[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 I am &c. by the militia & Levies of this State.

The command'g Officer, Fishkill.

Geo: Clinton.

Ree'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 with out 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'eys answer on this Subject, the Business 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. [To G. C.]

[Nos. 3325-3326.]

P. Schuyler.

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.

Behaivour and other circumstances, we beleive the facts therein stated are true. If any dependence can be placed on what he says as to himself, he really deserted from the Enemy, with a design not to return to them again.

We have added from his confession the reports prevailing in Canada, and amongst the Tories here respecting Coll. Eaton Allen, and altho' his confession cannot amount to proof, yet it may possibly lead to some means of discovering the truth or falshood of it.

Many persons are mentioned in his examination who have afforded aid and assistance to those who have gone off or returned from the enemy. Mr. Visscher who was the only commissioner present, conceives his information of the utmost importance, and intends to take such measures with the Board, as to frustrate, their farther attempts, and to bring them to punishment.

Upon the whole, it appears to us that his confession is candid, and submit to your Excellency whether its importance, will merit a pardon. We really wish it. We are with the greatest respect & esteem your Excellency's most obedient humble serv'ts

R'd Morris, Robert Yates, Mat: Visscher.

P. S. A report prevails and seems to be well grounded that the enemy are with two hundred more on the Mohawk River. The Sheriff desires us to remind your Excellency, of the pardon which was promised to Stephen McGinnis.

His Excellency George Clinton, Esqr.

Examination of James Van Driesen.

James Van Driesen on being examined says, That one John Twifely formerly of Dover, left Canada some time before Major

Carelton and Party, that he went to recruit at Spencertown, that he is a German, speaks the English, Dutch and German Languages; about five feet, nine Inches high; light Hair; long Visage; looks middling old in the face, that William Teachout of New York informed the Ex't that Twifely had been at that place; that the Persons who are sent from Canada to Recruit and gain intelligence report at the following places, at Joshua Losee's back of New Town; John Lantman's and old Defoots at Hosick; Abraham Hayard at Ballston, and at one Hicks's at New Town, who moved there last spring and whose two sons are with the Enemy; that William Moffat, is now also in the Country for the like purpose; that he takes his Rent generally thro' the Scotch Patent; that s'd Defoot and James O'Niel generally come into the Country to Recruit and gain intelligence; that the latter has been at old Hans Snyder's at Saratoga; that during this Summer five Persons have at different Times brought dispatches from New York to Canada one of whom was a young man who had served his Time with Dr. Stringer; that the Lansings of New City are looked upon in Canada as Friends to the Brittish King, and understood they had befriended Persons on their way to Canada; that Roff and Kline are also looked upon in Canada as friends to the King: that Abraham Ostrander and John Gregs were sent into the Country by Major Carleton at Cumberland Bay and received their directions from Major Jessup; that he does not know what directions he received, nor does he know the places they were to go to: that John Gibson's wife informed the ex't that Ostrander and Grigs had been home; that Lieut. Fraser, of Ballston, went to that place at the same time when Ostrander &e; that David Palmer has been Recruiting in the Country and