Philip Schuyler letter to George Washington, 26 September 1775

Ticonderoga, 26 September, 1775.

SIR,

I did myself the honor to address you in a long letter of the 20th, which I hope will come safe to hand.

The day before yesterday I was favored with a letter from General Montgomery (copy of which in closed), on the contents of which, and on the report of the Indian deputies, I do myself the pleasure to congratulate your Excellency. I have made some explanatory notes on General Montgomery's letter, which I conceived might be necessary for you. I made a short speech to the Indian deputies, gave them a present, and they left me in high good humor, and with a very good opinion of our army.

The vexation of spirit under which I labor, that a barbarous complication of disorders should prevent me from reaping those laurels for which I have unweariedly wrought, since I was honored with this command ; the anxiety I have suffered since my arrival here, lest the army should starve, occasioned by a scandalous want of subordination and inattention to my orders, in some of the officers that I left to command at the different posts ; the vast variety of disagreeable and vexatious incidents, that almost every hour arise in some department or other, not only retard my cure, but have put me considerably back for some days past. If Job had been a General in my situation, his memory had not been so famous for patience. But the glorious end we have in view, and which I have confident hope will be attained, will atone for all.

I have discharged, or ordered to be discharged, every man that was so ill as to be rendered unfit for further service during this campaign, and that was able to return to the place of his abode. Those that were not, I have sent to the hospital. The former already amount to seven hundred and twenty-six, as per the inclosed return.

My best wishes attend your Excellency and the gentlemen with you. I am, dear Sir, with the most sincere esteem,

Your very obedient humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.