scarcely a week has passed this three months, that they have not been one or two days wanting either bread or beef.

Your magazines are now destitute of Flour, Bread, Beef, Pork, Fish, Salt, Rum and none upon the continent, to my knowledge, can furnish one day's supply. The States of New Hampshire and Massachusetts-bay are our principal dependence for Beef; the French being stationed at Rhode Island has deprived the agent of that State from giving any assistance; indeed he is hard put to it, to find the continental troops on that Station, and the State officers of Connecticut told his Excellency Genl. Washington, at Hartford that little could be expected from that

State.

I have no relief from the State of New York for the main army; they have not been able to furnish their frontier posts with Beef. I have had frequent applications for supplies, & they have actually had two or three hundred head of cattle from the committee of Massachusetts-bay. Jersey can furnish but little Beef and not a large quantity of flour; their quota of supplies must be furnished between this and the first of January, I believe there is not above one quarter of their supply of meat due. Pensylvania as yet have delivered very little flour, no salt nor do I know of their buying any cattle. Sickness prevented my going to the State of Delaware and Maryland, therefore, can't inform you what is done in those places. The enclosed copies of Letters will shew you the situation of the Southern department. Major Forsyth, my deputy, I expect here every moment who will give you further information.

All the garrisons & posts in the middle department are destitute of provisions, and no means in my power of relieving them. The season is now advanced and passing, in which quantities

of Beef ought to be procured and laid in at these places, otherwise the troops must disband for want of subsistance.

I am distressed to think how the army is to be kept together thro' the winter; it will be impossible without large quantities of beef is laid in upon the North River contiguous to West Point, and at the magazines in Jersey; there is a very poor prospect at present, as the daily support of the army leaves. none for that purpose. The supplies of fresh meat must undoubtedly fail in the winter, and without large magazines of salt meat are procured in due time the army cannot be fed.those are matters which require immediate consideration & if delayed may be attended with the most serious consequences, which cannot be remedied.

There are large demands against me since last Spring and early in the Summer, part for the seizure of rum by order of his Excellency General Washington, at the time when our army march'd from Morristown against the Enemy when in Jersey, which he gave me express orders to settle and pay for. All the persons, receivers of Cattle and Butchers who are in my employ with the army, have received no pay since my entering upon the business of the department; those with the former sums will amount to two hundred thousand pounds, which I beg and request Congress to enable me to pay, without which it will be impossible for me to stay in camp.

Since the month of July and last of September in the vicinity of the army, and garrison of West Point, there has been seized from sundry persons above twelve thousand gallons of rum, and orders & certificates given upon me for payment; the people are very importunate for their money and give me great trouble. What can I do with them under present circumstances? The

want of rum in the army causes great uneasiness among the soldiery, more particularly when there is the least scarcity of provisions, and the consequence of not having a regular supply, causes seizures and those generally at thirty or forty p cent above the price it might be procured at.

The present mode of procuring supplies from the States has left no method pointed out for my Government, or directions in fixing the pay of my deputies & such other persons as may be occasionally employed in the department. I wish Congress to point out a regular line for my future conduct, and fix the pay of the persons I have engaged. Some of them have been employed a considerable time and are desirous of knowing what they are to have for their services. I have the honor to be with much respect your Excellency's most Obdt. & most humble serv't

His Excellency Saml. Huntington, Esqr. [Copy]

Eph. Blaine.

[No. 3274.]

General Heath Ordered to Command at West Point-Reinforcements for the Frontiers.

West Point, October 17th 1780.

Sir, Major General Greene, a day or two since, ordered Colonel Gansvoort's Regiment to the assistance of the upper Counties; they embarked yesterday but the wind has since been so fresh down the River as to prevent their sailing. I have this day ordered Weissenfells Regiment immediately to embark and sail for Albany, there to receive the orders of your Excellency or the commanding officer. I hope these Regiments will arrive in sea

son to curb the incursions of the Enemy. Colonel Vanschaick arrived here this day with the Regiment under his command. I wish he had been detain'd, if it was necessary. His Excellency General Washington has ben pleased to honor me with the command of this post and its dependencies. Your Excellency can well form a judgment in what state this post is at present in respect to provisions, Fuel and forage, and the obstructions which the approaching cold season will soon throw in the way of obtaining them. While I assure you that the Interest of the State of New York and the security of this important post shall have my every attention. I earnestly request the continuation of your assistance, the salutary effects of which, for the public service, I have often experienced and on which at present I principally depend. I have the honor to be with the greatest respct your Excllency's most obedient Servant

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

W. Heath.

[Nos. 3275-3276.]

The Enemy Destroys Schoharie.

Dear Sir, The Letter of which the inclosed is Copy was delivered me this Morning. The Express who brought the Letter advises that Colonel Veeder directed him to inform Mr. Glen that 150 of the enemy in Addition to the Number mentioned in his Letter, were in the upper part of Schohary.

I shall in an Hour or two, as nearly as I can estimate, have between 6 & 700 Men; fifteen Head of Cattle intended for Fort Schuyler arrived here yesterday. I have ordered six to be killed this Morning to victual the Troops for two Days, and as I shall in all probability be necessitated to make use of the Rest and

want an additional Number, your Excellency will preceive the Necessity of directing the Agent to take Measures for replacing those destined for the Fort. The Cattle are extremely small and I am informd will not at an Average neat [net] more than two hundred wt. per Head.

As I have been disappointed in procuring the Horses & waggons I intended, I shall immediate march to Fort Hunter and upon my Arrival take such Measures as Circumstances will admit of to intercept the enemy's Retreat.

The express who brought Colo: Veeder's Letter says that Major Woolsey sallied from his garrison yesterday and killed five and took 2 of the enemy. The prisoners are British soldiers. I am, very respectfully, your Excellency's most obed't Servant Robt. V'n Rensselaer.

Schenectady Oct'r 18" p A. M.

Lower Fort Schohary, Oct'r 17th 1780.

Dear Sir, The Enemy have burnt the whole of Schohary; the first fire was discovered about the middle Fort 8 O'Clock this morning; they passed by this post on both sides at 4 O'Clock this afternoon; they took the whole of their booty and moved down to Harmen Sitneys; they have fired two swivel shoots thro' the roof of the church. I have sent three scouts to make some discoveries about the middle Fort at different times this day, and none have as yet returned; no express has arrived at this post from either fort; by what we have seen of the Enemy we suppose their force to be between 5 or 600, mostly regulars & Tories.

V. Veeder, Lt. Col.

3 O'Clock at night. The express says there were 150 more of the Enemy at the upper part of Schohary.

H. Glen, Esqr.