Commander Kelly: General Schuyler & his Mansion

Schuyler Mansion, Albany, NY

The Schuyler Mansion (http://nysparks.com/historic-sites/33/details.aspx) is a gem from our American Colonial and Revolutionary past. Fans of the hit musical Hamilton have been flocking there to see where Alexander Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler in 1810. Elizabeth Schuyler was the daughter of Philip Schuyler. The three Schuyler sisters grew up here.

General Philip Schuyler

General Schuyler is one of the great unsung heroes of the American Revolution. In 1777 Schuyler was in charge of the Northern Department for the Patriot forces.

Wallpaper Schuyler Mansion, Albany, NY

Historian Richard Ketchum wrote, "Schuyler resembled General George Washington, with whom he had struck up a warm friendship after they met in 1775 and to whom he was indebted for his present command (Northern Department). Like Washington, he was wealthy, with large landholdings. He was a member of one of the oldest and most prominent families in the Hudson Valley and related to many of the others -- the Van Schaicks, Livingstons, and Van Rensselaers, one of whom was his wife, Catherine." (Source: Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War, 1997, www.amzn.com/0805061231).

In 1777 General Burgoyne invaded New York from Canada with about 8,000 troops. He hoped to rendezvous with Lord Howe in Albany cutting the rebel colonies in two. Burgoyne seized Fort Ticonderoga (the "Gibraltar of the North") after its American Commander, St. Clair withdrew his forces that were outnumbered about 3 to 1.

Hudson View, Schuyler Mansion, NY

The Continental Congress, disappointed with the loss of Ticonderoga, replaced Schuyler with Horatio Gates (see...http://americanconservativeinlondon.blogspot.com/2016/09/american-forts.html). Even before "Granny" Gates could assume command, however, Burgoyne's offensive was in trouble. On August 16 Burgoyne's "Hessians" (many were in fact from Brunswick, and other parts of Germany) were defeated at the Battle of Bennington. After the battles fought around Saratoga in upstate New York Burgoyne ended up surrendering his entire army of nearly 6,000 men. The Battle of Saratoga led directly to French intervention in the American Revolution culminating with victory at Yorktown in 1781.

Benedict Arnold Window
St Mary's Bayswater, London

Schuyler's selection of Benedict Arnold was a key ingredient for American success in the Saratoga campaign. Gates famously argued with Arnold and even dismissed him from command. Arnold, disregarding his dismissal and fueled by rum, provided the inspirational leadership in the battle of the Wheat Field on October 7, 1777.

Interior Schuyler Mansion

After Burgoyne's surrender he was briefly held as prisoner of war at General Schuyler's home in Albany. It was at the Schuyler Mansion that Burgoyne wrote letters back to England blaming his defeat on the failure of Lord Howe to cooperate in his offensive. Howe had captured Philadelphia rather than supporting Burgoyne's southern thrust. Burgoyne wrote, "I have been with my Army within the Jaws of Famine, shot (through) my hat and waistcoat, my nearest friends killed around me."

Another Schuyler estate in New York worth some 10,000 pounds was burned by Burgoyne's forces during the Saratoga campaign. When Burgoyne expressed regret at its destruction Schuyler, the consummate gentleman, shrugged it off as being "the fate of war".