tady yesterday-one of the other Regular Regt's from below, are at the overslaugh-the other men in the rear. Reid's Regt. (Regular) marched yesterday with the artillery for Saratoga. I fear the whole alarm will prove abortive, for now we are so well prepared I could almost wish them to come. I am with much respect, Sir, your Excellencys most ob. St.

Governor Clinton.

E. Marshall, Capt. Con't's.

[No. 4079.]

Governor Clinton Expresses to General Gansevoort His Views on the Aggressions of the Vermonters-Again the Question of Supplies.

Poughkeepsie, Oct. 18, 1781.

Dear Sir, Your letter of the 15th Inst was delivered to me on the Eveng. of the 16th. I have delayed answering it, in hopes that the Legislature would ere this have formed a quorum & that I might have availed myself of their advice on the Subject to which it relates: but as this is not yet the case, & it is uncertain when I shall be enabled to lay the matter before them, I conceive it might be improper longer to defer expressing my own Sentiments to you on the Subject.

The different & unwarrantable attempts during the whole summer, of the People on the Grants to establish their usurped Jurisdiction even beyond their former Claim & the repetition of it, alluded to in your Letter, in direct opposition to a Resolution of Congress, injurious to this State & favorable to their project of Independence & at a Time when the common Enemy are advancing, can only be accounted for by what other parts of their Conduct has given us too much Reason to suspect: disaffection to the common Cause. On my part, I have hitherto

shewn a Disposition to evade entering into any Altercation with them that might in its most remote Consequences give encouragement to the Enemy & expose the frontier Settlements to their Ravages, and from these Considerations alone, I have submitted to insults which otherwise would not have been borne with and I could have wished to have continued this line of Conduct until the approaching Season would have secured us against the incursions of the common Enemy. But as from the Acct's contained in Colo. Rensselaer's Letter to you, it would appear that the Militia embodying under Mr. Chittenden's Orders are for the Service of the Enemy & that their first Object was to make you a Prisoner, it would be unjustifiable to suffer them to proceed. It is, therefore, my Desire that you maintain your Authority throughout every part of your Brigade, and for this Purpose that you carry the Laws of the State into execution ag't those who shall presume to disobey your lawful Orders. I would only observe that these Sentiments are founded on an Idea that the accounts given by Colo. Rensselaer in his Letter may be relied on. It being still my earnest Desire for the Reasons above explained not to do anything that may bring Matters to Extremities at least before the Close of the Campaign if it can conveniently be avoided.

In my last, I should have mentioned to you that it was not in my Power to send you a Supply of Ammunition, but as I had reason to believe you was gone to Saratoga, I conceived it improper to say anything on the Subject least my Letter might miscarry. You may recollect that the whole of the supply ordered by Genl. Washington last spring, went to Albany for the use of the militia & 500 lb. is all that has been since received into the State Magazine which you will readily conceive to be

far short of what was necessary for the other exposed parts of the State. With respect to Provisions it is equally out of my Power to furnish you with any but what the State Agent who is now with you may be able to procure. I am &c. Brigr. Genl. Gansevoort.

[No. 4080.]

Governor Clinton Deplores to General Heath the Lack of Provisions -Impress Warrants Issued for Teams and Forage.

Poughkeepsie, Octr. 18th, 1781.

Dr. Sir, I was last night honored with your favor of yesterday. It is a painful reflection to me that the Army under your Command should be in want of Provisions. Colo. Hay who has the sole management of collecting the supplies required of the State is not yet returned from Albany, and as I am not vested with legal Power to issue impress Warrants on this Occasion it is not possible for me to afford you any Relief. You may be assured, Sir the moment he arrives I will order him to use every exertion to procure a supply of Flour as well for the Troops at the Northward as those under your immediate Command. This all I can do unless the Legislature, who have not yet formed a Quorum to proceed to Business, make some further provision on the subject.

The Militia have been under Orders, all the Season and still are to hold themselves in readiness to march on the shortest Notice, & I have no doubt that in case of an alarm, the whole would turn out with spirit & dispatch: but it will be difficult to detach a specific number for a particular Service with that Secrecy & promptitude that might be necessry; especially if any

Thing should intended to be done by surprise & they to be employed in it.

In consequence of your letter of the 14th I have issued impress warr'ts. to Colo. Hughs, for Teams & forage to transport the Troops. By my last Accts. from the North'd. it appears the Enemy were still on Lake Champlain somewhere between Gillilands & Crown Pt. so that Genl. Stark's information of their being on this side of Lake George was premature.

I am, &c &c.

The hoble. Major Genl. Heath.

27

[No. 4081.]

COMMISSARY HORTON SHOT BY A DRAGOON.

General Heath Reports Disorders Below the Lines-A Thief Who Robbed an Old Woman Apprehended.

Head quarters, Continental village, October 19, 1781. Sir, I was the last evening honored with yours of the 18th. I thank your Excellency for the aid afforded to colonel Hughes. My last accounts from the Northward corroborate those mentioned by your Excellency. If the enemy should not soon advance, two of the three regiments of regular troops sent to Albany, will return-the third will remain at the northward for the present.

A most infamous practice has long been exercised by a set of people who steal below the lines, and plunder men, women and children, putting many to extreme torture to compel them to discover their money &c. This induced the Commander in chief on the first of August last, to issue an order forbidding any person or persons going below the army or on its flanks, with or without arms, unless they were formed into companies under command of an officer or officers, under the authority of their State or the election of their company; and if any were found otherwise, they were to be taken up and sent to the provost. This has still been considered as a standing order. But notwithstanding, at every opportunity when they could steal by the guards, these people continued their practices, and have in several instances of late, committed abuses, contrary to all laws, civil, military, human and divine. Besides these, they almost totally obstruct and break up those channels of intelligence which the good of the service require should be preserved. An instance of this happened a few days since; an old woman was