"I shall only observe," continued the letter, "that the distresses in some corps are so great, either where they were not until lately attached to any particular state, or where the state has been less provident, that the officers have solicited even to be supplied with the clothing destined for the common soldiery, coarse and unsuitable as it was.

I had not power to comply with the request.
"The patience of men animated by a sense of duty and honour, will support them to a certain point, beyond which it will not go.

I doubt not congress will be sensible of the danger of an extreme in this respect, and will pardon my anxiety to obviate it." [Sidenote: Colonel Van Schaick surprises and destroys one of the Indian settlements.] Before the troops destined for the grand expedition were put in motion, an enterprise of less extent was undertaken, which was completely successful.

A plan for surprising the towns of the Onondagas, one of the nearest of the hostile tribes, having been formed by General Schuyler, and approved by the Commander-in-chief, Colonel Van Schaick, assisted by Lieutenant Colonel Willet, and Major Cochran, marched from fort Schuyler on the morning of the 19th of April, at the head of between five and six hundred men; and, on the third day, reached the point of destination.

The whole settlement was destroyed, after which the detachment returned to fort Schuyler without the loss of a single man.