Year of 1778 - Primary Historical Documents & Maps - Geographers Department, Continental Army, 1777-1783

The Cartographers and Surveyors of the Continental Army in the War for American Independence
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1778
		Robert Erskine to George Washington, March 26, 1778	Washington to Erskine April 11, 1778
William Scull to Tench Tilghman, April 13, 1778	War Board to Washington, May 6, 1778
War Board to William Scull, May 6, 1778	Washington to War Board, May 9, 1778	George Washington to William Scull, June 5, 1778	George Washington to Charles Lee, June 15, 1778
Robert Erskine to Simeon DeWitt, June 20^th, 1778	Washington to James Clinton, July 31st, 1778	William Gray to Robert Erskine, October 28, 1778	Washington to Clarke, December 7, 1778

The Enclosed plan is so far from being worthy your attention that I have delayed sending it till now, in hopes of making one more compleat, by taking in a greater scope of the North River, at least between the Chevaux-de-frise and West Point, where a fort is now building; but as I find Col. La Radiere, who is now here on his way to New Windsor, has not been furnished with any further surveys, from which I expected to copy, I have presumed to transmit this, though very imperfect on account of the small space it comprehends.

When I went to survey at New Windsor, I proposed to make a map of the river from thence to Haverstraw, which would have comprehended all the highlands, and pointed out, without dispute, the most proper situations to fortify; but this I found impracticable, both on account of the season of the year, and the time required to settle my private concerns in such a manner as to attend Your Excellencie's commands with satisfaction to myself, should you require my services the ensuing campaign. I am, with the greatest respect and esteem, May it please your Excellency:

Sir: I received yours of the 26th. March, inclosing an elegant draft of part of Hudson 's River. If your affairs are in such a situation that they will admit of your attendance upon the Army, I shall be glad to see you as soon as possible. Captn. Scull,³ who is intended for one of your assistants, has been for some time employed in surveying the Country adjacent to the Camp. I am etc.²

[Note 3: Capt. William Scull, of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Regiment. He retired in July, 1778, and joined the Geographers Department.]

Gentlemen: I have received your favor of the 6th instant, inclosing a Copy of a Letter from you to Capt. William Scull and a Resolution of Congress of the 13th April. The employment proposed for Capt. Scull will prevent his completing the Survey which I had directed him to make, and so far interfere with my views; but as he is in the Neighbourhood of the Country which you intend to have surveyed and the instructions have been already transmitted to him, I have not the least Objection to his proceeding in consequence of them.

There are at present but two Engineers in Camp besides General du Portail, and they are fully employed in constructing the necessary works of defence, so that I have no prospect of being able to furnish a geographical engineer, until Mr. Erskine who is at the head of that department and has been ordered on to Camp, shall arrive; whichever of his Assistants, shall be thought properly qualified, will attend the orders of the Board.

The Copies of the German Translation of a Resolution of Congress addressed to foreign Officers and soldiers in British pay, are come to hand. I have the honour etc.¹

Sir: Robert Erskine Esqr., who is appointed Military Surveyor, and Geographer is now here, endeavouring to arrange that department, fix upon the proper number of deputies, and settle their pay, appointments &ca. To do this, he would wish to see and consult you. I therefore desire you to come down immediately upon the receipt of this.³³ If the movement of the Enemy from Philadelphia should oblige the Army to quit this ground before you arrive, I will leave directions for you. I imagine the business you are at present upon cannot suffer by a temporary absence. I am etc.³⁴

Dear Sir: I have received your Letter of this date, and thank you, as I shall do any Officer over whom I have the honor to be placed for his opinion and advice, in matters of importance; especially when they proceed from the fountain of candor, and not from a captious spirit, or an itch for criticism.¹⁷

[Note 17: Lee had written to Washington (June 15) regarding the division command arrangements and had also, somewhat officiously, given his opinion that the British would not march through Jersey after evacuating Philadelphia . Elias Boudinot also thought the enemy would not march through Jersey to New York; but he does not seem to have agreed with the rest of Lee's idea, which should be analyzed in connection with Lee's "Scheme" which he had submitted to Sir William Howe:
"My opinion is, that (if they are in a capacity to act offensively) They will either immediately from Philadelphia or by a feint in descending the river as far as New Castle, and then turning to the right march directly and rapidly towards Lancaster, by which means They will draw us out of our present position, and oblige us to fight on terms perhaps very disadvantageous; or that They will leave Lancaster and this Army wide on the right, endeavour to take Post on the lower parts of the Susquehanna, and by securing a communication with their Ships sent round into the Bay for this purpose, be furnished with the means of encouraging and feeding the Indian War broke out on the Western Frontier; this last plan I mention as a possibility but as less probable than the former.
"If They are not in a capacity to act offensively, but are still determined to keep footing on the Continent, there are strong reasons to think, that They will not shut themselves up in Towns, but take possession of some tract of Country which will afford em elbow room and sustenance, and which is so situated as to be the most effectually protected by their command of the Waters; and I have particular reasons to think, that They have cast their eyes for this purpose on the lower Counties of Delaware, and some of the Maryland Counties on the Eastern Shore...If They are resolv'd on this plan it certainly will be very difficult to prevent 'em or remove 'em afterwards as their Shipping will give em such mighty advantages. Whether They do or do not adopt any one of these plans there can be no inconvenience arise from considering the subject, nor from devising means of defeating their purposes, on the supposition that They will.
"in short, I think it would be proper to put these quries to ourselves, shou'd They march directly towards Lancaster and the Susquehanna or indirectly from N. Castle what are We to do? shou'd They (tho it is less probable) leave this Army and even Lancaster wide on the right, and endeavour to establish themselves on the lower parts of the Susquehanna, what are We to do? and shou'd they act only on the defensive and attempt to secure to themselves some such tract of Country as I have mention'd what measures are We to pursue? these are matters, I really, think worthy of consideration."
Lee's letter is in the Washington Papers in the Library of Congress.]

No man can be more sensible of the defects of our present arrangement than I am. No man more sensible of the advantage of having the Commander, and commanded of every Corps well known to each other, and the Army properly organized than myself. Heaven and my own Letters to Congress can Witness, on the one hand, how ardently I have laboured to effect these points during the past Winter and Spring. The Army on the other, bear witness to the effect. Suspended between the old and new establishment, I could govern myself by neither, with propriety; and the hourly expectation of a Comee. for the purposes of reducing some Regiments, and changing the establishment of all rendered a mere temporary alteration (which from its uncertainty and shortness could effect no valuable end) unnecessary; that I had a power to shift regiments, and alter Brigades, (every day if I chose to do it) I never entertaind a doubt of, but the efficacy of the measure I have very much questioned; as frequent changes, without apparent causes, are rather ascribed to Caprice and whim, than to stability and judgment.

The mode of shifting the Major Generals from the cored. of a division in the present tranquil state of affairs to a more important one in action and other capitol movements of the whole Army is not less disagreeable to my Ideas, than repugnant to yours, but is the result of necessity; for having recommended to Congress the appointment of Lieutt. Generals for the discharge of the latter duties, and they having neither approved, or disapproved the measure, I am hung in suspence, and being unwilling, on the one hand to give up the benefits resulting from the Command of Lieutt. Generals in the cases above mentd.; or to deprive the Divisions of their Major Genls. for ordinary duty, on the other, I have been led to adopt a kind of medium course which, tho not perfect in itself, is, in my judgment the best that circumstances will admit of, till Congress shall have decided upon the proposition before them; Your remark upon the disadvantages of an Officers being suddenly removed from the command of a divn. to a Wing, tho not without foundation as I have before acknowledged does not apply so forceably in the present case as you seem to think it does. There is no Majr. Genl. in this Army that is not pretty well known, and who may if he chooses it soon become acquainted with such Officers as may be serviceable to him. Their Commands being anounced in genl. orders and the Army prepared for their receptn. a Major Genl. may go with the same ease, to the Comd. of a Wing consisting of five Brigades, as to a division composed of two, and will be received with as little confusion, as the Brigades remain perfect, and no changes have happened in them.

Mr. Boudenots conjecture of the enemys intention altho it does not coincide with mine, is nevertheless, worthy of attention; and the evils of the measure have been guarded against as far as it has been in my power, by removing the Stores, Provisions, &ca. as fast as possible from the Head of Elk, the Susquehanna &ca., and by exploring, the Country, Surveying the Roads, and marking the defiles, and strong grounds, an Engineer and three Surveyors having been employed in this Work near a Month, though their report is not yet come in. Boats are also prepared on the Susquehanna for the Transportation of our Troops, in case we should find it necessary to move that way. But nevertheless, it gives me real pleasure to find you have turned your thoughts that way and are revolving the questions contained in your Letter; and here let me again assure you that I shall be always happy in a free communication of your Sentiments upon any important subject relative to the Service; and only beg that they may come directly to myself; the custom which many Officers have of speaking freely of things and reprobating measures which upon investigation may be found to be unavoidable is never productive of good, and often of very mischievous consequences. I am, &c.

“On Public Service, To Mr. Simeon De Witt, at Dr. Andrew De Witt’s, Rochester Township , Ulster County”

As I have got a Commission from his Exc'y. Genl. Washington for Geographer and Surveyor to the Army, and have his permission to engage you as one of my assistants, I beg leave to inform you that your pay, in that capacity, will be two dollars per day, an horse and one ration when at Camp, and travelling expenses when employed at a distance from it, which terms I have no doubt will be agreeable. I shall therefore be glad if you will come here as soon as possible to accompany me to the army, to which I propose to set out again next Friday.

Sir:-Above is a copy I sent by express to your uncle, Genl Clinton, to be forwarded to you. An opportunity offering, I send a duplicate: it may perhaps be Monday next before I set off; should I go sooner, I shall leave directions where you shall follow.