P. S. I have directed Colo. Veeder with all the Force he can collect from the different garrisons (so as not to weaken them too much) to hang on the enemy's Rear, but to avoid an engagement and I hope be able to be at Hand to support him.

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 3277.]

The Governor's Measures for the Defence of the Frontier.
Albany 18" October 1780.

D'r Sir, I wrote you yesterday, since which I have seen your Letter to Genl. Ten Broeck giving an account of the Enemy's appearance near White Creek. They are also at Schohary in very considerable Force, have'g artillery with them; they have compleated the Destruction of that Settlement. Thus circumstanced I have been obliged to divide the small Force that could be raised immediately from the lower Parts of this County to oppose the Enemy at Balls Town and Schohary, and as yet it is impossible to do more than detach Colo. Schuyler's Regt. to the assistance of the Militia in your vicinity; this I have directed Genl. Ten Broeck to do and they are to march immediately. fore I left Pokeepsie I wrote Genl. Washington accounts of the Enemy's appearance on our Frontiers & the Capture of Forts Ann & George and pressed the Necessity of send'g some Troops. for our Relief. I am &c.

Be

P. S. I this morn'g wrot to Genl. Washington, repeat'g my Request for Relief and immediately after this is done, I mean to set out for Schenectady, leav'g G. T. Broeck in Command here, with orders to forward you further assistance as soon as a sufficient number of Militia shall come in to render that measure proper. You will immediately order Colo. Stephen Schuyler's

Regt. to Saraghtoga, to join the Militia collecting there, and assist in the Protection of the Inhabitants in that Part of the Country ag't the Incursions and Depredations of the Enemy. Genl. Schuyler.

[No. 3278.]

Colonel Staats Estimates the Enemy's Strength at One Thousand, Including Two Hundred Indians.

Lower Fort, October 18th 1780.

This moment your Excelency's Letter came to hand; two Prisinors from Sir John's army, arivd at the same time, with the following Inteligenc, that Eight O'Clock this morning, Johnson, Butler and Brant, movd with their army from Sidnyes sawmill down the Mohawk Road to the said River, where they where to joyne the Party of the enemy from the Norward, of which their strenght by the acco'nt of the Prisoners, is one thousand men, of which where 2 hundred Indians; the Rest Rigular Troops and Torys; another Party of 150 where gone to Katskill; the Posts at this Place are safe.

Barent J. Staats, Lut. Colo.

To his Excelency George Clinton, Esqr.

[No. 3279.]

The Enemy Ravaging the Country Near Fort Hunter. Mohawk River, 6 Miles East of Fort Hunter, Octo'r 18th 1780 6 P. M.

Sir, This Moment General Rensselaer is advised by express, that the enemy are burning the country in the Neighbourhood of Fort Hunter. Their Force could not be ascertained when

the Man came away. Genl. Rensselaer intends to push on by Moon Light, as soon as he possibly can; perhaps your Excellency may deem it advisable to order the Militia now at Schenecyady to march up, so as to cover our Retreat should we experience a Defeat, which we have, however, no Idea of at present, as the Militia evince not a disposition to engage as pomisses a happy Issue. I have the Honor to be your Excellency's most obed't Serv't

[To G. C.]

J. Lansing, Jun'r.

[No. 3280.]

The Governor Notifies Washington of the Situation Along the

Frontier.

Albany, Octo'r 18th, 1780 10 P. M.

Sir, I wrote to your Excellency from Poughkeepsie on Saturday last and communicated to you the accounts which I had then received from this Quarter. The next day I set out for this place and arrived here on Monday. Upon my arrival I found the main Body of the Enemy which appeared in the Northward had returned by the way of Lake George and that part of the Country seemed again to be in a State of Tranquility. Yesterday morning, however, I was informed that a Party had made its appearance at Ballston, and destroyed some Buildings there, and about noon we received accounts that the Enemy were at Schohary and it is now confirmed that they have destroyed the whole of that valuable Settlement. Their Numbers of one Division are computed at about 600 and the account of the other Division is uncertain. They have artillery with them. Major Woolsey who commands. . . of Levies made a Sally from one of the small Forts there and took two Regulars

and killed five Savages. By what Route they came, or mean to return, I have not been able to ascertain.

Yesterday morning I ordered Genl. Van Rensselaer with some Troops to Schenectady, with Directions as soon as he could make the proper Discoveries and if his Force should appear competent to march and endeavor to intercept them. By a Letter from Gen. P. Schuyler at Saratoga, I am informed that the Enemy yesterday burnt the Settlement of White Creek in Charlotte County, and the Smoke was discoverable from the Height near his House. The Post at Fort Edward after the Removal of the Stores is evacuated; the Levies who were stationed there having insisted that their Time of Service is expired and Colo. Livingston the Commanding Officer with the other Officers are now on their Return. I have ordered out the whole of the Militia from this part of the State; a considerable part are already in the Field and I shall leave this immediately for Schenectady in order to make the necessary arrangem'ts.

From this State of matters your Excellency will perceive the necessity of sending a Force, if it can possibly be spared, for the Defence of this part of the Country. No Dependence can be placed on the militia's remaining long from Home, and the three months Levies will soon be dismissed, so that without some farther Protection, Schenectady and this Place will be our Frontiers.

I received no Intelligence from the Grants, either whether the Enemy have done any mischief there, and whether their militia is turning out for our assistance.

[To General Washington.]

[G. C.]

[Nos. 3281-3282.]

Colonel Webster Calls upon Governor Chittenden for Militia. Bennington, 8 o'Clock evening 18th Oct. 1780.

Sir, I enclose to your Excellency a Copy of a letter I this moment received (by Express) from Colo. Webster, requesting the assistance of the Militia of this Neighbourhood to his assist.

ance.

I have called for the assistance of the Militia of Berkshire County, who have attended in the late alarm, are still in the north, watching the motions of the Enemy.

I have, nevertheless, sent for Berkshire Militia to call on me as soon as may be, who I shall send immediately to your assistance, unless I have counter advice from your Excellency by the time of their arival. I am, Sir, your Excellency's obed't hum'le Servant

Thos. Chittenden.

P. S. This State are always ready to cooperate in any measures to frustrate the designs of the common enemy.

His Excellency Gov'r Clinton.

White Creek, 18th Oct'r 1780.

D'r Governor, This morning about 10 o'Clock, I rece'd an express from Capt. Childs of Granvil, beging for assistance as he was informed by the return of a flagg that the Enemy lay at Tyconderoga and Independence, in number 150, besides a riinforcement they had got; then I immeadiately ordered the Regiment to march for assisting the frontiers; but one hour after this, rece'd an express from Cambridge that the Enemy had burned Ball Town, & were on their way either for Stillwater, or Saratoga and were in number 500 strong. I must, therefore,