if they had him out of doors, which your complainant can prove by creditable evidence. Your complainant, therefore, begs your honourable House to take the above under consideration.

I am, with respect, your most obedient humble servant,

HENDRICK GARRISON.

To the President of the Provincial Congress of New-York.

THOMAS BELKNAP, JUN., TO GENERAL LEE.

New-Windsor, March 8, 1776.

PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: The Convention of the County of Ulster was pleased to recommend me, the subscriber, to the Provincial Congress in New-York, to raise a company of Riflemen at Wyoma and the back Mountains, referring the matter to their better judgment, and if your Excellency wants such a company of men in the Continental Army, it is the petition of your humble servant, that his Excellency would please to make it known to the said Congress as soon as his Excellency shall think proper, there being now a considerable number of bright Riflemen waiting to know whether the honourable Congress will send a warrant to inlist them or not.

His Excellency’s taking the aforesaid matter into his consideration will oblige his most obedient humble servant at command,

THOMAS BELKNAP, JUN.

To His Excellency General Lee, Chief Commander of the Army at New-York, or the next commanding Officer.

This is referred to the Congress as worthy their consideration, whether Mr. Belknap may not be employed in one of the New-York Regiments.

STIRLING.

March 13, 1776.

LORD STIRLING TO ABRAHAM YATES.

New-York, March 8, 1776.

SIR: I now send you copy of part of the orders which I propose delivering out this evening, in consequence of what passed between the Committee and myself this morning.

I am your most humble servant,

STIRLING.

To Abraham Yates, Esq.

COLONEL HASBROUCK TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Kingston, March 8, 1776.

SIR: I have received the commissions for the Field-Officers of the Northern Regiment in Ulster County, which we hereby return again to the honourable Congress. The reasons we all give, you will find by another letter of the same date signed by us. The reasons are, first: We know of no Northern Regiment in Ulster County, by that name. Second, by the subaltern officers their commissions are of a prior date than ours, and say they are officers of a company of foot in the First Regiment; and some, of the first, second, &c., company of militia of foot in Ulster County, and under no command of any Colonel. If we should accept of the commissions sent us, we should be officers, and have no men to command. And even if the commissions which were sent us did say that we should command the First Regiment in Ulster County, we should still be the youngest regiment in Ulster County, by the date of our commissions; for the others are dated in October last, and ours the 20th of February last. If we are to be arranged according to the dates of the commissions, then, consequently, we are the youngest regiment. There can be no propriety, in that case, in any degree; because all the other regiments are descended from the first. The whole County was under the command of one set of Field-Offi-cers until the year 1756, and it was then divided into two regiments. Our regiment was called the First Regiment, and the other the Second; and both regiments are now again divided into two regiments, and this regiment to be the last regiment in said County. I cannot see for what reason it is done: it must be best known to you, gentlemen. If we should accept of the commissions sent by you to us, if the commissions even mentioned the First Regiment in Ulster County, and having a junior date, as it has, every subaltern officer and soldier we have under our command would be dissatisfied; because they will judge they are wronged in their ranks; for the First Regiment in Ulster County is of as old a standing as any in the Province, or near it. I am sorry that the regiment I have had the honour to command these twenty years, as Lieutenant-Colonel, is now so unsettled, and has not proper persons commissioned to command them, if their service should be required. But where the fault lies, let them answer for it. I know that Messrs. Dumond and Tappan, two of our late Delegates from Ulster County, have been very officious to procure or obtain commissions for several persons; and Messrs. Wynkoop, Cantine, and Palmer, for others, to serve their purposes. But this is not the time to be the occasion to breed discord amongst us-so brave a people as this part of the County of Ulster is esteemed, for to maintain, defend, and support American liberty. It is now the time to cultivate union and harmony among ourselves-to oppose and withstand the measures of a despotick tyrannical Ministry. I understand that George Clinton, Esq., is corri-missionated for Brigadier-General of the two brigades of Ulster and Orange Counties. How he comes to be promoted to so high a rank I must leave that with you, (I know he never was a corporal or sergeant in the Militia, and how it was brought about to supersede so many brave officers in their ranks in the regiments. I very well know that he never was returned by a County Committee for a Brigadier. If our Delegates have done it, they must answer for it. I doubt very much if it had been left to a County Committee if he would have been returned for a Brigadier-General. And why is not the choice of a Brigadier-General to be made by the County Committee as well as the Field-Officers of the First Regiment in Ulster County? Doth it not appear strange that the neighbouring County of Dutchess hath appointed (as I am informed by one of the Delegates) Lieutenant-Colonel Ten Broeck for Brigadier-General for the brigade of said County, he being the oldest Lieutenant-Colonel of that County, and was promoted in his rank; and in Ulster County to pass by Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, Major, and Captains, and put in George Clinton, Esq., who was, or hath never been, in the Militia, as is observed above?

I wrote to the honourable Congress the 6th of October last past, that I would accept of a commission if it was offered to me from the Congress at this critical juncture; that I was ready for defending American liberty; but that I would, not be superseded in my rank. I wrote the same again the 15th December last past to the same purport by Mr. Cantine. Since George Clinton, Esq., hath the supreme command over the two brigades, and is to command me, if I accept of the commission, as well as all the other Colonels of the several regiments; so, consequently, I am superseded, and, therefore, I will accept of no commission to be commanded by any person who was heretofore of an inferior rank with me. And what gentleman of honour will accept of a commission from Congress if he is or may be superseded in his rank? He cannot expect promotion. If it enters but into the caprice of any of the Delegates of the County to promote a friend of his, of an inferior rank, above a Colonel, Major, or Captain, it may be done. If the honourable Congress judges it reasonable, for the reasons by me above given, will alter the date of the commissions you sent up to us, and, instead of Northern Regiment, call it the First Regiment. If you think proper send up commissions for those gentlemen recommended by the County Committee, and leave out my name if I must be commanded by Mr. Clinton, or any Other superior of an inferior rank with me.

The gentlemen named by the County Committee, Johannes Snyder, Colonel, instead of my name, and Jonathan Elmendorf, Lieutenant-Colonel; Adriance Wynkoop, First Major; . . . . .,Second Major; Abraham A. Hasbrouck, Adjutant; John Van Dusen, Quartermaster. Send up the commissions as speedily as possible, that the regiment may be under a proper command.

I am, gentlemen, with great esteem, your most humble servant to command,

J. HASBROUCK.

To Colonel Woodhull, President of the. Provincial Congress, held and convened at New-York, and all the Members thereof.