on an island near the east side of the river, and near the north end of the Highlands, which on the west and south sides is bounded by the river, and on the north and east sides by low marsh and small creeks running through it. The works here consist of four open lines or batteries, fronting the river; the two easternmost command the approach up the river very well; the nest, or middle line, commands the approach from West Point upwards; the westernmost battery is a straight line constructed by Mr. Romans, at a very great expense; it has fifteen embrasures, which face the river at a right angle, and can only annoy a ship in going past; the embrasures are within twelve feet of each other; the merlons on the outside are but about two feet in the face, and about seven feet deep, made of square timber covered with plank, and look very neat; he also built a log house or tower on the highest cliff, near the water, mounted with eight cannon, (four-pounders,) pointed out of the garret windows, and looks very picturesque. Upon the whole, Mr. Romans has displayed his genius at a very great expense and to very little publick advantage. The works in their present open condition and scattered situation are defenceless; nor is there one good place on the island on which a redoubt may be erected that will command the whole; however, I have marked in the plan (No. 3) those heights which are most commanding; yet every work on the island is commanded by the hill on the West-Point, on the opposite side of the river, within five hundred yards, where there is a level piece of land of near fifty acres in extent. A redoubt on this West-Point is absolutely necessary, not only for the preservation of Fort Constitution, but for its own importance on many accounts. One also is necessary at the west end of the island, to command the approach that way, and to prevent a landing at the north side of the island. An easy communication by land as well as by water may be made with Fort Montgomery from the West-Point.

The garrison of Fort Constitution consists of two companies of Colonel Clinton’s Regiment, and Captain Wisner’s company of Minute-men—in all about one hundred and sixty rank and file. The garrison at Fort Montgomery consists of three companies of the same regiment, amounting to about two hundred men rank and file. The field-officer of the regiment is Lieutenant-Colonel Livingston; but the command of the whole of both garrisons is still in the hands of Colonel Nicoll, who, it seems, last fall raised a regiment of Minute-men for the purpose of garrisoning Fort Constitution, which regiment is all dismissed except Captain Wisner’s company of about forty privates. Lieutenant-Colonel Livingston has very prudently avoided any dispute with Colonel Nicoll about the command, rather referring the matter to your Excellency’s determination. The whole of the troops at both these posts are miserably armed, as will appear by the return No. 4. Lieutenant-Colonel Livingston informs me he has lately received about forty fire-locks, all in very bad order, from the Committees of Dutchess County, and expects several hundred more in a few days in the same condition. I have therefore directed the blacksmith’s shop at Fort Constitution to be enlarged, so that it will at the same time serve for an armory. A blacksmith’s shop and armory of the like kind, I have directed at Fort Montgomery, and the artificers in those branches in Clinton’s Regiment to be employed in them.

The provision branch at these forts seems to have been strangely managed. Mr. Walter Livingston, Commissary for the department of New-York and Canada, residing at Albany, supplied them. His Deputy, (a Mr. phelps,) appointed for the issuing provisions at these posts, has, since November last, been there in all about a fortnight. The care and issuing of provisions has, in the meantime, been left to a sergeant, who has dealt them out without any rule but his own caprice, indiscretion, and want of honesty. Out of these hands the provision branch here has lately gone into the hands of Mr. Abraham Livingston, who, by contract, is to supply the troops in the New-York department. His Deputy, a Mr. Honan, now issues the provision; but instead of doing it according to contract, by which he is obliged to furnish two days’ fresh provision per week, the troops have had fresh provisions only twice in six weeks. Complaints are loud against Mr. Honan’s want of prudence and sobriety. Another inconsistency in this branch is, that while there is a very considerable stock of provision at Fort Constitution, laid in at Continental expense, by Mr. Walter Livingston, as appears by the return No. 5, a new supply is sent for immediate use by Mr. Abraham Livingston. If this goes on, the old stock will perish.

The direction of the works at both these forts is in the hands of Commissioners appointed by the Provincial Congress of New-York. Two Commissioners, with four carpenters, two blacksmiths and seven attendants, are at Fort Constitution; two Commissioners, one clerk, fifteen carpenters, and four masons, are at Fort Montgomery; the pay of these amount to at least eight hundred dollars per month, besides their provisions, &c. One good engineer, with artificers from the Army, might, I think, do the whole business as well.

There have lately been brought into Fort Montgomery several persons as notorious Tories. They are sent by District Committees of the Counties of Albany, Dutchess, and Westchester, with directions to the commanding officer to keep them at hard labour until their further order. How far this accords with the resolutions or intentions of the Continental or Provincial Congress I cannot determine, and have therefore directed the commanding officer to employ them in the works, and to keep a watchful eye over them, until further order.

The artillery and ordnance stores, at these posts, appears by Captain Sargent’s reports herewith, (No. 6.) The cannon in general are, to all appearance, excellent of their kind, excepting two nine and three six-pounders, which are dubious. There are also, I am informed, six cannon, six-pounders, four of them good, and two dubious, at New-Windsor, a place about six miles above Fort Constitution; they had better be brought down to Fort Montgomery.

Considering the different directions all these matters are under, I have avoided giving any determinate orders about them, but it is highly necessary that explicit orders should soon issue.

I am your Excellency’s most humble servant,

STIRLING.

To His Excellency General Washington.

No. 4. Return of the present state of the Garrison at FORT CONSTITUTION, MAY 29, 1776, Lieut. Col. LIVINGSTON.