CHAP. V. who were inlisted, that it became indispensable 1777. to the safety of the important posts on the lakes, to call in the aid of the northern militia.

General Schuyler, who had always discharged the various duties of superintending Indian affairs; preparing the defences for the lakes, and the forts; providing for the wants of the northern army; making the proper distribution of the troops; and commanding them after their retreat from Canada; was indefatigable during the winter in making arrangements for the defence of lake George, and preparing generally for the ensuing campaign. General Gates, when the enemy had retired into winter quarters, joined the army under general Washington, and the command of the few troops. remaining in garrison devolved on colonel, afterwards general Wayne.

To guard as much as possible against the dangers to which the weakness of the garrisons exposed the forts, the regiments destined for the northern service were ordered during the winter to march by detachments, leaving behind them a sufficient number of officers for the business of recruiting; yet the spring was far advanced and but a small force collected. The perpetual waste of arms, which was the unavoidable consequence of the continual change of the hands into which they were placed, added to the distressing scarcity of clothing, rendered it so extremely difficult to

1777.

equip the troops for service, that, notwith- CHAP. V. standing the exertions of Schuyler, aided by those of the commander in chief, Ticonderoga was generally through the winter exposed to the dangers of a coup-de-main.

In forming his plans for the ensuing campaign, general Schuyler required a force of about fifteen thousand men, and wished them. to be composed in part of southern troops. The motive assigned for this wish was, that the principles of discipline and subordination were established with more ease among them than among the regiments drawn entirely from the north; and he counted on considerable effect from the salutary influence of their example. It is, however, probable that the want of subordination which Schuyler observed and complained of, was more attributable to the defects in the establishment of the army, especially to their short inlistments, than to any characteristic difference between the troops drawn from the different parts of the continent. This wish was resisted by the commander in chief. To the objections furnished by the geographical situation of the country from which the troops were to be raised, and in which they were to act, were added other considerations which opposed their being unnecessarily mingled. Although the cause was the most interesting in which a people could be engaged, and although that cause was common

CHAP. V. to all, it was found extremely difficult to pre1777. vent those irritations, animosities, and discon

tents, from showing themselves between the troops of different states, which have so often broken coalitions, and impaired the exertions of armies of different nations acting together. It was found very difficult to forget the subdivisions which separated them from each other, and to recollect that they were all Americans. Finding it impracticable to subdue this temper, general Washington thought it more advisable to endeavour, by forming the two armies entirely of the troops drawn from different parts of the continent, to excite a spirit of emulation and thus turn it to account.

The uncertainty in which the commander in chief remained of the plan formed by the enemy for the ensuing campaign; the facility with which they were enabled by the command of the ocean to draw their forces, together at any given point; left it entirely doubtful whether the army of Canada would endeavour to effect its junction with general Howe by the way of Albany, or, having secured that colony from invasion by obtaining possession of the lakes, would embark on the St. Lawrence, and proceed by water to New York. Weighing the advantages and hazards attending either plan of operations, general Washington thought it by no means improbable that the latter would be adopted; and therefore deemed it unsafe to

adhere to such an arrangement of the military CHAP. V. force of the nation, as entirely to exclude all 1777. provision against an event so very possible. This consideration added to the decisive influence which being able to defeat general Howe, and to destroy the army under his command before the arrival of re-enforcements from Europe, or Canada, would have on the war, an event which would be very practicable should the regiments ordered by congress be nearly complete and be brought to bear on the same point, induced him to change his original determination of ordering all the regiments of Massachussetts to Ticonderoga, and to direct eight of them to rendezvous at Peck'sKill. That was a position from whence they might re-enforce either army, as the movements of the enemy might render it necessary. Unfortunately, the recruiting service progressed so slowly, and such unexpected delays attended bringing the new raised troops into the field, that this change in the destination of some of the regiments of Massachussetts, was of no essential consequence. The army in Jersey could neither be re-enforced in time, nor with sufficient numbers to effect the great objects which had been contemplated, nor could the regiments which marched to Peck's-Kill have reached Ticonderoga in time for the opening of the campaign, had they taken the most direct route to that place.

CHAP. V.

The services of Schuyler in the northern 1777. department had been much more solid than brilliant. Frequently dissatisfied with his situation, and disgusted with the injustice, he supposed himself to experience, he had for some time contemplated a resignation and had only been restrained from leaving the army by the deep interest he felt in the struggle of his country for independence. When his fears of a sudden attack on Ticonderoga during the winter had been removed by the situation of An inquiry lake Champlain, he waited in person on congress for the purpose of having his complicated which termi- accounts adjusted, of having his conduct inquired into, and of supporting by the representations he should make before quitting the service, those necessary measures of defence in the north, which were suggested by his perfect knowledge of the country. At his request, a committee, consisting of a member from each state, was appointed to inquire into his conduct from the time he had held a command in the army. When the arduous services

into the

conduct of general Schuyler,

Rates to his honour.

* On the sixth of March 1776, when the command of the army was given to general Thomas, the head quarters of general Schuyler had been fixed, by a resolution of congress, at Albany, and that resolution had not yet been repealed. General Gates was now directed to repair to Ticonderoga to take command of the army, and major general St. Clair was ordered to the same place to serve under him.