CHAPTER VI.

[1777.]

WHILE the main army was thus employed in resisting the attempts on Philadelphia, events of the utmost importance had occurred on the northern frontier. On the day of Hamilton's appointment to the staff, he addressed, in the name of General Washington, an urgent letter to the committee of NewYork, incidentally mentioning the difficulty of supplying the troops with arms, from the practice which had prevailed among the militia of taking them with them when their terms of service expired; and endeavouring to impress upon the state the necessity of the most unwearied activity in arming their quotas, he then replies to an application for reinforcements at the north, "that the advanced season of the year renders an attack upon Ticonderoga over the ice not so much to be feared as to induce him to provide against a possible inconvenience there, at the expense of not guarding effectually against a certain one here, wherefore I have determined to send no more battalions to that place, having ordered a sufficient force from the east."

This unavoidable decision of the commander-in-chief, excited the greatest alarm among the inhabitants of New-York, and led them to wait, with the most eager anxiety, the march of the eastern troops.

The hostile feelings which had been nourished among the Dutch population towards their eastern neighbours, were now carried to the highest point.

Engaged in a common conflict, the people of New-York regarded the tardy measures of New-England as proceeding from a fixed determination to surrender them an easy prey to the enemy,-relying on their dense population for their own security, and shunning a warfare so remote, and attended with so many hardships. Hence proceeded the most

gloomy alarms, followed by embittered rancour. In a letter from Governor Clinton, it is stated, "that Connecticut and Massachusetts have not furnished a man for the southern department; nay, scarcely answered the letters sent to them. General Gates is ordered to take the command of the northern army, and General Schuyler to join General Washington. The New-England men will now be gratified, and ought to turn out, but I fear they will not behave better under any command.

"The New-York militia have turned out with the greatest alacrity and spirit, leaving their harvests in the fields."

In a letter from the Albany committee, it is mentioned, “our affairs grow more gloomy every day. The New-England states are still indifferent to all entreaty. All the militia of Albany are sent to the army. The people in Schoharie say they must lay down their arms if Albany falls. Only two hundred savages have driven in the inhabitants within fifty miles. What would be the case if a thousand are let loose? Trumbull writes that no aid is to be expected from Connecticut." In another communication, the delegates from NewYork write, "General Gates is far from partial to our state; you cannot be at a loss for the reason. Our revolters* seem to possess his esteem here, and he has left a most extraordinary recommendation in their favour."

About the same time, the council of Albany prepared a declaration, (stating "the pain it gave them to find that a measure so absurd and probably chimerical as the surrender of Ticonderoga, should be imputed to the directions of General Schuyler" in whose zeal, vigilance, and integrity, they express the highest confidence,) which they addressed to General Putnam, enclosing an extract from a letter of General Schuyler, from Fort Edward, of the ninth of July, expressing his astonishment at the conduct of the officers who had evacuated that post.

* The people of Vermont.

These contemporary monuments of history evince, in a strong light, the alarming condition of affairs in New-York, where the people were unable to stifle their deep-rooted hostility to their New-England neighbours, and where state pride looked with indignation at the decision which had supplanted their most popular chief, who, perhaps, entered too warmly into the local feelings of his state, to make room for an individual, whose capacity was distrusted by men of discernment, and whose title to command was deemed the more invidious, as being founded on his popularity with a community with whom they had long been engaged in territorial disputes.

This scene of discord produced deep dismay at head quarters, where the necessity of silencing all local differences had been among the most important, as it was the most difficult of duties.

While the imminent danger which menaced the army under his immediate command, would seem to have required all his care, Washington failed in none of the great trusts of his high station, but with that presiding superiority and high tone of mind which distinguished him, he is seen stemming the tide of discontent around him,-cheering the faltering spirits of congress, stimulating the then sluggish councils of New-England, and, at the same time, soothing the alarms of the unhappy sufferers of New-York. The following letter, written by Hamilton at his instance, and addressed to the committee of that state, is a highly interesting exhibition of the temper of his patriotic mind.

Head Quarters, Philadelphia, August 4th, 1777.

I have been duly honoured by your several favours of the 25th, 27th, and 30th of July. The misfortune at Ticonderoga, has produced a very disagreeable alteration in our affairs, and has thrown a gloom upon the favourable prospect which the campaign previous to that event afforded. But I am in great hopes, the ill consequences of it will not continue

to operate long, and that the jealousies and alarms which so sudden and unexpected an accident has occasioned in the minds of the people both of your state and to the eastward, will shortly subside, and give way to the more rational dictates of self-preservation and regard to the common good. In fact, the worst effect of that disaster is, that it has served to create those distrusts and apprehensions; for if the matter were coolly and dispassionately considered, there would be found nothing so formidable in Mr. Burgoyne, and the force under him, with all his successes, as to countenance the least languor or despondency, and experience would show that a tolerable degree of vigour in the states more immediately interested, would be sufficient to check his career, and perhaps convert the advantages he has gained into his ruin. But while people continue to view what has happened through the medium of supineness or fear, there is no saying to what length an enterprising genius may push his good fortune. I have the fullest confidence that no endeavours of the council will be omitted to bring your state (with the distresses of which I am sensibly affected,) to every effort it is capable of making in its present mutilated condition, and they may rely upon it no means in my power will be unemployed to co-operate with them in repelling the danger that threatens the state, and through it the continent. If I do not give as essential aid as might be wished to the northern army, it is not from want of inclination, nor from being too little impressed with the importance of doing it. It would be the height of impolicy to weaken ourselves too much here, in order to increase our strength there, and it must certainly be more difficult, as well as of greater moment, to control the main army of the enemy, than an inferior, and, I may say, dependent one; for it is pretty obvious, if General Howe can be completely kept at bay, and prevented effecting any capital purposes, the successes of General Burgoyne, whatever they may be, must be partial and temporary.

Nothing that I can do shall be wanting to rouse the eastern states, and excite them to those exertions which the exigency of our affairs so urgently demands. I lament that they have not yet done more, that so few of their militia have come into the field, and that those few have been so precipitate in returning home at this critical period; but I have, nevertheless, great reliance upon those states. I know they are capable of powerful efforts, and that their attachment to the cause, notwithstanding they may be a little tardy, will not allow them long to withhold their aid, at a time when their own safety, and that of a sister state, and, in a great measure, the safety of the continent, calls for their greatest zeal and activity.

I flatter myself the presence of General Arnold and General Lincoln in the Northern Department will have a happy effect upon them. Those gentlemen possess much of their confidence, particularly the latter, than whom there is, perhaps, no man from the state of Massachusetts, who enjoys more universal esteem and popularity. And in addition to that, they are both to be considered as very valuable officers. You intimate a wish that some assistance could be drawn from the southern states at this time. But while things remain in their present posture, and appearances, however illusory they may prove in the issue, afford the strongest reason to keep their force at home, to counteract the seeming intentions of General Howe, I could neither ask nor expect them to detach succours to the northern states, who are so well able to defend themselves against the force they now have to oppose.

I hope an exaggerated idea of the enemy's numbers may have no injurious influence on our measures. There is no circumstance I am acquainted with that induces me to believe General Burgoyne can have more than five or six thousand men; and if the force left in Canada is so considerable as the information you send me makes it, he can