Winter Quarters Captain Sackett's Company discharg'd, and Capt. Stevenson's Men will go Home in a few days, as the Time they were called out for, is almost expired; could wish that your Excellency. would issue Orders to call out about seventy Men from the County of Westchester to rendevous at North Castle, and about fifty from Dutchess County to rendevous at Croton Bridge or Cromp Pond, to give Protection to the good People at Cromp Pond, and the people in that vicinity; unless something of the Kind is immediately done, we shall soon be in a horrid & distressed Situation; beg that your Excellency will answer my Request or endeavour to provide some Way for our Security; and could wish that your Excellency would send to me, the Arrangement of the Militia of Westchester County in General Orders. I am, with Esteem, Your Excelle' most obt. & very humble Serv't

His Excellency George Clinton, Esqr.

Thos, Thomas.

[No. 3407.]

Colonel Thomas' Proceedings to Remove Suspected Persons Away from the American Lines.

North Castle, December ye 4th 1780.

May it please your Excellency, The civil and military officers with the most respectable Part of the Inhabitants belonging within the Compass of Colo. Thomas's Regt. of Militia, met a few days since agreeable to appointment, and chose a Committee composed of nine Persons to consider on the Propriety of removing the dissaffected Families off of the Lines, of such, whose Continuance among us would be of the most dangerous Consequences to the good and virtuous People in this Quarter; upon

maturely deliberating on the Matter, universally consented to remove them, giving them orders to remove either above or below the Lines prefixed by your Excellency by virtue of a Law of the Legislature of the State to act in their discretion and Choice; such as move below the Lines to go below the Town of Eastchester, and such as move to the Northward of the Lines to go twenty Miles into the interior Part of the Country, giving such Persons as wish to move below Liberty to dispose of their moveable Effects previous to their departure to some Persons resident within the Lines prescribed as afores'd. As the Preservation and Security of the good People in this Part depends upon the Exertions of the Populace, and as the suppression and removal of the notorious dissaffected is the only Resource we can fly for the attainment of our Ends, thought proper as being highly consistent with Justice and our duty to act as afores'd. Our Proceedings we think it proper to transmit to your Excellency, to let you know in what Manner we have conducted, being very conscious ourselves that it is the only Measure we could pursue to effect our Salvation. We would wish to have no Persons on the Lines to give Intelligence to or correspond with the Enemy. We are now as it were in a State that we are in a greater Part of the Time without any other assistance but what we have among ourselves, consisting of the Militia of the Place; would wish to have your Excellency's opinion respecting our Proceedings, as a Receipt of your approbation will ever be acknowledged by your most obt. & very humble Serv't

Thomas Thomas.

[To G. C.]

30

[No. 3408.]

Colonel Weissenfels' Report, Covering Returns of Men and Stores at Fort Schuyler.

Fort Schuyler, 4th Decmr. 1780.

Sir, I have the honor to inclose, the Several Returns, which I concieve my Duty to transmit your Excellency, necessairy for to discover, the internal State of this Garrison. The importance of this Post, in all its Consequences, makes it necessairy, that I schould Contribute, to the speedy and Efectuall Suplies, in every particular.

I beg leave, therefore, to observe, that I have taken notice, of a mode, verry Prejudicial to the Safety of this Post, to state the Supplies, by superficial Calculations as to both quantity and quality, when they are sent of, from Schenectady, without considering the inevitable Casualties that may happen to them, Witness the 60 Barrels of Flower, destined for Fort Schuyler, which where left at Fort Herkema without gaurd or direction, who where nearly half consumed, and the Rum half water.

I have Experienced the random Calculations, since I left Schenectady, that instead of Provisions sufficient for Febr. this month will Finish the whole, exept I use more oeconomy, then heretofore when a Pound and of each specie wass delivered, even to the Day I came here which on my arrival I imediately prohibited.

As to the External State of the works, your Exellency will allow me to declare, that by erly in the Spring repairing some smal Breaches here and there in the Curtains and Placing Horizontal Pikets in the Ditch, or Schevous de Friese, [chevaux de frise] it is defensieble, in the most Extensive Sense, against a

Siege, by 3000 men, and even an Escalade, provided the garrison consisted of 7 or 800 men.

The houses which where an hospital and stable, which have been pulled down and the young growing orchard, cutt down will be some ill conveniency to this Place.

My men are verry naked, which makes Duty verry severe. I do not expect to remain in the Service, and only whish, that I may not be left to take the trouble and anxiety for others, who will enjoy the honor of the Service. I am, with great Esteem, your Exellency's most Obiedient most humble Servant

Fred: Weissenfels.

[To G. C.]