[No. 4194.]

Governor Clinton Writes to Isaac Roosevelt Regarding Mr. Wright's Proposition to Secure Supplies and Specie.

Poughkeepsie, Decr. 5th, 1781.

Sir, Since my last by Messrs Greenell & McFarren I am informed that the state of Connecticut have called in all their Permission for bringing any Thing from Long Island under any Pretence whatever so that this Business as far as it respects or depends on that State is at an end. The bearer, however, Mr. Obadiah Wright informs me he can bring off, without passing thro Connecticut, Merchandize & Specie to a considerable amount, for which no money is to be sent over in return & among which will be articles suitable for public use if he could obtain a Permission. He is willing to enter into a contract, which if effected I think it may be beneficial to the state; but as I am unauthorized, I have directed him to you for the Purpose. If you should come to any Agreem't, with him, whatever Passport from me you shall think necessary, will, on a line from you, be immediately made out. I am &c.

Isaac Roosevelt Esqr.

P. S. Should not the Goods or Money be at Mr. Wright's Risque until delivered to some Person appointed by you to receive them?

[No. 4195.]

Governor Clinton to Major McKinstry and the Proposition to Recruit Under the State Land Bounty Law.

Poughkeepsie, Decr. 5th, 1781.

Sir, I am favored with your letters of the 30th ult. & 3d Instant by Lieut. Moore, and am extremely sorry that the success

attending the exertions of the gentlemen to recruit a Regt. appointed under you on Bounties of unapropriated Lands is not in season to intitle them to the Encouragement held out by the Law for that Purpose, which on referring to their Warrants they will find limited the time for compleating those Corps to the 1st Day of Augt, at which Period the Recruits that were engaged & mustered appeared to be less than two thirds of the Number necessary to compose the Regts; it became my Duty to arrange & form them into an Independent Corps without the least authority in me to continue the Recruiting Service. At the meeting of the Legislature, which was not till sometime in October, tho' it appeared by the Muster Master's return that not more than 60 Men were inlisted for both Regts, I nevertheless, principally moved by the Encouragement given me by yourself and Major Throop, recommended a Revision of the Law that the Time for compleating the Corps might be prolonged & aditional Encouragement of a small pecuniary Bounty granted. The Legislature, however, did not it seems think proper to adopt the Measure & as they have provided in a different way for the Defence of the State I have but little hopes that they will reasume this Business at a future Meeting. From you Character of Mr. Moore, I wish to serve him; and he may rest assured if he has recruited such Proportion of the Men engaged before the first of August as to intitle him to a Preference (as from the Returns transmitted by you I believe to be the case), I will chearfully consent to his Appointment to a Lieutenancy, tho this cannot be done untill the next Meeting of the Council. The State is not possesed of an Article of Cloathing which I have the right to dispose of. Congress engaged to pay, Cloath & subsist these Corps and tho

it is uncertain whether it is at present in their Power to supply them, yet a Proper Return & Application ought to be made to the commanding officer of the Department for that Purpose. I am &c

Major McKinstry.

[No. 4196.]

Mutiny in General Gansevoort's Brigade-Colonel Van Rensselaer Taken Prisoner by Some of His Own Men in Sympathy with Vermont-Prompt Measures Applied by the Brigade Commander.

Albany, 6th Decem'r., 1781.

Sir, On the 5th Instant I received a Letter from Lt. Col. John Van Rensselaer of which the inclosed is a copy, in consequence whereof I instantly dispatched orders to Colonels Yates & Henry Van Rensselaer to march their Regts. to the relief of Lt. Colonel Van Rensselaer and for quelling the Insurrection mentioned in his Letter. Copies of the orders I also do myself the Honor of inclosing.

This morning two oclock, Mr. Rouse called upon me; he left Lt. Col. John Van Rensselaer at 7 yesterday evening and is sent by him expressly for the purpose of requesting farther assist ance, as it is impossible to say what consequences may result from the present disturbances and as I have not received from your Excellency any directions on this subject since the rising of the Legislature at their last Meeting, who I am informed have passed some resolution respecting the Controversey, I have thought proper to defer calling out any other part of my Brigade, untill I shall hear from your Excellency farther on this business. Mr. Rouse who goes express will deliver your Excel

lency this Letter. To him I beg leave to refer you for particulars of his capture & proceedings of the Insurgents.

I am Sir, Your Excellency's very Hum Servt

To His Excellency Governour Clinton.

Peter Gansevoort.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN VAN RENSSELAER REPORTS THE AFFAIR TO GENERAL GANSEVOORT.

St. Coick [Saint Croix]* Decem. 4th 1781.

Dear General, These are a Short narative to inform you of the Deplorable Situation we are in & reduced to, caused by the oparation & usurpation of Tirannical Ruffians who have disavowed alegiance to the State of New York, and say they are subjects to the State of Vermount; a few days ago I was taken prisoner by them with Col. Bratt, Mr. Fonda and other Gentlemen, who were carried to Bennington, treated in a most scandilous manner and abused when we ware carried to Bennington, where they expected aid & assistance; they were treated with contempt by the Authority of Vermont; we were treated by them like Gentlemen, were discharged and told we coud go home about our Business. Yesterday Mr. Rouse of Tomhanick was taken by an armed force, was rescued on his way to this place by a number of faithfull true subjects to the State of New York. I have collected an armed force, but very inconsiderable, and mean to support our persons and property under the Authority of New York at the expence of my Life against all assalts and userpation-therefore, I beg leave to intreat you,

*Mr. A. J. Weise, of Troy, N. Y., author of the " 'History of Rensselaer County" and "Troy's One Hundred Years," states: "the name Saint Croix was given by the invading French in their descents into the Hudson Valley and parts adjacent, to the tract of land at the confluence of the Walloomsac' and Hoosick rivers. The first named stream was often denominated the St. Coic' or 'Walloomscoic' river, and is found otherwise written Sancock,' St. Coych,'Sancoick,' 'St. Hoick,' 'Sancoix,' and 'Saintcoix.' Baum begins one of his letters: Sancoik, 14th August, 1777.'"-STATE HISTORIAN,

Sir, as a Dear friend Engaged in the same cause, to give me all the Assistance with the greatest dispatch possible, least I shall be reduced to the necessity of subjecting myself to a Superior force. I am, Dr Sir, with respect your very sincere friend, and very Hum Servt.

Jno. Van Rensselaer Lt. Colo.

Gen. Gansevoort.

GENERAL GANSEVOORT'S ORDERS TO COLONEL HENRY VAN RENSSELAER AND TO COLONEL PETER YATES.

Albany, 5 Decr. 1781.

Sir, Upon Receipt hereof you will with all Dispatch march your Regiment to St. Coyck* to the House of Lt. Colo. John Van Rensselaer and co-operate with Colo. Yates in quelling an Insurrection which has taken Place in his Regiment, the late Colo Van Woerts, and your own, dangerous to the Honor and authority of this State. You will be exceedingly cautious how you conduct yourself in this matter-the utmost circumspection is to be observed and should any of the Insurgents fall into your Hands before you reach that place, you will send them down to this Place, together with the Evidence you will be able to collect against them and from Time to Time report your Proceedings

to me.

Colo. H. Van Rensselaer.

Sir, I am informed by Letter from Lt. Colo. John Van Rensselaer of your Regiment, that an Insurrection exists in Part of your Regiment, and the Regiment of Lt. Colo. Henry Van Rensselaer; you will, therefore, without Delay march as many of Your Regiment as you can collect at St. Coyck* to the House of Lt. Colo. John Van Rensselaer, where you will be joined by Lt. Colo. Henry K. Van Rensselaer with his Regiment, and take *See page 553.