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were somewhat alarming; but, with the greatest pleasure, we can inform you, our apprehensions are now removed. Although we know we cannot legally be called to account for that which you are pleased to style an outrage, and notwithstanding we have hitherto by you been treated with iniquity, we will, as far as in our power lies, do you right upon just and equitable terms. First. We, on behalf of this community, require from you the restitution of a certain Joseph Harris, the property of a gentleman of our Town, and all other of our slaves whom you may have on board; which said Harris, as well as other slaves, hath been long harboured, and often employed, with your knowledge, (as appeared to us by the confession of Ruth and others, and as is well known to all your men,) in pillaging us, under cover of night, of our sheep and other live stock. Secondly. We require that you will send on shore all boats, with their hands, and every other thing you have detained on this occasion. And lastly. That you shall not, by your own arbitrary authority, undertake to insult, molest, interrupt, or detain, the persons or property of any one passing to and from this Town, as you have frequently done for some time past. Upon complying with those requisitions, we will endeavour to procure every article left on our shore, and shall be ready to deliver them to your pilot and gunner, of whose good behaviour we have had some proofs. We are, &c. THE COMMITTEE OF ELIZABETH CITY COUNTY, AND TOWN OF HAMPTON. To Mathew Squire, Esq., Commander of His Majesty’s Ship Otter, lying in Hampton Road. At a meeting of the Committee of Elizabeth City County, and Town of Hampton, September 16, 1775: Resolved, unanimously, That the most hearty thanks of this Committee, and all those whom they represent, are justly due to Major James Innes, the other Gentlemen Officers, and to the several Volunteer Companies now under their command, for so expeditiously and cheerfully marching to our assistance and defence on the alarm occasioned by the threats and several insolent letters of a certain Matthew Squire, commander of His Majesty’s Ship the Otter; and that this Committee, for themselves and constituents, do accordingly present their most hearty and cordial thanks to the said very worthy Gentlemen and their Companies. W. R. W. CURLE, Chairman . OFFICERS OF MINUTE-MEN, CORNWALL PRECINCT, ORANGE COUNTY, NEW-YORK. Blooming-Grove, September 16, 1775. At a meeting of a Company of Minute-men, held at Blooming-Grove meeting-house, in the Precinct of Cornwall, in Orange County, New-York, on Friday, the 15th instant, for the purpose of choosing their Officers, the following persons were duly chosen to fill the places of commissioned officers in said Company, viz: Thomas Moffat, Captain; Seth Marvin, First Lieutenant; James Little, Second Lieutenant; Nathan Strong, Ensign.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMEN IN NEW-YORK, FROM AN OFFICER AT ISLE-AUX-NOIX, DATED SEPTEMBER 16, 1775. When I last wrote to you, I was at Crown Point, on my way hither; we arrived here on Monday, the 2d instant, and on Wednesday we set out to go down the lake as far as St. John’s, which is about twelve miles distant, in order to find out the disposition of the Canadians. We went on thither with great cheerfulness, till, coming within about a mile of the fort, the enemy began to fire at our boats with cannon, which obliged us to land; we immediately formed, and marching towards the fort, through the woods, we received a smart fire from the Indians and Regulars, who lay in ambush to destroy us; we returned the fire very freely, as you may well suppose. This continued about an hour, when we obliged them to retreat to the fort. They killed eight of our men, and wounded seven. Amongst the latter are Major Hobby and Captain Mead, of Colonel Waterbury’s Regiment. Of the enemy we killed nine, and wounded fifteen; among their killed is Matthias Johnson. After this fatiguing piece of business, we thought it necessary to throw up a small breastwork for our own security, which we very speedily did, about three-quarters of a mile from the fort; but being so very near, they kept continually throwing their bomb shells at us; and not being prepared to answer them in that way, we were obliged to retire a mile further from them; we tarried that night, and till ten in the morning, when we re-embarked for the island. On Sunday, the 9th, we again set out, and about ten in the evening arrived at the place where we tarried the night when we were up before; and then setting out to march to Chambly, just as we came to the breastwork that we before had thrown up, we received a very heavy fire from two batteaus that were on the lake, with swivel and grape shot, and at the same time from the savages on the shore. Our armed boats perceiving the fire on the lake, fired three twelve-pounders, one of which took the enemy’s principal batteau directly in the bow, and tore her from stem to stem; she immediately sunk, with all the men in her, amounting to thirty-five. We then proceeded on to the breastwork, where we killed their chief interpreter and one Indian. We received no hurt at all. In the morning we saw their armed schooner, of one hundred and eighty tons, carrying twelve nine-pounders, coming towards us; we then thought it expedient to return to the island, until we could have more artillery with us, which we now have got, with a great number of bomb shells, mortars, &c. We are now immediately to embark a third time, and are determined to take the schooner and fort at all events. The Canadians have seized two batteaus, that were going to St. John’s to supply the enemy with provisions. On their requesting them to stop, the Regulars fired at them, which the Canadians returned, killed twelve Regulars, and took the rest prisoners. We last night sent off a party to Chambly, of one hundred and fifty men, fifty of whom are Canadians, that have been in the camp several days. JOHN WETHERHEAD TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. On board the Asia, September 17, 1775. SIR: By letters I have received from my friends on shore, I understand that a certain Doctor Nicholson, and some other evil-minded persons, had endeavoured to injure me greatly, by telling the Committee “that I was the person who informed Captain Vandeput of a design to take away the guns from the Battery on the 23d of last month; that I had also been to Statcn-Island in disguise, to purchase provisions to send to Boston in the transport; and, further, that I had furnished the said Nicholson and a negro man with pistols to defend themselves, if necessary, at the time they were purchasing provisions for the same purpose.” As the above reports are either infamous falsehoods or gross misrepresentations, the duty I owe to myself and family induces me to trouble you, Sir, as a member of the Committee, with the following account of my conduct with respect to the matters alleged against me, beseeching you to do me the favour to show this letter to the Committee, or to any other gentleman in the City you may think proper, not doubting but the candour of my fellow citizens will immediately acquit me of every obnoxious charge brought against me by the malevolent tongue of malice and scandal. On the 23d of last month, having occasion to see Captain Herbert, of the Fifty-Ninth Regiment, (who I under stood kept chiefly on board the Packet,) in order to deliver a letter I had received from Elizabethtown, with a particular request that I would deliver it with my own hands, I went down to Blundelt’s to watch for the Packet’s boat; but as no boat came on shore, I took the opportunity of the Asia ’s boat; as soon as I got on board the Asia, Captain Vandeput called me aside, and asked me whether I had heard any thing concerning a design to take the guns away that night from the Battery. My answer was, that I had not heard any thing about the matter, nor did I believe
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