be practised in the distri bution and consumption of provision; especially that you would attend minutely to the issues of it, and have such effectual checks established, as to prevent a single Ration from being issued to any person whatever, who is not properly entitled to it— A similar regulation for the Army is under consideration, and will be immediately adopted." Entirely unpublished. XXIX WASHINGTON TO GENERAL CLINTON, JUNE 30, 1781 Two page folio. This letter from Peekskill is of much interest. In a letter of the same date to Governor Clinton, Washington refers to the orders given in this very letter. To Governor Clinton, Washington writes in confidence of his attempt to surprise the British posts on the north end of York Island: "I have, upon a hope that we shall succeed, ordered Brig. Gen'l. Clinton to send down the regular troops immediately" (Sparks, vol. viii, p. 89). Washington had great faith in Governor Clinton and admitted him into his confidence in connection with several important secret plans of this nature. "On the recipt of this you will instantly put the three Reg's. of Continental Troops under your Command, in motion for West Point. You will be pleased to have a sufficient number of vessels for transports immediately procured by hire or impress; and forward the Troops by Regiments or Detachments of Regt's. as soon as possible. It will be necessary for you to remain a little time, to make arrangements respecting the Levies and Militia who are to supply the place of the regular Troops, and to give General Stark, upon his arrival at Saratoga (where he will establish his Head Quarters) every information which will be necessary for the advantage and safety of his future command." Entirely unpublished. XXX WASHINGTON TO GENERAL CLINTON, JULY 9, 1781 Two page quarto. The most interesting paragraph in this very interesting war letter from Dobbs Ferry has to do with Vermont. On account of the unfair way in which it had been treated in connection with the land controversy with New York State, Vermont had declared its independence in January, 1777; but New York succeeded in getting Congress to disclaim the intention of recognizing Vermont as a separate State. It will be noted that in this letter Washington speaks of "the people of Vermont," not the State. Only a few weeks later (August, 1781), Vermont sought admission as a State in the Union. New York gave up its opposition, but the Southern States maintained that the admission of Vermont (whose laws forbade slavery) would destroy "the balance of power" between the two sections of the confederacy, and Vermont had to wait till a Southern State could simultaneously be brought into the Union. The following is only a short part of Washington's letter: "I can give no countenance to any Cartel which may have been settled between the people of Vermont and the Governor of Canada, and so I lately informed Mr. Chittenden by an officer sent down by him to me. I wish there may not be other business transacted, under the cover of Flags from Vermont to Canada, besides the exchange of prisoners," etc. Entirely unpublished. XXXI WASHINGTON TO GENERAL CLINTON, JULY 24, 1781 Three page quarto. It will be remembered that General Clinton was at this time in command of Albany. This letter from Dobbs Ferry is full of instructions, the most interesting of which was the order to withdraw the Continental soldiers, and leave the defense of the frontier between New York State and Canada to the militia. "Sir, I have received your letter of the 10th. I am very sorry to hear the disturbance which took place in the 1st Reg't. especially as the Reg't. had just sent |