USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VII > Part 16
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" As it is probable from the manœuvres of Govr. Carl- ton. that I shall speedily want a reinforcement of troops at Ticonderoga, and not being at liberty to remove the Connecticut troops from hence. I entreat that you will be pleased to forward whatever men may be levied in this Co- lony immediately to Albany, without waiting until the corps are completed.
" I hope, gentlemen, on every occasion to be favored with your advice; and indeed, as the important charge conferred on me by the Continental congress, was done in deference to you, your polite and honorable (yet alto- gether unmerited) recommendation of me, I shall with the
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fullest confidence look up to you for your aid and counte- nance, at once to promote the public service and to prevent me from sinking under the weighty concerns of my office. And give me leave to assure you that, though I have the clearest conviction that I shall never be able to equal the high opinion you have induced the Congress to entertain of me, yet no effort shall be wanting on my part, to deserve it as far as possible, that I may not draw disgrace on you, my country or myself.
" I am, gentlemen,
" With sentiments of the most profound respect, " Your most obedt. and most hble. servt.
"PH. SCHUYLER."
A letter from Elisha Phelps, Commissary at Albany for the Connecticut troops, was read, and is in the words fol- lowing :
Albany, July 7th, 1775.
" HON'D SIR-Received your favor dated June 29th, 1775, on the 6th day of July instant. I also received the stores of provisions in place of Mr. Bleecker, who I was in hopes might have been ordered to purchase provisions and deliver to me to forward. Sir, flour is either very scarce in this city or can not be purchased without money. I have been throughout this city, with the assistance of Esq. Palmer, and could get but twenty barrels; also have been to Schenectady and could not get but ten barrels there. I am much afraid the troops will suffer if they can not be immediately supplied. I wrote by the post to one of the gentlemen of the committee for two or three hundred barrels of flour; should be glad your Honor would see
and order as you think proper. Col. Hinman has wrote orders to me for hospital stores, and they can not all be got in this city. Capt. Motte will inform you more par- ticularly. Sir, should be glad to know who in particular to write to for provisions, &c. at New York, that is and will be wanted.
" Sir, I am with esteem, your most " Humble servant at command,
" ELISHA PHELPS.
"To the Honorable P. V. B. LIVINGSTON, Esq."
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- A letter from John N. Bleecker at Albany, was read, and is in the words following, to wit:
Albany, 4th July, 1775.
" GENTLEMEN-I received your letter of the 29th ult. and have, agreeable to your directions, delivered up all the stores and provisions in my care, an account whereof you have enclosed. I can't omit observing that the person in whose care I have left the stores, &c. during my absence did not think himself justified to deliver them without an order from you, especially as it appears by Mr. Phelps's warrant that he is only appointed for one regiment, a copy of which is enclosed. A number of different accounts for provisions and necessaries, purchased as well by me as in my absence, have not yet been delivered in, which pre- vents my transmitting an account at present of the expenses which we have been at, but I shall not fail to render an account in a few days. Five barrels damaged powder from Ticonderoga is sent to Judge Livingston's mill. The gar- rison will be in want of flour very soon, and none to be had here before I delivered up the stores.
" I am, gentlemen, your most " Obedient and most humble servt. " JOHN N. BLEECKER. " To P. V. B. LIVINGSTON, Esq."
The account of provisions and stores, and also the ap- pointment of Elisha Phelps, mentioned in Mr. Bleecker's letter were also read and filed.
July 31st. 1775.
The Deputies for the city and county of Albany pro- duced new credentials, which were read and filed, and are in the words following, to wit:
" ALBANY COMMITTEE CHAMBER, " July 13th, 1775.
" The committee of this city and county having here- tofore appointed Messrs. Abraham Yates, Jr. Robert Yates, Abraham Ten Broeck, Jacob Cuyler, Henry Glenn, Francis Nicoll, Peter Silvester. Dirck Swart, Walter Li- vingston. Volkert P. Douw and Robert Van Rensselaer, the Deputies of this city and county to attend the Provincial
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Congress, with general powers to represent this city and county, but by reason of the inconvenience attending the attendance of all the Deputies in the said Provincial Con- gress, it is therefore
" Resolved, That for the future the said deputies attend the said Congress, or any four or more of their number, for the purposes aforesaid, with the same power and au- thority as if all the said deputies were present.
" ABRAHM YATES, JUNR. Chairman. " JOHN BAY, Secry, P. T."
A letter from John N. Bleecker, at Albany, with the ac- counts enclosed. were read and filed.
Mr. Robert Yates of Albany, delivered into Congres sundry papers relating to Indian affairs, which were read, and are marked and numbered as follows, to wit:
No. 1. A speech of four Oneida chiefs to the committee of Albany, dated at the Committee Chamber at Albany, June 24th, 1775.
No. 2. A speech of the inhabitants of the county of Albany. drawn up by the committee of Albany, spoken at the German Flats to the Oneida Indians.
No. 3. A speech to the inhabitants of Albany, being the answer of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras at the German Flats, dated July 1st, 1775.
August 8th, 1775.
A memorial of Philip Van Rensselaer, of Albany, ap- pointed by Robert Livingston, Esq, Deputy Commissary General, to purchase barreled pork for the use of the Continental army, was read.
The said memorial set forth that pork can not be pur- chased in this Colony, and requests that this Congress would write to Gov. Trumbull for leave to purchase 450 barrels of good merchantable pork in Connecticut.
A copy of the examination of Gerrit Roseboom of the city of Albany, taken before the sub-committee of the city and county of Albany on the 15th July last ; and also a copy of the examination of Benjamin Davis. (alias John Johnson,) sworn before John Ten Broeck, Esq., at. Al- bany, both relating to Indian affairs, were read and filed.
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August 15th, 1775.
" Please to order all the powder, that is made at Judge Livingston's powder mill, to Albany, with as much dis- patch as possible, directed in the care of the Deputy Commissary-General, Walter Livingston, Esq.
"The clothing and tents, for the Green Mountain Boys, I wish you to forward as soon as possible.
" I am, gentlemen, with great respect, " Your most obedient humble servant,
PH. SCHUYLER."
Ordered, That a letter be wrote to the Hon. Robert R. Livingston. requesting that all the gunpowder. now at the powder mill at Rhinebeck, be sent to Walter Livingston, Esq. Deputy Commissary General, at Albany, to be by him forwarded to Gen. Schuyler, at Ticonderoga, or his order, agreeable to Gen. Schuyler's request.
A letter from the committee at Albany was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit :
" ALBANY COMMITTEE CHAMBER, " 10th August, 1775.
" GENTLEMEN-We find ourselves once more obliged to trouble you with respect to the soldiers who were taken prisoners at St. Johns, who have been furnished with provisions by Elisha Phelps, Esq. commissary (ap- pointed by the Governor of Connecticut ) till a few days ago, when Mr. Phelps went into Connecticut on business and left no order with his deputy to supply them, who being unwilling to supply them without orders from our Board, spoke to the chairman, who told him he thought as the army was now properly organized, it was their business to give orders concerning prisioners, and re- ferred him to Gen. Montgomery, who, (as the said deputy informed us) found much fault with their insolence, and thought it improper that they should be suffered to re- main in this town, as being a frontier place where they might do disservice to the public cause, and therefore declined doing anything in the affair. Upon which, Mr. Phelps's deputy made application to us again, advising us
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at the same time, that the soldiers were so insolent as to threaten to take provisions by force if he refused to supply them. We have come to a resolution to supply them as formerly, till we have your farther instructions in the premises.
" We are, gentlemen .. " Your humble servants, "By order of the committee. ABM. YATES, JUNR, Chairman.
A. draft of a letter to the committee of Albany was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit :
" IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, New York, Aug. 21st, 1775.
GENTLEMEN-We received your letter of the 10th inst. in answer to which we inform you, that it is the direction of the Congress that provisions be furnished for the pri- soners, for which you will apply to the commissary.
" We are, gentlemen, your humble servants. "TO ABRAHAM YATES, Jr. Chairman
of the Committee at Albany."
Messrs. Abraham Ten Broeck, Jacob Cuyler and Robert Yates. Deputies for the city and county of Albany, pro- duced a certificate from the committee of the city of Al- bany, which is in the words following, to wit :
" ALBANY, COMMITTEE CHAMBER, " 16th August, 1775.
" WHEREAS the endeavors of this committee in collect- ing the accounts and charges of this county, chiefly accru- ed by the recommendation of this committee, have as you proved ineffectual, and sundry people are daily very pressing for their money :
" Be it Resolved by this committee, immediately to ap- ply to Provincial Congress, by draft, for one thousand pounds, to enable them to discharge such of their debts as are now most pressing. and that said committee shall hereafter lay before the Congress proper vouchers for such disbursements.
" A true copy from the minutes. " MAT. VISSCHER, Clerk.
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The same gentlemen, Deputies from Albany, produced the draft mentioned in the said resolve of the committee of Albany, which is in the words following, to wit :
" ALBANY COMMITTEE CHAMBER, " 16th August. 1775.
" GENTLEMEN-Please to pay to Messrs. Abraham Ten Broeck, Jacob Cuyler, and Robert Yates, or either of them, or order, the sum of one thousand pounds for the use of this committee, to be applied towards defraving part of the public charge, as per advice of a resolve from the committee.
" ABM. YATES, JUNR. Chairman.
Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq. pay to Messrs. Abraham Ten Broeck, Jacob Cuyler and Rob- ert Yates, or either of them, or their order, one thousand pounds, on account of the use of the committee of Albany, to be applied towards defraying the public charge, ac- crued in that part of the Colony, and take a receipt for the same.
September 1st, 1775.
A letter from Col. Goose Van Schaick, dated the 29th August, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:
" Albany, August 29th, 1775.
" GENTLEMEN-I am at present stationed in Albany by Gen. Schuyler to forward the troops that arrive here. to Ticonderoga, and it gives me pain to inform you that Col. Clinton arrived here with the other field officers and six companies of his battalion. five of which are armed, but in bad repair. They have been supplied with blankets at this place-other necessaries are wanted.
" Col. Van Cortlandt is also arrived here with five com- panies of Holmes's battalion, who have not arms sufficient to supply one company, and are totally destitute of all other tents, accoutrements and necessaries, saving their regimental coats. We shall endeavor to procure as many stand of arms as possible, upon terms of the resolve published by you ; but am very well persuaded that the
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number will greatly fall short of the number wanted to supply the companies that are now here and those ex- pected.
" As Gen. Schuyler is returned to Ticonderoga, this matter I conceive, comes w thin my province; and I should ever accuse myself of inhumanity and want of love to my country, should I be backward in giving you a true account of the situation and distress of these compa- nies, when I consider how much they are wanted at the forts above. I therefore look up to you, and beg that you will, without delay. send up such or so many arms, tents, blankets and other necessaries, as will supply those companies, so that they may be forwarded with the great- est dispatch.
"I must also inform you, the men are much discon- tented for want of their pay, and do assure you that the service greatly suffers. There is scarce anything to be heard in the camp but mutinies. I have for that pur- . pose, wrote to Mr. Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. who, I am in- formed, is appointed deputy-paymaster-general. which letter I enclose you, as I do not know where he is at - present. I beg, therefore, that you will forward it to him by express.
"I am very happy, however, to inform you that, not- withstanding the clamors and discontents of my men at first. there is at present nine of my companies up at Ti- conderoga, with the other two field officers in actual ser- vice, and the last will march to-morrow.
" I am gentlemen, " Your most obedient " Humble servant, " GOOSE VAN SCHAICK.
A letter from the committee of Albany of the 29th ult. was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit :
" ALBANY COMMITTEE CHAMBER, " August 29th, 1775. S
" GENTLEMEN-We expected when the army was once organized, we should not be so frequently called upon about matters not in our province. But the situation of
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Col. Van Cortlandt and the men under his command, in a great measure obliges us to give him all the assistance in our power-not, however, that it is to be made a pre- cedent of. The enclosed letter from Col. Van Cortlandt will show you the posture he is in, and the necessity of a speedy relief. We fear we shall be able to afford him but little assistance. The hospital and barracks are filled with Indians attending the congress ; the barns about the town loaded with the crops of the season, and the city crowded continually with a numerous concourse of people. The former and frequent applications for amu- nition has drained us in short of almost every thing of that sort.
" We are, gentlemen, " Your humble servants, " By order of the committee, " ABM. YATES. JUNR. Chairman.
" P. V. B. Livingston, President
of the Congress."
A letter from Philip Van Cortlandt, lieutenant-colonel of the fourth regiment, dated at Albany, August 28th, 1775, Was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:
" Albany, August 28th, 1775.
"DEAR SIR-Agreeable to verbal orders received from Col. Holmes when last in New York, made all the dis- patch in my power to this place, where I arrived the 26th inst. finding Capt. Henry B. Livingston with his company in a small house in town. He wants many things-such as shoes, stockings, shirts, under cloths, haversacks and cash, having advanced all himself that has been paid his men as yet. The day I arrived. came up the following captains with their companies : Capt. Herrick, Capt. Palmer, Capt Horton and Capt. Mills-all without blankets, excepting Capt. David Palmer-many of the men wanting shirts, shoes, stockings, under cloths, and in short without anything fit for a soldier, except a uniform coat, and not more than thirty guns with four companies fit for service.
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" They are now on board of the small boats that brought them up, having no place for them to go into, as there is not one tent that I can find for our battalion; and three companies without blankets, and none to be had at this place. I do not know how to act, or what to do with them. They begin to ask for cash and better lodgings, being much crowded in the small boats in which I am obliged to keep them.
"I this morning made application to the committee of Albany, who will do all in their power for me, which I believe, is but very little.
" I shall be much obliged to the Honorable Congress to send me with all convenient speed, arms, blankets, tents, shoes, stockings. haversacks, and cash by all means. I want to be going forward, where, by what I can learn, we shall be wanting if we can go soon, or not at all.
"The men say, ' give us guns, blankets, tents, &c., and we'll fight the devil himself, but do not keep us here in market boats, as though we were a parcel of sheep or calves.' In short nothing can give me more pleasure than the arrival of the aforesaid articles; until which, I shall do all in my power to keep the men together, and in as good order as clubs and canes can keep them, with- out arms to keep a proper guard; as I have orders from the general to collect all the arms together, and send as many men off directly to Ticonderoga, (and that without tents) which will not be a full company, unless I can purchase some arms here.
" I remain, dear sir, " Your most obedient, hum, servant, " PHILIP VAN CORTLANDT.
" Lieut. Col. of the 4th battalion.
"P. S, The cash I received I was obliged to pay to the mutinious men in the lower barracks; and I sent by Lieut. Riker to Capt. Woodard, at Newton, Long Island, some part of it."
September 20th, 1775.
A letter from Walter Livingston, Esq. Deputy Com- missary-General at Albany was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit :
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" Albany, September 6th, 1775.
" GENTLEMEN-I lately received a number of gun bar- rels, which were sent by Maj. Gen. Schuyler's orders from the garrisons above, to be stocked, locked and made fit for the service ; as many of them as could be re- paired in this city and in Schenectady I have delivered to the armorers; 180 are sent to Connecticut, the re- mainder were ordered to be sent to the Provincial Con- gress ; they shall be sent down and consigned to Mr. Peter T. Curtenius.
"Those repaired in this city and Schenectady I can not with propriety pay for; I must therefore request the Con- gress will give orders for it. I know of nobody to whom I can apply for that purpose, it being in the general's opinion a Provincial charge, ultimately to be paid by the associated colonies.
" The number of barrels sent are 237.
WALTER LIVINGSTON, D. C. Genl.
September 22d, 1775.
Maj. Nicoll informed the Committee, that the com- missioners for Indian affairs at Albany, having occasion for gunpowder to make presents to the Indians, the com- mittee of Albany had, on application of the said com- missioners, spared to them the gunpowder which was lately ordered for the county of Albany, and Maj. Nicoll informed that Albany is entirely destitute of powder.
Ordered, That two hundred weight of gunpowder be supplied to Maj. Nicoll, or his order, from the powder mill in Rhinebeck precinct, to be delivered to the com- mittee of the city and county of Albany, and that the said committee pay for the said gunpowder to the manu- facturer thereof, at the rate of £20 per hundred.
A letter to the Hon. Robert R. Livingston, was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit :
" SIR-The committee of Albany has spared their small supply of gunpowder to the commissioners for In- dian affairs, and earnestly requested of us an order for 200lbs.
[ Annals vii.] 20 .
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"We have given an order for two hundred weight at your mill to Maj. Nicoll, or his order. The committee of Albany are to pay for it to you at your order.
Ordered, That the committee at Albany are requested to have the barracks, or hospital at Albany, or both, as the committee shall think proper, repaired with all possi- ble dispatch, in the cheapest and least expensive manner, so as to make them fit for the reception of the troops of the Continental army; and that the said committee be farther requested to direct such a quantity of firewood to be procured for the use of the said barracks as they shall think necessary; and that the said committee send an account, with the most authentic vouchers, of the ex. pense and disbursements occasioned by making such re- pairs and procuring firewood, to the Congress or Com- mittee of Safety, of this Colony, that the same may be audited and paid.
The petition of Elizabeth White, wife of Alexander White, sheriff of Tryon, praying that her husband may be discharged from Albany jail on his parol of honor, or be heard before the committee of Albany, was read and filed.
A draft of a letter to the committee at Albany, to cover the order for repairing the barracks and hospital, was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit :
Oct. 4th, 1775.
" GENTLEMEN-By the enclosed resolutions you will see that the barracks and hospital, or either of them, as you may think proper, are to be prepared and firewood to be procured. It is, however, the sense of this Con- gress, that the burden of this commission should not be troublesome to your committee, unless you incline to act therein, as it may be now expeditiously and effectually done by appointing two persons ; Messrs. Guysbert Mer- selis and Cornelius Santfort, of your committee, are re- commended to superintend this business, under your di- rection. If you approve of this appointment, you can immediately set about the work. We think it not im-
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proper to hint to you, that the less expensive the opera- tion is, will be the most agreeable to, gentlemen,
" Your most obedient servant.
" By order.
A letter from Benjamin Baker on the subject of making saltpetre. was read and filed, and is in the words follow- ing. to wit :
"GENTLEMEN-Gen. Montgomery when in Albany, heard of my attempts towards the production of nitre, sent for me to his lodging, and after some examination and inquiry, requested of me to make application to the committee for their assistance towards establishing a manufactory. Colonel Abraham Ten Broeck, requested me to write you somewhat of my pretensions in that way for your farther consideration. In conformity to this re- quest, I have wrote you as follows :
" From repeated trials and experiments have strong reasons to believe that saltpetre may in these parts of America, be made in as large quantities as now pot and pearl ashes are, or even to intercept in a great measure the East India trade in that article. Common alkaline salts and wood otherwise concentrated into an acid juice, -these two oppositions, and yet affinities, form a neutral commixture, and becomes, as it were, a proper magnet for the attraction of nitrous particles. These two ma- terials only with circulatory vessels properly adapted, and other apparatus convenient, large quantities assuredly may, at one work be made, even to 20 or 30 tons a year, and at the same time, the method so simple that the country people may easily learn the process, to the bene- fit of themselves and Continent. A capital work to make the above quantity, would require a stock at least of £1000. and so on in proportion for lesser quantities. It is not the want of business ind ces me to make this ap- plication, but on the other hand to serve the country, and oblige the gentleman that applied to me. I am already established in business in an art peculiar to my- self, in preparing in such purity alkaline salts, as to an-
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swer all the different purposes in pharmacy, which may hereafter bring in great emoluments to America.
"I am gent. with due obedience, " Your humble servant, " BENJN BAKER.
" N. B. It is not in the power of any art yet known to make from its origin, saltpetre in that limited time you are pleased to offer a price so extraordinary for."
Ordered, That the gentlemen who are members from Albany, write to the said Benjamin Baker, to know what quantity of saltpetre he can make by the first day of May next, and on what terms.
Oct. 6th, 1775.
A letter from Maj. Gen. Schuyler was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:
"Ticonderoga, Sept. 29th, 1775.
"GENTLEMEN-I am still confined with the remains of an inveterate disorder. I have this moment received a line from Gen. Montgomery ; he holds St. Johns besieged, but the weak state of our army and artillery cause the operations to go. on slowly. The Canadians are friendly to us, and join us in great numbers, but unless we suc- ceed against St. John's. all other operations in that quar- ter will avail little. We are in want of powder, and I send this by express, that you may forward me five tons if you can. It should come in boats that can be rowed, that no delay may be made. Several rascals of the first battalion have deserted to the enemy, and Capt. Mott of the same corps, shamefully ran away from our bomb battery, when not one of the enemy was near him.
"Pray let the powder be sent to the care of Col. Van Schaick, at Albany.
"We have taken fifteen prisoners, seven of which are soldiers, the rest unfriendly Canadians and Scotchmen, in the service of the ministry.
"PH. SCHUYLER."
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