To George Washington from Brigadier General David Wooster, 29 August 1775
From Brigadier General David Wooster
Oyster Ponds Suffolk County [N.Y.] Augt 29, 1775
Sir,
I have with me at this place, four hundred and fifty of my Regiment: I should before this time have returned to my Station at Harlem, but General Scuyler having ordered the three Companies raised upon this End of Long Island for the Continental Service to join their Regiment at Ticonderoga; The County Committee requested me to remain here till the return of an express, which they sent to New York, to beg of their Congress, if possible to prevent the three Companies from being removed. The Express has now returned with liberty for the Companies to remain here ten days from last friday.1 It is thought best that I keep my Station near New York though I shall not return there till I know the destination of the fleet, which I understand from your Excellency’s information to Govr Trumbull have sailed out of Boston,2 I hope and expect such measures will be pursued as will prevent their taking the Stock from this, or the adjacent Islands.
The Inhabitants here, think that had General Scuyler known their very exposed situation he would not have ordered the Companies away, The New York Congress suppose they have no right to counteract his Orders, they might indeed have sent to him, and receiv’d an answer in season, But they are so refined in their policy have so many private views to answer, and take such infinite pains to keep out of the plain path, conscious perhaps of their own superiour wisdom that they do nothing like other people. It is now too late to send to General Scuyler.
The Committee of Safety have therefore desired me to request your Excellency to continue their Troops upon this Station, I shall only say that I know of no place so much exposed to the Ravages of the Enemy, and if the companies raised here, who have, a great part of the good Arms in the County, should be removed, and their places not supplyed, I know of none so defenceless as this; It is my opinion after all the Soldiers are gone, that two hundred men might ravage the County notwithstanding all the Inhabitants could do to prevent it. From this representation I doubt not your Excellency will think proper to continue the Troops raised here upon this Station or order others in their Room. I am with great truth and regard your Excellency’s most obedient Humble Servt
Davd Wooster
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. On 16 Aug. the New York provincial congress ordered the companies raised in Suffolk County to “proceed to Ticonderoga with all possible despatch to join the Continental army under the command of Major-Gen. Schuyler.” Two days later, in consequence of GW’s letter of 10 Aug. to Peter Van Brugh Livingston warning of a possible invasion of New York, the provincial congress requested Wooster to return to his camp at Harlem “with the utmost speed, to assist in the defence of this city and Province” (, 1:108, 110). The Suffolk committee’s letter of 22 Aug. protesting the removal of the local companies was read in the provincial congress on 24 August. “With the advice of Gen. Wooster,” wrote the committee’s chairman William Smith, “we have ventured to desire the captains not to march until we can send an express to you, to let us know whether we can have any hopes of relief” (ibid., 118). The provincial congress replied on 25 Aug., advising the county to form companies of minutemen from its militia to watch for British raiding parties and, if the enemy landed, to drive the livestock near the coast into the interior. “The repeated orders from Gen. Schuyler for the march of the troops raised in this Colony,” the provincial congress explained, “makes it absolutely necessary that the companies raised in your county should immediately march. We will, however, venture to recommend their stay ten days from the date hereof at the most, to give you an opportunity, in the mean while, to complete the companies of minute men” (ibid., 120).
2. Jonathan Trumbull apparently sent Wooster a copy of at least the first paragraph of GW’s letter of 23 Aug. regarding the sailing of a British convoy from Boston. Wooster quoted that paragraph verbatim in a letter of 27 Aug. to the New York provincial congress to justify his delay in returning to Harlem (ibid., 125).