to General Stark's request to March up with his Militia. I hope General Gansevoort will exert himself to draw out his Brigade, but I believe it will be indispensably necessary for your Excellency to hasten up or much evil may arise. Cannot General Heath send a reinforcement, we have not any regular troops in this quarter. I am Dear Sir, with great respect, Your Excellency's most obedient Servant,

His Excellency Gov. Clinton &c &c.

[No. 4065.]

Governor Clinton Requests General Van Rensselaer to March to

Albany.

Poughkeepsie, Octr. 13th, 1781.

Sir, By accounts this moment recd by Express from Genl. Gansevoort. It appears the Enemy are in force on this side Lake George-I have therefore, to repeat my request that you will forthwith march your Brigade to Albany and from thence to such Parts of the Frontiers as the position of the Enemy on your arrival at that Place shall render necessary. I am &c, Brigr. Genl. Rensselaer.

[No. 4066.]

Governor Clinton to General Heath-Embarrassed by the Delicacy of His Position-Promises Cooperation and Flour.

Poughkeepsie, Octr. 13, 1781.

Dr Sir, This morning by Express I recd a Letter from B. Genl. Gansevoort con'g. a Copy of one from Genl. Stark to him-copies of which are enclosed. In addition to the measures taken by Genl. Gansevoort for reinforcing Genl. Stark, I have ordered

Genl. Rensselaer immediately to march his Brigade for Albany & from thence to detach to the assistance of Genl. Stark or Colo. Willet, according to the Accounts of the Enemy's Position he may receive; for I am not without apprehension that the Enemy's real Object is west of Saratoga. These letters I presume were written before they had any information at Albany of the reinforcements you had lately ordered to that Quarter. The continued applications through me to you for further aid, place me in a disagreeable situation; as I cannot possibly form a proper Judgment of the aid you can safely spare and I should be exceedingly unhappy in advising any step that might in its consequences endanger the principal Objects of your command. I shall, therefore, confine myself barely to the transmission of the Intelligence I may from time to time receive, assuring you at the same Time of every assistance in my Power, should an at-` tempt be made by the Enemy below, which from your Accounts do not appear altogether improbable.

Colo. Hay is not yet returned from Albany; but unless the alarm to the northward should detain him, he may be hourly expected and the Moment he arrives he shall have my positive Orders to hurry on a supply of Flour & to compleat this State's Quota of that article with as little delay as possible.

I do not know of any particular Charge agt. the Prisoners named in the List enclosed in your favor of the 11th & therefore suppose they may with propriety be exchanged as Prisoners of War.

I am &c &c &c,

The honble Major Genl. Heath.

[No. 4067.]

The Governor to General Gansevoort-Preparations for the Defence of the State.

Poughkeepsie, 8 o'clock A. M., Octr. 13, 1781.

Sir, I am this moment favored with your Letter of the 12th con'g. a Copy of Genl. Stark's. Since my last to you I have recd. & Letter from Genl. Heath informing me that he had detached the New Hampshire Continental Regt. with a Detachment of Artillery together with part of a Reg't. collecting at CharlesTown No. 4 to your Assistance. I am not sufficiently informed of Genl. Heath's force below, to determine whether it is probable he can spare any more, but from his last letter to me it would rather appear he conceives he cannot. I shall however immediately forward him Copies of your & Genl. Stark's Letter. The Enemy's Force is so formidable at New York & in such perfect Readiness for some capital Movement as to justify an Apprehension of an Attempt agt the Posts in the southern Parts of the State and to make it necessary to be prepared agt. it. I have by the Bearer repeated my order to Brigr. Genl. Rensselaer to march his Brigade for Albany with the least possible Delay. I am &c.

Brigr. Genl. Gansevoort.

[No. 4068.]

Governor Clinton Conveys to General Schuyler the Substance of the Orders Issued in Consequence of the Approach of the Enemy.

Poughkeepsie, Octr. 13, 1781.

Dr. Sir, I am this moment fav'd with y'r letter of the 12th inst. I should be happy if the state of my health was such as to enable me to repair to Albany: but I have been afflicted these 10 days past with an intermitting fever from which tho' I have

escaped it a Day or two I am by no means recovered so as to venture abroad. I wrote to Genl. Rensselaer by the last returning Express from Albany and ordered him to hold his Brigade in readiness & to march without further orders if the Acc't he should receive rendered it necessary. I have now repeated my Orders to him to march immediately to Albany & from thence to such Parts as the Position of the Enemy should render necessary.

Late on Thursday Eveng last, I recd. a Letter from Genl. Heath advising me that the N. Hampshire Contl. Regt. & a Detachment of Artillery were embarked & on their way to Albany & that he had ordered 200 of a Regt. collectg. at Charles Town No 4 to immediately march for the same place. The wind being since favorable the former must have arrived before this. I will instantly transmit Genl. Heath the information now recd. But from a Letter I recd. from him last Eveng. it appears doubtfull whether he will be able to spare any greater force, as the Enemy in N. York are in very considerable strength & prepared for some Capital movement, & he is not without apprehensions that their Designs may be ag't the Posts under his immediate Command & that the prest. appearance of the Enemy at the Northw'd may be to favor such an Enterprize.

I am &c,

The Honble Philip Schuyler, Esqr.

[No. 4069.]

General Heath to Governor Clinton-Concerned Over the Question of Forage and Supplies for This Campaign.

Headquarters, Continental village, October 14, 1781.

Sir, I was the last evening honored with yours of the 13th inclosing copies of intelligence from general Stark and general

Gansevoort. I have ordered two regiments more of regular troops with another fieldpiece to march immediately for Albany, to take vessels, if the wind should be favorable at Fishkillif not, to proceed on by land. I am very sorry that your indisposition forbids your affording your presence at the Northward on this occasion where it would be productive of the best consequences.

On this emergency, and the present situation of things, I request your Excellency will be pleased to vest colonel Hughes with ample powers to procure such forage or waggons as may be necessary to effect the most speedy march of the troops, or transportation of provisions-and to colonel Hay or his Assistants, or if he be absent, to such person as you may think proper, to afford a supply of flour not only to the troops at the Northward, but for this army, who are now on the verge of want of bread. Let me entreat some extra measures may be taken for our relief in this respect. I have represented our situation to Mr. Morris. I find by his answers, that he depends much on colonel Hay to supply us. Although I have written to Mr. Phelps to forward beef cattle to Albany, yet the present emergency may require a more speedy aid, which I request may be granted.

I will thank your Excellency for a communication of any intelligence that may come to your knowledge and I pray you to be assured that no exertions of mine shall be wanting to afford protection to every part of the state as far as is within my power.

I have the honor to be With the highest respect Your Excellency's Most obedient servant,

His Excellency Governor Clinton.