To George Washington from George Clinton, 21 May 1780
From George Clinton
Pokeepsie [N.Y.] 21st May 1780.
Dear Sir
I am this Moment honored with your Excellency’s Letter of the 18th Instant; and I shall not loose a Moments Time in forwarding to Fort Schuyler with all possible Expedition the Number of Men directed to garrisson that Post;1 ’tho I am apprehensive that the Accounts which your Excellency will herewith receive from Colo. Van Schaick of preperations making by the Enemy to envist that Fortress may induce you to continue the present Garrisson until the Strength and Designs of the Enemy in that Quarter can be better ascertained2—There are certainly many concurring Circumstances which corroborate the Intelligence transmitted by Colo. Van Schaick & I believe it is beyond a Doubt that an Attempt against that Post was intended last Fall had not the cold Weather (which set in uncommonly early) oblidged the Enemy to return from Oswego where a considerable Force under Sir John Johnson had arrived3—It may be that their present Movements are calculated to divide your Excellency’s Force & thereby prevent the Effects of the intended combined Opperations.4
The Levies directed to be raised for the defence of this State I have reason to believe are compleated; but they are not yet all collected at the Places of Rendevous as soon as this is the Case I will cause a Return of them to be made to your Excellency & point out the particular Places at which they are distributed.5
I expect the Legislature will form a Quorum Tomorrow & proceed on Business—when I shall with every proper Caution make that use of the very agreable Intelligence communicated by your Excellency for which it was intended;6 and I cannot entertain a Doubt but every Measure will be chearfully adopted which may be necessary for giving Success to the Opperations of the present Campaign.7 I am perswaded if an additional Number of Men shoud be wanted The Legislature will readily provide for raising them (which can be easilly accomplishd on this occassion) and they will be more strongly inclined to this from a Consideration that it may prevent a Diminution of the Garrisson of Fort Schuyler in the safety of which Post they conceive themselves peculiarly interested & I may venture to assure your Excellency that the utmost Industry will be continued in collecting Supplies for the Army tho’ our prospect is far from encouraging before the New Crops come in. I have the Honor to be with the sinc[e]rest Sentiments of Respect & Esteem your Excellencys Most Obedt Servt
Geo. Clinton
P.S. I shall return to Kingston Tomorrow where your Excellency please to direct any new Commands.
ALS, DLC:GW; Df (partially burned), N-Ar: George Clinton Papers. Clinton wrote “By Express” on the cover of the letter.
1. See GW to Clinton, 18 May, and n.3 to that document.
3. For the British attempt to take Fort Schuyler, N.Y., in fall 1779, see Clinton to GW, 28 Oct. 1779, and notes 1 and 2 to that document; see also Van Schaick to GW, 9 Nov. 1779.
In a letter to Lord George Germain, dated 1 Nov. 1779 at Quebec, Frederick Haldimand, governor of Canada, explained that Loyalist lieutenant colonel John Johnson “arrived too late in the Indian country to effect anything against the rebels … and being unprovided either with a sufficient force, provisions, or stores to attempt the reduction of that place, he proceeded to Oswego with a prospect of being able to march against the Oneida Indians” (, 17:238–39).
4. For recent reports of incursions on the New York frontier, see Clinton to GW, 19 May 1780.
5. Col. Goose Van Schaick informed Clinton on 19 May that only a few of the levies had appeared at the places of rendezvous. Clinton wrote Van Schaick the next day that he had just set out for Poughkeepsie “with a View of hastening the March of the Levies from Dutchess who are intended for Schohary” (, 5:719, 728). Clinton’s promised return of the New York levies has not been identified.
6. Clinton is referring to GW’s letter to him of 18 May. The New York legislature reached a quorum on 25 May and stayed in session until 2 July (see N.Y. Assembly Proc., 25 May–2 July 1780, 157, 192).
7. For the measures taken by the New York legislature, see Clinton to GW, 13 June.