Albany March 7th 1776.
[Extract]
The heavy Cannon from New York are at poukepsie and preparations were making for transporting them by Land, which would occasion a vast and needless Expence, as they could not be sent from this place, if they were now here, nor from Fort George until the Lakes open ー One of the Committee who had them in Charge called upon me this Day for my Advice; which was to leave them on Board of the Vessel, and to come up the River as the Ice should give Way. There is a prospect that the River will be navigable in a very few Days:
I have just received Accounts from the posts above that the Slay-men refused to carry the heaviest Cannon I ordered from Fort George &c.
The Expence of Ferriage and the Transportation by Land, from hence to Fort George runs so amazingly high, that I propose to have the provisions carried partly by water; which will not only make some abatement in the Expence of Transportation, but lessen the Charge we are at in maintaining the Roads ...
1. Papers CC (Letters of Major General Philip Schuyler), 153, II, 41-43, NA .