little more attention to the affairs of this army, which suffers exceedingly by their overmuch business, or too little attention to it.

We are now without any money in our treasury, powder in our magazines, or arms in our stores. We are without a Brigadier, (the want of whom has been twenty times urged,) Engineers, Expresses, (though a committee has been appointed these two months to establish them,*) and by-and-by, when we shall be called upon to take the field, shall not have a tent to lie in.

'These are evils, but small in comparison of those which disturb my present repose. Our enlistments are at a stand; the fears I ever entertained are realized;

'In the two last weeks we have enlisted but about a thousand men; whereas I was confidently led to believe, by all the officers I conversed with, that we should by this time have had the regiments nearly completed. Our total number upon paper amounts to about ten thousand five hundred; but as a large portion of these are returned not joined, I never expect to receive them; as an ineffectual order has once issued to call them in. Another is now gone forth, peremptorily requiring all officers under pain of being cashiered, and recruits of being treated as deserters, to join their respective regiments by the 1st day of next month, that I may know my real strength; but if my fears are not imaginary, I shall have a dreadful account of the advanced month's pay. In consequence of the assurances given, and my expectation of having at least men enough enlisted to defend our lines, to which may be added my unwillingness to burthen the cause with unnecessary expense, no relief of militia has been ordered in, to supply the places of those who are released from their engagements to-morrow, and as to whom, though many have promised to continue out the month, there is no security for their stay.

'Thus am I situated with respect to men. With regard to arms I am yet worse off. Before the dissolution of the old army, I issued an order directing three judicious men of each brigade to attend, review, and appraise the good arms of every regiment; † and finding a very great unwillingness in the men to part with their arms, at the same time not having it in my power to pay them for the months of November and December, I threatened severely, that every soldier, who should carry away his firelock without leave, should never receive pay for those months; yet so many have been carried off, partly by stealth, but chiefly as condemned, that we have not at this time one hundred guns in the stores, of all that have been taken in the prize ship and from the soldiery, notwithstanding our regiments are not half complete. At the same time I am told, and believe it, that to restrain the enlistment to men with arms, you

*See that appointment, Dec. 2, p. 143.

† According to a Resolve of Congress, Nov. 4, p. 120.

will get but few of the former, and still fewer of the latter, which would be good for any thing.

'How to get furnished I know not. I have applied to this and the neighboring Colonies, but with what success time only can tell. The reflection on my situation, and that of this army, produces many an unhappy hour when all around me are wrapped in sleep. Few people know the predicament we are in on a thousand accounts; and fewer still will believe, if any disaster happens to these lines, from what cause it flows. I have often thought how much happier I should have been, if, instead of accepting the command under such circumstances, I had taken my musket on my shoulder and entered the ranks; or, if I could have justified the measure to posterity and my own conscience, had retired to the back country, and lived in a wigwam. If I shall be able to rise superior to these and many other difficulties which might be enumerated, I shall religiously believe that the finger of Providence is in it, to blind the eyes of our enemies; for surely if we get well through this month, it must be for want of their knowing the disadvantages we labor under.

*

'But as this letter discloses some interesting truths, I shall be somewhat uneasy until I hear it gets to your hands.

*

'I despatched General Lee a few days ago,* in order to secure the city of New York from falling into their hands, as the consequences of such a blow might prove fatal to our interests. He is also to inquire a little into the conduct of the Long-Islanders, and such others as have, by their conduct and declarations, proved themselves inimical to the common cause.

'To effect these purposes, he is to raise volunteers in Connecticut, and call upon the troops of New Jersey, if not contrary to any order of Congress.

'I should think the Congress will not, ought not, to adjourn at this important crisis. But it is highly necessary, when I am at the end of the second sheet of paper, that I should adjourn my account of matters to another letter.

Ibid. p. 237.

It is probably recollected, that June 22d, Congress appointed eight Brigadier-Generals;t the first of whom, Mr. Pomroy, left the service and thereby caused a vacancy, before General Washington arrived at Cambridge. The importance of filling that vacancy is sufficiently explained and urged, in the General's letters to Congress, July 20, Aug. 4, 31, Nov. 2; to R. H. Lee, Dec. 26, and in this last; pp. 101, 104, 108, 121, 147. Adding to these, all his communications to the Committee of Conference and other Members of Congress, in the more than six months the vacancy continued, he had urged it, probably the number of times mentioned in the above letter.

The Journals of Congress during the time, are believed to show only the following proceedings on the subject.

SECRET JOURNAL. 'September 21. The Congress proceeded to the election of a Brigadier-General; and the ballots being exam* General Washington's Instructions to General Lee were dated Jan. 8th.

↑ See page 72.

ined, it was found that Colonel Armstrong and Colonel Frye had an equal number of votes.'

PUBLIC JOURNAL. September 20. Resolved, That the appointment of a Brigadier-General be deferred till to-morrow.

'September 21. Resolved, That the appointment of a BrigadierGeneral be deferred.

'November 13. Resolved, That Thursday, the 23d instant, be assigned for electing a Brigadier-General.

'January 9, 1776. Resolved, That to-morrow be assigned for the choice of two Brigadier-Generals, viz., one for the army in Massachusetts-Bay, and the other for the army in the Northern department.

January 10. Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress proceeded to the election of two Brigadier-Generals, and the ballots being taken and examined, Joseph Frye, Esq. was elected for the army in the Massachusetts-Bay, Benedict Arnold, Esq. for the army in the Northern department.'

GENERAL SCHUYLER to GENERAL WASHINGTON.

5 January, 1776. 'I have already informed you of the disagreeable situation I have been in during the campaign; but I would waive that, were it not that it has chiefly arisen from prejudice and jealousy; for I could point out particular persons of rank in the army, who have frequently declared, that the General commanding in this quarter, ought to be of the Colony from whence the majority of the troops came. But it is not from opinions or principles of individuals that I have drawn the following conclusion, that troops from the Colony of Connecticut will not bear with a General from another Colony; it is from the daily and common conversation of all ranks of people from that Colony, both in and out of the army. And I assure you, that I sincerely lament that people of so much public virtue should be actuated by such an unbecoming jealousy, founded on such a narrow principle; a principle extremely unfriendly to our righteous cause, as it tends to alienate the affections of numbers in this Colony, in spite of the most favorable constructions, that prudent men, and real Americans amongst us attempt to put upon it. And although I frankly avow, that I feel a resentment, yet I shall continue to sacrifice it to a nobler object-the weal of that country in which I have drawn the breath of life, resolved ever to seek with unwearied assiduity for opportunities to fulfil my duty to it?'

Wash. Writ.

Sparks, p. 243. Note.

GENERAL WASHINGTON to GENERAL SCHUYLER.

'CAMBRIDGE, 16 January, 1776.

DEAR SIR, Your favor of the 5th instant, enclosing copies of General Montgomery's and General Wooster's letters, I received;

for which I return you my thanks.

'It was from a full conviction of your zealous attachment to the cause of our country, and abilities to serve it, that I have repeatedly pressed your continuance in command; and it is with much concern, Sir, that I find you have reason to think your holding the place you do, will be of prejudice and incompatible with its interest.

'As you are of this opinion, the part you are inclined to take is certainly generous and noble. But will the good consequences you intend, be derived from it? I greatly fear they will not. I shall leave the matter to yourself, in full confidence, that in whatever sphere you move, your exertions for your country's weal will not be wanting.

'I confess I am much concerned for General Montgomery and Colonel Arnold; and the consequences which will result from their miscarriage, should it happen, are very alarming; I fear, no less fatal than you mention.

*

'I am much pleased that the artillery was likely to be got over the river, and am in hopes that Colonel Knox will arrive with it in a few days. It is much wanted.'

Ibid. p. 243.

SAME to THE GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY. 'CAMBRIDGE, 16 January, 1776. 'GENTLEMEN, - Your several Resolves, in consequence of my letters, have been presented to me by a Committee of your honorable body. I thank you for the assurances of being zealously disposed to do every thing in your power to facilitate the recruiting of the American army; and, at the same time I assure you that I do not entertain a doubt of the truth of it, I must beg leave to add, that I conceive you have mistaken the meaning of my letter of the tenth, if you suppose it ever was my idea, that you should offer a bounty at the separate expense of this Colony.

'It was not clear to me, but that some coercive measures might be used on this as on former occasions, to draft men to complete the regiments upon the Continental establishment. But as this is thought unadvisable, I shall rely on your recommending to the Selectmen and Committees of Correspondence to exert themselves in their several towns, to promote the enlistments for the American army.

In the meanwhile, as there is no appearance of this service going on but slowly, and it is necessary to have a respectable body of troops here as soon as possible, to act as circumstances shall require, I must beg that you will order in, with as much expedition as the nature of the case will admit, seven regiments, agreeably to the establishment of this army, to continue in service till the 1st of April, if required.

'You will be pleased to direct, that the men come provided with good arms, blankets, kettles for cooking, and if possible with twenty rounds of powder and ball.

'I beg leave to return my thanks for the kind offer of fifty thousand pounds for the Continental use.'

SAME to GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Ibid. p. 246.

'CAMBRIDGE, 18 January, 1776. 'DEAR SIR, I received your favor of the 13th instant, with its enclosures, and am heartily sorry and most sincerely condole with you upon the fall of the brave and worthy Montgomery, and those gallant officers and men, who have experienced a like fate.

'In the death of this gentleman, America has sustained a heavy loss, having approved himself a steady friend to her rights, and of ability to render her the most essential services.

'It would give me the greatest pleasure, if I could be the happy means of relieving our fellow citizens now in Canada, and preventing the Ministerial troops from exulting long, and availing themselves of the advantages arising from this repulse. But it is not in my power. Since the dissolution of the old army, the progress in raising recruits for the new has been so very slow and inconsiderable, that five thousand militia have been called in for the defence of our lines. A great part of these have gone home again, and the rest have been induced to stay with the utmost difficulty and persuasion, though their going would render the holding of the lines truly precarious and hazardous, in case of an attack. In short, I have not a man to spare.

'The loss of the brave Montgomery will ever be remembered. It gives me pleasure to find, that you will continue in service, and afford your assistance to relieve your country from the distresses, which at present threaten her in the North.'

SAME to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Ibid, p. 248.

'CAMBRIDGE, 19 January, 1776. 'SIR,- Taking it for granted, that General Schuyler has not only informed you of the fall of the brave and much to be lamented General Montgomery, but of the situation of our affairs in Canada, I shall not take up more of your

time on this subject.

*

'It may appear strange, Sir, as I had not men to spare from these lines, that I should presume, without first sending to Congress, and obtaining an express direction, to recommend to the governments of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, to raise each a regiment, on the Continental account, for this ser