NY, USA
Albany Becomes Northern Department Headquarters
June 25, 1775
When Congress established the Northern Department of the Continental Army in June 1775, Albany was the natural choice for its headquarters. The town sat at the head of navigable Hudson River traffic and at the intersection of road and river routes leading north to Canada, west to the Mohawk Valley, and east to New England.
Philip Schuyler, appointed as the department's first commander, used his own mansion and resources to organize the northern army. Albany became the logistics hub through which supplies, reinforcements, and intelligence flowed to every northern campaign from the invasion of Canada in 1775 to the defense against Burgoyne in 1777.
People Involved
Wealthy Albany landowner who commanded the Northern Department in 1775-1777, organizing the logistics and supply networks that sustained the northern army. Replaced by Gates before Saratoga, he continued to serve the cause in Congress and as a critical regional leader.
Wife of Philip Schuyler who managed the family estates during her husband's military service and reportedly set fire to the family's wheat fields near Saratoga to deny grain to Burgoyne's advancing army.