pleased to send them to the Foot of Pens Hill, because I have no other Copies and should be glad to preserve them.2. We are in deep Contemplation upon the state of our Currency. We shall promise Payment in the Loan offices of the Interest in Bills of Exchange on our Ministers in France. But Taxation, My dear Sir, Taxation, and Oeconomy, are our only effectual Resources. The People this way are convinced of it and are setting about it with spirit. 596. HENRY LAURENS TO THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA (JOHN RUTLEDGE).1 19th August 1777 Congress has on the Table a plan for negotiating a Loan for Ten Millions of Dollars if they go no further it may not quite ruin us." I am as averse from this measure as I was from that of the Western expedition but have no hopes of Succeeding against a confirmed Majority. the mischief will be done but not without a modest dissent on my part. My Best Friend, 597. JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.1 PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, 19 August, 1777 In the northern department they begin to fight. The family of Johnson, the black part of it as well as the white are pretty well thinned. Rascals! They deserve extermination. I presume Gates will be so supported that Burgoyne will be obliged to retreat. He will stop at Ticonderoga, I suppose, for they can maintain posts although we cannot. I think we shall never defend a post until we shoot a general. After that we shall defend posts, and this event in my opinion is not far off. No other fort will ever be evacuated without an inquiry, nor any officer come off without a court martial. We must trifle no more. We have suffered too many disgraces to pass unexpiated. Every disgrace must be wiped off. We have been several days hammering upon money. We are contriving every way we can to redress the evils we feel and fear from too great a quantity of paper. Taxation as deep as possible is the only radical cure.3 I hope you will pay every tax that is brought you, if you sell my books, or clothes, or oxen, or your cows to pay it. 2 The enclosures are letters of Arthur Lee, Jan. 31, Feb. 3, 11 (with an addition Feb. 14). They are printed in Warren-Adams Letters, I. 360-363. 3 Cf. nos. 591, 594, ante, nos. 596, 597, post. [596]1 S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, 1776-1778, p. 136. 2 See nos. 591, 594, 595, ante, 607, 618, 620, 627, 636, post. See nos. 584, 586, ante. [597]1 Familiar Letters, p. 292. 2 Cf. no. 602, post. 3 Cf. no. 595, ante. Dear Sir 598. GEORGE FROST TO JOSIAh Bartlett.1 PHILADELPHIA Augst. 19th. 1777 I Recd. yours of the 25th. Ulto. (it came to hand after the post was gorn) You say the appointment of Genl Schoyler to the Command at the northward gave great uneasiness to New Hampshire and I'l add to many other states also and that very justly. the Deligate [s] from the Eastern States told Congress that the people in those States had no confidence in sd. Genl. but the Influence of said man and the Deligates of New York (Dewane and Duer in my opinion is no better then their Genl.) had more wait in Congress at that time then all the Deligates from the Eastern States and obtained a majority of one vote in his favour. they now see the Ill Consequence of that appointmt and have order'd Genl: Gates to supersead him in that Command and sopose he is at that post if well before this time Schoyler and St. Clear is ordered to head quarters in order for tryeul I hope you'l furnish the Court of Inquiry with all the proofs Relating to the situation that post was in and in what manner the troops was furnished. Schoyler and St. Clear writes to Congress and says most of the troops was old men, Boys, and negros and unfit for garison duty their armes very bad and but one bayinet to ten men, that many of the officers mutinous and a disgrace to an armey that he (Schoyler) wants power from Congress to suspend them, thanks be to praise they are suspended themselves. . am with much Esteam Sr Your most obt. Sert. P. S. Inclosed you have a Copey of a letter from Genl. Lincoln to Genl. Schoyler.* The Honble: Josiah Bartlett Esqr. .. 599. GEORGE FROST TO JOSIAH BARTLETT.1 2 [August 19, 1777.] The foregoing letter was Sent by Genl. Lincoln to Genl. Schoyler and by P. Schoyler to Congress Which is Very Alarming to Congress that Gen. Starkes Should take Occasion to Resent any sopposed [598]1 Me. Hist. Soc., Revolution, no. 2. 2 See nos. 578, 587, ante, nos. 609, 611, post. 3 Frost evidently has in mind particularly Schuyler's letter of Aug. 4, which may be found in Warren-Adams Letters, I. 352. See Samuel Adams to James Warren, ibid., I. 351. Extracts of Schuyler's letters of Aug. 8 and 10 (read in Congress Aug. 18 and 17, respectively) are in N. Y. Hist. Soc., Collections, 1879, pp. 184, 185. 4 See no. 599, post. [599]1 Dartmouth College Lib., Bartlett Corr., vol. I., 1774-1778. 2 These remarks of Frost were appended to a copy of a letter from Lincoln to Schuyler, dated at Bennington, Aug. 8 (see the postscript to no. 598, ante). Following is a part of it: "Yesterday Genl. Stark from New Hampshire came into Camp at Manchester. by his Instructions from that State It is at his Option to Act in Conjunction with the Continental Armey or not He Seems to be exceedingly Soured and Affrunt by Congress to him when his Country lays at Stake. at the Same time woud take Notis that we Shall loos the benifit of our troops being put in the Continentall pay Except the Measures are Alterd, and woud also observe he dont refuse to put him selfe under Genl. Schoyler who is Recarled from thet Command and Congress has given the Command of thet Armey to Genl. Gates, wch. I Suppose Gel. Starke knew not of at that time. as to the promotion of Officers in the Armey the Congress went on a new plan agreaed on in Baltimore (at the Raising the as it Called Standing Armey) that Every State Should in som measure have their propotion of Genl. Officers according to the Troops they Raised by which Reason som officers was Supersed [ed] or as they call afronted.3 Dr Sir. 600. WILLIAM PACA TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND I enclose you Genl Washington's letter and doubt not you will make a proper Enquiry into the Arrest he complains of 2 I wish the Artillery Corp and the 16 Regt. had been apportioned on the States that such States might have known what were its Quota and the frequent Difficulties in filling up those Corps prevented. We have no Intelligence of Howe's Fleet: The Army we know for a Certainty is embarked. We begin to be apprehensive they have gone to South Carolina.3 .. Genl Schuyler writes that the Van of Burgoyne's Army he is informed has moved forward to Saratoga: I wish our Affairs in that quarter bore a more pleasing Aspect: The New England States disgusted with Schuyler and his officers have been very slow in giving him Assistance Gates perhaps will please them and get them to exert themselves.* PHILA: 19. Aug. 1777 thinks he hath been neglected and hath not had Justice done him by Congress-he is determined not to join the Continental Armey untill the Congress give him his Rank therein his Claim is to command all the Officers he Commanded last Year as also all those who joined the Armey after him, Whether he will march his Troops to Stillwater or not I am quite at a loss to know-but if he doth it is a fixed point with him to act there as a Seperate Chor and take no orders from any officer in the Northern Department saving Your Honour for he Saith they all were Either commanded by him the last Year or joined the Armey after him." Dartmouth College Lib., Bartlett Corr. The letter is printed in N. H. State Papers, VIII. 662. The principal part of it is also in Lossing, Life of Schuyler, II. 263. See the Journals, Aug. 18, 19, 20; cf. nos. 606, 607, 609, 615, 619, 622, post. 3 See the Journals, Feb. 18. Cf. nos. 363, 364, 365, 372, 376, 392, 419, ante. [600]1 Arch. of Md., XVI. 338. 2 Washington's letter to the Maryland delegates is dated Aug. 17 and is found in his Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 39. It relates to the arrest of Lieut. James McNair by Maryland authorities for enlisting men to serve in one of the continental regiments of artillery. On the same day that Paca wrote to the governor Samuel Chase replied to Washington's letter. Chase's letter is in the Library of Congress, Letters to Washington. 3" Howe's fleet and army is still incognito. The gentlemen from South Carolina begin to tremble for Charleston." John Adams to his wife, Aug. 19, Familiar Letters, p. 292. Cf. nos. 605, 607, post. 4 Cf. nos. 578, 579, 587, 598, ante, nos. 609, 611, post. 601. HENRY LAURENS TO JOSEPH CLAY.1 20th August 1777 Since my arrival here I have done everything in my power to impress upon the mind of Congress the value and importance of Georgia and to recommend it to their particular protection which your Delegate will do me the justice to confirm. I apply in politics, St Paul's remark, if one member Suffers all the Members Suffer. the loss of Georgia or South Carolina or even their distress will be sensibly felt by all the northern States. I think this important truth has not hitherto been properly considered. I moved for a Committee to take the State of Georgia into consideration this produced certain determinations of which you will be advised fully by Colo. Walton to whom I also took the liberty of mentioning your name for Dep pay: Master General and you will find you are accordingly appointed.2 602. JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.1 1 PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, 20 August, 1777. 5 o'clock Afternoon. We have been hammering to-day upon a mode of trial for the general officers at Ti. Whether an inquiry will precede the court martial, and whether the inquiry shall be made by a committee of Congress, or by a council of general officers, is not determined, but inquiry and trial both, I conjecture there will be.2. 603. BENJAMIN HARRISON TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 Dear General 2 I remember well a Conversation's passing betwixt you and I on the subject of the Marquis de la Fyattes Commission, and that I told you it was merely Honorary. in this light I look'd on it, and so did every other member of Congress. he had made an agreement with mr Deane, but this [601]1 S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, 1776-1778, p. 137. Addressed to Clay at "Savanna Per Captn. Hornback". 2 See the Journals, July 25, 30, Aug. 1, 6, 12, 15; cf. nos. 584, 586, ante, no. 605, post. 2 The mode of conducting the inquiry into the evacuation of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence was determined Aug. 27. See the Journals, July 29, Aug. 1, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27. The committee to conduct the investigation was appointed Aug. 28. See the heads of inquiry drawn up by Laurens, under Aug. 27 (no. 617, post), and the Journals, Oct. 9, Nov. 14, Dec. 26, 1777; Jan. 20, 26, 27, Feb. 5, Mar. 10, Apr. 29, 1778. On the date last mentioned a third committee was appointed, to examine the evidence and state the charges against the general officers. See the Journals, Apr. 29, June 12, 20, 1778. Cf. nos. 617, 619, 625, 669, 671, 677, 781, post. [603] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XVII, 295. 2 Harrison is replying to a letter of Washington of Aug. 19, Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 39, (ed. Sparks), V. 35. See also Tower, Lafayette in the Revolution, I. 218. he gave up by Letter to Congress, not wishing as he said to embarrass their affairs. Mr Duer who presented this Letter assur'd us he did not wish or desire Command, but gave us to understand, his chief motive for going into our Service was to be near you, to see Service, and to give him an Eclat at home, where he expected he would soon return. these you may depend on it were the Reasons that induced Congress to Comply with his request, and that he could not have obtain'd the Commissn. on any other terms The other Day he surprised every body by a letter of his, requesting Commissions for his Officers, and Insinuating at the same time that he should expect a Command as soon as you should think him fit for one depend on it Congress never meant that he should have one, nor will not countenance him in his applications. I had it not in my power yesterday to get their opinions on the subject, but will do it soon.*. . 3 PHILAD Augst. 20 1777. 604. ROGER SHERMAN TO HORATIO GATES.1 HARTFORD August 20th. 1777 Sir, My son who was Pay Master in Colo. Warner's Regiment writes to me that he has been Cashiered, by a Court Martial, for Innoculating a Man not belonging to the Army, who brought the Infectious matter to him, and promised immediately to go to a place about 30 Miles distant from the Army where innoculation was allowed under the Inspection of a Committee that he did it inadvertantly without any ill design. as he has always been a friend to the American cause he seems much grieved to leave the Service under a Censure, and tho' the Emoluments of that office are not worth seeking for, Yet for the sake of his reputation he wishes to be restored. I never heard but that he has been faithful in his public trust. he served some time as an Assistant Paymaster in Canada where he went as a Volunteer. I understand that Application has been made to Congress by him and some officers in his behalf but Colo. Dyer writes me that it was said in Congress that the Application ought to be made to the Officer who Dismissed him, or the State who appointed him so they did not enter into the consideration of the Matter.2 As the officers of that Regiment were 3 Lafayette was commissioned a major-general July 31. See no. 565, ante. * See the Journals, Aug. 13, 25. Lafayette's letter to Congress, to which Harrison refers, was dated Aug. 13, and was read in Congress the same day. It is printed in Tower, Lafayette in the Revolution, I. 184, where it is also given in facsimile. In the close of the letter Lafayette says: "I wish to serve near the person of General Washington till such time as he may think proper to entrust me with a division of the Army. "It is now as an american that I'l mention every day to Congress the officers who came over with me, whose interests are for me as my own, and the consideration which they deserve by their merits their ranks, their state and reputation in france." [604] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, IX. 2 William Sherman, jr., was appointed by Congress paymaster of Col. Seth Warner's regiment, July 6, 1776. There is no record in the Journals concerning his court-martial or reinstatement. That he was reinstated appears from an entry in the Journals, July 16, 1779, where it is recorded that he had offered to resign. According to Heitman's Historical Register, he retired from the service Jan. 1, 1781. |