![Plan, Lake Champlain from Fort St. John’s to Ticonderoga, with the soundings, rocks, shoals, and sands, surveyed in the years , 1779. [1779] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/gm71000657/.](https://www.thenmusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/iiif-service_gmd_gmd380_g3802_g3802c_ar117600-full-pct_25-0-default-copy.jpg)
Worn down by physical ailments and frustrated by the endless problems he faced leading the Northern Department, Schuyler informed Congress that he intended to resign his commission. Washington, using the powers of gentle persuasion which always remained one of his key strengths, implored Schuyler to remain in command of Montgomery’s expedition. Those Continental troops, recently reinforced by Benedict Arnold (now a Brigadier General) and some six hundred Patriot soldiers which had marched through the wilderness of Maine, started preparations for an attack on Quebec City. Schuyler agreed and remained in overall command of the campaign from his headquarters in Albany. It remained to be seen whether Schuyler had enough soldiers and supplies to take Quebec City before the spring.
"I am exceedingly sorry to find you so much plagued and embarrasssed by the Disregard of Discipline Confusion and Want to Order among the Troops, as to have occasioned you to mention to Congress an Inclination to retire— I well know that your Complaints are too well founded, but I would willingly hope that Nothing will induce you to quit the Service but Indisposition, and that Order and Subordination in Time will take place of Confusion, and Command be rendered more agreeable. I have met with Difficulties and Troubles of the same sort and such as I never expected— But they must be borne with."
General Washington to General Schuyler, 5 December 1775www.founders.archives.gov