[Nos. 3358-3359.]

Governor Clinton to General Ten Broeck in Regard to Men Detailed to the Quartermaster-General's Department.

To His Excellency Governor George Clinton, General and Commander In Chief of the Militia of the State of New York, and Vice Admiral of the Navy of the same.

May it please your Excellency;

The great necessity at present for an immediate supply of Forage, wood, Coal, &c. Induces me to petition your Excellency to obtain permission, if I should not be supply'd, that I might be permitted permission to purchase it or some person.

And likewise, I beg your Excellency would be pleased to grant that in time of alarms, I may be permitted a sufficient number from the Wood Cutters, Blacksmiths, Coopers, Colliers & Carpenters, may be so detain'd as will be necessary to carry on the business of those different branches. I beg your Excellency would consider our Situation, the Season far advancing and in all probability the service will suffer. I am, your Excellency's most Obedient and most Hum. Serv't,

Nicholas Quackenbush.

Pokeepsie 9th Nov'r 1780.

Sir, I refer you for answer to your Memorial this Day delivered me to the inclosed Letter to Genl. Ten Broeck left open for your persusal, which you will please to seal & deliver.

With respect to the Purchase of Forrage Wood & Coal I am not authorized to give any Directions. I am, Sir, &c.

Mr. Nicholas Quackenboss, A. D. Q. Genl.

[G. C.]

Pokeepsie 9th Nov'r 1780. Sir, Mr. Quackenboss, Asst. D. Qur. Master Genl. at Albany, has represented to me by Petition, the Difficulties he labours under in conducting the Business of his Department, owing to the Persons necessarilly employed under him, being called out on every Alarm with the Militia. I do not like Exemptions; but it may at the same Time be attended with dangerous Consequences to derange the Staff Departments & obstruct the pub lic Business especially when they are destitute of Cash. I have, therefore, to request that you will from Time to Time, give such Indulgences to such Persons of your Brigade as shall be employed in the Quarter Master's Department, as may be necessary to promote the public Service. This is recommended by Congress & has, heretofore, been practised. Indeed, however, disagreable it seems unavoidable. I am &c.

G. C.

Genl. Ten Broeck.

[No. 3360.]

Henry Wisner's Letter for Permission for His Daughter and Mrs. Tredwell to Go Into New York.

Goshen, 10th of November 1780.

Dear Sir, This will be delivered to you by Mr. Evrett, who will wait on your Excellency for the purpose of obtaining permision for his wife and my neighbour Mrs. Tredwell to pass to New York. You may probably Recollect that I have in a former letter Represented the situation of my familie to you, at which time I informed you that their afairs ware in such a situation, that Rendered it absolutely nesesary for some one of them to goe to Long Island if posable. We Conceiveing that a permition might be obtained this fall from your Excellency, purposed to

Mrs. Tredwell to send to her friends for a Permision for Mrs. 1 shall, therefore,

Evrett and herself which she has obtained.

Consider it as a perticular favour, if with propriety it can be done to grant such permition.

My wife's sircumstances is something singular, as her Children ware young when she came here and are now growe up: their Estates turned into Cash and put out to intrest, which has not been Collected for five years past, her Children now want each their parts which Cannot be obtaind, unless some of the familie can goe in. I am, Sir, your Humble Servant

[To G. C.]

[No. 3361.]

Henry Wisner.

Major Tallmadge Applies for a Parole for Mr. Jayne and Furnishes the Governor with Information Regarding the Perfidy of Francis Van Dyke.

North Castle, Nov'r 11th 1780.

Sir, At the Request of Mr. William Jayne, who was some time since bro't off from Long Island, I take the liberty to trouble your Excellency with a Line. It may be necessary to premise that he, (Mr. Jayne) together with Doctor Punderson, were bro't off from Long Island some time in July last, for the purpose of procuring an Exchange for Messrs. Jno. Smith & Wm. Philips, who were taken on Long Island, by the Enemy, some time before. An Exchange for the above Gentlemen has been proposed, which for certain Reasons, the Enemy have tho't proper to refuse, so that the purpose designed by the Capture of Mr. Jayne and Doctor Punderson cannot at present be answered.

Induced thereto by a letter from my Father, now at Brook Haven (Long Island) I would request that your Excellency would be pleased to let the above Mr. Jayne return home on Parole, as I have abundant reason to believe that he has never been a very acting man, or a Person of influence against the Interest of these States. I have no doubt, if he could obtain this indulgence, he would implicitly obey any Directions your Excellency should think proper to give.

I am in duty bound to observe that sometime about the 22d ulto., a detachment of our Regt. taking Post near Pines Bridge, I went with several other Officers, to the House of Joseph McKull, where we found one Francis Van Dyke, from Poughkeepsie, who was permited to escort some Tory Families to our Lines. As we arrived at McKull's a little after midnight, and being in the uniform of some of the Enemies Corps, the Family & Vandyke took us to be a detachment of the Enemy. In Consequence of this, several of them, but Van Dyke in particular unbosomed himself very fully. Among other things he gave us all the infor mation he could respecting West Point, the Country &c. Supposing us on an Expedition against West Point, he voluntarily related to us what he knew of the Garrison & the Consequences which would attend the Reduction of that Post. He also promised to assist in making your Excellency a Prisoner, & secreting any Party which might be sent up on that Purpose. In the fullness of his heart he told us that he was going below with a flagg, and that although he was prohibited by your Excellency's instructions going below our Lines with his Waggon.

both the Waggon & horses were the Property of a Refuwith the Enemy, he intended to deliver them to him. Return declare that the Enemy had taken them from

him. He said many things respecting the Characters of Persons in the Country, who were friendly to the Enemy; and in fine, as far as his knowledge served him, endeavoured to explain our Situation at large and appeared to wish the ruin of our Cause. I should have secured him in the morning, but being undeceived respecting his Visitants, when I was absent, he took a very abrupt leave.

I tho't it my Duty to mention these Circumstances, that such measures may be taken as the Laws point out. I have the Honor to be, With great Respect, your Excellency's most Obed't Serv't

Benja. Tallmadge.

P. S. Mr. Isaac Webber, a guide on the Lines, was present when the whole Conversation passed with Vandyke, & can give further information if required.

Governor Clinton.

Pokeepsie 21st Nov'r 1780.

Sir, I am this Moment favoured with yours of the 11th Instant & thanks for the Intelligence it gives me respecting Van Dycke. Agreable to your Request I have directed Mr. Pell, State Com'y of Prisoners to permit Jayne to return to Long Island on Parole. I am, Sir, with great Regard your most Obed't Serv't

[G. C.]

[To Major Tallmadge.]

[No. 3362.]

DEPRESSING TALES FROM THE NORTH.

General Clinton writes to the Governor as to the Conduct of His Department-Capt. Adiel Sherwood's Experiences as a Captive. Albany, Nov'r 12th 1780.

D'r Brother, I am just arrived from Saratoga, where I have been detain'd since the 6th inst. till the return of Major Rose