MANUSCRIPT VOL. X. (CONTINUED). [No. 3065.] Colonel Weissenfels' Letter Respecting a Mistake in the Rank of Some of His Officers with Governor Clinton's Reply. West Point July 11th 1780. Sir, In the minutes of the honorable the Counsel of appointment, the Reasons assiged for the Rank of the four Ensings in my Regiment, is, having done duty from the 1st of January 1778, which wass the time the vacancie became due. I have a president, for the filling up of vacancies in that manner, by the appointment of Mess's Dennisson, Tuthill Talmadge, and Woodruff, by Colo. H. B. Livingston in 1777, and if the above reasons (having done Duty) had not been mentioned, I presume the appointments would have met with no objections in the Brigade. Whoever [however], I have an order sent to me by Capt. Lt. Elsworth, from General Clinton that I should write to your Exellency upon this Subject, that he is determined, not to deliver the Commissions to them, if they bear date from that time, and thinks that they should only bear date from the 1st of June 1779, the reason for such a determination is, that they where sarjeants before that time Which if a sufficient one, I dont whish to differ with the gen eral oppinion and if your Exellency, with the honorable Com ittee, thinks propre to revoke the former date, and adopt the latter I believe these gentelm will accept of it, though with Reluctance; I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, your Exellency's most obiedient most humble Servant His Exellency, George Clinton, Esqr. Fred: Weissenfels. Pokeepsie July 12th 1780 D'r S'r, I cannot possibly make any alteration in the Proceed'gs of the Council of Appointm't without their Consent. As soon as they meet I will lay your Letter before them & I have no Doubt that they will readily correct any mistake. I thought this matter was adjusted & settled in the Brigade & that no difficulty would have arisen thereon. I am, with great Esteem, D'r S'r, &c. Lieut. Colo. Comdt. Weissenfels. G. Clinton. [No. 3066.] Colonel Willett's Letter Respecting Sending Officers to Recruit Among the Levics. Camp West Point 11th July 1780 Sir, The situation of the Regiment which I command will just admit of our sending one or more officer upon the recruiting service. If it is agreeable to your Excellency I shall be glad to have the bearer, Ensign V. D). Burgh, authorised to go upon that service, as I concive one officer insufficient for the business on so pressing an immergency. I have recommended Mr. V. D. Burgh to endeavour to engage a certain Lewis Bogardus, whose residence is at Poughkeepsie to assist him in recruiting. Bogardus has served three years a Serjeant in the third Regiment and upon several tryals I have experienced his abilities in this way. His success in recruiting has always exceeded my expectations. I have very faint hopes of his engaging in the service himself: unless in the character of a recruiting serjeant, and in that way I would be willing and desirous to employ him, But even this will depend in a great measure upon the encouragment we may have it in our power to give for recruiting. If you can make it worth Bogardus's while to assist Ensign V. D. Burgh, I am much misstaken if the publick will not receive sufficient benefit from his services. I am not dissposed to give your Excellency any unnecessary trouble, but the pecular situation of the Regiment I have the honor to command (in having most of its officers prisoners with the enemy) makes it necessary to catch at every prosspect of assistance, that my endeavours may not be wanting to make the Regiment as respectable as possible. I have the honor to be, your Excellencies most obedient and very Humble Servant Marinus Willett His excellency Gov'r Clinton. |