[No. 3105.]

Governor Clinton Directs Attorney General Benson to Prosecute Delinquent Purchasers of Forfeited Estates.

Poughkeepsie July 25th 1780.

Sir, I am informed that notwithstanding many of the forfeited Estates have been long since sold by the Commiss'rs, yet little if any of the monies due on such sales have been paid into the Treasury; by Reason whereof my warrants in favor of the Persons appointed to procure Clothing & necessaries for the Troops of this State in the Service of the United States, have not been answered. I have, therefore, to request that, without discrimination of Persons, you will immediately commence Prosecutions ag't the Delinquents for the consideration money due on the said sales & which agreable to law ought to have been p'd into the Treasury. I am &c.

E. Benson, Esq. Atty Genl. &c.

G: Clinton.

[No. 3106.]

Ebenezer Boyd's Letter to the Governor Respecting Shirts and Linen to be Collected for the Troops.

Peekskill, 25th July 1780.

Sir, Yesterday I was favour'd with a Letter sign'd by the Hon'e Pierre V Cortlandt, Esqr. by order of the Senate dated 30th Ulto. & directed to Eben'r Purdy, Solomon Purdy & myself, the purport of which was requesting us to sollicit a number of Shirts & Linnen for overalls to be applied for the relief of this State Troops, said Shirts & Linnen to be collected by the 17th Inst. and deliver'd to Col. Joseph Bendict or his order. The Time of effecting this Business having expir'd before I was ap prized of it, I thought it my duty to acquaint your Excellency

thereof to acquit myself of the seeming Neglect which I can no ways account for; had the Letter come to my Hands in due Time, I would chearfully undertake & do my best; and have no doubt but the real Whigs in this District would be spirited in contributing according to their abilities on so becoming an occasion and I fancy most others would require but little Persuasion. I shall write to Col. Benedict on the Subject & proceed according to his Directions, being always glad of an opportunity to serve the cause of my Country. I have the Honour to subscribe myself, with the greatest Respect, your Excellency's most obedient and very humble Serv't

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

Eben'r Boyd,

[No. 3107.)

Governor Clinton Administers a Rebuke to Colonel Woodhull. Dear Govenor, Pursuant to your orders your Excellency has a Return of the number of Leavies from my Ridgement which is Thirty foure. I am, with great Esteem, your Excel· licencies very Humb. Serv't

Orang County, July the 10 1780.

To His Excellency George Clinton.

Jesse Woodhull.

July 26th 1780.

S'r, I have rec'd your Letter of the 10th Inst. & am extremely sorry to inform you that, from the Returns of Colo. Hathorn & others & from the knowledge I have of the strength of your Regt., there must be some very capital Error in your Return of the Levies to be furnished by your Regt. Hathorn

by his Return raised forty four & Allison's thirty one & this being the case & comparing the strength of your Regt. with those it cannot be supposed that thirty five is the full am't of your Proportion. Some abuse must have been committed in the classing of the Inhabit's, which I am willing to impute to your inferior officers; but which whether thro' mistake or Design, must be immediately corrected or I shall be under the disagreable necessity of order'g a C't of Enquiry & of hav'g the Inhabit's of the District numbered anew. If it shou'd be found that the abuses have been committed with the knowlege of the officers, the officers concerned must be brought to punishm't, for without this the other Regts. will have great cause of Complaint & the Service receive material Injury. As a member of the Legislature, I need not mention to you how much the intended operations depend on the getting out the Levies to reinforce the army & how fatal the consequences will be in case of failure, nor the Pain I feel on find'g by a Return, of the officer appointed to receive your Levies, that only fifteen of the few raised have yet arrived at the Place of Rendezvous. Let me, therefore, intreat you in the most earnest Terms to exert yourself in compleat'g your Levies & hav'g them forwarded to the Place of Rendezvous & thereby prevent the disagreable necessity of my report'g to the Genl. that it is out of my Power to comply with his Requisition which I must do, pointing out the delinquent Regts. unless my orders are immediately complied with. I am &c.

Colo. Woodhull.

G: Clinton.

[No. 3108.]

Major John Graham Reports the Presence of Joseph Brant in the Vicinity of Fort Schuyler.

Fort Schuyler, 27 July 1780

D'r Sir, Yesterday about six O'Clock in the afternoon a body of Eight Hund'd of the Enemy including two hund'd whites Encamped a little below the Indian fields. I sent some of the Oneidas amongst them who inform me that they saw several British officers one a German who wore a star on his breast. Joseph Brant was with them; this morning about sunrise they paraded a little below the old fort in full vieuw; we immediately saulted them with the artillery & drove them back after which they fell to killing the horses & Cattle belonging to the Oneidas that were not put up & firing at the fort till nine O'Clock & our artillery behaved very well & I believe killed some of them; they are now returned to their camp for how long I cannot tell. Sconondo & Peter are with them & have got their families; the rest of the Oneidas are with us & seem determined to oppose them; previous to this I sent Cap'n Hicks with sixty men & fifty Oneida warriours to guard up the boats from Fort Herkamer. The situation of the garrison obliged me to take this step, as I was informed by express that Capt. V Renselaer could not proceed for want of a Guard. I rec'd information of the enemy's approach yesterday in good time to inform Capt. Hicks who has fortified himself at Old Fort Schuyler agreeable to my orders. The Grasshopper is of opinion that the enemy are coming to beseige the fort & this party is coming to cut off our communication. You know the situation of the garrison & the condition we must be in should the boats miscarry. I have orderd Capt. Hicks to continue fortifying his little fort till he is re

lieved from below. Our little hand full of men behaved with the greatest spirit & chearfulness & are determined to defend the fort while they can get a horse or dog to eat; what pity such brave troops should be used in such a scandalous manner. remain in haste yours

Sir, I am favoured with Col. Cortlandt & Wissenfel's Letter of the 22d Instant. Their Reasons for opening Capt. Black's Letter are perfectly satisfactory. I have transmitted a duplicate to his usual Place of abode & you may rely upon it that the moment he can be found he will be directed to pay the strictest & most assidious attention to the Duties of his office & the least Evidence of neglect will not pass unoticed. Capt. Wiley has been with me & recived his appointment with a Warrant on the Treasury for £150,000 & has engaged to pay an immediate attention to the Business of procuring Supplies for the Troops & I flatter myself from his Zeal & Activity you will soon experience the comfortable Effects of his Agency.

You may remember that in my last, I informed you that the Council of Appointment was to meet the 1st Day of next Month. I now enclose you a Copy of a Letter from Lieut. Glenny complaining of Injustice in the Arrangement lately made by the Council of the New York Line a Copy of which was transmitted you by Capt. Norton. You will have observed that the Council