Moore, that it was by order of their Colonel Ritzema they came there for that purpose. Upon which they were told, that no person whatever had a right to order them to behave in the manner they had done, and therefore advised them to disperse; which they soon after accordingly did, taking with them several drums, a considerable quantity of iron ramrods, and sundry other articles of His Majesty’s property. Two hours after they were gone, viz. about two o’clock in the morning, a great party of the Connecticut Troops, supposed to be upwards of a hundred, came from their encampment, in the environs of the City, to the storehouses aforementioned, where they continued until nigh day-light, rummaging and ransacking every place, and carried away such articles as they thought proper.

Thursday the thirteenth, about eight o’clock in the evening, Francis Staples, the person who has the care of Turtle Bay, came to town and informed me of the following particulars, viz: that about three o’clock this afternoon, the same sloop which carried off the stores from thence on the night of the twelfth ultimo, came again to that place, and was met by a party of the Connecticut Troops, supposed to be about fifty men, who put on board the said sloop (as near as he could well guess) about five hundred twenty-four pound round-shot, fifty ten-inch, and the like number of cohorn shells; they likewise broke open the store-house, took out the major part of what remained there, such as old sand-bags, empty boxes, &c., and then went off.

The same night, about half past nine o’clock, a company of armed men came to my dwelling-house and demanded admittance, pretending that they had received certain intelligence of a number of small-arms, being concealed in the upper apartment of said house, and as such were determined to be satisfied by searching it, &c.; which was accordingly done to their great disappointment. They then requested of me the keys of another store-house, which they said had not as yet been examined into, observing that the arms must of course certainly be there; and notwithstanding my utmost endeavours to dissuade them to the contrary, they violently broke open the doors of the same, and robbed it of the following articles, viz: two brass petards, some tents, mostly unserviceable, a few powderhorns, nails, baskets, and other things, which at present is not in my power to particularize. In consequence of the above facts having been represented to the civil magistrates, a deputation from their body waited on their Committee of Safety for the Colony of New-York, who sit during the recess of the Provincial Congress. The latter, on hearing what had happened, gave immediate orders for printing and publishing handbills to the following purport, which were soon after distributed throughout the City.

“Whereas, information hath been given to this Committee, by the Civil Magistrates of the City of New-York, that an attack was made, without provocation, upon a boat belonging to His Majesty’s Ship Asia,  and the boat wantonly destroyed; and also, that the house and stores of Mr. Francis Stephens were violently broken open, and robbed of private property, and military stores taken from thence; and whereas the said Magistrates have requested the advice of the Committee on the premises:

“Ordered, That it be recommended to the Civil Magistrates to examine strictly into the several matters and things above mentioned, and to punish all persons who are guilty of perpetrating the same, as the law directs; and that it be, and hereby is recommended to all the citizens and others, to aid and assist the Magistrates in the execution of their offices.

A true copy from the minutes:

“ROBERT BENSON, Secretary.

“July 13, 1775.”

The Mayor and Court of Aldermen, agreeable to what is recommended to them in the above, proceeded to take the depositions of several persons who were by at the time the depredations were committed, and issued their warrants for apprehending those who were reported to be guilty. But the Grand Jury, who were sitting at the time, and had the complaints with many affidavits laid before them, nevertheless thought proper to decline doing any thing further in the affair; nor does there appear the smallest shadow of a probability that I shall be able to obtain any redress, so very much are the insulters and robbers of Government property at present befriended in this place.

I am, with the greatest respect, Sir, your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant,

FRANCIS STEPHENS.

His Excellency the Honourable General Gage.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

Ticonderoga, July 31, 1775.

SIR: Yesterday the enclosed letter and papers were delivered me. The warrants for the Captains and Lieutenants to enlist the men, have not yet been sent up; but that no delay might thereby be occasioned, I have directed them to proceed to make the levies, and have given them assurances that they should have the commissions. A controversy has arisen between Allen and Warner; the former, you will perceive, has been left out altogether by the Green Mountain Boys. What the consequences will be I cannot pretend to say.

I have a boat on stocks, sixty feet in length, which I hope to finish by this day week. I suppose she will carry between two and three hundred men. Another of the same size is to be put up to-day, so that I hope soon to have vessels enough to move on. If any more powder can be got, I hope it will be sent, as not above a ton will be left, if so much, when the Troops are completed, to a pound a man.

Enclose you copies of two letters; one from Commissary Phelps, and the other from Commissary Strong. The former, Mr. Livingston acquaints me, refuses to resign the department into his hands. I have sent orders to him requiring his compliance. I doubt whether they will be obeyed. If not, it is more than probable that the service will essentially suffer.

I have written to Mr. Strong, that Mr. Livingston will take the pork, flour, and cattle, he mentions; his letter is not the most decent, and as such I have treated it in my answer to him.

As I did not wish that Mr. Livingston should dismiss any person that had been employed by the Colony of Connecticut, I wrote him as soon as I was informed of his appointment. Mr. Phelps must continue in employment, and I think you had best send him to Fort George, to take charge of your branch there.

I should not have troubled you with these letters, but that you may from them see the necessity of some general resolution of Congress, to cure all this jarring.

I am, Sir, your Honour’s most obedient humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

Honourable John Hancock, President, &c.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS

Ticonderoga, July 31, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I do myself the honour to enclose you a copy of a letter and paper I have received from the people called Green Mountain Boys, together with a copy of my letter in answer. I am apprehensive that the controversy which has arisen amongst them, relative to the Field-Officers, will cause delay in the levies. Whilst at New-York, and even after my arrival here, on conversing with Allen and Warner, I did not conceive there could have been any contest between them, or that a third person would have been recommended by the people as a Field-Officer. On that supposition, and believing the people unanimous in their favour, I should not have hesitated to have recommended them.

You will please to send up the warrants for the Captains and Lieutenants without being filled up, lest any that are nominated should decline the service. The warrants completed for such Field-Officers as you may appoint, you will also please to furnish me with.

I have got some New-England men to make oars in this quarter. If, therefore, you order me six hundred, it will be sufficient; these I wish up as soon as possible. Some of the stores are arrived, and I hope the remainder will soon be here.

I beg leave to remind you, that the proper officers and