Your Whale boats hope will be ready this week. Six fire Rafts we Shall Launch to morrow Evining, four more Monday Evening; the Six Sloops the Secret Committe are to furnish us with from Albany &c. &c. &c. as Soon as they come to hand; we Shall fixt them provied they Send us the Meterialls along with them. I could wish when they arrive with us, you could Spare Mr. Seamons and Miller, and Send them up to us, with about 30 wood Cutters of your Solderey, who can assist us much so that when they are all ready fixt here you'l have nothing to doe with them but to put your plan into Execution In case the Enemie comes Near you. I hope you'l Excuse this Scrol, having no time to fair Copy. I remain with utmost Respect.

Sir Your Humb. Serv't,

Jacobus Van Zandt.

P. S. the Secreet Committe only one of them here, when they return Shall lay my proposal before them ab't the Chain.

[No. 119.]

July 26, 1776-James Hamilton, Commissary to George Clinton, as to stores at Haverstraw.*

[No. 120.]

Washington writes to Gen. Clinton Relative to the defences of the

Dear Sir,

Hudson.*

Head Quarters, New York, 26 July, 1776.

Yours of the 23d Instant* is duly Received and am pleased with your timely notice of your Situation Strength, movements, &c.,

*These communications are not to be found in the Clinton Collection. The letter from Washington to George Clinton is reproduced from the writings of Washington collected and edited by Worthington C. Ford and printed by G. P. Putnam's Sons. New York, 1889.-STATE HISTORIAN.

&c., and think time is not to be lost or expence regarded in getting yourselves in the best posture of Defence not knowing how soon the Enemy may attempt to pass you.

The Fire Rafts you mention are not of the best construction but probably are the best that can be procured with the dispatch necessary-Cables and Anchors I should suppose might easily be procured from the vessels which used to be plying up and down the River-and are now lying Idle;-Salt Petre from the Manufactures in the Country, as neither are to be had in this place, the necessity of the Case will fully Justify your taking the former wherever to be found, and the safety of the people I should imagine would induce them to assist you to the latter all in their power.

I have sent up Lieut. Machin* to lay out and oversee such Works as shall be tho't necessary by the Officers there, and from your representation of the Hill, which overlooks the Fort, I think it ought to be taken possession of Immediately.-You who are on the spot must be a better judge than I possibly can, must leave it with you to erect such Works as you, with Col. Clinton and the Engineer may think Necessary, a proper Abstract or pay Roll should be made out, of the Wages due the Artificers, examined and certified by you or your Bro. when it may be sent here and the Money drawn.-Your method of fixing fires, with advanced Guards, if they are vigilant must answer the purpose you intend Your dismissing all the New Englandmen to 300 is a step I approve of,-I hope you may continue to prevent the Enemy from obtaining any supplies or Intelligence and from

Thomas Machin was an Englishman, an engineer by profession, who emigrated to America in 1772 and at the outbreak of hostilities espoused the Colonists' cause. He helped build the fortifications at Bunker Hill, where he was wounded, for which service he was commissioned in Henry Knox's regiment of artillery. He served with credit and distinction throughout the war and was in at the death at Yorktown.

committing any Ravages on the distress'd Peasentry on and about the Shores,-while you are able to keep them in this Situation below the Forts they can do little Damage-by every conveyance I shall like to hear of your Situation and the Enemies

manoeuvers.

I am Sir wishing you success

P. S. Since the above the Q. M. Genl. Informs me you may be supplied with Turpentine here, and thinks can get Salt Petre enough for the present Emergency.

[No. 121.]

Hezekiah Howell, Jr., Protests Against His Arrest.

To George Clinton Esqr. Brigadear General

of the Countys of Orange and Ulster.

The Remonstrance and Petetion of Hezekiah Howell jun'r of Blooming Grove Oringe County: Humbly Sheweth that on the Eighteenth day of this instant, July, Captain Jonathon Tuthill, of Col. Jesse Woodhull's Rigement, Sent a warrant requiring me to repair to Nathanael Satterly's on the twenty first, Compleat in arms, to Serve in the Capacity of a Private Soldier for the relief of the Detachment of Fort Montgomery; I having a Commission, in the Rank of a Major, under the Congress of New York, thought it beneath my rank to do duty as a private and refused to Comply with the warrant, when on the Said twenty-first day of July the above Capt. Tuthill Sent a Serjant with a file of men which brought me before him who Ordered the Serjant to bring me to the Fort.

Fort Montgmery

Hezekiah Howell, jun'r.

July 28th 1776.

[No. 122.]

Capt. James Humphrey Issues an Order and Gives a List of His

Ulster County:

Company.

To Thomas Cook Sargent:

By vertue of an order from general Clinton, at Fort Mongumerey, you are hereby Comanded in the Name of the Congress, to go amedetly, and take with you Andrew Sprage and Phenis Curren, to Fort Mungumery, in order to Do their Duty; James Anderson is there alredy, and it is Col. McCaghrey's opineon, that I Cant Send Henery Robenson because he hired a man and sent him in his place to new York, with Capton Falkenor; hereof you are not to fail at your peral: given under my hand at New Windsor this 29 Day of July 1776.

James Umphrey.

N. B. You are to Show this order to General Clinton at Fort Mungumorey.

A List of Men Belonging to Capt. James Umphrey's Company Being timeously and Leagely Warn'd, to Go off to Fort Mont

gomery on the 28 Day of July 1776 as followeth &c.

David Parshell

David Belknap

Hezekiah Dayton

Hegins Conkling

Honoured Sir,

P'r Me James Umphrey Capt'n.

I have Endavered to Send the men who was not at Fort Mongumory Last week, to Do their Duty; Andrew Sprage is not to be found as yet, but I will Get him as Soon I can, If he is to be found in this County; the Bearer hereof, Says he will Go and Deliver this, and a List of the men who is warned to serve this week, to your Honour which is all I have say, I Remain Sir your

Humble Ser't,

James Umphrey.

[No. 123.]

Brigadier-Generals from New York Required to Make Complete Returns of the Condition of Their Brigades.

In Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York at

Harlem the 31st of July 1776.

RESOLVED, unanimously that the several Brigadier Generals in this State Do make Return to the Convention or future executive Power, thereof, on or before the first day of September next, of the State of the Militia of their several Brigades, containing in such statement the names and Rank of the Officers, the number of Men, the Condition of their Arms, the Drafts from time to time. made, and the number of Men now actually serving as Drafts as aforesaid, or in Default of such Return that the said Generals do shew good Cause why the same could not by them be made. Extract from the minutes.

Robt. Benson Secry.