“My Disorders Are Inflexibly Stubborn”: Philip Schuyler Soldiers on Through Sickness

Posted on October 14, 2025

“My Disorders Are Inflexibly Stubborn”: Philip Schuyler Soldiers on Through Sickness

250 years ago today—October 14, 1775—the American army in Canada was at work besieging British forts at Saint-Jean and Chambly. Within several days, Chambly would fall to the Americans, marking the first major success in their Canadian campaign. However, the man who had organized, supplied, and initially led the expedition, General Philip Schuyler, would not be there to see it.

Schuyler accompanied the American army north to Ile aux Noix after they left Fort Ticonderoga in late August, but even before leaving Ticonderoga he was ill, struggling with a disease he described as “a billious Fever”. Within two weeks of leaving Ticonderoga, his illness was so severe that he was unable to leave his bed. On September 16, he left Ile aux Noix and returned to Ticonderoga to recover, leaving the command of the army in the field to General Richard Montgomery.

On October 14, almost a month after his return to Ticonderoga, Schuyler wrote this letter to Jacob Cuyler, a member of Albany’s Committee of Correspondence. He updated Cuyler on his frustratingly inconsistent health: “My Disorders are inflexibly Stubborn as well as varying, sometimes giving me Hopes of a speedy Reestablishment of my Health and then again dashing that hopeful Cup from my Lips, at present I am anew attacked by a Violent Flux.” While he eventually would recover from his illness, he would never return to the army in Canada.

Despite his illness, Schuyler continued his work in the Northern Department, ensuring that Ticonderoga’s garrison stayed strong and providing logistical support to the Canadian operation. In his letter, he thanked Cuyler profusely for a small amount of gunpowder that had been sent north from Albany: “I have to thank You for the Powder You have been pleased to Send, however small the Quantity is, It was Your All.” Schuyler gave his all as well, struggling through his illness to maximize the chances of the Canadian campaign’s success.

Learn more about Schuyler’s letter (object ID MS.1938) on the Ticonderoga Online Collections database: https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/29975