The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PART II.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 15
TO GOVERNOR HENRY.
Philadelphia, 4 August, 1777.
SIR,
The great expense and loss of time, which has attended the recruiting service in most of the States,
and the little advantage derived from it, have induced
Congress to recommend to the executive powers of
each, to adopt certain new regulations, for promoting
this important and essential business, and for taking it
entirely out of the hands of the officers of the army.
The resolve on this subject, and the regulations recommended, passed on the 31st ultimo; and will, I presume, be transmitted to you by the President.*
evidence of his patriotism and unwearied services in the cause of his
country. But it was his misfortune to command where disasters crowded upon each other, and disappointed public expectation. The failure
of the Canada expedition, and recently the loss of Ticonderoga, with
the disheartening prospects of a retreating army, were all laid to the
charge of the commanding general; and the tide of popular clamor,
strengthened by the party antipathy of a few prominent politicians, was
not to be resisted. Even the friends of General Schuyler acquiesced in
his being superseded, upon the conviction that the eastern troops would
not march to join the army under his command. This point was urged
in Congress with great pertinacity by the eastern delegates, but with
more zeal than justice, as appears from the fact, that a large reinforcement of troops was then preparing to march from New Hampshire, who
achieved the brilliant victory of Bennington, while General Schuyler was
yet at the head of the army. Other particulars on this subject may be
seen in Sparks's Life of Gouverneur MJlorris, Vol. 1. pp. 138- 148.
" The plan recommended by Congress was, that each State should be
divided into districts, and a person be appointed to raise recruits in each
district, the whole to be under the direction of the State authorities.
Security was to be taken of every such agent for a faithful discharge of
his duty; and, as a full compensation for his trouble and expense, he was
to receive eight dollars for every able-bodied recruit, that he should enlist
for three years, or during the war. The same agent was empowered
to take up deserters, and allowed five dollars for every deserter he should
secure. The recruits were moreover permitted to join any regiment or
company, which they should choose at the time they enlisted, if such
regiment or company was not already fill, and in that case they might