[No. 4087.]

CAPTURE OF CORNWALLIS ANNOUNCED

In an Extract from a Letter to Colonel Hughes from Colonel Miles. Philadelphia, Octr. 22nd, 1781.

"Sir, Before I say anything on Business I must indulge myself in congratulating you on the Capture of Cornwallis and all his army on the 17th Inst. The particulars are not yet arrived, but the President of Congress has just received a Copy of Count de Grasse's Letter to the Governour of Maryland, forwarded by Water to Annapolis.

"The Count has taken all his troops on Board, and gone out to meet Mr. Digby. Tho the particulars are not come, the fact is not to be doubted." (Extract from Col. Miles's Letter to

Colonel Hughes.)

[No. 4088.]

Colonel Willett Suggests to Governor Clinton the Necessity of Appointing a Major to Muster in the New Levies.

Fort Rensselaer, 22nd, October 1781.

Dear Sir, I am favoured with your letter of the 6th Instant Inclosing two Resolutions of Congress, one Respecting the pay. ing and subsisting the two Regiments of Militia to be raised in this state this Campaign and for Subsisting, Cloathing and paying the two Regiments of Infantry to be raised for three Years. The other directing the Commander in Chief to Transmit to the Executives of the Several states the names of the new Levies Recommending it to the said states to make them Payment. But as neither of these Resolutions say any thing about who is to Muster the Levies, I am still in the Dark about that Matter.

By the Present regulations of the Army of these states Every Brigade is to have a sub-Inspecter, which Sub-Inspecter is Commissary of Muster for that Brigade. But as our Levies are not Brigaded and have no Inspector, I know not who to call upon to Muster them. This is the Particular Point to which I formerly Requested your Excellencies Directions. But as the matter still Remains Undetermined, I beg leave to Suggest that it Appears to me Absolutely necessary to have some Person Immediately Appointed to this Business. A major from the Brigade is the proper person for this Purpose. The appointment I should suppose in this case would come Properly from your Excellency unless the Council of Appointment should be sitting when Perhaps it might be best for them to do it. But most surely no time is to be lost in it as the levies are much Scattered and it will Require great Activity in any one man to Compleat the business before the men's time Expire. Hence it will be necessary to appoint some person whom it will be known will Immediately set about it, least a Non Acceptance of the appointment might impede the Business. If it could be done and he will undertake it, I think Major Hitchcock would lo for this Purpose.

Nothing New in this Quarter. I shall be happy in having an answer from your Excellency upon this Subject as soon as possible and the very best Answer will be the Arrival of a Muster Master.

I have the Honor to be your Excellencies Most Obedient & Very Hum. Servt.

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 4089.]

Colonel Hay to Governor Clinton-Account of All Tax Certificates. (Omitted.)

[No. 4090.]

Mr. Duane Balances a Loan With Mr. V'Hommedieu Through Governor Clinton.

Mr. Duane presents his most respectful Compliments to his Excellency Governor Clinton and requests the favour of him to give Mr. L'Hommedieu the seven half Johs of which Dr. Livingston has taken Charge. If that Gent. should be gone home, Col. Floyd will receive it. If both, his Excellency will be so good as to keep it till one of them returns to the Legislature. It is money I borrowd from Mr. L'Hommedieu at Philadelphia. Manour Liv'n 23d Octb. 1781.

[Nos. 4091-4092.]

ENEMY REPORTED MOVING ON SARATOGA.

Two Letters from Lord Stirling-Disturbed Over Forage-Colonel Tupper Moving Northward from Albany.

Albany, October 23, 1781.

Sir, I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency the enclos'd Intelligence received last Evening from General Stark -I have written to Brigadiers General Ranselaer and Gansevoort desiring them to have their Brigades in readiness to march as soon as the advance of the Enemy shall render it necessary. I am with the greatest Esteem, Your Excellencys most Obdt. humb. Servt.

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

Stirling.

JOHN STARK TO COLONEL TUPPER.

Headquarters Saratoga 22d Octr. 1781.

Dear Sir, By intelligence this moment received, I am led to believe that the Enemy are making this way-you will therefore March to this Post without a Moment's delay-I hope this will meet you on the road, but if not, loose not a moment in putting your Troops in Motion. 36 or 48 hours from this time is the longest that I expect to prepare in, but if you can Arrive by that time I shall be under no great Apprehentions-I inclose a copy of the intelligence received.

I am dear Sir your Most Obt. & Very Huml. Serv.

Copy.

Colonel Tupper.

John Stark, B. G.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FLETCHER ALARMED CONCERNING FOT

WARNER.

Dear General, Last evening I received Intelligence from Crown Point by Captain Stark, that Friday last at 3 o'clock P. M. a Large Body of the Enimy was landed, and a Landing at that place and private intelligence which I received within the last twenty four hours satisfy me that this Garrison together with Adjacent frontier Towns is the Enemies Object or at least one of their Objects.

The Above is Copy of a letter received from Lt. Colo. Fletcher Commanding at Fort Warner.

Copy.

Colonel Tupper.

Albany, October 24, 1781.

Dear Sir, I wrote your Excellency yesterday by Express. The State of our Intelligence is not altered Since, except that a report is Come thro. Bennington that the Enemy are advanced to Ticonderoga; this is yet too Vague to induce me to Call out your Militia again; however, I have informed the General officers of it, that they may hold them in readyness to march on the Shortest notice.

On enquiry of Major Quackenbush I find that the warrant of empress he is possessed of from your Excellency to Col. Hughes, extends only to a Certain Number of Waggons & horses and forrage for them, so that the horses of the train of Artillery and of the General field and staff Officers are left to Starve; in this Seituation it is impossible for us to do our duty; I must, therefore, intreat your Excellency will as soon as possible furnish Quackenbush with an additional Warrant that will Comprehend forrage for those other Services.