To George Washington from Colonel Goose Van Schaick, 9 November 1779
From Colonel Goose Van Schaick
Albany November 9th 1779
Sir
Since I had the Honour of receiving your Excellencys favour of the 19th Ultimo1 The Commanding Officer at Fort Schuyler informed me that by Indian Accounts which he received the Enemy were in force at Oswego with Artillery a small Scout was sent to make Discoveries but were soon after leaving the Fort Captured. General Ten Broeck who Commands the Militia of this County thought proper to order part of five Regiments of Militia to March into Tryon County, where the General remained for some time, & after Reinforceing some of the Frontier Posts in that quarter the General thought proper to Dismiss the Militia—It appears from the Indian Accounts that the Enemy who are said to have been at Oswego, came there for the purpose of Distributing presents of Cloathing &ca to the Onondago & other Indian Nations who have suffered by our Arms during the Course of the present Campaign.2
On my return from the Westward I found part of three Regiments of Levies from the State of Massachussets had Arrived in this Town—General Fellows who Commands them came to Town last evening,3 The General will with this Transmitt a Return of their Strength and Situation.4 I am most respectfully Your Excellencies Most Humble & Obedient Servant
G. V. Schaick
LS, DLC:GW.
1. In his letter to Van Schaick of 19 Oct., GW denied an application from women who sought rations for their husbands’ participation in Maj. Gen. John Sullivan’s expedition against the Six Nations.
2. For these reports of unrest along the New York frontier, see George Clinton to GW, 28 Oct., and notes 1 and 2 to that document.
3. For the ordering of Massachusetts militia to Albany, see GW to Clinton, 29 Oct., and notes 1 and 2 to that document. GW had asked for these militia as part of his preparations for possible combined operations with a French fleet under Vice Admiral d’Estaing (see Planning for an Allied Attack on New York, c.3–7 Oct., editorial note; see also Samuel Huntington to GW, 10 Nov.).
4. See John Fellows to GW, 10 Nov., and n.5.