but the Berer can Inform you the Reason, Collo. Webster is an Honest well meaning man but he is much better Calculated for the civil departmen than the Melitery; and some other officers, I mak no doubt, is as much to blame as the Collo. as I am knowing to scouts being ordred out and the orders not Complyed with. The devision amongst the Officers is so great that unless the appointment or some other measure, adopted there can be nothing done in the Regiment. I remain, with greatest Respect and Esteem your Humbl Serv't,

Joseph McCraken.

Governor Clinton.

[No. 3235.]

(See document 3254; pages 278-281.)

[No. 3236.]

Colonel Pawling Ordered to Fort Schuyler.

Pokeepsie, 21st Sep'r 1780.

Dear Sir, Since I wrote you last,* I have received several Letters from Colo. Malcom in all which he repeats in the strongest Terms the Necessity of your taking the Command of the Troops destined to relieve the present Garrisson of Fort Schuyler. I proposed to him as I mentioned to you, Major DeWitt for his Service, but he informs me that this woud occassion new & insurmountable Embarassments on the Score of Rank. This being the Case, I must tho reluctantly consent to your taking that Command & you will accordingly on the Receipt of this Letter repair with the least possible Delay to

See page 225.

Colo. Malcom, prepared for this Service, leaving your present Command to Major DeWitt. Malcom, on your arival at Schenectady, will order a Company as a Reinforcement to the Troops on the Frontiers of Ulster & Orange Counties. I am

G. C.

Lieut. Colo. Pawling.

[No. 3237.]

Lieutenant Colonel Newkirk's Vain Pursuit of the Party that Attacked Colonel Jansen.

D'r Sir, In consequence of your Excellency's orders, dated the 18th Sept'r I marched, immediately in person with two companies, to where the road croses the mountain to Neponeck, and beginning there, ranged the mountain along untill I met Major Philips, who I had ordered out with two companies to range the mountain, from Minisink road untill I should meet with him about midway between the respective formentioned roads. We made all possible search, but could make no discovery of any enemy. It is my opinion and the opinion of the most sensible in these parts, that the perpetrators of the barbarity at Coll. Johnston's were Tories and not Indians.

Your Excellency will easily perceive the propriety of my not calling out the whole Regiment, when I inform you, that Coll. Johnston was returned home with his whole Regt. after having searched, and he pursued for the enemy to no purpose before I received your Excellency's orders. Sir, I have the honor to be your Excellency's most obedient and very Hum. Ser't

Hanover Sept'r 23 1780.

His Excellency George Clinton, Esqr.

Jacob Newkirk.

[No. 3238.]

Colonel Van Cortlandt Suggests a Way for the Officers to Procure Clothing-The Governor Unable to Help.

Infantry Camp Septemb'r 25, 1780.

Dear Sir, The Officers of the New York Line, who are with my Regiment of Infantry, have an Opportunity of Furnishing themselves with a suit of Cloathes, at a very reasonable rate provided they can pay for them in hard Cash, the Marquis de la Fayette having contracted with a French merchant to furnish the Officers of his Division at or nearly the prime Cost in France, which will amount to four Guineas & some odd shillings pr Suit. As the Officers cannot at present raise so much, they have desired me to write to your Excellency, requesting your assistance, in such a manner, as may be most Expedient, either to be furnished from the Treasury, & Charged to the account of each Officer, or perhaps some Gentleman may be willing to lend the money, or I will obligate myself to see the money replaced to any Gentleman who will advance fifty five Guineas, which is the sum that will be wanted for Thirteen Officers serving in the Infantry, belonging to the State, to be paid either in like specie or the value thereof in Bills of Credit, by the first day of De cember next, or sooner if possible. Capt. Dubois will receive the money and give a Receipt.

I beg your Excellency will Excuse the Trouble we shall give you the necessity of the Officers, & no other way of immediately relieving it, I hope will be a sufficient apology. I have the Honor to be your Excellency's most obedient & very Humble Servant

His Excellency George Clinton.

Philip Cortlandt.

D'r Sir, I have received your Letter of the 6th Ultimo & it gives me great Pain to be oblidged to inform you that it is utterly out of my Power to comply with your Request. There is not one Farthing of Specie in the Treasury & my own small Resources have long since been exhausted by Disbursements, which from Time to Time I made to our Officers who are Prisoners with the Enemy. I detained the Bearer, Capt. DuBois, in hopes of being able to borrow or Purchase the small sum you ask for; but tho in this I have had the Assistance of the Lieut. Gov'r, who has taken much Trouble, I have not been able as yet to succeed. Be assured it will make me happy to serve you & the Gentlemen of your Corps. I am, with great Esteem &c.

[To Colonel Philip Cortlandt.]

[G. C.]

[No. 3239.]

The Governor Engages in a Land Transaction.

Albany, 18 Sept'r 1780.

Sir, The Inclosed was Delivered to me this day, By Mrs. Van Wie, which her Husband had left home thro Neglect the latter

part of August. I am, with Great respect your Excellencies Most Obed't Serv't

His Excellency Gov'r Clinton.

Jno. F. Pruyn.

Albany 28th August 1780.

D'r Sir, Agreeable to my promise when I had the pleasure of seeing your Excellency Last at my house, I have made it my Business to inform my Self about the Quality of the Lands which was to be sold at vandue, and I have bought for your Excellency on third part of the Lotts No. 3, 11, 14 & 49 Contain

ing 1049 acres, for the sum of £40,800, on the 16th Inst. which is a very great Bargain; the Lands on a average is worth three pounds in Species; your part will be 349 acres 2 roods & 26 perches for £13,600; for the Particulars, I refer you to Holt's paper of the 24th July, 1780; the Lotts was struck off to Colo. Lewis & Maj'r Reed. I have their promise for the part. With great respect, I am your Excellency's most Obedient & Humb: Serv't

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

P. Van Rensselaer.

Pokeepsie 29th Sep'r 1780.

Dear Sir, Your Favor of the 10th Ultimo did not reach me before this Day. It came inclosed in one from Jno. F. Pruyn informing me that he had received it from Mrs. Van Wye, whose Husband had left it at Home thro' neglect. I am extreamly oblidged to you for the attention you have paid to my Business, & am well sattisfied with the Purchase you have made. As a much greater Sum is due to me from the State than my Proportion of the Consideration Money had I been happy enough to have received your Letter before the Treasurer left this I would have passed my Receipt to him for the Ammount, which I presume would have answered the Purpose & saved the Trouble & Risque of Conveying it to Albany. But as this was not the Case, I will endeavour to negotiate this Part of the Business through Mr. Tayler on his Return, which will be the most convenient Opportunity & put you in a Situation to receive a Title for the aditional Trouble I must ask you to take upon yourself. I am &c.

[G. C.]