* Col. Hitchcock's and Col. Smith's regiment are to do duty in Gen. Nixon's brigade; Col. Van Brunt and Col. Gray, do. in Gen. Heard's brigade.

99. Aug. 25. Congress resolved, that all horses, horned cattle and sheep, south of the ridge of hills in Queens county, be removed to the east end of Hempstead Plains; that the inhabitants remove all grain now in barns or barracks to a distance from buildings, that it may be burnt, if necessary, to

prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy: that Gen. Woodhull take post on the ridge of hills, as near the enemy as he thinks proper, to check their excursions, and should he be compelled to retreat, that he remove or destroy the stock and grain, and dismantle the mills by carrying away the upper stone.

Aug. 27. Gen. Woodhull was at Jamaica with less than 100 men. He had sent off all the cattle to Hempstead Plains. In the afternoon he was in the western part of Queens, and received 100 men from Col. Potter, of Huntington, 40 militia of the regiment of Queens, and 50 of the troop of Kings and Queens. All cattle south of the hills were driven east of the cross roads, and guards were set from the north road to the south side of the island to cut off the communication of the British and Tories, and keep the cattle from going back.

He was within six miles of the British camp, and their light-horse had been within two miles of him.*

* Wm. Howard says, "The British, 3 o'clock A. M., Aug. 27, were infomed by their friends that the cowboys, i. e. Gen. Woodhull's party of 300 or 350 men, were lying in Johannis Polhemus' barn, (late Luke Eldert's,) near the dividing line of Queens and Kings counties, with their cattle. The British sent a detachment of light-horse to seize them, but learning from Joseph Howard that their number was 700, (some whig having ingeniously exaggerated it,) the detachment was recalled. In consequence, Woodhull got off to Carpenter's inn, where, 'tis said, some of his men were seized in a barn, the rest being destroyed or fled. The next morning (it was wet and misty) Woodhull and other prisoners were brought to Howard's. His wife went out to Woodhull under the shed and asked him if he would have some refreshments. She then gave him some bread and butter and smoked beef and wine sangaree. His head was tied up, and he had other wounds. She also treated the American prisoners. Woodhull was first taken to Brooklyn church (that stood in the middle of the street), thence to New Utrecht."

100. Aug. 28. Dr. Riker informs Maj. Lawrence that a number of scattering troops had posted themselves on the ridge of hills between Newtown and Jamaica: that they had'

been in many houses: had taken victuals and drink, but had not plundered, as he understood.

Woodhull writes to Congress :

"I must again let you know my situation: I have about 70 men and 20 of the troop, which is all the force I have or can expect, and I am daily growing less in number; the people are so alarmed in Suffolk that they will not any more of them march; and as to Col. Smith's and Remsen's regiments, they cannot join me, for the communication is cut off between us. I have sent about 1100 cattle to the great fields on the plains yesterday, and about 300 more are gone off this morning to the same place, and I have ordered a guard of an officer and seven privates. They can get no water in these fields. My men and horses are worn out with fatigue. The cattle are not all gone off toward Hempstead: I ordered them yesterday, but they were not able to take them along. I brought yesterday about 300 from Newtown. I think the cattle in as much danger on the north as on the south side, and have ordered the inhabitants to remove them, if you cannot send me an immediate reinforcement."

The Congress ordered that Mr. Hobart and Mr. James Townsend be a committee to repair to Gen. Woodhull and assist him with their advice, and that they cause all such stock and grain in Queens and the western part of Suffolk as may be in danger of falling into the enemy's hands to be destroyed; and that said committee be empowered to impress horses, persons and boats to convey themselves to Gen. Woodhull with the utmost dispatch.

101. Congress had sent, Aug. 26, a letter to the several towns in Connecticut, requesting their assistance in removing from Long Island the stock, "which amounted to between 80,000 and 100,000 head of cattle, and as many sheep: and to lend their aid to such of the inhabitants as may wish to remove."

Aug. 29. Mr. Van Wyck, from Flushing, reports that the enemy's ships lie between Thorne's (since Wilkins')

Point and Great Neck;* and that troops for the aid of Woodhull may safely pass this evening from New-York to Jamaica, by way of Flushing.

Samuel Townsend was sent to Gen. Woodhull to inform him of the proceedings of Congress on the subject of his letters, and that Col. Smith's and Remsen's regiments were shut up in the lines and could not be sent him.

*The cattle were all driven off Great Neck. Aug. 26 the enemy's vessels Halifax, La Brun and Niger sailed round Montauk, plundered Hart and City Islands, and got twelve or fourteen head of cattle, besides sheep, ducks, &c. Several persons came on board from Long Island. Two vessels, one the Bloom, lay under Long Island shore, August 28, opposite Frog's Point. Two of Henry Allen's negroes were on board 102. Col. Smith informs Congress that Washington has ordered his regiment to withdraw from Long Island.

Resolved, That Samuel Townsend and Maj. Lawrence attend the regiment, supply it with provisions, impress horses, wagons or boats to transport said regiment from Long Island. £100 voted for that purpose.

Col. Smith's regiment ordered to Hoorn's Hook, there to receive further orders from Samuel Townsend and Major Lawrence.

Col. Remsen followed the Convention from Harlem to Philipse's Manor, and requested to know what disposition to make of his regiment, when it was recommended that the militia be formed into companies, with a bounty of £4 to each man.

Col. Remsen was authorized to grant furloughs to his militia to visit, or remove their families from Long Island— none to carry arms with them.

Aug. 31. £215 12 was voted Col. Remsen for pay due his regiment.

Sept. 3. The Committee of Safety, in session at Fishkill, hearing that Col. Smith's and Remsen's regiments are dispersed, or have been disbanded without permission of the