Life of George Washington, volume 2 of 5Irving, Washington
History
Life of George Washington, volume 2 of 5
Irving, Washington
Presidents -- United States -- Biography; Washington, George, 1732-1799
Schuyler’s letter to Washington, announcing the recent events, was
written with manly feeling. “I wish,” said he, “I had no occasion to
send my dear general this melancholy account. My amiable friend, the
gallant Montgomery, is no more; the brave Arnold is wounded; and we have
met with a severe check in an unsuccessful attempt on Quebec. May Heaven
be graciously pleased that the misfortune may terminate here! I tremble
for our people in Canada.”
Alluding to his recent request to retire from the army, he writes: “Our
affairs are much worse than when I made the request. This is motive
sufficient for me to continue to serve my country in any way I can be
thought most serviceable; but my utmost can be but little, weak and
indisposed as I am.”
Washington was deeply moved by the disastrous intelligence. “I most
sincerely condole with you,” writes he, in reply to Schuyler, “upon the
fall of the brave and worthy Montgomery. In the death of this gentleman,
America has sustained a heavy loss. I am much concerned for the intrepid
and enterprising Arnold, and greatly fear that consequences of the most
alarming nature will result from this well-intended, but unfortunate
attempt.”
General Schuyler, who was now in Albany, urged the necessity of an
immediate reinforcement of three thousand men for the army in Canada.
Washington had not a man to spare from the army before Boston. He
applied, therefore, on his own responsibility, to Massachusetts, New
Hampshire and Connecticut, for three regiments, which were granted. His
prompt measure received the approbation of Congress, and further
reinforcements were ordered from the same quarters.
Solicitude was awakened about the interior of the province of New York.
Arms and ammunition were said to be concealed in Tryon County, and
numbers of the tories in that neighborhood preparing for hostilities.
Sir John Johnson had fortified Johnson Hall, gathered about him his
Scotch Highland tenants and Indian allies, and it was rumored he
intended to carry fire and sword along the valley of the Mohawk.
Schuyler, in consequence, received orders from Congress to take measures
for securing the military stores, disarming the disaffected, and
apprehending their chiefs. He forthwith hastened from Albany, at the
head of a body of soldiers; was joined by Colonel Herkimer, with the
militia of Tryon County marshalled forth on the frozen bosom of the
Mohawk River, and appeared before Sir John’s stronghold, near Johnstown,
on the 19th of January.
Thus beleaguered, Sir John, after much negotiation, capitulated. He was
to surrender all weapons of war and military stores in his possession,
and to give his parole not to take arms against America. On these
conditions he was to be at liberty to go as far westward in Tryon County
as the German Flats and Kingsland districts, and to every part of the
colony to the southward and eastward of these districts; provided he did
not go into any seaport town.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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