choose their officers. Pray, stay until I come, as I will hurry and come over to Nathaniel Seaman's, Westbury, to see you. I hope you will on Tuesday go with us.

From your humble servant,

To Col. JOHN SANDS.

BENJ. BIRDSALL, Lt. Col.

*After the defeat at Brooklyn, it is said, these loyalists came out, pulling off their hats, huzzaed for King George.

and

89. Rules and orders for Lieut. Jotham Townsend, July 29:

1. You are to take command of the recruits and march them down to Matinecock Point, where you are to place sentinels in the most advantageous places to discover the enemy, likewise to be very careful there is no communication to the ships of war. Should you discover any persons attempting it, you are to put them under guard.

2. You are to build you a shelter, if there be none convenient. Should you want any materials, take such as will answer your purpose best.

3. Charge your men that they insult nor abuse any of the inhabitants, or destroy their effects.

4. Should you discover the enemy attempting to land, you are to send off express to me, and order the owners of stock to drive them off with all expedition on the Great Plains.

5. Should any of your men disobey orders, steal, or abuse the inhabitants, you are to put them under guard.

6. Minute down daily what happens, and make a return Saturday next by 10 o'clock, at my house.

Westbury, July 29, 1776.

JNO. SANDS, Col.

Additional Orders, August 3.

Should you discover the enemy in sight, you are to immediately hoist your signal, then send off your express.

You are not to suffer your men to play at cards, dice, or any unlawful game, nor intoxicate themselves with strong drink. You are to observe that no small craft passes and repasses, having any transient persons or negroes on board. Should you discover any, you are to take them up. If upon examina

tion you find them clear, discharge them; if guilty, put them under guard till discharged by the town committee.

You are not to let your men waste their cartridges by firing wantonly at game. You are to exercise your men four hours every day.

90. Richard Manee, you are ordered to take your recruits to the bottom of Cow Neck, and then apply to Simon Sands, who is to reconnoitre, and choose a place for you to be stationed at, where you are to build a shelter, and place one sentinel where he will have most prospect of the Sound-the sentry to be relieved once every two hours; should he spy any vessels appearing to be ships of war, transports, or tenders, send express to Simon Sands, Wm. and John Cornwell; on their reviewing the same, and thinking them to belong to the King of Great Britain, you are immediately to send me express.

Likewise notify the inhabitants, who will drive off the stock, which you are to see done with all dispatch possible, to the Plains. You are to make report to me on Friday next, by 10 o'clock, what has transpired.

You are not to allow any man to do any damage to the owner of the soil you are stationed on, by destroying his timber, fence, or grain-only what is wanted for building you a shelter.

Additional Orders, July 26.

You are to ask liberty of Simon Sands for a long pole, to be set in the most convenient place to hoist a flag for a signal. You are to exercise your men four hours a day, as soon as time will permit, and make return to me by Sunday, 10 o'clock.

91. Wm. Hicks, Sergeant: You are to take your recruits to the bottom of Great Neck, to a point of land formerly called Haviland's Point, now Joseph Hewlett's, and there place one sentinel in the most convenient place to have a prospect of the Sound. Should you discover any ships of war, transports, or tenders, you are immediately to acquaint Major Rich'd Thorne and John Thorne. On their receiving the same, and it appearing to be the enemy, you are to send express to me, and

drive, or order the owners of the stock to drive them to the Plains. July 23.

92. Copy of a warrant to the Captain in the 2d Battalion : Cow Neck, July 26, 1776.

You are hereby directed to take notes of all the inhabitants in your district, to the value of double their stock, as soon as possible, and make return unto me-fail not.

JNO. SANDS, Col.

93. Congress order Col. Smith to march with all his new levies to the west part of Nassau Island, within two miles of Gen. Greene's encampment.*

Camp at Brookland, Aug. 9, 1776.

SIR: Enclosed are the resolutions of the Provincial Congress, ordering you to join my brigade immediately. On the receipt of this, you will march the troops under your command immediately to this camp. You will make all possible expedition, as the enemy has embarked part, if not all, the troops on Staten island, and are making dispositions as if they intended to land here. You will send out scouts and parties to get intelligence. If the enemy should make their landing good on any part of the island and hear of your coming, they may send out a party to intercept your march. Keep good front, flank, and rear guards, to prevent being surprised.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

Col. JOSIAH SMITH.

NATHANIEL GREENE.

* Two hundred men, by express orders from Gen. Sullivan, marched down to Brooklyn from Jerusalem, when the British landed, to the tune of Yankee Doodle.-Ed.

94. Aug. 10. One-half the militia of Kings and Queens counties was ordered to march immediately to Brooklyn; the levies from Kings and Queens to be formed into one regiment under command of Col. Jeromus Remsen, Lieut. Col. Nich. Covenhoven, Major Richard Thorne, and continue in service till September 1.*

*Capt. And'w Onderdonk's company lay at Bedford, in the barn of Lambert Suydam, and marched daily to Brooklyn to throw up the fortifications.

95. Aug. 19. Washington recommends that the women, children, and infirm, be removed from the city, as their shrieks and cries, as they run about the streets, dishearten the young and inexperienced soldiers.

£200 voted to Flushing for the support of the poor sent there from New-York. The committees throughout the State were enjoined to show hospitality to the fugitives.

96. Aug. 12. Capt. P. Nostrand was stationed at Far Rockaway with forty-six men, to guard the coast. There was a guard at David Mott's, and at Hog Island inlet was a guard boat. A guard was often put on board fishing boats, to prevent their giving information to the British fleet, to which the disaffected used to carry water, eggs, gammons, butter, and fresh provisions.

A true and exact list of the men in actual service in Capt. Peter Nostrand's Company, stationed at Far Rockaway,* this day reviewed, and all found to be able and effective men.

Aug. 10, 1776. Received of Col. Sands, $200, part bounty of forty of Capt. Peter Nostrand's company, returned as drafts.

THOS. WILLIAMS, Lieutenant.

* Isaiah Doxey says the Americans had a force stationed with pitched tents, at Far Rockaway. Nelly Cornell, looking out of an upper win

dow, called to the American officer, and told him she saw "trees rising from the ocean." He looked, called another officer, and said, "that's the British fleet; down with the tents, and let's be off to the ferry." Wagons were then impressed to convey the baggage, and all the cattle were driven off.

Camp, Long Island, Aug. 19, 1776.

97. I, the subscriber, went down to Rockaway just at daybreak, with my company of Light Horse, pursuant to an order from Brig. Gen. Heard, to take care of some boats. At the house of Van Brockle, I discovered a number of men issue out of the door and run, some of them partly dressed, and some in their shirts only. Immediately I ordered my men to pursue them, and presently overtook three of their number, and took them prisoners. Two of them got to the woods and hid under the bushes; on finding them, I ordered them to surrender. One of them did; the other absolutely refused, although one of my men had his gun presented to his breast; on which my men alighted and took him.

After I had taken six prisoners, I examined the beach and found a boat and four oars, and a paddle. In the boat were three sheep, four ducks, and a large bottle with water.

LAMBERT SUYDAM, Captain of the Troop.

98. Aug. 24. Congress order half the Western Regiment of Suffolk, with five days' provisions, to march into the western part of Queens, and that the officers of the militia of Queens order out the whole militia, with the troop of horse, and use all diligence to prevent the stock falling into the hands of the enemy; that the captain of the troop of horse of Kings county join said militia; and that the inhabitants of Queens (not of the militia) assist, when ordered.

List of Field Officers-part of Suffolk and Queens.