Brushy Plains they will be entirely destitute of water, besides having other very scanty means of subsistence. By attending myself on this business, I have had an opportunity of knowing the extreme distress to which the rigid execution of this order must expose many people with their families; so that some among the poorer sort, for aught I know, must be left to starve. The cattle which many people have turned off to fat for the use of their families, will be lost as to all the purposes of such provision, and their families be destitute of that necessary supply for winter. In several parts of the county there was last year a distemper among the horses, which swept off such numbers of them that many people have been obliged since to depend entirely upon oxen. These being now taken away, they are deprived of the only means they had of carrying on any labor upon their farms, that requires a team of horses or oxen. The consequence of which must be, that they can neither secure their present harvest, nor till the earth for a future one. I find the people in general are willing to enter into obligations, that (in case of immediate danger) they will drive their stock to any place of greater safety on the island, pursuant to the direction of the Congress or county committee. And considering the danger there is under the present regulation of losing a great part of the stock for want of sustenance, and the hardships to which people are reduced, I thought it might not be amiss to mention this circumstance, supposing that the Congress, in concurrence with the General, might perhaps, fall on some method, in this way, for securing the stock on an emergency, The difficulty of keeping the stock within the limits prescribed, will be so great that I doubt it will be out of my power to effect it. A considerable number of men will be necessary for the purpose—more than I can possibly keep on that duty, when harvest is so near at hand. In short I do not see but that for the present at least,* I shall be obliged to leave them to take their chance. I am, sir, your very humble servant, * Cow Neck, July, 1776. BENJ. KISSAM.† Aug. 16. Congress received the petition of the inhabitants of Hempstead relative to cattle. (MS. Jour. XLI. 323.) + Died Oct. 26, 1782, an eminent lawyer. John Jay was his student. 80. July 20. Congress resolved that the live stock be collected into convenient places so as to be driven when necessary from the coast into the interior of the Island, and there guarded, leaving with each farmer one pair of horses, and with each large family three milch cows, two to a middling, and one to a small family; or even kill them, if necessary, to prevent their falling into the enemies' hands; that the one-fourth part of the minute-men and militia of Long Island, be drafted immediately to carry these resolves into execution.* *The Troop of Horse of Queens county think it hard that onefourth of their number was drafted with the foot, as they have been at the expense of equipping themselves as troopers. Referred to Gen. Woodhull. A list of one-fourth part of Capt. Philip Valentine's Company drafted July 25. Benj. Cornwell, Serg't.† Richard Valentine, Peter, serv't to Griswold,Samuel Davenport, John Carl, Peter Titus,* Lott Carman, Samuel Place, John Newbury,† Epenétus and Uriah Platt have each hired a man in their room, who are to be at Brookland at your quarters, Saturday, 24th. Aug. 23, 1776. PH. VALENTINE, Capt. To Col. SANDS, Brookland † Answered to their names, * hired substitutes. 81. Resolved, That Josiah Smith, of Suffolk, be 1st Colonel of the troops drafted on Long Island; Col. John Sands, 2d Col. ; Ab'm Remsen, Major; and Lt. Col. B. Birdsall, be Captain. White Plains, July 20, 1776. 82. SIR-I have received orders from Congress to give orders to all the commanding officers of my brigade, to hold themselves in readiness. Sir, you are therefore directed to keep the regiment under your command in readiness to march at the shortest notice, with five days' provisions, to any part of Long Island where you shall be directed for the defence of the I am, sir, your humble servant, NATH'L WOODHULL, Brig. Gen. same. To Col. SANDS. White Plains, July 20, 1776. SIR: I am directed by the Convention to enclose to you their resolves for drafting one-quarter part of the militia of Suffolk, Queens and Kings counties, for the purpose of defending and protecting the inhabitants and stock of the same. I doubt not but your zeal and patriotism will prompt you to exert every nerve on this arduous and important occasion, And am, sir, your most obedient servant, To Col. JOHN SANDS. NATH'L WOODHULL, Pres't. 83. Recruiting commmenced July 23, (see pay rolls 103.) Col. Sands had his quarters at Nath'l Seaman's, Westbury. The recruits were ordered out to guard the coast, and were exercised four hours per day. $10 bounty to volunteers.* * John Sands received from the Convention £617 14s. 8d., for payment of one-half bounty of the men [309?] who passed muster and were drafted in Queens county, July 23, 1776. Ab'm Remsen received of John Sands £238 to pay half bounty due 129 recruits, raised out of 1st battalion in Queens county, Aug, 10, '76. Lieut Col. Birdsall received £34 for half bounty of 17 men, drafts. Lieut. Th. Williams, in behalf of Capt. Peter Nostrand, received $200 in part bounty of 40 drafts, Aug. 10, 1776. In Committee, Queens County, July 24, 1776. 84. GENTLEMEN:-This county being under a necessity of an immediate sum of money for defraying the necessary expenses of the county, we desire that you will make application to Congress for the sum of £400, and transmit the same to Joseph Robinson, Esq., who is chosen our treasurer. Signed by order of the Committee. GEO. TOWNSEND, Ch'n. Attested, JEROMUS REMSEN, JR., Clerk. To Col. BLACKWell, &c. [Granted.-Ed.] July 22. $2,000 was paid Mr. Townsend for Queens county. 85. July 26. A letter from Joseph Robinson and Noah Smith of the Jamaica committee, informs Congress that Wm. Ludlum, Jr., has been chosen Captain of the Minute Company, in place of John J. Skidmore promoted to a majority. 86. When Howe arrived at the Hook, the disaffected from Kings and Queens took refuge on board the fleet, and supplied him with all the information he desired. July 26. Thomas Willets, Sheriff of Queens, was apprehended by the county committee and sent to Congress for posting, in each town of Queens county, the Declaration of Lord and Sir William Howe.* *It granted" a free and general pardon to all those who, in the tumult and disorder of the times, may have deviated from their just allegiand are willing, by a speedy return to their duty, to reap the benefits of the royal favor." ance, 87. Rules and Orders to Col. Birdsall. 1. You are to take command of the recruits and march to Far Rockaway, where you are to place sentinels in the most advantageous place to discover the enemy; likewise to be very careful there is no communication by small craft from the people of that place on board of the ships of war. Should you discover any persons attempting the same, you are to put them under guard. 2. You are to build you a shelter, if there is none convenient where you are stationed. Charge your men that they insult nor abuse any of the inhabitants or destroy their effects. 3. Should you discover the enemy attempting to land, you are to send off an express to me immediately, and order the owners of the stock to have them driven off with all dispatch upon the Plains. 4. Should any of your men disobey orders, steal, or abuse any of the inhabitants, you are to put them under guard. 5. You are to minute down daily what happens, and make a return, once in every three days, at Head Quarters, Westbury. JOHN SANDS, Colonel. July 25, 1776. Oyster Bay South, July 27, 1776. 88. SIR-By direct information from Joshua Ketchum, one of the committee of Huntington, there are thirty or forty Tories in Massapequa Swamp.* I have agreed to meet Huntington Tuesday morning next, at 8 o'clock. They are to join us with 200 men. Accordingly, I have given orders to the several officers to meet and join with Huntington with 200 men, which will be 400 men to drive the swamp, and take these deserting armed Tories. I have meant not to interfere with your orders. If I have any ways, be so kind as to right it. I am obliged to attend at Hempstead Monday next, for those two companies to |