Johns Town. In the diff't Skirmishes, a considerable number of the Enemy were killed; the exact amount I am not able to ascertain. We have taken ab't 40 Prisoners, recovered most of those they had taken from us at Schoharie & other Places, with the negroes, Cattle & Plunder. Our principal Loss is Colo. Brown of the Bay Levies; he by false Intelligence, was led into the fire of the whole body of the Enemy, & fell with 39 of his & the militia & Levies of this State & two made Prisoners.

The account I formerly transmitted your Excellency respecting the Enemy to the northw'd was as far as I have since been able to learn, nearly true. The little Post & garrison of Fort Ann appear to me to have been surrendered thro' Treachery or Cowardice. Capt. Chipman the command'g officer of Fort George, having on the first alarm sent out his whole garrison (supposing the Enemy to consist of only ab't 30 Indians & Tories only) except 14 men, obtained a very honorable Capitulation before he could be induced to surrender.

The Losses we have sustained by these diff't Incursions of the Enemy will be most severely felt; they have destroyed on a moderate Computation, 200 Dwellings & 150,000 bushels of wheat with a proportion of other grain & forage. The Enemy to the northw'd continue in the neighborhood of Crown Point & the Inhabitants in consequence of their apprehensions of Danger are removing from the northern Parts of the State. Colo. Gansevoort by the advice of Genl. Ten Broeck marched to cover that part of the Country & Colo. Weissenfels march'd to Schenectady where his Regt. will continue to escort a suff't supply of Provisions to Fort Schuyler, a very inconsiderable Part of which is as yet provided & unless particular attention is paid to this Business (as the Season for water Transportation in the course

of a month will be over & it will be impossible to forw'd it by Land), the Post must in the course of the winter be abandoned.

The Levies incorporated in this Regt. whose Times expire ab't the middle of December, were immediately to march to Fort Herkimer to keep open the communication of Fort Schuyler with the Country. This Regim't with the others of this State are so exceed'gly destitute in point of Clothing (notwithstand'g every attempt of the state to supply them) that I could have wished some other Regt. better provided ag't the severe Climate had been ordered to garrison that Post especially as I find from this consideration & because the Troops of this State conceive it an hardship constantly to garrison it, this Duty is become extremely disagreable to them.

I forgot to mention that when we arrived at Fort Herkeimer, a Letter was dispatched to Major Hughs commdg. at Fort Schuyler, giving him an acc't of the Force & Route of the Enemy & of their Boats lying at Onondaga Lake, that he might, if he found it consistent with the safety of his garrison, send out a small Party to annoy the Enemy on their march. By his Letter to Colo. Malcom, I find he dispatched a Party of sixty men for this Purpose, with orders to use the utmost precaution ag't surprise or any thing that might prevent their returning to the Fort. Since my Return from Albany, a Report prevails that this Party were ambushed by the Enemy & defeated: but from Major Hugh's cautious orders & as I have no official acc'ts, I do not credit it. I have the Honor &c.

[G. C.]

P. S. The Enemy bro't with them two brass mortars for 4 shells which they concealed on their Route from Schoharie. From some discoveries we are in hopes of find'g them.

[To General Washington.]

[No. 3321.]

Tryon County Prisoners Confined in Fishkill.

Poughkeepsie, Oct'r 30th 1780.

Sir, I send under the care of Capt. Hendrickson thirty one Prisoners of war taken in Tryon County; which I have to request you will cause to be secured in the Provost at Fishkill. Capt. Hendrickson will deliver you a List of their names to be reported to the Commiss'y of Prisoners. The [y] were captured by the militia & Levies of this State. I am &c.

Geo: Clinton.

The command'g Officer, Fishkill.

Rec'd in Fish Kill, Provost, from Capt. Steephen Hendrickson, thirty Prisoners of war this 30th day of Oct. 1780.

Danl. Clapp, Capt. Lt.

[No. 3322.]

Governor Clinton Orders General Ten Broeck to Afford Every Protection to the People on the Grants.

Pokeepsie, Oct'r 31st 1780, 9 O'Clock A. M.

D'r Sir, I have this moment rec'd your Letter of yesterday with the enclosed Intelligence of the return of the Enemy to the northw'd. I approve your Conduct on the occasion and wish that the Regts. you have ordered out, may be forwarded without the least Delay.

Notwithstand'g the Conduct of the People on the Grants, I wish every Protection in the Power of the State may be afforded them ag't the common Enemy. You will be pleased to forward to me by Express, every material account you receive of the Enemy's Progress that I may take the necessary measures accordingly. I am &c.

Brig'r Genl. Ten Broeck.

Geo: Clinton.

[No. 3323.]

Quota of New York Under the Army Reorganization Bill.

Pokeepsie Oct'r 31st 1780.

Sir, I have to acknowledge the Rec't of your Excellency's circular Letter of the 18th Inst. cov'g a Return of the Troops creditted to this State, and also your Letter of the 21st enclos'g Mr. Duer's Letter with the Information respect'g Mr. Smith.

The Legislature previous to their rising, Provided for the Completion of the quota of cont'l Troops of this State during the war & charged me with the execution of it, whenever it should be [necessary to] ascertain the number to be raised by this state.

By the new arrangem't of the army, a Copy of which has been transmitted me by the Presid't, the quota assigned this State is 2 Regts. of Infantry & one of artillery. From the Return transmitted by yr. Excellency, it would appear that our Deficiency is 313: but lest I may have misapprehended the Return or erred in my calculation, I wish to have the number ascertained by yr. Excellency, before I issue my orders for raising the men, especially as they are to be apportioned to the different Counties & any Misstake in the agregate Number wou'd be productive of Embarassm'ts & Delay. The moment I am favored with your Excell'cys answer on this Subject, the Busi ness will be commenced, & I have little Doubt that it will be effected in due Season. I am unhappy to find that Congress have left an open'g for temporary Inlistments in their new arrangem't. Experience has taught us that there are States who will avail themselves of it by which our Hopes of a permanent army will be defeated.

I will deliver the Information respect'g Mr. Smith to the

Commiss'rs for detect'g Conspiracies, who will be able to make such inquiries as to ascertain the Truth of it; at any rate it may be proper to direct his removal from his present Residence.

Since writing the above I rec'd the enclosed Information from Genl. Ten Broeck. I have in consequence ordered out a considerable body of militia to that quarter. Gansevoort is properly situated to aid in oppose'g the Enemy. I have the honor to be &c.

Dear Sir, The Conduct of some people to the Eastward is alarmingly mysterious; a flag under pretext of settling a cartel with Vermont has been on the Grants. Allen has disbanded his militia, and the Enemy in number upwards of 1600, are rapidly advancing towards us; the night before last they were at Putnam's Point. Intreat Gen. Washington for more Continental troops, and let me beg of your Excellency to hasten up here. I am, D'r Sir, Sincerely yours &c.

P. Schuyler.

[To G. C.]

[Nos. 3325-3326.]

Judges Morris and Yates Recommend a Pardon for James Van

Driesen.

*Albany October 31st 1780.

Sir, Accordingly to your Excellency's request, we have privately examined James Van Driesen, the person under sentence of death, which Examination we herewith inclose; From his

See pages 334-338.