When they do, your Assembly may perhaps wish, that their militia SAME to GENERAL SCHUYler. Sparks, vol. iv. p. 354. MORRISTOWN, 12 March, 1777. 'SIR, It is of the greatest importance to the safety of a country involved in a defensive war, to endeavor to draw their troops together at some post at the opening of a campaign, so central to the theatre of war, that they may be sent to the support of any part of the country, which the enemy may direct their motions against. Some principal object should be had in view, in taking post, to cover the most important part of the country. There is not a State upon the Continent, but thinks itself in danger; and scarcely an officer at any one post, but conceives a reinforcement necessary. To comply with the demands of the whole is utterly impossible; and, if attempted, would prove our ruin. From the enemy's situation in Jersey, collecting their force at Amboy and Brunswick, and from their intentions last fall, confirmed by every piece of intelligence we obtain this spring, it scarce admits a doubt, that Philadelphia is the object in view at the opening of this campaign. * It appears to me of great importance to the success of the next campaign, that we should give this army some capital stroke in the early part of the season. Nothing can enable me to do this, but a junction of the Eastern and Southern forces. The recruiting service to the Southward has been so protracted, for want of a regular arrangement amongst the recruiting officers, that, with the difficulty of clothing and arming the troops, it must unavoidably be late in the season, before a sufficient force can be drawn together to check their progress, without the assistance of a very considerable part of the Eastern troops. * The disaffection of Pennsylvania, which I fear is much beyond any thing you have conceived, and the depression of the people of this State, render a strong support necessary to prevent a systematical submission; besides, the loss of Philadelphia would prove a very great injury, as we draw from thence almost all our supplies. It will signify nothing to have our frontiers strongly guarded, while the enemy are ranging at large in the heart of the country. For these and many other reasons that will occur to you upon reflection, I have come to a resolution to alter the route of some part of the Massachusetts forces, and to draw eight regiments of them to Peekskill, from whence by water they can soon proceed to Albany, if occasion shall require, or move elsewhere, according to circumstances. This measure I have been the more inclined to adopt, as I find part of the New York regiments are gone to Ticonderoga, contrary to my expectation or design. 'I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.' Wash. Writ. SAME to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRess. Ibid. p. 358. MORRISTOWN, 14 March, 1777. 'SIR, I was honored several days ago with your letter of the 25th ultimo, with its enclosures, the receipt of which was omitted to be acknowledged in my last. 'Could I accomplish the important objects so eagerly wished by Congress," confining the enemy within their present quarters, preventing their getting supplies from the country, and totally subduing them before they are reinforced," I should be happy indeed. But what prospect or hope can there be of my effecting so desirable a work at this time? The enclosed return, to which I solicit the most serious attention of Congress, comprehends the whole force I have in Jersey. It is but a handful, and bears no proportion, in the scale of numbers, to that of the enemy. Added to this, the major part is made up of militia. The most sanguine in speculation cannot deem it more than adequate to the least valuable purposes of war. The reinforcements mentioned to be drawn from General Heath were merely ideal; nearly the whole of the Eastern troops, who were with him, being here before. They were only engaged till to-day; and to-day they leave the camp. Their service has been of pretty long continuance, and almost the whole of the winter months. What prospect there may be of immediate succors from other quarters, I know not; but from the militia of this State I cannot expect to derive much more aid. Those who are well affected have been so frequently called from their homes, that they are tired_out, and almost profess an abhorrence of the service; nor have I heard as yet, that any Continental troops are on their way. I have written to the brigadier-generals in most of the States upon the subject, and also to the Colonels, urging them by every motive to exert themselves in filling the regiments, and to forward them on. 'I confess, Sir, I feel the most painful anxiety when I reflect on our situation and that of the enemy. Unless the levies arrive soon, we must, before long, experience some interesting and melancholy event. I believe the enemy have fixed on their object, and the execution will surely be attempted as soon as the roads are passable. The unprepared state in which we are, favors all their designs; and it is much to be wished that they may not succeed to their warmest expectations. 'On recurring to the late promotions of brigadiers, I find the number appointed to be short of what I took the liberty to recom mend, and not competent to the exigencies of the service, supposing the whole in office before, and those lately created, consent to act, which I have reason to believe will not be the case. I shall only beg leave to refer you to my former letters upon this subject; and to assure you that many disadvantages will result from not having a sufficient number of officers of this rank. We have always been deficient in this instance; and certain I am, that the service has been greatly injured by it. The proportion I mentioned was full small, and, in my opinion, should not be dispensed with. 'I would also take the liberty of mentioning again (having received no answer upon the subject), that settling the hospital plan and establishment becomes more and more necessary. It is an object of infinite importance; and the difficulties of doing it on a proper foundation will be great, if not almost insurmountable, should it be deferred till the campaign opens, and the enemy begin their operations. The benefits of the institution will soon be known;- the want was severely felt in the course of the last year. 'There is one thing more which claims, in my opinion, the earliest attention of Congress, I mean the pay of the regimental surgeons, and that of the mates. These appointments are so essential, that they cannot be done without. The pay, in the first instance, is so low, so inadequate to the services which should be performed, that no man sustaining the character of a gentleman, and who has the least medical abilities, or skill in the profession, can think of accepting it; that in the latter is so paltry and trifling, that none, of the least generosity of sentiment, or pretensions to merit, can consent to act for it. In a word, these are inconveniences of an increasing nature. They amount to an exclusion of persons who could discharge the duties of those offices; and, if not redressed, there is not the smallest probability that any can be prevailed on to enter them again. 'There are several matters also which I referred to Congress some time since, and upon which I have not received the result of their deliberations. One inquiry, about the state of arms and ammunition, I am peculiarly anxious to be satisfied in. * 'From the inconveniences and injuries to the service of late for want of money, I am induced to request that the strictest regard should be had to furnishing the Paymaster with constant and sufficient supplies. By his report, the Commissary here requires an immediate draught for a hundred thousand [dollars]; and the militia returning and about to leave camp, a hundred and twenty thousand more. The expense incurred by calling on them so frequently is almost incredible. Besides these, See p. 416. † See second letter, Feb. 14, p. 423; see also p. 427. there are several arrears due to the old troops, and to most of the general and staff officers. I have the honor to be, &c. 'P. S. From the most accurate estimate that I can form, the whole of our numbers in Jersey, fit for duty at this time, is under three thousand. These, nine hundred and eighty-one excepted, are militia, and stand engaged only till the last of this month. The troops under inoculation, including their attendants, amount to about one thousand.' Let at least the postscript and the forepart of the preceding letter be noticed, with special reference to the closing part of the following Resolves. February 24, 1777. Congress took into consideration the Report of the Board of War of the 14th; whereupon, 'Resolved, That the several States be requested to take the most effectual steps for immediately collecting from the inhabitants not in actual service, all Continental arms, and give notice of the number they shall collect, to General Washington: That it be recommended to the Legislatures of the several States, to enact proper laws for the punishment of those who shall unlawfully take, secrete, refuse or neglect to deliver, any Continental arms or accoutrements which they may have in their pos session. 'A letter, of the 23d of December last, from Major-General Ward; one, of the 22d, from the Committee of Congress, at Philadelphia; one, of the 20th,* from General Washington, were read: 'Ordered, That the letter from the Committee of Congress, and that from General Washington, be referred to a committee of the whole: 'The Resolutions reported by the committee of the whole Congress being read, and the question put on each, were agreed to as follows: 'Resolved, That General Washington be informed, that it will be agreeable to Congress, that he call over to him such farther aid from the troops under General Heath, as he shall think proper; and that he order all the Continental troops that are at Providence, immediately to join him: That the Convention of New York be desired to place as many militia on the Highlands as may be sufficient to defend those passes against any attempts of the enemy, during the absence of the regular troops. 'And, in order farther to strengthen the hands of the General, 'Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to send letters by express to the colonels or other commanding officers of the several regiments, now raising and recruiting in the States of Pennsyl * See first letter, Feb. 20, p. 424. vania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, ordering them immediately to march the troops enlisted under their command, by companies and parts of companies, to join the army under General Washington; proper officers being left behind, to recruit the companies or corps that are not yet completed, and to bring up the recruits: "That General Washington be directed to write similar letters to the colonels or other commanding officers of the regiments now raising and recruiting in the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, excepting such regiments as he shall destine for the service. of the Northern Department: That the Governor of New Jersey be requested to order the militia of that State, properly armed and equipped, immediately to join the General; and that the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania be also requested to send to the aid of the General, such of their militia, properly armed and equipped, as are contiguous to New Jersey, it being the earnest desire of Congress to make the army, under the immediate command of General Washington, sufficiently strong, not only to curb and confine the enemy within their present quarters, and prevent them from drawing support of any kind from the country, but, by the Divine blessing, totally to subdue them before they can be reinforced. Immediately below appear the Proceedings next alluded to in the foregoing letter, those relating to the promotion and appointment of general officers. February 19. 'Congress proceeded to the election of five major-generals; and, the ballots being taken, the following gentlemen were duly elected, viz.: Lord Stirling, Thomas Mifflin, Arthur St. Clair, Adam Stephen, Benjamin Lincoln. February 21. Agreeable to the order of the day, Congress proceeded to ballot for the brigadiers; and the ballots being taken, and counted, the following gentlemen were elected: Col. Enoch Poor, Col. J. Glover, Col. J. Patterson, Col. Anthony Wayne, Col. James Mitchel Varnum, Col. J. P. De Haas, Col. G. Weedon, Col. P. Muhlenberg, Col. J. Cadwallader, and Col. W. Woodford. For a sufficiently comprehensive view on the subject of general officers, see, with careful regard to the above appointments and the part of the preceding letter relating to them, pp. 101, 105, 108, 121, 147, 154, 228, 247, 415, 420, 427, and, especially, 276, 370, 416. GENERAL WASHINGTON to GENERAL GREENE. Instructions. 'SIR, The necessity of having the Congress well informed of many matters essential to the well-being of this army, and the |