SCHUYLER, Philip John, Continental General. Letter signed ("Ph: Schuyler") to General John Thomas (1724-1776), Fort George [Fort William Henry], 6 June 1776. 1 page, folio, small tears to folds, endorsed on verso, bold signature. Fine condition. Thomas had commanded the American forces in retreat from Canada, but unbeknownst to Schuyler, Thomas had died four days previously at Sorel, of smallpox. Here, Schuyler requests that Thomas bring vital supplies with them and destroy articles useful to the British: "I wrote you a Line from Tyconderoga on the 3d Instant. I again beg Leave to repeat that Necessity of securing all the Nails you possibly can, as none are left in the Country below..." Concerned about enemy access to "Timber plank or Boards" he writes: "Should you be obliged to quit it [Canada] I think they [Timber, etc.] ought to be destroyed giving the best Security you can to the proprietors to be paid. Saw Mills too should be rendered useless, and the saws broke or brought off and the proprietors treated as above, with the strongest assurances that they will be paid."Schuyler ordered the destruction of sawmills when he learned of the construction of a British flotilla being for use on Lake Champlain. The American forces, too hurriedly began to build a flotilla; abandoned sawmills at Ticonderoga, Crown Point and Skenesboro were put into operation.

SCHUYLER, Philip John, Continental General. Letter signed ("Ph: Schuyler") to General John Thomas (1724-1776), Fort George [Fort William Henry], 6 June 1776. 1 page, folio, small tears to folds, endorsed on verso, bold signature. Fine condition. Thomas had commanded the American forces in retreat from Canada, but unbeknownst to Schuyler, Thomas had died four days previously at Sorel, of smallpox. Here, Schuyler requests that Thomas bring vital supplies with them and destroy articles useful to the British: "I wrote you a Line from Tyconderoga on the 3d Instant. I again beg Leave to repeat that Necessity of securing all the Nails you possibly can, as none are left in the Country below..." Concerned about enemy access to "Timber plank or Boards" he writes: "Should you be obliged to quit it [Canada] I think they [Timber, etc.] ought to be destroyed giving the best Security you can to the proprietors to be paid. Saw Mills too should be rendered useless, and the saws broke or brought off and the proprietors treated as above, with the strongest assurances that they will be paid." Schuyler ordered the destruction of sawmills when he learned of the construction of a British flotilla being for use on Lake Champlain. The American forces, too hurriedly began to build a flotilla; abandoned sawmills at Ticonderoga, Crown Point and Skenesboro were put into operation.

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SCHUYLER, Philip John, Continental General. Letter signed ("Ph: Schuyler") to General John Thomas (1724-1776), Fort George [Fort William Henry], 6 June 1776. 1 page, folio, small tears to folds, endorsed on verso, bold signature. Fine condition. Thomas had commanded the American forces in retreat from Canada, but unbeknownst to Schuyler, Thomas had died four days previously at Sorel, of smallpox. Here, Schuyler requests that Thomas bring vital supplies with them and destroy articles useful to the British: "I wrote you a Line from Tyconderoga on the 3d Instant. I again beg Leave to repeat that Necessity of securing all the Nails you possibly can, as none are left in the Country below..." Concerned about enemy access to "Timber plank or Boards" he writes: "Should you be obliged to quit it [Canada] I think they [Timber, etc.] ought to be destroyed giving the best Security you can to the proprietors to be paid. Saw Mills too should be rendered useless, and the saws broke or brought off and the proprietors treated as above, with the strongest assurances that they will be paid."

Schuyler ordered the destruction of sawmills when he learned of the construction of a British flotilla being for use on Lake Champlain. The American forces, too hurriedly began to build a flotilla; abandoned sawmills at Ticonderoga, Crown Point and Skenesboro were put into operation.

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