D'r Sir, [No. 250.] General Heath Shy on News. Peeks Kill Dec'r 6th 1776. I have received your favor of yesterday's Date, and am surprised to hear that the Smiths have not Joyned you. I this morning sent for Major Hughes and Directed him to furnish you with such articles as you wrote for, if He had them in store. I am afraid there are but few Nails on Hand, But a Quantity are sent for; some of the Irons you mention shall be sent to you. I have also ordered all the Boats and Crafts that Can be spared to be sent up to you. I have also ordered Colonel De Rousie to Joyn you with His Canadians. As to news, my Dear Sir, I scarcely know what to write, our accounts are so vague and uncertain. The last Letter which I received from General Washington was Dated at Brunswick. Some reports since are, that the Enemy are as far as that place but whether those reports be true or not, is uncertain. We have also had a Rumor, that a large number of vessells have passed through Hellgate to the Eastward, But whether this report be true or false is also as yet uncertain. General Lee has passed the Ferry with his Divisions, having Left at this Post a great number of sick, Lame, and wounded men; the General was yesterday marching towards Tapan. If any thing remarkable Transpires, I will acquaint you of it and am D'r Sir with respect & Esteem Yours sincerely, W. Heath. Genl. George Clinton. P. S. I have this moment received Intelligence By Letter from Genl. Spencer that on the 4th Instant, about sun sit seventy sail of ships of war & Transports with Troops on Board sailed with a fair wind Down the sound. [No. 251.] Commissary Paulding Promises to Co-operate. D'r Sir, W. H. I Received your favour by Major Pawlin And have seen Waterbury; he says Capt. Tappen is under his direction. I shall assist you all that lays in my power; whenever you want any Thing, please to inform me and if I have it, shall send it to you. I should have sent your Molasses but could not get a barrel to put It in. Genl. Heath informed me this morning He expects to go to the eastward, as there is 70 sail ships in the sound; we have Just Received intelligence from Haverstraw that Genl. Washington has defeated the British troops, & drove them over Second river with Great loss, the report says 1500 Killed and Numbers drowned in the River. The bearer of this, Mr. Goldsmith, belongs to Collo. Pawlin's regiment, the Collonel gave me Liberty to Keep him with me as Clerk. Yesterday his Capt. sent for him should be Obliged to you Sir, if he could be spared from the regiment few days to write for me. I am D'r Sir your H Serv't Peeks Kill D'r 6th 1776. To Brig'r. General George Clinton, William Paulding. New Windsor. [No. 252.] GEN. SCHUYLER APPEARS ON THE SCENE. Gives Expert Advice on the Sinking of Caissons in the Hudson. Dear General, Saratoga, Saturday Dec'r 7th 1776. As I have been greatly chagrined that all our Attempts to obstruct the Navigation of Hudson's River have proved ineffectual; it gives me great pleasure to learn that you have taken the Busi ness in Hand, as it affords me great Hopes that success will attend your Labours. You will have seen my Letter on the subject to the Committee of Safety-as you will probably attempt sinking Cassoons, I will take the Liberty to mention how I intended to construct them. First a square of thirty or more Feet of strong sills and sleepers well duftailed and joined together. Then a strong Frame of posts and Beams, on that, covered and bound with a strong wall plates and Braces. I intended six set of Beams well braced (as if it was intended for a House of six stories) to prevent the sides spreading, with Tye pieces from the End Beams, to some of the middle Beams, to prevent the like Accident on the Ends. I then proposed boarding the Bottom and sides with Inch and half plank, the Bottom to be caulked and also so much of the sides, as to prevent the Cassoons sinking, until it is brought to the proper place and stone hove in. I should imagine that a Cassoon, when com pleated would not draw above four Feet of Water. It need, therefore, not be caulked beyond that Height, or five at most. When the Cassoon is finished, it is conveyed between two ves sels to the spot where it is to be sunk. The Bottom of the River must be carefully examined, lest if there should be very large Rocks, the Cassoons falling on them might overset. In sinking it, a Tackle is fixed to each Corner, to keep it in a perpendicular Position, which it will not otherwise by any Means do, as the stone will not lay equally scattered on the Bottom, when the Cassoon begins to fill with water, which it will do as soon as it gets sunk beyond the caulking. When I mentioned six sett of Beams I calculated for a Cassoon of about forty Feet deep to be varied, as a greater or less Depth is required; permit me to observe, that the Base of the Cassoons should be in proportion to the Height. I have ordered twenty Barrels of Tar to be sent you, in Case it should be wanted, and have requested the Committee of Albany to send down all the Timber that can be procured. I have also ordered a Number of Boards down. Pray my best Respects to Mrs. Clinton, and believe me with every wish for your Health & Happiness, Your affectionate humble servant, The Honble. General George Clinton. Ph: Schuyler. [No. 253.] Inventory of Axes at Fort Montgomery. An Account of the axes in this Garrison at Fort Montgomery December 7th 1776-and in Whose Care. Richard Mackril belonging to Capt. James Rosekran's Henry Talleday belonging to the same Company 1 1 1 1 meet axe 1 Isaac Lockwood belonging to Capt. John Belknap's Company Silas Leonard belonging to Belknap's Company 1 1 1 1 1 Joshua Fryday belonging to Belknap's Company Hesekiah Grigs belonging to Belknap's Do. Thomas Hill belonging to Capt. A. Swartwout's Joseph Valuntine belonging to Swartwout's Company 1 one Meat axe 1 Richard Warner belonging to Swartwout's Company William Little belonging to Do Do Coonrod Cypher belonging to Do Do Cornelious Vanblack belonging to Mechanics mess Butchers 1 Total, 16 12 Sir, [No. 254.] List of Artificers to Prepare Obstructions for the Hudson. Fish Kill 7th Dec'r 1776. At foot you have a List of Carpenters Lately Employed by us here & the Terms on which they were engag'd. I am, with the greatest Esteem Sir Your Ob't Hble. Serv't And. Bostwick, Agent to the Q. M. Genl. N. B. I Expect It'll be in my power to send you fourteen more tomorrow. |