Clinton to do the same on other untill a general Plan can be formed. (To Gen. George Clinton.) [No. 112.] ་ George Clinton notifies Colonel Van Cortland and Others that he cannot meet the Requisition asked for in Major Sedgwick's Letter. Fort Montgomery, 20th July 1776. Gentlemen, I this Moment rec'd Major Sedgwick's Letter wrote by your Order requesting a supply of amunition from this Fort & communicated the Contents to Cols. Clinton & Humphreys, who are more particularly acquainted with the Amunition & Military Stores in this Garrison than I am & immediately intrusted with the Disposition thereof. Colo. Humphreys tells me that he has already spared to the Militia at Peeks Kill 1 Cask Powder & 100 lb., Weight of Lead & 60 lb. Powder & 50 lb. Lead to the Militia at Haverstraw, and that he cannot consistent with his orders & the safety of this Fortress spare any more & Colo. Clinton says he cannot possibly supply us with any from the Upper Fort. This being the Case it is out of my Power to comply with your Request. I have long expected a Discretionary Order from Congress to draw Powder from the Mill in this County for the Militia. But this is not be relyed upon for the present Occasion. I wish you coud contrive to get a supply from New York as our Communication with that Place by Water, our usual Way of getting supplies, is now obstructed. I am with much Esteem Your Most Obed't Serv't, Geo. C'n. P. S. Colo. (James) Clinton tells me that he purchased the greater Part of the Lead he has in these Forts with great Trouble in the Country, not then being able to get any in N. [No. 113.] An Order to bring in certain delinquent Militiamen to Fort Montgomery. Fort Mont Gomery July 23 1776. Pursuant to an order from Genral Clinton you are hereby required to apprehend & take the Bodies of Isaac Tobias, William McMullen, Thomas Chatfield, Charles Field, Moses Rumsey, Colvin Herd, Aaron Cunnigim, Moses Gale, Jonathan Coleman, Increase Wyman, Nathan Pimbleton & Christopher Strawbridge, Persons who have been ordered to march to this Fortification & have neglected to attend agreeable to s'd order & bring them forthwith to headqurters to answer for their refusing or neglecting to obey s'd orders. To Stephen Howel Sergeant of the light Horse. Benj'n Tusten, Ju'r, Lt. Col. [No. 114.] Captain Moffat Claims to be the Ranking Captain in his Regiment. S'r, I have accepted a Captain's birth in the new Levies by appointment of the Field officers of this Reigment and shall raise my company with all possible speed. The Bearrer, Mr. Brown, is appointed my first Lieut. and as part of the Reigment is at the fort with you I thought proper to send him down a recruiting. I doubt not but you will allow him the liberty of Inlisting as many as he can out of the detachment of Coll. Woodhull's Reig 1 ment now at the fort,-provided he don't take them away till their time is out. I expect I shall have my Rank in the Reigment, as I presume I am the Eldest Captain in the County and I believe as old as any in the Province. You will do me the favour to communicate the matter to Congress if Reasonably within your Power as I suppose they will fix our Ranks-my Commission Bears date the 19 of September last. I am with the most profound Respect Sir Your most Obedent and Very Hum'e Serv't, (To General Clinton.) Thomas Moffat. [No. 115.] ORDERS FOR THE FORT MONTGOMERY GARRISON. Necessity for Completing Fortifications-Instructions for the Ad vanced Guards and for Policing the Post. Genl. & Garrison Orders. Fort Montgomery 25th July 1776. It must be Evident to every reasonable man who is possesst of the least Military Knowledge & acquainted with the Situation of this Place, that proper Works erected on the Hill on the south side of Poplopen's Kill will not only contribute greatly to the safety of our present Works; but if properly constructed will enable us more effectually to annoy the Enemy's Shipping, shoud they attempt to pass up the River; induced by these Considerations proper Works are in part laid out there & began upon; But unless they are carried on with Spirit & finished in season they will not only be useless to us but may be converted by the Enemy to Purposes which they are intended to prevent. It is expected, therefore, that the Detachment of Militia now here, honorably employed in Defence of their Country, will as Early each Morning as if working for themselves, which is truely the Case, turn out on Fatigue to forward & compleat these Works in Season, leaving one Field Officer only, 1 Subaltern 1 Non Commissioned Officer and 10 Privates of each Company as a Protection to the Sloops to guard the Landing, the Privates also Cook, & do the other necessary Business of the Camp. Upon this urgent Occasion it is expected & not doubted, but that the Continental & Militia Troops of the Garrison equally Friendly to their Country will furnish Fatiegue Parties necessary about the ordinary Business of the Garrison & for expediting the Fire Rafts; the Ordinary & Advanced Guards on the point of the Dunderbergh and on the opposite Shore along the Foot of Anthony's Nose; And that no Mistake may arise about the Duty of those Advanced Guards, the Serjants Guard on the Point of the Dunderbergh, is to keep a Sharp lookout from thence down the River; & on discovering any Vessel there under Way is immediately to kindle up a Light Fire, so situated as to be easily discovered by the Centries on the Battery, discharge their Pieces & retire to such Place of safety from whence they can best annoy the Enemy on passing them. The Serjants Guard on the Point of Anthony's Nose & that also to keep a sharp lookout towards the Point of the Dunderbergh, & upon discovering the above Fire hearing the Report of small arms or discovering any Vessel under Way, are thereupon immediately to put Fire to the Piles or Brush heaps there & discharge their Musquets. The Guards on this Duty must be properly prepared to kindle up these Fires & have proper Combustible Matter provided therefor, for which Reason they ought to repair to their respective Posts early. On an Alarm, the several Choirs (guards) are to repair to & parade at their respective Alarm Posts or Places fixt for that Purpose & wait in Readiness for Orders as usual. A Serjants Guard is to be placed Every Evening on the Hill at the New Works, a small shed to be erected there for their Accomadation, & to continue there all Night keeping out at least one faithful Centry; this Guard to be composed of the Militia not on Fateigue; A Commissioned Officer to be appointed by the Colo. or next Commanding Officer of the Militia employed on those Works to receive the Necessary Tolls from Capt. Tappen to see them collected every Evening & put under the Care of the Guard there & to return them When relieved or dismissed & who is to be exempted from all other Duty. As a great Number in the Garrison are Sick, humanity directs that every possible Care shoud be taken of them & that they be treated with Tenderness; For which purpose the Capts. of each Company are to appoint a sufficient Number of Persons to attend & nurse their Sick, who shall be exempted from Fatigue & other ordinary Duty & to prevent the spreading of Infectious Disorders as much as may be. Two or more Persons are to be appointed whose Duty it shall be daily to remove all Filth & Nastiness from about the Barracks Garrisons. It has been long in Orders that no Gun or small arms shoud be without Orders discharged in hearing of the Garrison. This Order has been repeatedly published so that no Man can plead Ignorance. The Reasons on which it is founded has also been frequently mentioned to wit: not only Falsely alaming the Garrison but the Neighbouring Country. The Waste of Amunition which ought only to be expended ag't the Common Enemy & the Danger of maiming & killing each other; Notwithstanding |