scribers, if it shall seem right & meet to your Excellency to grant the same; with the utmost Respect we are your Excellency's Most Obedient & Very Humble Servants Jacob C: Schermerhorn, Maj. Daniel Schermerhorn, Capt. [No. 3113.] General Howe's Letter to Governor Clinton Requesting Conditional Impress Warrants. Head Quarters, Highlands, July 29th 1780. Dear Sir, The moving a great Part of the Army under my Command, having become immediately and absolutely necessary, & as it is probable more Teams & Waggons may be wanted than the Quarter Master can officially furnish, I take the liberty to request your Excellency to furnish him with authority to impress them. This Power shall not be used if it can be avoided, and if it is exerted it shall be in the way least injurious to the Inhabitants. My first movement will be down the East Side of the River, in the Vicinity of Kings-ferry; my next will be guided as the motions of the Enemy shall point out. All the Militia not requisite to the Defence of West Point & its Dependences will move with us. Those left behind will be united with a proper Portion of Continentals under a General Officer. I think to be at Fishkill tomorrow morning early, where I should be happy to meet your Excellency, as I want much to speak to you, & my time will not admit of my doing myself the Honour of waiting upon you at Poughkeepsie, which otherwise I should be happy to do. I am, Dear Sir, with the greatest Regard your Excellency's most Obed't Serv't Governor Clinton. Robert Howe. [No. 3114.] Doctor Treat Requests Exemptions for Certain Persons Employed in the Hospital. Albany, 29th July 1780. Sir, I once more address myself to your Excellency in Behalf of three Persons belonging to the general Hospital, who are constantly and necessarily employed. I know not how it is but there is seldom a Party ordered out to escort Provisions, or other common Business, but one of these are under orders to march, while there are so many Christians in this Place, who kill Time in smoaking & hug [g]ing their lazy stoops. Your Excellency would exceedingly oblige me as well as promote the General Interest, if you would be pleased to grant them an Exemption from these common Duties; in case of general alarm they will cheerfully offer their Service as voluntiers in Defence of their Country, for they are no problematical whigs; their Names & characters are as follows; James Lamb Issuing Commissary, William Duncan Steward & ward master, Benjamin Egberts Clerk; these are all I have to manage the Business of the general Hospital. I most affectionatly congratulate you on the Birth of another Pledge of mutual Love; may him or her be an ornament to your Name, please make my Compliments acceptable to Mrs. Clinton, and believe that I am your Excellency's most obedient humble Serv't M'y Treat. [No. 3115.] Washington Orders Five Hundred of the Massachusetts Levies to Tryon County.* Peekskill July 31" 1780. D'r Sir, The bearer hereof is charged with a letter to the . Commanding officer of the Massachusetts levies, now on their march to this quarter, covering a general order for him to detach five hundred men into Tryon County. As Fort Schuyler is probably invested by this time it is of the utmost Importance that these troops should be expedited without a moment's delay, you will therefore take the letter from the bearer and send a proper person to procure carriages and whatever else may be necessery to accelerate the march of those troops. An order is gone to the military store keeper at West Point to forward 100,000 rounds of ammunition; you will please to provide the means of conveyance either by water in a row boat manned by trusty hands or in waggons with careful drivers. I have sent impress warrants to Colo. V Schaick at Albany and to Lt. Colo. Henry J. Van Renselaer at Claverak to procure carriges & provision for the troops, but least they should fail in procuring them I intreat you to direct your agents to prepare supplies for them. Too much expedition cannot prevail in the execution of every part of this business. I am sir your most Obt. ser. Colo. Udny Hay D. Q. M. G. (Copy) See page 63, footnote. Geo. Clinton. [No. 3116.] Apportioning Wheat Among the Precincts. July ye 31st 1780. Sir, I am to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 6th Instant; It did not Come to hand till last week and Consequently could not be Complied with 'till this Day. The wheat and Short Forage is now apportioned among the several precincts & your Excellency may rest assured that the assessors will be Conven'd without delay, and I Flatter myself that they will do their Duty. I am Sir Your Excellency's Very Humble Serv't John Haring, Clk. to the Supervisors of Orange County. Gov. Clinton. [No. 3117.] Warrant to Colonels Van Schaick and Van Rensselaer for Impressing Teams and Supplies. His Excellency, George Clinton, Esquire Governor of the State of New York, General and Commander in Chief of all the Militia & Admiral of the Navy of the same. To Colo. Goose Van Schaick, Greeting: The Occasion & Emergency requiring the same by Virtue of the Power & authority vested in me by Law, I do hereby authorize you to impress one hundred & fifty Teams & Waggons, fifty Tons of Flour, or an equivalent in Wheat, ninety Thousand Weight of Beef or Fat Cattle, equi[va]lent thereto, for the use & Service of the Army, & for doing this shall be your Warrant. Given under my Hand at Head Quarters Peek's Kill this thirty-first Day of July in the fifth year of the Independance of the said State & in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty. A Second to Lieut. Colo. Henry J. Van Renselaer for 50 Teems & Waggons, fifty Barrels Flour, & 50 Head fat Cattle. |