It is recommended to the States in the most pressing manner to have their regiments completed & in the Field by the first of January next at farthest. The Commander in Chief will cause immediate returns to be made of the Deficiencies of each State according to this Arrangement. You will observe, Sir, that the respective States are to select from the Line of the Army, the Number of Officers to command the several regiments to them respectively assigned; taking notice that no new Appointment is to be made, of higher rank than Lieut. Colonel Commandant, for substantial reasons supposed to be known to all the States. But the first & immediate Object, is to complete the regiments to their full Number of non Commissioned Officers & Privates; which is recommended in the most pressing manner as of the greatest Importance. I have the Honor to be with every Sentiment of Esteem & respect your Excellency's most obedient Servant Sam. Huntington, President. His Excellency the Governor of New York. ACT OF CONGRESS FIXING THE ARMY ESTABLISHMENT. *In Congress Sept'r 21st 1780. Resolved, That the regular army of the United States from and after the first day of January next consist of: 4 Regiments of Cavalry or Light dragoons; 4 Regiments of artillery; 49 Regiments of Infantry, exclusive of Colo. Hazen's Regt. hereafter mentioned;" 1 Regiment of artificers. Numbered as document 3235 Clinton MSS. That each regiment of Cavalry or Light dragoons consist of six troops, and that each troop consist of 64 non-commissioned officers & privates with the same number of commissioned officers as at present. That each regiment of artillery consist of nine companies, and that each company consist of 65 non-commissioned officers and matrosses with the same number of commissioned officers as at present. That each regiment of infantry consist of nine companies, and each company of 64 non-commissioned officers & privates, and that the regiment of artificers consist of eight companies and each company of 60 non-commissioned officers and privates. That the several States furnish the following quota viz: New Hampshire 2 Regiments of Infantry. Massachusetts Bay 10 Regiments of Infantry & one of artil lery. Rhode Island &c. 1 Regiment of Infantry. Connecticut 5 Regts. of Infantry & one of Cavalry. New York 2 Regts. of Infantry & one of artillery. New Jersey 2 Regts. of Infantry. Pensylvania 6 Regts. of Infantry, one of artillery, one of cav alry & one of artificers. Delaware 1 Regt. of Infantry. Maryland 5 Regts. of Infantry. Virginia 8 Regts. of Infantry, one of artillery and two of cavalry. North Carolina 4 Regts. of Infantry. South Carolina 2 Regts. of Infantry. Georgia 1 Regt. of Infantry. That the States select from the line of the army a proper number of officers to command the several Regiments to them respectively assigned, taking notice that no new appointment is to be made of a higher rank than that of Lieut. Colo. Com mandant. That the States be and they are hereby called upon in the most pressing manner to have their regiments compleated and in the field by the first day of January next at farthest. That it be recommended to the States to fill up their respective Regiments by inlistments for and during the war, but in case the full quota of any of the States cannot be compleated with such recruits by the first day of December next; that it be recommended to such State or States to supply the deficiency with men engaged to serve for not less than one year unless sooner relieved by recruits inlisted for the war, which they are requested to exert their utmost endeavours to obtain as speedily as possible and in order thereto it is further recommended, that the officers at camp be empowered and directed to use every prudent measure and improve every favourable opportunity to inlist for the continuance of the war such of the men belonging to their respective States as are not engaged for that period whether now in the field or hereafter, from time to time joining the army; and that a recruiting officer from each corps be kept in the State to which the regiments respectively belong to inlist recruits for the war as well as to relieve those who are engaged for a shorter or limited time as to supply casual deficiencies. That two dollars be granted to the recruiting officer for every able bodied soldier he shall inlist for the war who shall join the army; and that a sum not exceeding fifty dollars be allowed as a bounty to every such recruit. Extract from the minutes. Chas. Thomson, Sec'y. [No. 3255.] Colonel Varick Unjustly Under Suspicion from Arnold's Perfidy. Rob. House, Oct. 6th 1780. Dear Sir, Your Excellency will please to Pardon the Liberty I take of inclosing my Letters to you. Benson to forward them. They are on Business of obliged to Colo. Lush or Should Genl. Schuyler have left Poughkeepsie for Albany, I will esteem it a very particular Favor to have my Letter to him forwarded by the very first safe Conveyance. An anxious regard for my reputation, which may receive Injury from Arnold's perfidy," induces me to address my Letters under Cover to your Excellency that I may rest assured of the Letters coming to Hand & of receiving answers from those Gent'n, if at the Legislature. An Inquiry is to take Place into my Conduct, in which Genl. Schuyler's Testimony will be of the In the fall of 1780 a Court of Inquiry was held to consider the relations of Cot. Varick with Arnold, and to what extent he was conversant with Arnold's plot to surrender West Point to the British. General Schuyler wrote to the Court a letter in behalf of Colonel Varick from which this extract is taken: "That I reflect with satisfaction on the propriety of that Gentleman's conduct in every point of view; that I had such entire confidence in his attachment to the Glorious Cause we are engaged in, that I concealed nothing from him, and never once had reason to repent that I reposed too much trust in him; that I am so far from believing him capable of betraying his Country, that if even testimony on oath was given against him, it would gain little credit with me, unless the persons giving it were of fair and unblemished characters. Upon the whole as I have always found him to be a man of strict Honor, probity & virtue, so I do still believe him to be." The Court unanimously reported their opinion "That Lieutenant Colonel Varick's conduct, with respect to the base peculations and treasonable practices of the late General Arnold, is not only unimpeachable but we, think him entitled through every part of his conduct to a degree of merit, that does him great honor as an officer and particularly, distinguishes him as a sincere friend of his Country." Which was approved as follows: "Head Quarters, Camp Totowa, Thursday, November 16th, 1780. The Commander in Chief, is pleased to accept and approve the following report of a Court of Inquiry, held at West Point, the 2d instant, to examine into the conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Varick, in his connexion with the late Major General Arnold, during his command at West Point and relative to his desertion to the Enemy. Alexander Scammell, Adjutant General. Colonel Van Schaick, President; Lieutenant Colonels Cobb and Dearborn, Major Reid and Captain Cox, Members." first Importance to me, it will commence as soon as he can attend, as his Testimony will open the Scene. I rest assured of the report being favorable, but am only sedulous about the Terms it may be expressed in. This will in great measure depend on the Consequences & personal Knowledge of my witnesses. As it is to be published to the world, to disappoint the malevolence of the envious, the disingenuous & the uninformed, I should wish my Innocence & past merit stated in the strongest Terms possible. With every Sentiment of regard & respect, I remain, Dear Sir, Your Excellency's Obed't & Very H'ble Serv't, Rich'd Varick. His Excellency Gov'r Clinton. [No. 3256.] Providing for Flour for American Prisoners in New York. Philadelphia, October 7, 1780. Sir, Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed the Copy of an Act of Congress of the 6 Instant, requesting the Executive of the State to deliver to the Order of Mr. Abraham Skinner, Commissary Genl. of Prisoners, two hundred Barrels of Flour, (in Part of the Supplies called for from that State) for the use of the Prisoners in New York. I have the Honor to be, with the highest Sentiments of respect your Excellency's most obedient servant Sam. Huntington, President. His Excellency The Governor of New York. In Congress Octo'r 6th 1780. Resolved, That the executive of the State of New York be requested to deliver to the order of Abraham Skinner, Commis |