Coeyemans 31st. May 17781
Dr. Genl.
I take the Liberty to inform you, that after my appointment as Commissr. of this State, to procure materials & artificers &c for the Security of Hudsons River I have been employ’d in procuring Timber, Boards &c &c & Building flat Bottom’d Boats about 40 feet Keel & about 16 feet Beam, near the Length of the Common Albany Sloops 2 of which are finish’d except Rigging, 4 more wants the Same with their platforms, 2 more in Timber. & have about Timber for 2 Others.2 I shall be Glad to be inform’d what I must do with those that are finish’d from time to time, & how many more I shall order to be built. We Shall be in Want of Anchors & Cables for the Boats, which I beg Sir, that you will be pleased to order to be Sent up as Soon as possible as those articles are not to [be] had in Albany.3 I have the Honor to be Sir [&c.]
Corns. D Wynkoop
P.S. Capt. Low’s men (artificers) Complain that they have recd: no pay Since the Enter’d the Service
L, DNA, PCC, item 154, vol. 1, pp. 427–28 (M247, roll 174).Docketed: “Letter from Col. Whinkoop/dated Coeymans 31st. May/1778—.“ On 15 Apr. 1778, Congress appointed Gates to be American commander in the Hudson Highlands. JCC 10: 354–55.
1. Coeymans, N.Y., is on the Hudson River, some ten miles south of Albany.
2. On 14 June 1778, Wynkoop wrote Gov. George Clinton of New York complaining that Gates had not responded to his request for instructions. In that letter Wynkoop informed the governor that “Two Boats are finish’d having each a 6 pound’r in her Bow, the Largest Cannon to be had in Albany; five more now Busy in Laying their platforms, the Keel Laid of another, and Timber for about Two more.” Public Papers of George Clinton 3: 457, no. 1508.
3. On 17 June, Gates instructed Brig. Gen. John Starks, the American commander at Albany: “Please to Acquaint Colonel Wynkoop, that when he has worked up his materials, & finished all the Ten Gun Boats he mentions, I would not have him build any more, or Collect any more materials.— As the Boats are finished, they Should be sent to Fish-Kill Landing, to be Rigged, and Equip’d.— If Colo Wynkoop is Able I Should be glad he would come to me, when the Boats Come down, and bring the Abstracts of the pay due to Capt [Jacob] Low’s Company of Carpenters, that they may be satisfied.” DNA, PCC, item 154, vol. 1, p. 434 (M247, roll 174).
