To George Washington from George Clinton, 1 September 1780
From George Clinton
Pokeepsie [N.Y.] Septr 1st 1780
Dear Sir.
I am favored with your Excellency’s Letter of the 27th Ulto1 and am much obliged by your Attention to my Application, thro’ Genl Schuyler, in ordering Colo. Malcom’s Corps to the Defence of the frontiers—every Measure in my Power will be taken to expedite his march and he has my orders to relieve the Garrison of Fort Schuyler, without the least delay, by the Levies raised last Spring for the Defence of the Frontiers whose Times of Service will not expire before the first Decr next2—It will take some considerable Time however to collect them as they are posted at different & remote Parts of the frontiers: but I would fain hope that the Discontents of the present Garrison will subside when they are informed that Measures are taken to relieve them. I have directed Colo. Malcom to proceed immediately to Albany and take the necessary Measures for collectg as large a Supply of Provision for Fort Schuyler as can be spared (and for which Purpose he has Warrants of Impress) that he may avail himself of an escort by the Troops, intended to Garrison that Post.3
I shall take the earliest Opportunity of communicating to the Legislature (who are required to meet at this Place the 4th Inst.) your Excellency’s Letter of the 27th Ulto together with the several Letters from the Committee of Congress on the Subject of Supplies for the Army4—the State Agent will in the mean time have my Directions to make every exertion in his Power for affording them immediate Relief.5
I take the liberty of enclosing (confidentially) for your Excellency’s perusal a Copy of the Proceedings of a Convention of Committees from the States of Massachusetts Bay Connecticut & New Hampshire; in which I am happy to find, even at this late hour, Sentiments, which if generally adopted cannot fail of doing much good and I believe I may venture to assure you, Sir, that (as the most sensible among us have from the beginning of the Contest foreseen the consequences of temporary Expedients) they will meet the chearful approbation of this State.6 I have the Honor to be with perfect Respect & Esteem, Dear Sir Your Excellency’s most Obedt Servt
Geo: Clinton
ALS, DLC:GW; ADfS (partially burned), N-Ar: Clinton Papers.
2. See GW to Clinton, 28 Aug., and n.1 to that document.
3. Col. William Malcom likely met Clinton before reaching Albany (see Malcom to John Lamb, this date, DLC:GW, and Malcom to GW, 8 Sept.). For the impressment warrants, see , 6:208–9.
4. The state legislature obtained a quorum at Poughkeepsie on 7 Sept., when Clinton presented letters from GW and the Committee at Headquarters (see , pp. 1 and 3).
5. No letter from Clinton to Lt. Col. Udny Hay, state agent for New York, has been identified, but see Hay’s three letters to Clinton dated 7 Sept., and Hay to Clinton, 9 Sept., in , 6:177–82, 187.
6. Clinton enclosed the proceedings “At a Meeting of the Committees appointed by the States of Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut New Hampshire convened at Boston on Thursday the third Day of August” (DLC:GW; see also Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., to GW, 31 Aug., n.8). The New York legislature endorsed the measures to strengthen congressional authority (see , p. 7).