To George Washington from Brigadier General Jacob Bayley, 11 November 1779
From Brigadier General Jacob Bayley
Newb[u]ry [Vt.] 11th Novr 1779
Sr
Colo. Hazen when he was ordered From this Place1 left two French men to be Sent to Canada the last of October I Sent them with one of Majr Whitcombs men,2 they returned the Seventh of this month their accounts Agree with what was Sent to your Excelency by Colo. Hazen heretofore.3
No reinforcement had arrived the first of November Except about four Hundred Foreign Troops, that Six Hundred Inglish Troops Marched the 29th octr from Isle Noix and St Johns for Quebeck and it was Said the Foreign Troops were to Take thier Place at them poasts.
that the French were Still very desireous that we Should Come into Canada had not dissposs’d of thier wheat and would keep it as long as Possiable from the Ingliesh Troops.
that they have no Indians at Present To Command or to Assist them.
if your Excelency think Best to Send Into Canada again at any time I am ready to do what is your P[l]easure. I am your Excelencys most Obedient Humble Servant
Jacob Bayley
ALS, DLC:GW. The cover of the ALS indicates that Bayley sent the letter by express.
1. In a letter written at West Point on 28 Aug., GW had ordered Col. Moses Hazen to march his regiment southward “to rejoin this army” because enemy reinforcements had arrived at New York City (see also GW to Hazen, 17 Sept. and 3 Oct., and 74–75).
While preparing to march, Hazen wrote Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates from “Camp Haverhill,” Coos, N.H., on 22 Sept.: “Before this reaches Rhode-Island, you will most probably hear of my Regiments being Ordered to Join the Main Army; we shall march on or about the 24th Instant … I have in the Course of the Summer kept up a Constant Correspondence to Canada. I have sent Eight different Parties into that Country since I arrived at this place, who have all returned safe without the Loss of a Man. Their Respective Accounts support each other, and all agree in Substance; and the last Reports sayeth, that there is not more than Four Thousand Men in Arms, in all Canada, Including those in the Posts in the Upper Country, of which Number are about the One half Foreign Troops.” After summarizing intelligence reports, Hazen asserted “That Two Thousand well Disciplined Men, might at any time since the Great and Glorious Defeat of Burgoyne’s Army, have taken possession of Canada, that Arsenal, the Source of all the Savage Murderers; and yet, what an Amazing Annual Expence of Blood and Treasure in Guarding and Defending our Frontier! …
“Major Childs, the purchasing Commissary at this place, has authorized me to assure His Excellency the Commander in Chief, and Your Honor, that he has already Secured on this River from Charlestown, upwards Twelve Thousand Bushells of Wheat, and that he is in Hopes, if he is not stinted in Money, to Collect in the whole about Twenty five Thousand Bushells, exclusive of Peas, Indian Corn, and other Grain. What a fine Country! is it not worthy of protection? I hope Congress will be wise enough to undertake once more an Expedition to Canada, If this Winter; the Force of the Enemy is now Ascertained. If deferred to the Spring, a French Fleet in the River would ensure success against any British Reinforcements that could be sent to that Country” ().
2. Bayley apparently instructed this party when he wrote the volunteer officer John (Jean) Goulay (Goulet) from Newbury on 19 Oct.: “You will Take with you two men and Proceed to Canada when you Get there you will Endeavour to Take a Prisner from the British Troops and Bring him to Me at Uper Coos or to the Commanding Officer that you are not to kill any Man but in your own defence nor to Disturb the Inhebitants I wish you a good tour” (DLC:GW).
3. Bayley apparently is referring to a letter from Hazen to GW that has not been found. That letter likely contained intelligence similar to that found in Hazen’s letter to Gates of 22 Sept. (see n.1 above).