1. The New York legislature passed “An Act to raise Troops for the Defence of the Frontiers” on 11 March (N.Y. Laws description begins Laws of the State of New-York, Commencing with the first Session of the Senate and Assembly, after the Declaration of Independency, and the Organization of the New Government of the State, Anno 1777. Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1782. description ends , 117–18; see also Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers description begins Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds. Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777–1795, 1801–1804. 10 vols. 1899–1914. Reprint. New York, 1973. description ends , 5:600–602).

2. See n.5 below.

3. See Goose Van Schaick to GW, 23 March.

4. The petition, dated 29 March and signed by New York militia colonel Jacob Klock and thirteen other Tryon County militia officers, reads: “To his Excellency George Washington Esquire, General, and Commander in Chief of the United Forces of North America.

“The humble Petition of the Principal inhabitants and Freeholders of Tryon County, in the State of New York.

“Humbly Sheweth.

“That Your Petitioners humbly begs leave to lay our case open to Your Excellency. As we are intirely the Western Frontier of this State, excepting Fort Schuyler, which is at the distance of Thirty two Miles from the German Flatts, and are so open to the incursions of the Enemy, and as we have suffered so much already, by being destroy’d by the Enemy, in September 1778 at which time the greatest part of the German Flatts was destroy’d, which was owing to not having Troops station’d among us. We humbly beg leave, to observe to Your Excellency, that Your Petitioners, especially the inhabitants of German Flatts and Kingsland Districts, have since the course of this War with Britain lost three fourths of our inhabitants, not to mention the loss of Houses, Barns, Grain, and the greatest part of our Cattle. We must likewise observe to Your Excellency that the great part of our inhabitants is moved down the River, and the small remains that are left, are not able to stand against any part of an enemy which may come, and if we cannot have the grant of some Troops, the remaining part of the inhabitants, of German Flatts and Kingsland, will be oblig’d to move away likewise. And as Provision is scarce with us, on account we dare not venture on our land as usual, as several of our inhabitants has been killed at their Work by the enemy, and we cannot tell where to go too. Your Excellency will be pleas’d to observe, that last summer there was an army sent against the Indians, and about a fortnight ago, the enemy took five Prisoners, at a place called R[h]emar Sniders Bush, and we understand they said then, that the indians was making ready, to take revenge on the Mohawk River, especially on the upper part of the said River. And we farther beg leave to observe, that we cannot rely on our own County for assistance, as every place has enough to do, to guard themselves, especially as a great number is listed in the Continental service.

“Therefore, Your Petitioners humbly Prayeth: That Your Excellency will be pleased to grant our Request, that we may have some Troops station’d on those Frontiers. That we may be able to stay, and baulk the cruel designs of our Enemies. And Your Petitioners, as in Duty bound Shall ever Pray” (DS, DLC:GW).

5. The enclosed letter from Clinton to Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, written from Albany on 9 March, reads: “I have the honor to transmit your Excellency a concurrent Resolution of the Senate & Assembly of this State. I should presume that it is scarcely necessary to suggest to Congress that being deprived of the Sea Coast & weakened & wasted by the frequent Incursions of the Enemy on our Frontiers especially when it is considered that the Supplies furnished by this State for the Army have been at a much lower Rate than those procured from the neighboring States, it is with great Difficulty we can collect the Monthly Supplies for the continental Treasury The fact is we have not yet been able to comply with the pecuniary Requisitions of Congress with that punctuality we could wish altho’ the support of our civil Establishment has been almost totally neglected and large Arrears remain due to the Militia who have been from Time to Time drawn into the field Under these Circumstances it must be evident that the Paying of a body of Troops sufficient for the Defence of our extensive Frontiers would be attended with almost unsurmountable Difficulties: But were it possible to provide for their Pay, it is not in the Power of the State to supply them with Provision; the Legislature having by a late Law directed an Impress of all the Wheat in the State more than is sufficient for the bare subsistence of the Inhabitants ’till the next Crop comes in for the use of the Army. For my own Part I am seriously alarmed at the Situation of our Frontiers; the Inhabitants both to the West & North entertain the strongest Apprehension of desultory Incursions from the Savages as soon as the Waters are passable; and unless proper Measures are taken for their Protection will probably abandon their Settlements, by which Means we shall not only loose the Supplies usually obtained from them which are very considerable particularly from the Banks of the Mohawk River; but the Communication with the Posts at Fort Schuyler Fort George and Skeensborough cannot be maintained unless by the Means of very strong Escorts. These are the Reasons which have induced the Legislature to enter into the enclosed Resolution. I shall think myself Happy If I have given them their proper Weight and if by the Determination of Congress on the Subject I shall be enabled to carry the Intentions of the State into Execution as early as the public Service seems to require” (DLC:GW; see also Huntington to GW, 6 April, n.1, and “An Act more effectually to supply the Army with Flour,” in N.Y. Laws description begins Laws of the State of New-York, Commencing with the first Session of the Senate and Assembly, after the Declaration of Independency, and the Organization of the New Government of the State, Anno 1777. Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1782. description ends , 101–2).