[No. 3309.]

Colonel Gansevoort Marches to the Defence of the Northern Frontier. Albany, Oct'r 26 1780.

Sir, I am favored with your Letter of the 20th Inst. Colo. Gansevoort has marched his Regt. for the immediate Defence of the northern Frontiers and as soon as the Levies are raised, a Proportion of them will be ordered for the same Purpose. This I hope will give you Security and preserve the Country ag't further Incursions of the Enemy. The Inhabitants of Charlotte County may rest assured of an equal attention to their Safety with those of any other Part of the State. I am &c.

Ebenezer Russell, Esqr.

[No. 3310.]

[G. C.]

Marching Orders for a Regiment.

Albany, Oct. 26 1780.

Sir, To morrow you will march your Regiment for Schenec tady. The following day you are to detatch the Levys incorporated with your Regiment to the German Flatts. The officer who shall command them will receive Instructions from Colone! Malcom, who as he has some Time past commanded in the Department, is best aquainted with the posts to be occupy'd & the means of obtaining Supplies &c. You will hold yourself ready to march with the residue of the Regiment on the shortest notice. I am, Sir, your very Hbl. serv't

[No. 3311.]

Dr. George Smyth Asks Leave to Go to Canada.

Albany, 26th Oct'r 1780.

Please your Excellency, By virtue of the Inclosed Copy, I have Divested myself of all my Effects, even my House, and the

flour I had to support my Family. I am new Confin'd to my Roome and yard, because I attempted to proceed on my Journey: all which, I suppose, derives from the malice and inhospitable machinations of a Private Enemy in the Board, &c.

I Humbly and most Submissively intreat your Excellency, to have Compassion on my Distress'd, and in every way, Disagreeable Condition. Bereft of every means to give me Comfort; no House to Cover me, and a Helpless family, with my own infirmities will, I hope, attract your Excellency's Commisseration, to grant me Permission to retire. I have the Honor to be, with prayers for your Wellfare, your Excellency's Most Obt. and very Humble Serv't

His Excellency, Governor Clinton.

Geo. Smyth.*

[No. 3312.]

Details for the Reorganization of the Army on Washington's Plan. Circular,

Philadelphia October 26, 1780.

Sir, Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed, Copy of an act of Congress of the 21 Instant, which makes some Alteration in the late Arrangement of the Army and the Numbers of each regiment of Infantry requested by the resolution of the 3 Instant, as also in the Cavalry.

The whole of the Troops are to be enlisted during the war and join their respective Corps by the first Day of January next. The Officers who will be reduced by this arrangement as well as those who shall continue in Service, are entitled to half pay during Life.

See pages 287-288.

You will receive from the Commander in Chief the proper returns to ascertain the Deficiencies of Troops in the respective States.

It may not be improper to add that the enclosed resolution was adopted in Consequence of a Letter from the Commander in Chief expressing his Sentiments on the Subject in pressing & explicit Terms. I have the Honor to be, with the highest respect your Excellency's most obedient & most humbleServant.

Sam. Huntington, President.

His Excellency The Governor of New York.

In Congress Oct. 21st 1780.

Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on Genl. Washington's letter of the 11 Inst. Where

upon,

Resolved, That the several regiments of infantry requested from the respective States by a resolution of the third instant be augmented and consist of,

One colonel, one Lieut. Colonel, & one major where the full Colonels are continued or

One Lieut. Colonel commandant and two majors where the colonels are not continued.

9 Captains; 22 Subalterns; 1 Surgeon; 1 Surgeon's Mate; 1 Serjeant Major; 1 Quarter Master serjeant; 45 Serjeants; 1 Drum Major; 1 Fife Major; 10 Drums; 10 Fifes; 612 Rank & file.

That there be one Captain & two subalterns to each company, and that the four supernumerary subalterns shall each have the rank of Lieutenant, one of which is to reside in the State to

which he belongs to inlist & forward on recruits, one drum & one fife from each regiment to attend the recruiting officers, the other three supernumerary officers to do the duty of the Paymaster, Quartermaster & Adjutants in their respective regiments.

That the regiments of artillery be augmented to ten companies each.

That instead of 4 regiments of cavalry there be four legionary corps consisting of 4 troops of mounted dragons & two of dismounted dragoons each consisting of 60 Privates with the same number of commissioned and non commissioned officers to each troop as at present.

That there be two partizan corps, consisting of three troops of mounted and three of dismounted dragoons of fifty each, one of which corps to be commanded by Colo. Armand & the other by Major Lee, and officered by appointment of the commander in chief with the approbation of Congress and that the commander in chief by authorized to direct a mode for compleating, recruiting & supplying the said corps.

That the whole of the troops be inlisted during the war and join their respective corps by the first day of January next.

That the commander in chief & commanding Officer in the southern department, direct the Officers of each State to meet and agree upon the officers for the regiments to be raised by their respective States from those who incline to continue in service and where it cannot be done by agreement, to be determined by seniority, & make return of those who are to remain, which is to be transmitted to Congress together with the names of the officers reduced, who are to be allowed half pay for life.

That the officers who shall continue in the service to the end

of the war shall be entitled to half pay during life, to commence from the time of their reduction.

Extract from the minutes.

Chas. Thomson, Sec'y.

[No. 3313.]

General Schuyler and the Defence of the Northern Frontier.

Saratoga, Octo. 27" 1780.

Dear Sir, Yesterday I received the Inclosed; part of Colo. Gansevoort's regiment marched Immediately and the remainder moves this morning. I question wether the Enemy will make a second Incursion this way, but I have my apprehensions for White Creek. I intended to have done myself the honor to have waited on your Excellency at Albany; but should the Enemy make a penetration, my presence here will be absolutely necessary. The militia at Fort Edward have killed their last Cattle and I fear they will not be supplied in this quarter. I, therefore, intreat that some may be sent from below.

Mr. Macfarlan informs me that the Indians at Schenectady will be destitute of provisions in a few days and that Colo. Hay gives no hopes of a supply; permit me to intreat your Excellency's Intervention. I wish your Excellency could take a ride to this place before you return to Poughkepsie.

I opened the Inclosed from Colo. Webster, apprehending it might contain some Information and knowing you was then to the westward.

The women and children which are here, if they do not go to Canada, must be removed into the Country as they cannot possibly subsist here. If they are sent to Canada, I wish Jacob Snyder and Abraham Mills' families were detained, and that