To John Jay from Edward Rutledge, 24 November 1776
From Edward Rutledge
Philada: Novr: 24th: 1776
My dear Jay
I expected long e’er this to have been seat’d quietly at Home; but the Progress which the Enemy had made and seem’d likely to make into your Country, induced me to suspend my Resolution which I came to several Months ago, and assist with the whole of my Power (little enough God knows) a State which appeared to be marked for Destruction. The Storm however has past over yo; & (tho’ I have Reason to dread its bursting upon the Heads of my Countrymen) I cannot but most sincerely congratulate you upon the Event—1 I wish you may improve the Time, and if you concur with me in Sentiment it will be improved in the following Manner.
Let Schuyler whose Reputation has been deeply wounded by the Malevolence of party Spirit immediately repair to Congress, & after establishing himself in the good opinion of his Countrymen, by a fair & open Enquiry into his Conduct, concert with the House such a Plan as he shall think will effectually secure all the upper Country of New York against the Attacks of the Enemy, which plan being agreed to by the House, give him full Powers to effect it, & send him off with all possible Dispatch to carry it into Execution.2 Let Steps be taken to place real Obstructions in the North River at least in that part of it which can be commanded by Fort Montgomery & the other Fort in the High Lands—3 If these things be done & that soon, your country I think will be safe provided you establish, a good Government, with a strong Executive—a pure Democracy may possibly do when patriotism is the ruling passion, but when a state abounds in Rascals (as is the case with too many at this day) you must suppress a little of that Popular Spirit, vest the executive powers of Government in an individual that they may have Vigor, & let them be as ample as is consistent with the great outlines of Freedom. As several of the Reasons which operated against you, or Livingstons quitting your State are now removed, I think you would be of vast Service in Congress—You know that Body possesses its Share of human Weakness, & that it is not impossible for the Members of that House to have their Attention engrossed by Subjects which might as well be postponed for the present, whilst such as require Dispatch have been,—I had almost said,—neglected—This may be the case with the Measures which should be taken for the Defence of your State—It is therefore your Interest & your Duty, (if you are not prevented by some superior public Concern) to attend the House, & that soon; You have a Right to demand their Attention, & I think they will give you early Assistance—
Every Intelligence from New York for the last ten Days convincing me that the Enemy are preparing to attack my State with a large Body of Troops4 I shall take the Wings of the Morning, & hasten to my native home; where I shall endeavour to render my Country more Service in the Field than I have been able to render her in the Cabinet. I have therefore very little Time to write, & none to lengthen this Letter, I could not however think of quitting this part of the Continent without writing you what appeared to me of Consequence, especially when I consider that it is probable, or at least possible, that this may be the last Time I may have it in my power to give you any Evidence of my Affection—I shall ^add^ no more than that you have my best Wishes for your Happiness & that if I fall in the Defence of my Country it will alleviate my Misfortune to think that it is in support of the best of Causes, & that I am esteem’d by one of the best of Men—God bless you Adieu my Friend Yours Sincy.
E. Rutledge
1. Following the battle of Long Island, the British landed on Manhattan, where they were temporarily repulsed by the Americans at the battle of Harlem Heights in mid-September. Lord Howe outflanked the Continental forces by landing on the mainland, and the Americans were forced to withdraw to Westchester County, where the opposing armies clashed at White Plains on 25 Oct. Following Washington’s withdrawal from positions there, Howe wheeled southward to attack Fort Washington at the northern end of Manhattan. The fall of that fortress on 16 Nov. was a serious setback for the American cause and forced Washington’s withdrawal across New Jersey.
2. American forces in Canada were in continual retreat after May 1776, when a British fleet arrived in the St. Lawrence. Schuyler, the commander of the Northern Department, was subjected to harsh criticism and submitted his resignation to Congress on 14 Sept. While Congress refused to accept Schuyler’s resignation in a vote taken on 2 Oct., the New York commander was exposed to even more bitter attacks later that month, when a squadron assembled by Benedict Arnold was destroyed in an engagement with the British on Lake Champlain. Schuyler to President of Congress, 14 Sept. 1776, DNA: PCC, item 153, 3: 368–71; , 5: 841; , 288.
3. Efforts to use chevaux-de-frise to obstruct the Hudson River at Fort Washington had failed to block British ships. Forts Montgomery and Clinton guarded the Hudson Highlands and became the location of new endeavors to defend the Hudson. , 50–67.
4. Rutledge’s fears were unfounded. After the British defeat at Charleston in June 1776, the enemy did not undertake major military operations in the South again until late 1778.