E. W. KIERS TO THOMAS SMITH.

Haverstraw, New-York, February 92, 1776.

SIR: A very disagreeable division is like to break out amongst us on account of two companies agreed upon by trie Committee to be raised at the south side of the mountain. Captain Amos Hutchings and Captain Ary King, were recommended by the Committee. Mr. Hutchings has, to my knowledge, been at a great fatigue and expense already, in engaging a number of hearty men in order to have his company full as soon as possible; he has about fifty men ready engaged. Captain Ary King has also an inclination to serve his country. We have but one set of warrants come up. We are at a very great loss how to act. If you will be instrumental in obtaining two sets of warrants for this side of the mountains, which, I think, will be the only means of settling all division in these parts, you will greatly oblige your most humble servant,

E. W. KIERS.

[A copy of the above was directed to Jesse Woodhull.]

GENERAL LEE TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[February 26, 1776, referred to Mr. McKean, Mr. John Adams, Mr. L. Morris.]

New-York, February 22, 1776.

SIR: Last night I had the honour of receiving yours, with the resolves and commands of the Congress, which I shall obey with the greatest zeal and alacrity, and all possible expedition. The confidence reposed in me is extremely flattering, and I shall labour to deserve their good opinion.

As I am yet very weak and lender, after my illness, I shall take the liberty to remain here a few days, at least until I am able to walk and ride with a tolerable degree of ease, which, at present, I am incapable of doing; in fact, venturing upon a journey in the state I am in might risk a relapse, which might totally incapacitate me from being of any service in (hat part of the world or elsewhere.

The cannon ordered by the Congress to Canada, shall be fitted out and despatched without loss of time; the Provincial Congress are now preparing the means. Mortars there are none, which is very unfortunate, as in the attack of towns they are absolutely necessary.

I was much disappointed, sir, in not being joined by a battalion from Philadelphia, as I was taught to expect. I did not apply for them merely with a view of opposing Mr. Clinton with the troops he should bring with him. 1 had sufficient, and more than sufficient force to cope with him, but it was agreed, in the conference held with the three gentlemen who were here, as a Committee from the Congress, that it would be necessary to retrench a camp in Long-Island, capacious enough to contain at least three thousand men; and although it was thought impracticable to fortify the sea side of the town against shipping, it was allowed and determined to be expedient to throw up divers works in the city and its environs, in order to prevent the enemy's getting possession of it. To accomplish these works, sir, not a small number of hands are requisite. Our present numbers are so far from being adequate to the business, that they are scarcely sufficient to mark out the works, and, at the same time, do the necessary garrison duty. As to the Minute-Men, no account ought to be made of them. Had I been as much acquainted with them when they were summoned as I am at present, I should have exerted myself to prevent their coming. The expense of these gentry is most intolerable. They have, upon an average, about two men to one officer; but the expense of their subsistence is not all; the loss of powder to the pub-lick is dreadful. They leave their homes without a grain; they expect, and must be supplied out of the publick magazines; when they return they carry it with them. Upon the whole, sir, I cannot help expressing my wishes, that the Congress will find means of establishing one great Continental regular army, adequate to all the purposes of defence. Every consideration, that of economy as well as security, dictate the measure.

At present, we have here Lord Stirling's, Waterbury's, and Ward's Battalions. Waterbury's and Ward's are only inlisted to the 12th of March. In eighteen days, therefore, the whole force wril consist of Lord Stirling's Regiment, not quite five hundred men fit for duty. 1 own I tremble for this important place; I cannot help fearing that the enemy will have possession of it. I submit it to the wisdom of the Congress whether a force should not be immediately provided to prevent so fatal an event. If they depend on the four regiments ordered to be raised in this Province, they will, I am afraid, be cruelly disappointed: for, from all those I have conversed with on th§ subject, many months will be required for their completion, if they are ever completed. I hope you will excuse my being so diffuse with respect to New-York, I thought it my duty to be particular on so important a subject.

1 have a favour to ask of the Congress. Doctor Fague, who is settled at Fairfield, in Connecticut, is a French gentleman of ability, probity, and skill in his profession. He knows Canada very well; is known and esteemed there. He speaks French and English with great ease and fluency. He is extremely desirous of accompanying me. If, sir, there is a possibility of placing him in the Hospital, but in a station and rank proportioned to his pretensions, I apprehend he might not only be of great use to me, but to the publick. If the Hospital is already disposed of, I should think it worth while to appoint him to some other office.

Before I conclude, sir, I ought to apprize you that a very considerable number of the guns we took from the Battary are absolutely unfit for service. The enclosed is return of those that are good, and those that may be used on occasion.

I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your most obedient servant,

CHARLES LEE.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President of the Continental Congress.

GENERAL HEATH TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Camp at Cambridge, February 22, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: I some time since reported that Colonels Prescott and Phinney had chosen the Reverend Mr. Foster for the Chaplain for those regiments. This choice is but temporary, as it is at present uncertain whether Mr. Foster can be absent from his own Parish for more than a month or two. I now beg leave further to report, that Colonels Greaton and Baldwin have made choice of the Reverend Mr. Barnum for the Chaplain of their regiments.

Having five regiments in the brigade under my command. Colonel Sargent finds it difficult to join another regiment, at present; and, as there are nine regiments in the qamp at Roxbury, one of them must, of necessity, join with some regiment in (his camp, and, as the situation of Colonel Prescott's regiment seems to point out that as the most proper one, it has been proposed that such a junction take place, and that Colonel Sargent and Colonel Phinney should join. This, however, seems at present a little embarrassed, on account of the uncertainty of Mr. Foster's continuing the whole campaign.

All which is humbly submitted, by your Excellency's most humble servant,

W. HEATH, Brigadier-General.

To His Excellency General Washington.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL LEE.

Cambridge, February 22, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I fully expected, by the two last posts, to have received your favours, with an account of the measures you have been, and are pursuing, for the defence of New-York, and of such occurrences as you might have thought worthy of notice; as I did not, nor got several other letters which I expected, I cannot but suppose they have been intercepted at some of the offices, or by some accident prevented coming to my hands.

I need not mention my impatience to hear from you, and beg that you will write me by every opportunity.

I am, dear sir, &c,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To General Lee.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Cambridge, February 22, 1776.

GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL: In my letter to you of the 19th