any such there may be who dare refuse to obey the Command of their Officer in this Way. I am apt to believe they will [be] brought back & I am determined the Law shall be obeyed, be the Consequence what it may. Day before yesterday I wrote to Colo. Hay requesting him to embody the Militia of this County & join me in which Case & if my People Return I flatter myself I shall be able to drive the Rebels out of this Quarter. By Accounts confirmed from different Quarters & People of Different political Charecters, about 500 & some say 800, of the Enemy consisting of Highlanders & Buskerk's Regt, entered Hackinsack Wednesday Evening imprisoned & basely abused the few well disposed Inhabitants who they found there. I have not yet heard of their attempting to come farther & I am only able at present to do more than send out large scouting Parties to protect the Inhabitants at & about Pyramus & discover the Motions of the Enemy. On Wednsday Night last one (of) my scouting Parties took Peter Quackenboss & Benj'n Babcock Prisoners near the New Bridge; they had just came from the Enemy and had assisted them in moving up their Baggage to Hackinsack; the Latter was possessed of an Original Letter from Gov'r Tryon (which is a farther full Evidence of his Villainy), and a Receipt signed by Babcock to one, Grant, for Eight Pounds for asisting to bring in Recruits to the Royal Army; both these Papers with others taken with them I now enclose you; the Prisoners I have here closely confined & Will forward as soon as I can spare a Guard or hang, I an't certain which. I have wrote to my Colonels to use their Influence to detain their Regim'ts in the service the Time mentioned in your Resolve; had it been sooner attempted I am sure it might have been effected & coud I be present I flatter myself it might even now. I am not Jealous of Power; I woud as leave Command a Company as a Brigade; I wish my Regiments to be commanded by those & in that Way which they are likely to do the public most service. I wish not however to be answerable for the Conduct of others tho they may be as I doubt not your Committee are much more Competent to the Task. I must confess however I cant so well understand how my Command is to be increased by your Resolve nor do I wish it shoud. I am your Most Obed't Geo. Clinton. [To the President of the Convention of the State of New York.] Colo. Hay was with me since writing the above; will do his utmost to imbody the Militia but they are few in Number & not much to be expected from them. D'r Sir, [No. 285.] Major Jansen Ordered to March to Ramapo. Ramapough, Decemb'r 26th 1776. I am Directed to order you to move the Regiment under your Command as near this Place as you can conveniently quarter them. The houses from Severyn's Tavern at this Place down to Kakiate are not occupied by any other Troops. I wou'd have you be as expeditious on your March as possible. From S'r Your Friend & Humb'e Serv't, To Maj'r Jansen. Albert Pawling, Maj'r of Brigade. [No. 286.] Sir, Gen. Clinton Asks the Co-operation of Colonel Day. I am just now credibly informed that about 500 of the Enemy consisting of Highlanders and Buskerk's Regiment of New Tory Levies yesterday afternoon entered Hackinsack & committed many Acts of Cruelty on the few well disposed Inhabitants of that Place; and unless proper Measures are speedilly taken to prevent, it is more than probable they will extend their Depredations to the adjacent Neighbourhoods. I am stationed here with Part of the Militia of the Counties of Ulster & Orange of the State of New York & principally intended to guard the Passes of the Highlands At the same Time to overawe the disafected Inhabitants. This I am heartilly disposed to do; but my Numbers are too small to effect it. As I am obliged to extend my Guards to Orange Town & Cloister which so scatters my Force that I have not sufficient Numbers left to march out against the Enemy, consistent with the safety of the Passes I have most particularly in Charge. I submit it to you, Sir, whether the Militia of your County in this Quarter ought not to be immediately called out, & imbodied for their own Defence, in which Case I will add such strenghth to them from my Brigade as will be competent for driving those Paricides out of your Country. I believe many of your People will chearfully join us. if ordered which I wish may be speedilly done. I am your most Obed't Serv't, To Colo. Theunis Day. G. C. [No. 287.] Col. Allison Fears the Militia Will Go Home in Three Days. D'r Sir, Tappan, 27th Decem'r 1776. Our people here are many of them in the utmost distress about their families and other affairs at home at this severe season; their complaints are most desperate, and, if true, which I Bel'e many of them are, we are to all Intents and purposes distroying our best subjects; and, I must say, am afraid many women & children together with their cattle will suffer, if not perrish, and am sorry to Informe you that In spite of all our Efforts, I am convinc'd the Melitia will go home Bodily, Before three Days, the consequence of which is obvious to Every man of the Least desernment, and wish with all my heart some timely measures had been taken to prevent such a fatal consequence. I Intend marching Early in the morning to the place you have been pleas'd to assighn me, but Expect from what I can gether from my Inferior officers to be Very weak. This May Cartify that Lt. Abigah Rogers Came to this place the first Day of December with twenty eight men and worked at making Chovodefreas [chevaux de frise] and other frames for the obstructing of the Navigation of Hudsons River, till Decem ber 26, exept one man that was Discharged Dec'r 18. Thos. Machin Engeneer. To the Honourable Maj. General Heath. Fort Montgomery, August 1st 1776. This is to Certify that I Have Agreeable to an order Received From Brig'r Genl. George Clinton, Inployed Mr. Dan'll Clerk with his Sloop in Contenantel Servise in Transporting of Militia Troops to Fort Montgomery. Enter'd Servise the 20th of July and discarg'd the 29th of July Both Days Included. Jonathan Hasbrouck, Coll. Serves don for the Congress by Samuel Clark and Benjemin Lewis & July ye 14th 1776. by order of Colo. Jonathan Hasbrouck, The Sloop Speedwell inplyed in Caring & Quartring troops at Fort Montgommery Sixteen Days at 24 S per day. Jonathan Hasbrouck, Coll. £19-4-0 This is to Certify that Elijah Lewis with his Sloop has been Employed by me Agreeable to an order Rece'd of Genll. George Clinton, and ware in Servise of the Garrison Att Fort Mongomery for 25 Days. Pr. me Jonathan Hasbrouck, Coll. Fort Mongomery, August 1st, 1776. This is to Certify that I Have Agreeable to an order R'd of Brig'r Genll. George Clinton, Imploy'd Mr. Samu'l Clark whith his Vessle in Publick Servise in Transporting of Troops To Fort Mongomery. Enter'd Servise the Twenty First of July & Discharg'd the Sixth Both days Included. Jonathan Hasbrouck, Coll. |