Commanded by one Howard who had his orders in writing from Colo. St. Leger, commanding at St. Johns. I believe the Vermonters have [hanged] or will hang Howard. I am, Dear Sir, with great respect and esteem You Excellency's Most obedient Humble Servt.

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 3887.]

Governor Clinton Writes to Colonel Willett in Regard to the Vermont Treason, Defence of the Frontier and the Levies.

Pokeepsie, 9th August, 1781.

Sir, My Letter of the 28th ultimo informed you that I had transmitted the Information received from you respecting the Massachusetts levies to his Excellency, Genl. Washington & pressed that Measures might be taken to expedite their Arrival & I now Enclose you a Copy of His Excellency's answer. I have since repeated my Application to the Genl, on the subject of the Defence of the Frontiers & represented in the Strongest terms the Dangers to which they are exposed by the removal of the Continental Troops-particularly at this Season when the Enemy have the greatest Inducements to commit Depredations upon them. In consequence of which he has ordered that part of Cortlandt's Regt. which is now at Albany continue there until the Massachusetts Levies shall arrive and Genl. Lincoln passed by this place late last night on his Way to the Western Counties of that State to hasten their march.

Major Van Buntschoten (who is now out on the business) has my positive orders to repair to the different Commanding Officers of Regts. in this County who have not furnished their full Complement of Levies & to demand of them in the most peremptory

manner that they Cause Detachments to be immediately made from the Delinquent Classes and in Case of Failure or further Delay they will be immediately arrested & prosecuted for the Penalty inflicted by Law. He informs me that 6 or 7 of the Levies of this County who were intended for your Regiment had joined without his knowledge, Pawling's. These he has directed to be sent to Capt. Conine of your Regt. and it is accordingly done. I shall be happy to be informed what Proportion of the Present Levies have already joined & of your Expectations with respect to those that have not yet arrived. I will also be obliged to you for a Return of the former Levies, noting the whole of the Desertions that have happened & the Deficiencies of each Militia Regt. as nearly as they can be ascertained, and a Return of the three years Men if any such there are.

As early as last fall there were reasons to suspect that the People of the Grants (at least their leaders) had formed a criminal connection with Great Britain; a variety of circumstances during the winter and since, justified the Suspicion and a Letter from Lord George Germain to Sir Henry Clinton of the 7th Feby. last, found in the Mail on Board the Maria Theresa Packet, taken & carried into L'Orient & from thence transmitted to Congress, an Extract of which I inclose you, tends to establish the fact and renders it indisputable. Tho I have not received this officially, yet it arrives in such a manner as to leave no Doubt of its authenticity. Whether the bulk of the People are to countenance this wretched Business is hard to determine, but I would earnestly hope they are not. It is safest, however, to believe the Worst & be prepared for it in all its Consequences.

I begg you to consider this Communication as strictly confidential & that as such you will divulge it only where it shall ap

pear absolutely necessary & then without mentioning how acquired. It will serve to put you on your Guard, perhaps as a clue to more extensive Discoveries.

Colo. Willett.

[No. 3888.]

List of Persons Acceptable to be Exchanged.

(Omitted.)

[No. 3889.]

John Lamb to Governor Clinton-Regimental Returns a List of Names of Young Men Recommended for Commissions.

Philipsburgh, 10th Augt. 1781.

Sir, Agreable to the requisition contained in your Excellency's Letter (of the 11th Ultimo) to Lt. Colonel Stevens, I now enclose you, the Monthly Return of my Regiment; And a Rank Roll of the Officers.

As there are still Thirteen Second Lieutenancies vacant, I have taken the liberty to recommend to your Excellency, the following young Gentlemen, to fill some of them. Peter Anspack, Henry Demler, Peter Tappen, Jonas Adams, Isaac Smith, and William Morris. I flatter myself, from the Characters of the Gentlemen, that, they will be an honor, to both the Regiment, and the State.

Please to present my most Respectful Compliments to Mrs. Clinton, Mrs. Tappen, and the rest of your Family.

I am, with every Sentiment of Respect, Your Excellency's Most Obedient Servant

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 3890.]

Colonel Thomas Obeys Governor Clinton's Order and Colonel Drake

Ignores It.

Salem, August the 11th, 1781.

Dear Governour, Colo. Benson's Letter of the 2d Instant came safe to hand. L't Tuthill, sen I wrote to your Excelency in Favour of Capt. Hunt, the Letter of the 18th of July came to hand Fifteen Days after the date of it, and then without the Printed General Order that Colo. Benson mentioned; agreeabel to the Directions of the Letter of the 18, I Sumons Colo. Drack and Crane to attend. Colo. Dracke Refusing obeying the order and not attending, Colo Crane and myself agreed to fill up one. of the Mustering Warrants or General Orders with Finch Guildersleef, as 1st Lieut. to Capt. Hunt, wich was agreeabel to him and Lieut Tutell. I culd wish to know your Excelencys Pleasure with Respect of Colo Drack conduct.

His Govenour Clinton.

[No. 3891.]

Samuel Hake Files Another Application for His Exchange, with Governor Clinton.

Charlotte Precinct 12th August '81.

May it please Your Excellency, As it's almost three years Since Your Excellency was pleas'd to put me on my Parole; Since which I have been deprived of loosing a very considerable property; and being in no way of business from my present confin'd situation. I am painful as it is, under the Necessity of addressing Your Excellency, to beg Your Excell'ys kind attention and Compliance, of eitheir granting me my Liberty, that I may be able to go into some kind of business to enable me to ans'w my present Exigencies. If your Excellency should think this too great an Indulgence, to permit me to go & see my children from thence to N. York to try to effect my exchange; agreeable to the request of the Letter 10th March addressed Your Exy in my favor signed by fifteen of the most respectable Wigs. If any reasonable security is expected, I will give it. If those Gentlemen's request hinted has not the desired effect with Your Excellency, & others has been sent your Ex'y in my favor, as what I had the Honor of Stating you fully by Mr. Lush's desire, sometime since & which that Gentleman assured me he delivered you at Esopus, tis in vain for me to say anything more relative to my situation. If so reasonable a demand should be deemed improper to beg your Excellency will be pleased to condescend that I shall have the Liberty of going to the State of Connecticut, (where the Pacquet on board of which I came passenger, was brought into N. London) In hopes that I may meet with more Lenity there then what I have so

cruelly & so unjustly experienced in this State. I cannot account the reason my not receiving a Line from N York concerning my exchange, except it is on account of the large quantity of goods brought from thence in the Flag, which I lost; I realy suspect this to be the Case & have given great Umbrage there. I cannot help remarking to Your Excellency, the answers I received f'm Mr. Dodge, the Commissary are the most evasive ones, scarce two Messages alike, I see no prospect of redress from that quarter unless it comes from Your Excellency's kind hand, which I hope you will honor me with.

His Excellency Geo. Clinton, Esqr.

[No. 3892.]

Captain Henry Dodge to Governor Clinton-Levies at Fishkill. Fishkill, Augt. 13th, 1781.

Sir, Agreeable to your Excellency's Note Lt. Welch will proceed to Poughkeepsie this day. We have not heard from Colo. Weisenfels yet; he has not been here nor sent us any word wether he would joine us or not. Capt. Godwin has this day arrived with his men, from N. Bourgh. Majr. Logan who is sick at N. Windsor, has sent orders to us to Averedge the Companies, and not allow Capt. Codwise any men, until written orders from the Governer-we shall this day settle the Companies.

N. B. I Received the Govr. Note this day.)

[No. 3893.]

Colonel Levi Pawling Reports the Destruction of Wawarsing to Governor Clinton.

Marbletown, Munday morning 9 oclock August 13th 1781. Dr Governor, Yesterday morning about 9 O'clock, Colo. Cantine who happened to be at Mumbakers sent an Express to Albert, informing him that a number of the enemy had made their appearance at Wawarsink, set fire to several houses, and that much firing of Musquetry had been heard. Albert being in a hurry to get ready to go of, and had to issue order to some of his officers, desired me to write a few lines to Major Adrian Winkoop, (he being the nearest field officer) which I did, giving