Saratoga, Oct. 19th, 1780.
Dear Sir:
Your favor of the 12th inst., I had the pleasure to receive last night.
Major Carlton, as you will have heard, has been down to the vicinity
of this place, at the head of eight hundred British, about two hundred
enlisted tories, and as many Indians. Fort Ann and Fort George fell
into his hands; he burnt Kings and Queensborough townships, and the
north part of this district, to within five miles of my house. The
three months’ men have evacuated Fort Edward, so that I have nobody
between me and the enemy except two poor families, and about one
hundred militia with me; on the 17th about one hundred and fifty of the
enemy burnt Balstown, which lies about twenty miles below me and about
twelve miles west of the road leading to Albany; another party is about
eighteen miles east of me, where they have burnt about ten houses. The
very valuable settlement of Schoharie, which lays west of Albany, was
also entirely consumed on the 17th instant. Thus are we surrounded from
every quarter, and the inhabitants flying down the country. I believe
my turn will be in a few days, unless troops are sent up. Carlton is at
Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, and waits a reinforcement, which
is momentarily expected; my informant says he intends a second tour to
destroy the settlements on this river, as far as to where the Mohawk
River falls into it, which is about twenty-four miles below this. I
most sincerely wish that some continental troops were hastened up for
the protection of the county. I entreated Van Schaick to remain.
P. Schuyler.
Col. Hamilton, from
Gen’l Schuyler.