ZEBULON BUTLER TO ELLIS HUGHES.

Westmoreland, August 24, 1775.

FRIEND HUGHES: It is reported that you and the people near Fishing Creek refuse to allow any of our people to settle on the vacant lands in your neighbourhood under the Connecticut claim. You must know that we are fully determined peaceably to settle the vacant lands in the Susquehannah Purchase, under this Colony. Any interruption on your part will be properly resented. It is far from our wish or desire to molest any of your settlers during the continuation of their respective leases, provided they are peaceable and quiet subjects; and we expect that our settlers will be so treated by you and your people. The laws and ordinances of this Colony must be duly observed by our settlers; neither may you molest or disturb them therein; neither may you touch their persons or their properties, as you will answer your conduct to the laws of this Colony and the executive courts therein. We wish peace and a good understanding between us and you; but you must not expect we will give up our right or relinquish our claim, or by any means stop our settlements to make room for you and your people to fill up the vacant lands upon our purchase.

Therefore, relying upon your honourable observance of the premises, beg leave to subscribe myself, your old friend,

ZEBULON BUTLER.

Ellis Hughes, Esq.

To be communicated to your settlers.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM NEW-YORK TO A GENTLEMAN
IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED AUGUST 24, 1775.

Yesterday our Congress directed that the cannon on the Battery should be removed, and last night it was put in execution. The man-of-war’s folks had got intelligence of it, and sent her barge to watch. Our people had removed nine or eleven (it is uncertain which) of the cannon without molestation; then a man in the stern of the barge made a false fire. This happened about half-past twelve last night. The barge’s people then fired ball; upon which ours, who had got together, were ordered to fire; which they did, and continued it till the barge got out of their reach. From the cries and shrieks of the people on board the barge, it is thought some of them are much wounded. While the small-arms were firing, the man-of-war began; she fired first a single ball, then a ball and grape shot; afterwards several guns, (I don’t know what they were loaded with,) and then a broadside. We had more guns and another broadside before all was over; however, our people effected their purpose, and got away all the cannon that we mounted, I believe about twenty in number. As we had nothing but small-arms we could do no damage to the man-of-war, and she did very little to us. A house next to Roger Morris’s and Samuel Francis’s, at the corner of the Exchange, each had an eighteen-pound ball shot into their roofs; some other houses suffered a little, but the principal damage was sustained by some small buildings adjoining the Battery. No lives were lost, and but very few of our people wounded, that I can learn of, and those but slightly. It was very distressing to see women and children moving half naked at midnight.

EXTRACT OF ANOTHER LETTER FROM NEW-YORK, DATED AUGUST 24, 1775.

We were suddenly alarmed this morning about half-past twelve o’clock, by the Asia, man-of-war, cannonading our Town, both with grape-shot and ball; which continued until three o’clock, with short intervals, without doing much damage, except firing into some houses near the fort, and wounding three or four of our men. I learn it happened in the following manner: A party of our Light-Infantry and citizens, about sixty, were busy in removing the cannon from the Battery, when they were discovered by the people on board, who sent their boat on shore armed. When they came within twenty or thirty yards of the shore they made a signal to the man-of-war, who immediately fired upon our people, which was answered by a volley from the barge, without doing execution, as our, men were all under cover of the Battery. They returned the fire immediately upon the barge, and it is supposed must have killed a good many of them, as they heard a great crying among them, and they directly put off to the ship. Our militia behaved with a good deal of spirit, and turned out extraordinarily well. What will be the consequence of this unhappy affair God only knows.

My dear friend, the scene is now opened here; we know what we have to depend upon. Every friend to his Country ought not to hesitate a moment what step to take. I just learn Captain Vandeput was not on board this last night, and that they have sent a party of the Light-Horse to take him and our Governour into custody, who are at Long-Island. I am very much fatigued, having been on guard these two last nights.

New-York, August 28, 1775.

The Provincial Congress having resolved that the cannon should be removed from the Battery, a number of citizens collected for that purpose last Wednesday evening; and part of the Provincial Artillery, under the command of Captain John Lamb, were posted on the Battery, to prevent the landing of any party from the Asia, man-of-war, to annoy them while at work. When they marched down, which was about eleven o’clock, they observed one of the above ship’s barges lying at some distance from the shore, where she continued upwards of an hour; then she got under sail, and fired a musket at the men that were posted on the Battery. This was immediately returned by a smart fire of musketry from the Artillery, and a few of the Independent Light-Infantry, belonging to Colonel Lasher’s Battalion, that were likewise posted there for the above purpose. Soon after this the Asia fired three cannon, when our drums beat to arms, which alarmed the inhabitants; when they had assembled she began a heavy and smart fire of nine, eighteen and twenty-four-pounders, and some grape-shot, succeeded by a discharge of musketry from the Marines, but without doing any other mischief than damaging the upper part of several houses near the fort and White Hall, and wounding three men. Notwithstanding the fire from the Asia, the citizens effected their purpose, and carried off twenty-one pieces of cannon, being all that were mounted on carriages. Since this disturbance the women and children have been continually moving out of town, with their most valuable effects.

In consequence of the above procedure, his Worship the Mayor received the four following Letters from Captain Vandeput, which were answered;

“Asia, August 24, 1775.

“After the event of last night, I think it necessary to inform you, that having information that it was intended by some people in New-York to take away the guns from the Battery, which, as stores belonging to the King, it was my duty to protect, I sent a boat to lie near the shore to watch their motions. Soon after twelve they began to move the guns from the Battery, which being observed by the officer in the boat, he left his station to come on board to inform me thereof; but being perceived from the shore, he was fired upon by a great many musketry, by which one of the men in the boat was shot dead. My duty called upon me to repel an attack of this sort, as well as to defend the guns, which occasioned me to fire upon the Battery. I acquaint you with this that the people of the Town may not imagine it is my intention to do them any hurt, which I wish as much as possible to avoid; but if they will persist in behaving in such a manner as to make their safety and my duty incompatible, the mischiefs that may arise must He at their doors, and not mine. An answer is desired. I am, &c.,

G. VANDEPUT.

“To the Mayor and, Magistrates of New-York.”

“Asia, August 24, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: Whereas a boat belonging to His Majesty’s Ship Asia, under my command, was, between twelve and one o’clock this morning, fired upon by a number of people from the walls of the City, by which firing one man in the said boat was shot dead; and whereas His Majesty’s cannon, mounted upon the walls, were about that time and afterwards, taken off from thence, the perpetrators of which are guilty of the crimes expressed in the statutes for such offences; this is to require; at the hands of the Magistrates, due satisfaction for these high misdemeanours,