[No. 3139.]

An Unsigned Letter, Presumably from Governor Clinton, Chiding a Regimental Commander for Being Destitute of Ammunition.

Sir, In answer to your Letter of this day I must observe that it is surprizing your Regiment situated on the Frontiers and daily exposed to Incursions from the Enemy should be destitute of ammunition. By the Militia Law they are required to be provided at their own Expense with these most necessary means of Defence and I believe with proper Pains the articles could have been purchased. That part of the Regiment which was to the Northward some weeks since drew ammunition which they never returned and which must therefore have been wasted. It is out of my Power to supply them at present except from the Continental Stores, and in order to obtain it from thence I have wrote to Colo. Van Schaick requesting him to direct the necessary Quantity to [be] issued but whether he is authorized to comply with this I cannot determine. Should you receive any from him I must entreat your utmost attention in the Distribution & Preservation of it.

It is with Pleasure I find your Regiments have compleated the Quota of the Levies and sincerely wish this was the Case with the other Regiments, for to their Remissness in this most essential Point our present Calamities are in a great measure attributed.

[No. 3140.]

General Orders Affecting the Levies.

State of New York-General Orders-Aug'st 10th 1780.

Such of the Levies intended to reinforce the Continental army as were to be furnished by McCrea's, Yates's, Schoonhoven's, & Van Woert's Regiments in Albany County and Webster's Regi

ment in Charlotte County and which have not as yet been collected and marched are to remain for the Defence of the Frontiers until further orders, and for that purpose are immediately to rendezvous, these from the three first mentioned Regiments at Fort Edward, and these from the other two Regiments at Skenesborough and put themselves under the Command of the Commanding Officers at these Places. A Return of such of the Levies as shall repair to Skenesborough is to be made to the commanding officer at Fort Edward.

As there is Reason to apprehend that the Enemy will soon make their appearance in that part of the Country, one fourth part of McCrea's, Schoonhoven's and Yates's Regiments are immediately to march to Palmerton & to be commanded by Lieut. Colo. Van Rensselaer or Major Dickenson and the Remainder of these Regiments are to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning.

Considering the Devastation already made in the Western Quarter and the present critical Situation of the Frontiers, His Excellency the Governor flatters himself that the officers in these Regiments will exert themselves and immediately comply with these orders, and while on the one hand he would by every motive of Patriotism urge them to the Performance of their Duty, on the other he declares his Determined Resolution in Case of Remissness to have the Delinquents properly punished. also conceives it necessary to observe that the least Delay in the Execution of these orders either from too much Formality in detaching, or from any other Cause, may be attended with the most disagreeable Consequences.

He

The Detachments from the above mentioned Regiments will take six Days' Provision with them.

[No. 3141.]

Orders Disposing of the Levies for Frontier Duty.

Albany 11th Aug't 1780.

D'r Sir, I presume that long since you must have rec'd my Letter from H'd Qu'rs inform'g you that 500 of the Mass'ts Bay Levies were ordered for the Protection of our Frontiers & it is to be lamented that notwithstanding every endeavour to hasten their March, they have so long delayed their arrival in this Department. About 80 have gone to Schoharry w'ch they reached yesterday Morning. 100 are at Schonectady on their way to Tryon County. A few more have since come in and the Remainder may be instantly expected. In addition to this Force I have ventured to deviate from the Law and have ordered the Levies from McCrea's Regt. and the Deficiencies from Van Woert's, Yates' and Van Schoonhoven's, amount'g to 66 Men to the Northern Frontier; Vrooman's (25) to remain at Schoharry and the Deficiencies of Quackenboss', Stephen J. Schuyler's, Ph. P. Schuyler's, Wemple's & K. V'n Renselaer's, amou❜g to 49 to collect at Albany & be marched to such Place on the western Frontier as you shall direct. These measures will, I have to hope, ensure some greater Degree of Safety to our Frontiers and prevent the Enemy from continuing their Cruelties & Devastations.

I had every Reason to expect from the repeated orders I had issued & the favourable Proposals I had offered to Genl. Ten Broek's Brigade, you woud have derived considerable aid from it & have been better prepared to have met the Enemy; but it is to be regretted that except the Albany & Schenectady Regiments which are with you, I cannot learn that there are any more worth mentioning of that Brigade under your Command.

My orders to Genl. Tenbroeck to detach from his Brigade for the Frontier Service a Proportion equal to what he woud otherwise have to give for supplying the Deficiencies in the Levies by Inlistments in the Continental Battalions, are still continued so that you may look for these in adition to the above Force.

General Orders.

The Levies raised to reinforce the Continental army by Colo. McCrea's Regiment and the Deficiencies of Colos. Van Woert's, Yates', & Van Schoonhoven's, hav'g by Genl. Orders of yester day been ordered to the Protection of the Northern Frontier, His Excellency the gov'r in some Measure to strengthen the Force on the western Frontier to enable them the better to prevent the further Devastation of the Enemy in that Quarter, orders that the Levies to be raised (and not yet arrived at Albany) by the Regts. of Colos. Quackenboss, Stephen J. Schuyler, Ph. P. Schuyler, Wemple & K. V'n Renselaer do without Delay rendezvous at the City of Albany and put themselves under Command of such officer as B. Genl. Ten Broeck shall appoint, and be marched with the least possible. Delay to such Post or Place on the western Frontier as B. Genl. V'n Renselaer shall for that Purpose direct.

Notwithstanding these orders, Genl. Ten Broeck is to continue at the Frontiers, such a Part of his Brigade as shall be equal in No. to his Proportion of the Deficiencies in the Levies, occasioned by Inlistments in the Cont'l Battalions.

[No. 3142.]

Colonel Snyder Opens a Letter Directed to Lieutenant Pawling.

Kingston Aug'st 11th 1780, Fryday morning 9 a Clock. Sir, I just now Received yours, Directed to Lieut. Pawling and I opened the Letter and Read it, and Immediately forwarded it myself. Thought Necessary to Consult Colo. Pawling & Colo. Cantyn on the Subject. Sir, I Remain your most obedient & hum'e Serv't

To his Excellency George Clinton.

[No. 3143.]

Joh's Snyder.

Governor Clinton Answers Colonel Clyde and Explains Why the Frontier Was Not Properly Protected.

Albany Aug't 11 1780.

Sir,* I am favored with your Letter of the 8" Inst. I most sincerely deplore the Ravages committed by the Enemy in your County. Every thing in my Power has been done to prevent your present Misfortunès, and had my repeated orders to the Militia of yours & Albany County been strictly complied with the Enemy wo'd never have penetrated so far as they have done into the Country and returned unmolested. I have sollicited from the Com'r in Chief, 500 eastern Levies for the Protection of the Frontiers, and had not their March been unhappily delayed (notwithstand'g every effort of mine to hasten them), Canajoharie might possibly, and the Houses burnt at Schoharry, wo'd in all human Probability have been saved. A Part [of] those Troops have however now arrived and marched for your Protection and the Rem'r is momently expected and will be forwarded to the Frontiers without Delay.

For Colonel Clyde's letter see pages 88-90.