[No. 3332.]

Captain Benj. Walker Receives $200 from Congress on the Credit of the State-Baron Steuben Ordered to the Southern Department.

Philadelphia, 2d Nov'r 1780.

Sir, Major General Baron Steuben whom I have the honor to attend, has lately rece'd orders to repair to the Southern Department of the Army.

The distressd situation I was in, obliged me to state my Case to Congress, in which I informed them that by the generous Compensation, the State of New York had made to their Officers, I had a Claim on the state for near two thousand Dollars & requested them to advance me two Hundred Dollars on account. Congress have accordingly made me this advance & charged it to the state.

I thought it my Duty to acquaint your Excellency of this matter, & am with the greatest respect Your Excellency's most Obed't & very hum. Serv't

Ben Walker, Cap. 4 N. Y. Reg.

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 3333.]

Andre's Coparcener, Joshua Hett Smith, Confined at West Point,

Head Quarters, West Point, Nov'r 2d 1780.

Sir, I was this morning honored with yours of the 30th ulto. I sincerely feel for the unfortunate Sufferers from the late depredations of the Enemy in the Northern Counties of this State, as well as for the public, who must unavoidably share in the consequences; and I fear it will be my lot to experience nosmall part of them.

I most heartily thank you, for your assureances of assistance. I assure you, Sir, it is a principal consolation to me, under those disagreeable aspects, which at present hang over our prospects of supplies. But I will hope the best.

Colo. Weisenfells regiment was pointed out to me, by General Washington, to garrison Fort Schuyler. I have this morning submitted that paragraph of your letter to his Excellency's consideration.

General James Clinton is ordered to take the command at Albany. He left this place a day or two since. From his knowledge of that part of the Country, and attention to business, I flatter myself he will seasonably take every step that may be necessary in that Quarter.

We shall be in extreme want of a large Quantity of boards, and shingles, at this Post, for covering the Troops, and for the security of the Post. I fear the D. Q. M. G, will not be able to procure them, especially in season, without some extra assistance from your Excellency. Colonel Hughs, will be able to inform you, what quantities will be necessary and I beg leave to solicit your assistance in such way as you may think proper.

We have no news of consequence at present; whenever I obtain any shall do myself the honor of communicating it to

you.

I have

Joshua Smith is just sent here to be confined; should you demand him, it is my duty immediately to deliver him. the honor to be, with the greatest respect, your Excellency's most Obedient Servant

[To G. C.]

W. Heath.

ALARMING RUMORS FROM THE NORTH.

The Enemy Reported 1,600 Strong-Difficulties in Securing Supplies in Albany and Tryon Counties.

Poughkeepsie, Nov'r 3d 1780.

Dear Sir, I am favoured with your Letter of the 1st Instant. enclosing a Duplicate of that of the 17th ulto.; which was delivered to me in Tryon County & answered on the 30th. Udny Hay, Esqr., our Agent, is using every possible Exertion to colleet the quota of supplies to be furnished by this state & to prevent a Failure; he is possessed of my impress warrant authorizing him to seize indiscriminately in every District to the amount of whatever they may be deficient in deliv'y of the proportions allotted to them. The Desolations lately committed by the Enemy in Tryon & Albany Counties, must necessarily have retarded this Business in that Quarter, & the amazing Quantities of Grain destroyed, will not only disenable us from adding to the supplies required, but will, I fear, reduce us to great Difficulties even in raising the present quota. I mention this lest too great Dependance should be placed upon this State.

I am oblidged to you for the Attention you are pleased to pay to the safety of West Chester County & the Security which will be afforded to the Inhabitants by the Measures you have taken. I wish it was in my Power to direct effectual Measures for the prevention of the Abuses so justly complained of in that County. I have repeatedly represented them to the Legislature, but owing to the peculiar Situation of that Country, they have not been able to make any adequate Provission on the Subject. And every Measure that has been hitherto taken to

prevent, has rather increased the Evil, so that I am utterly at a loss what Directions to give concerning them.

By two Expresses who arrived last Night from Albany, I am informed that the Enemy under Major Carlton are returning from Ticonderoga, towards Skeensborough with Reinforcement of 500, their Force amounting now to 1600, so that we hourly expect to hear of further Depredations. I have again ordered out the Militia to meet them & Gansevoort's Regt. is in that Quarter. I am, D'r Sir, in great Haste, with Sentiments of Respect & Esteem, your most Obed't Serv't

Major Genl. Heath.

G: Clinton.

[Nos. 3335-3336–3337.]

SCHUYLER'S PATRIOTIC APPEALS.

He Reports the Advance of the Enemy to Lake George and Tries to Stimulate the Militia-Two Brigades Ordered Forward.

Pokeepsie, 3d Nov'r 1780.

Dear Sir, I have the Honor of transmitting your Excellency a Letter from Genl. Schuyler which came inclosed to me under a flying Seal. The Intelligence it contains, has induced me to order out Genl. Ten Broeck's & Renselaer's Brigades of Militia to opose the Enemy & cover the exposed Settlements; but I fear they will move slowly, as they have but just Returned from the Frontiers, whither they were called by the late Incursions of the Enemy. I have subjected them to the Directions of Brig'r Genl. Clinton & to prevent as much as possible the Consumption of Provission, have requested him to dismiss them the Moment the public Service will admit.

Your Excellency will be informed by Genl. Schuyler's Letter of the very extraordinary Conduct of Colo. Allen & the Jealousies it has occasioned. With the first Intelligence I had of the Approach of the Enemy under Sir John & Carlton I received a Piece of Information that gave me some Reason to suspect that there had been an unwarrantable Communication between Certain Persons in that quarter & the Enemy at St. John's. But as the Evidence was not direct, I then conceived it most prudent for obvious Reasons to be silent on the Subject. There are, however, some other Circumstances exclusive of Colo. Allen's Conduct came to Light since, which will induce me to collect & forward the whole to your Excellency as early as I shall have it in my Power. I am extreamly distressed least the frequent Alarm & Incursions of the Enemy will occassion the abando[n]mentof all our Northern Frontier Settlements, unless their present apprehensions are removed by a more permanent Force in that Quarter than can be afforded them from the Militia.

I have not yet any Official account of the Detachment sent out of Fort Schuyler, but from a Passage in a Letter this moment received from Colo. Malcom, there is too much Reason to apprehend that the Report of their being captured by the Enemy is too true.

Your Excellency's Letter of the 29th Instant accompanying the Proceedings ag't Joshua Smith is this moment received. The moment I can find Leissure to peruse them, they shall be returned with an answer on the Subject. I am &c. His Excellency Genl. Washington.

G: C: