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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 Major Woolsey who commands. . . of Levies made a

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.]

OJ ABS 10,9M69 791) [No8,3281-8280] 2926762 97Å

Colonel Webster Calls upon) Governór sChittenden for Militia. 90 # Bennington, 810 Clock eveningi 18th Oct. 1780. bSir, Ienclose to your Excellendyi a Copy of a letter I this moment réceived (by Express) from Colo. Webster, requesting the assistance of the Militia of this Neighbourhood to his assist ancé! bourotai me I‚sgote162 is 19lymdo? .I .495 mOTÌ

jrave 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 Enemygol aid 1690 Id

I have nevertheless sent for Berkshire Mitial to call on me as soon as may bej vhod shall send immediately to your assist ance, unless I have counter ad vide from your Excellency by the time of their rivaled IIamy Sir, FordExcellency'scobediti bumile Servandizno 69812 9d to sq ft mort sitili odt to slod Thos. Chittenden. 7916b9mmi aut 97691 [loda I bas blei¶ odi 569116 916 16 P. S. This State are always ready to cooperate in any mea Fergus 1622990 90 9 1910 п 79909192 10 sures, to frustrate the designs of the common enemy. 750919570 100% 2190 To state aidt MOTI Gpy Clinton ti ti‚9970'I s quibava to 71i22990

His Excellency Goy'r Clinton.

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it It bas,moll mott gnol White Creek, 18th Oct'nd780q Dr Governor, This morning about 1020 Clock, rece'dan express from Capt. Childs of Granvily beging for assistance as he was informed by the return of a flagg that the Enemy lay at! Ticonderoga and Independence, in mumber 150, besides a riin forcement they had got; then I immeadiately ordered the Reg ment 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.

beg your assistance either at this place, Saratoga, or fort Edward or we may all be cut off. Genl. Allen is informed of the above information; his Excellency Gov. Clinton is at Albany and Desired me to inform your Excellency as above, & request your assistance in order to git ahead of the Enemy if possible. I am, your very obt. Hum. Serv't

Gov. Chittenden.

Alex'r Webster, Col.

[No. 3283.]

WASHINGTON'S GLOOMY OUTLOOK.

Temporary Enlistments Detrimental to the Cause and ExpensiveA Catalogue of Evils.

Circular

Head Quarters, near Passaic Falls, 18th October 1780. Sir, In obedience to the orders of Congress, I have the honor to transmit your Excellency the present state of the troops of your Line, by which you will perceive how few men you will have left after the 1st January next. When I inform you also that the troops of the other lines will be in general as much reduced as yours, you will be able to judge how exceedingly weak the army will be at that period, and how essential it is the states should make the most vigorous exertions to replace the discharged men as early as possible.

Congress are now preparing a plan for a new establishment of their army which when finished they will transmit to the several States with requisitions for their respective Quotas. I have no doubt it will be a primary object with them to have the levies for the War, and this appears to me a point so interesting to our Independence, that I cannot forbear entering into the motives which ought to determine the States without hesitation or alternative to take their measures decisively for that object.

I am religiously persuaded that the duration of the War and the greatest part of the misfortunes and perplexities we have hitherto experienced are chiefly to be attributed to the System of temporary inlistments. Had we in the commencement, raised an army for the War, such as was within the reach of the abilities of these States to raise and maintain, we should not have suffered those military Checks which have so frequently shaken our cause, nor should we have incurred such enormous expenditures as have destroyed our paper Currency and with it all public credit. A moderate compact force on a permanent establishment capable of acquiring the discipline essential to military operations would have been able to make head ag't the enemy without comparison better than the throngs of militia which at certain periods have been, not in the feild, but in their way to and from the Feild; for from that want of perseverance which characterises all militia, and of that coercion which cannot be exercised upon them, it has always been found impracticable to detain the greatest part of them in service even for the term for which they have been called out, and this has been commonly so short, that we have had a great proportion of the time, two sets of men to feed and pay, one coming to the army and the other going from it. From this circumstance, and from the extraordinary waste and consumption of provisions, Stores, Camp equipage, arms, Cloathes and every other article incident to irregular troops, it is easy to conceive what an immense increase of public expence has been produced from the source of which I am speaking. I might add the diminution of our agriculture by calling off at critical Seasons the labourers employed in it, as has happened in instances without number.

In the enumeration of articles wasted, I mention Cloathes.

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